Registration Open

May and June - 2009: "How Lutherans Read the Bible" Teacher: Steve Keiser, LTSP alum and Biblical Scholar.

In this five session course, we will explore the role of the Bible in our lives as Lutheran Christians.  Some of the topics we will discuss include:

• How did the Bible come to be?
• What do we mean when we say that the Bible is the Word of God?
• How can Lutheran theology guide us in reading and interpreting the Bible?
• What are some methods we use for interpreting the Bible?
• What difference is there between translations?
• What other resources can enrich our study of the Bible?
• How does one prepare to lead a Bible study?

The text we will use for this series is Opening the Book of Faith: Lutheran Insights for Bible Study, by Diane Jacobson, Mark Allan Powell, and Stanley N. Olson, the key text for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's year-long emphasis on deepening the Biblical literacy of our membership.  We will also refer to articles and websites in our exploration of this topic.

Stephen Keiser is the co-pastor of the Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion in central Philadelphia.  He is a graduate of Wheaton College (BA Philosophy) and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (MDiv, STM Old Testament).  He has been an adjunct instructor of religion at Cabrini College and of Biblical Greek at LTSP.  In addition to leading online courses, he has instructed the Faith and Leadership Academy at the seminary and has taught in the Diakonia program of Southeastern Pennsylvania. [Registration Closed]

Postponed - to be rescheduled in 2009: "Singing with Mind and Spirit: The Hymns of the Church." In Paul's first letter to the people in Corinth, he counseled them on how to sing and pray: "I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will sing praise with the spirit, but I will sing praise with the mind also." In this online course, we will study the hymns and songs of the Christian church so that we can sing them with both our mind and our spirit. Structured historically, we will consider the development of Christian assembly song, the theological content of the song, and the practical ways that hymns participate in a life of faith. Using the worship book Evangelical Lutheran Worship, we will consider hymns and songs from all times and places. Teacher: Mark Mummert, former Seminary Musician. [Contact faithandlife@ltsp.edu to be notified when the course is rescheduled.] 

Contact the Faith and Life Institute team for more information: faithandlife@ltsp.edu