If Martin Luther were alive today, would the father of Lutheranism use modern-day technologies to spread the Word? Would he blog about the 95 Theses? Change his Facebook status? Edit the “indulgences” page on Wikipedia? Tweet his philosophies on Twitter in 140 characters or less? From the Reformation to today Lutherans have taken advantage of […]
Spring/Summer 2009
140th Commencement Celebrates Graduates, Honors Former and Current Professors
Pomp and circumstance gave way to hearty cheer as 159 students received degrees at the 140th Commencement, May 24 at Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. Eighty-five students earned theMaster of Divinity degrees necessary for ordination. Master of Arts degrees were handed out to 49 students, and eight received Doctor of Ministry degrees in biblical preaching. […]
Notes from the Mission Field: The Book of Faith Initiative vs. the Bulletin of Faith Initiative
The long-held tradition in my last congregation was to read the Word of God out of the bulletin, not the Bible. The reasoning seemed understandable. Congregants weren’t bringing their Bibles to church, church leaders wanted everyone reading the same translation and access to Scripture was easier. This was devastating to the small congregation. These believers […]
The Bible Initiative Continues to Pass It On
My father began decades ago to give away Bibles as a Gideon, and now, about 50 years after I first saw him do it, here I am carrying on the tradition,” says David Hayes, member of the Luther Seminary Foundation Board of Trustees. Hayes and his wife, Andrea, notable donors to Luther Seminary for the […]
An Education Grounded in the Word: Faculty Teach Biblical Message in Multiple Ways
Sometimes God can accomplish new and wonderful things using God’s oldest material. Luther Seminary faculty take God’s Word and help students apply it to their lives in meaningful ways every day. By the end of their seminary educations, students have not only learned about Scripture, but also how to interpret it and pass it on […]
Book of Faith Initiative Inspires ELCA Congregations
Since the Book of Faith Initiative kicked off in August 2007, it has swept through congregations in theELCA, growing and evolving in unique ways. What is now a churchwide initiative came from one simple, compelling thought: “We really have to think about how Lutherans read the Bible.” That thought spawned a conversation among members of […]
What is Biblical Preaching?
What makes preaching “biblical?” Isn’t all preaching “biblical” preaching? What does a “non-biblical” sermon sound like and should it really matter? What is at stake when we claim the need for biblical preaching? What difference does biblical preaching make for our for the church in the world? Of course, the compelling issues are also: Why […]
Finding a Good Book
The Bible is a lot of things, but simple isn’t one of them. It wasn’t easy to write. It’s sometimes hardto fully comprehend. And finding the right Bible for you or a loved one can seem as daunting as partingthe Red Sea. “Selling Bibles is one of the most complicated things we do in the […]