| |
Northwest
Synod of Wisconsin
Lay School of Ministry
Monthly Themes/Topics | Reading Assignments for
Biblical and Systematics
Click here for Christian Spiritual
Formation and Worship
Pr. Kaufmann's Biblical Discussion Questions - Years One and Two
Continuing Education Topics and Readings
for 2011 - 2012 Study
Mentor Pastor Guidelines
Systematics and Biblical Topics by Month
Year One
|
Month
|
Biblical
|
Systematics
|
September |
Introduction to the Biblical story |
Introductions
& On Being a Theologian |
October |
Canonization of the Bible
"How did we get what we got?" |
The Bible as God's Word
of Law and Promise |
November |
Creation Literature |
God, Creation and Law |
December |
Following the Exodus Trail |
Human Being, Being Human and Sin |
January |
Introduction to the Gospels |
The Work of Christ |
February |
The Passion of Christ (Part 1) |
The Person of Christ |
March |
The Passion of Christ (Part 2) |
God as Triune |
April |
God's Spirit in the Bible |
The Holy Spirit |
May |
The Catholic Letters |
The Church |
Year Two
|
Month
|
Biblical
|
Systematics
|
September |
Psalms |
Prayer and The Lord's Prayer |
October |
Exilic Literature |
Baptism |
November |
1 Corinthians |
Holy Communion |
December |
Galatians |
American Lutheranism (Part 1 ) |
January |
From Exodus to Exile (Part 1 ) |
American Lutheranism (Part 2 ) |
February |
From Exodus to Exile (Part 2 ) |
World Religions (Part 1 ) |
March |
Acts |
World Religions (Part 2 ) |
April |
Apocalyptic Literature |
Vocation and Ethics (Part 1 ) |
May |
Your Biblical Questions |
Vocation and Ethics (Part 2 ) |
Monthly Reading Assignments
Year One
|
Month
|
Biblical
|
Systematics
|
September |
Introduction to the Bible story |
Introductions
& On Being a Theologian |
October |
Canonization of the Bible
"How did we get what we got?"
Sumney: Chapters 1, 2, 3 |
The Bible as God's Word
of Law and Promise
Truemper & Niedner, pp. 9-22
Kolb and Wengert, pp. 345-351, 377-386 |
November |
Creation Literature
Sumney: Chapter 4
Genesis 1-3
Psalms 3, 19,33, 100, 104 |
God, Creation and Law
Truemper & Niedner, pp. 23-52
Kolb and Wengert, pp. 351-355, 386-433 |
December |
Following the Exodus Trail
Exodus 1-20
Sumney: Chapter 5 |
Human Being, Being Human and Sin
|
January |
Introduction to the Gospels
Sumney: Chapters 10
Read your favorite Gospel |
The Work of Christ
Truemper & Niedner, pp. 53-62
Kolb and Wengert, pp 355, 434-435 |
February |
The Passion of Christ (Part 1)
Sumney: Chapter 11 |
The Person of Christ
Truemper & Niedner, pp. 63-78 |
March |
The Passion of Christ (Part 2)
Sumney: Chapter 12 |
God as Triune
Luther On the Councils and the Church
(to be distributed) |
April |
God's Spirit in the Bible
(The readings are on the worksheets
which will be handed out in March) |
The Holy Spirit
Truemper & Niedner, pp. 79-99
Kolb and Wengert, pp 355-356, 435-440 |
May |
The Catholic Letters
James, 1 Peter, 1 John,
Sumney: Chapters 16 |
The Church
|
Year Two
|
Month
|
Biblical
|
Systematics
|
September |
Psalms - Israel's LBW!
Sumney: Chapter 9
Read Psalms 1,2,22,23,51,137 |
Prayer and The Lord's Prayer
Truemper & Niedner, pp. 100-116
|
October |
By the Waters of Babylon: Exilic Literature
Sumney: Chapter 6
Isaiah 40 to 55, Lamentatons, Psalms 74, 79, 137 |
Holy Spirit and the Church
Truemper & Niedner, pp. 88-99
Luther's Large Catechism-Apostle's Creed, the Third Article.
Kolb and Wengert, pp. 355-356, 435-440 |
November |
Paul and the Corinthians
Sumney: Chapter 14
I Corinthians |
Baptism and Holy Communion
Truemper & Niedner, pp. 117-144
Luther's Large Catechism-Baptism, Communion and the Office
of the Keys, Kolb and Wengert, pp. 359-363, 371-375, 456-480 |
December |
Paul and Galatians
Sumney: Chapter 15
Galatians (on tape) |
American Lutheranism (Part 1 )
Nichol, All These Lutherans |
January |
Life in the Promised Land
Sumney: Chapters 5 & 7
I & II Samuel |
American Lutheranism (Part 2 )
Nichol, All These Lutherans |
February |
Life in the Promised Land II
Sumney: Chapter 8
I & II Kings |
World Religions (Part 1 )
(Handouts) |
March |
Acts and the Early Church
Acts
Sumney: Chapter 13 |
World Religions (Part 2 )
(Handouts) |
April |
Apocalyptic Literature
Sumney: Chapter 8 & 17
Daniel and Revelation |
Vocation and Ethics (Part 1 )
Kolden Living the Faith |
May |
No assigned readings |
Vocation and Ethics (Part 2 )
Kolden Living the Faith |
Return to the LSM
Homepage | Return
to Top of this Page
Christian and Spiritual Formation
Year One and Two
Pastor Natalie Leske
Northwest Synod of Wisconsin • Lay School of Ministry
•
|
SPIRITUAL FORMATION
YEAR ONE
September |
Introductions and Getting Started
We meet one another, receive the year’s syllabus and get introduced to the T.R.I.P. method of prayer. |
October |
Faith Formation
What do we mean by faith or spiritual formation?
How has our own faith been developing?
Frogs - Chapters 1 and 8 |
November |
Covenant Groups
Faith formation happens in community and through relationships.
Introduction to and formation of Lay School Covenant Groups.
Frogs - Chapter 3 and 9
Optional: Soul Feast - Chapter 7 |
December |
Faith Testimony
Bishop Pederson will be with us to share his faith story. |
January
Two sessions... |
Hunger and Thirst for the Spirit
Both within and beyond traditional faith communities, a hunger for spiritual depth and integrity is gaining momentum.
Soul Feast - Intro and Chapter 1
Practicing Our Faith - Chapter 1
Chewing the Bread of the Word
We will explore the nature and practice of spiritual reading.
Soul Feast - Chapter 2
Frogs - Chapter 10
|
February |
No Class for Spiritual Formation - two sessions last month... |
March |
Communication and Communion with God
Prayer is the essential expression of our relationship with God.
Soul Feast - Chapter 3 |
April |
Of Conscience and Consciousness
"Examination of the world without is never as personally painful as examination of the world within... Yet when one is dedicated to the truth this pain seems relatively unimportant." M. Scott Peck
Soul Feast - Chapters 6
Healing - Chapter 8
Optional: Soul Feast Chapter 5 |
May |
Role of Family and Congregation
The church is a living partnership between home and congregation.
Frogs - Chapters 2, 4-7 |
YEAR TWO
September |
Sabbath
We need Sabbath, even if we doubt we have time for it.
Practicing Our Faith - Chapter 6
Soul Feast- Chapter 4 |
October |
None of us ever knows for sure when we might be uprooted and cast on the mercy of others.
Soul Feast - Chapter 8
Practicing Our Faith - Chapter 3 |
November |
The Christian practice of forgiveness involves us in a whole way of life, a way that is shaped by an ever-deepening friendship with God and with other people.
Practicing our Faith - Chapter 10
Simple Ways to Pray for Healing - Chapter 4 |
December |
Faith Testimony
Bishop Pederson will be with us to share his faith story. |
January |
Mystery
Some spiritual disciplines walk closely with the mystery of God.
Soul Feast - Chapter 3 review pp. 47-55
Simply Ways to Pray for Healing - 8 |
February |
*Healing
Practicing Our Faith - Chapter 11
Simple Ways to Pray for Healing - Chapters 2, 6-7 |
March |
Discernment
Discernment is the intentional practice by which a community or an individual seeks, recognizes, and intentionally takes part in the activity of God in concrete situations.
Practicing our Faith – Chapter 5 and 8 |
April |
Service/Justice
Service on behalf of the neighbor is a calling we all share. Concern for the neighbor leads to concern for justice.
Practicing our Faith - Chapter 7
Frogs – Chapter 11 |
May |
Wrap up and Sending
Our two years together draws to a close! We'll sum things up and end with a brief service of prayer and meditation. |
|
Return to the LSM
Homepage | Return to
Top of this Page
WORSHIP • Year One
Lay School of Ministry • Northwest Synod of Wisconsin
Instructor Rev. Dr. David K. Anderson,
Immanuel Lutheran Church 715-832-7832
prdavea@gmail.com
|
|
Worship
Purpose: We will study the practice of worship in the assembly
of the faithful, attending to the biblical, historical,
theological and ritual roots of worship. Participants
will examine prinicipal rites of the church and their
contemporary usage in order to understand what constitutes
sound and faithful worship practices and understand worship
in the context of the congregation life and mission.
Required Texts:
Evangelical Lutheran Worship (pew edition)
Renewing Worship: Principles for Worship (ELCA) 2002,
Introduction to Christian Worship, James F. White (Paperback
- Jan 2001)
Syllabus
September:
Introduction and Preview |
| |
Topic: What is Worship?
Assignment for September: Ask yourselves the questions:
1. What do we do when we worship?
2. How is worship like other human endeavors?
3. How is it different?
4. Why do we (you) worship? |
October |
| |
Topic: Worship: A Practice of the Church
Assignment for October: White, pp. 17-46. |
November |
| |
Topic: The Context for Worship: Symbols and
Space
Assignment for November: White, pp. 81-102; Principles
of Worship, iv-xii, 67-96 |
December |
| |
Topic: Holy Communion: Gathering - Word
Assignment for December: White, pp. 151-173 |
January |
| |
Topic: Holy Communion: Meal - Sending
Assignment for January: White, pp. 229-262 |
February |
| |
Topic: The Rhythm of the Worship: The Church
Year: Advent - Epiphany
Assignment for February: White, pp. 47-67 |
March |
| |
Topic: The Rhythm of the Worship: The Church
Year: Lent – Christ the King
Assignment for March: White, pp. 67-80 |
April |
| |
Topic: The Rhythm of Worship: The Daily Prayer
of the Church
Assignment for April: White, pp. 131-149 |
May |
| |
Topic: The Use of the Means of Grace
Assignment for May: White, pp. 175-201; Principles
of Worship, 98-143 |
Return to the LSM Homepage | Return
to Top of this Page
|
WORSHIP
Year Two
Textbooks
|
Required Textbooks:
Evangelical
Lutheran Worship
|
September |
| |
Topic: Christian Initiation, Rites Surrounding
Baptism I
Assignment: White, pp. 203-228 |
October |
| |
Topic: Christian Initiation, Rites Surrounding
Baptism II
Assignment: |
November |
| |
Topic: Occasional Services
Assignment: White, pp. 263-276, 286-294 |
December |
| |
Topic: Rites Surrounding Healing and Death
Assignment: White, pp. 295-303 |
January |
| |
Topic: Christian Marriage
Assignment: White, pp. 276-286 |
February |
| |
Topic: Preaching (I)
Assignment: Principles of Worship, pp. 48-66 |
March |
| |
Topic: Preaching (II)
Assignment: Prepare an outline of a sermon or devotion
based on February class work. |
April |
| |
Topic: Worship and the Creation of Community
Assignment: Principles of Worship, pp. 2-22 |
May |
| |
Topic: The Future of Worship
Assignment: White, pp. 111-129; Principles of Worship, 24-46 |
|
Return to the LSM Homepage | Return
to Top of this Page
The Northwest Synod of Wisconsin’s
Lay School of Ministry
2011 - 2012Continuing Education
"Lutheran Answers to Real Questions"
Faculty - Months and Topics
|
Lutheran Answers to Real Questions
2011
Sept 9-10 Susan McArver (Southern Seminary)
Topic: Why do Lutherans make such a big deal about our baptism? What do we mean when we say that all the baptized are called to live out their vocation in the world? What does ministry in daily life look like through the many stages of our lives?
Oct 7-8 Eli Hernandez, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service
Topic: As an immigrant church, should Lutherans be a part of the national debate over immigration? Does the Biblical perspective on the “sojourner in our midst” help shape what Lutheran’s bring to the conversation? What has been our own history with immigration? Do we have an ethical perspective on the pressures that drive immigration, and the administrative bottlenecks that contribute to the rising tide of undocumented immigrants?
Nov 11-12 Carol Schersten Lahurd (LSTC)
Topic: What is the role of Lutheranism in a religiously pluralistic society? How should the ELCA relate to the varied Jewish traditions represented in the USA? What should our role be towards our Islamic neighbors? Should we work together with other faith traditions on social issues?
Dec 9-10 David Fredrickson (Luther Seminary)
Topic: What should the church say regarding the criminal justice system? Does the fact that the vast majority of people incarcerated are minorities go against our own Scriptural roots? Does criminalizing everything actually lead to a safer society? What should we say about rehabilitation of those who are incarcerated?
2012
Jan 13-14 Bishop Mark Hanson (Presiding Bishop)
Topic: What is the calling of the church, and what is the best way to organize it? As a church committed to becoming a more missional church, how should we be structured? Does the current structure of our ELCA make sense in the 21st century? What does the emerging church movement have to teach us?
Feb 10-11 Ralph Klein (LSTC)
Topic: Why do so many people fight about how to interpret the Bible? What did Martin Luther think about the Bible? Do Lutherans believe “in the Bible?” What do Lutherans have to say about inerrancy, infallibility and authority? Does the Left Behind series fit with a Lutheran understanding of the Bible?
March 9-10 Jim Martin-Schramm (Luther College)
Topic: If heaven is our home, why should Lutherans care about ecological issues? Should we get involved in current scientific debates over cosmology, evolution or genetics? Does our Lutheran confessional heritage call us to care for the earth and what humans are doing to it? Do Lutherans offer a unique perspective in the debates over the interlocking problems of global warming, energy consumption, water availability and usage, and the loss of species?
April 13-14 Gary Simpson (Luther Seminary)
Topic: Why should Lutherans care about the culture wars going on in our country? What is the vocation of the church in a polarized society? Should the church work for the common good of the society it finds itself in? Should the church be concerned about the growing economic inequality in the USA? How dangerous is the declining civic engagement and why should Lutherans care?
May 11-12 Phil Ruge Jones - (Texas Lutheran)
Topic: Why do Lutherans emphasize the theology of the cross so much? Doesn’t God want to bless us? Why do Lutherans reject the very popular “prosperity gospel” movements? Does the theology of the cross leave any room for a theology of glory? What difference does this actually make in our own lives of faith?
|
Return to the LSM Homepage | Return
to Top of this Page
LAY
SCHOOL OF MINISTRY
Pastor Greg Kaufmann's Class
THE BIBLICAL NARRATIVE YEAR ONE
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
All Readings come from "The Bible: An Introduction" by Jerry L. Sumney
|
September: Introduction to the Biblical Story
Beginning with the life of Jesus, we will work backwards
through the Biblical story. Using numerous overheads,
and a timeline your small group will create, we will
familiarize ourselves with the "high points" of
the Biblical timeline.Some representative questions
include:
- What other options did first century Jews have? What
led to the growth of apocalyptic literature? Why was
Jesus unacceptable to most of his contemporaries?What
led to the birth of Judaism after the exile? Why were
parts of the Southern Kingdom of Judah in exile? What
happened to the Northern Kingdom? Why were there two
kingdoms in the first place? Why did they have a king?
Why did the Exodus happen?What were the Israelites doing
in Egypt?
- Why did God choose a people?
October: Canonization of the Bible:
How did we get what we have in our Bibles? Sumney: Chapters
1, 2, 3
- Journal Summary: Reflect on issues raised during our
September discussion of The Story. Relate it to the story
you learned as you grew up.
November: Creation Literature
Sumney: Chapter 4
Genesis 1-3
Psalms 3, 19, 33, 100, 104
- Journal Summary: What do I mean/believe when I weekly
confess that "I believe in God the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth."
- What would change if we adopted Harry Wendt's suggestion
to add "and owner" after the word "creator?"
December: Following the Exodus Trail
Exodus 1-20
Psalms 78 & 105
Sumney: Chapter 5
- Journal Summary: We proudly point to the Reformation
as the birth of the Lutheran Church. The Exodus is the
defining event that created the people of Israel. Compare
these two events.
- What does a comparison of Psalms 78 and 105 with Exodus
suggest about the "10 plagues"?
January: The Passion of Jesus (Part 1)
Aland: Bring it to class!
Sumney: Chapter 10
- Journal Summary: React to the following statement "The
four canonical gospels are less interested in telling
their reader/auditor what happened and much more interested
in explaining how the death of Jesus could possibly
be good news."
February: The Passion of Jesus (Part 2)
Sumney: Chapters 11
Aland: Bring it to class!
Continue Reading your favorite Gospel. (If you haven't
finished it yet.)
- Journal Summary: How has your study of Jesus' arrest
and trial helped you understand the unique portraits
of Jesus in each of the four canonical gospels? Outline
your favorite gospel's account of Jesus' Passion. Why
is it your favorite?
- Outline your favoriate Gospel's account of Jesus' passion. Why is it your favorite?
- Is Luke's portrayal of Jesus' passion and crucifixion
more like John or Matthew/Mark?
March: The Four Gospel Accounts - Is that Good News?
Sumney: Chapter 12
Aland: Bring it to class!
- Journal Summary: Reflect on the church's practice of
using a three-year lectionary. Each year highlights one
of the synoptic gospels. How has this shaped your beliefs
about who Jesus is and what he did?
- What are the benefits/drawbacks of having four distinct
gospels in our NT?
April: God's Spirit in the Bible
The readings are on a series of
handouts which will be passed out at the close of the
March session.
- Journal Summary: Reflect on any surprises you discovered
as you worked through the OT and NT passages on God's
Spirit.Some scholars suggest that John portrays the Spirit
as none other than Jesus' presence after his return to
the Father. What do you think?
- How has the Spirit of God been active in your life?
May: The Catholic Letters
Read James, 1 Peter, and 1 John
Sumney: Chapter 16
- Journal Summary: No one operates with a portrait of
Jesus identical to any one of the four canonical gospels.
In our journal, reflect on how your congregation has
adapted Jesus' message to fit your situation. Which of
the Catholic letters comes closest to your congregations
adaptation?
Return to the LSM Homepage | Return
to Top of this Page
LAY SCHOOL OF MINISTRY
Pr. Greg Kaufmann's Class
THE BIBLICAL NARRATIVE - YEAR TWO
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
|
September: Psalms - Israel's LBW! Read Psalms 1,
2, 22, 23, 51, 137
Sumney: Chapter 9
- Journal Summary: Compare your own prayer life to that
exhibited in the Psalms. Do you find yourself more or
less
"reverent" in your prayer life? Why do you
think that is?
October:"Exilic Literature"
Read Isaiah 40-55, Lamentations, Psalms 74, 79,
137
Sumney: Chapter 6
- Journal Summary: Exile and the return of the remnant
to Palestine is the lens through which the Jewish community
views its theology. Baptism is our lens. Compare the
two.
- Change at any time is difficult. The experience of
Exile elicited a variety of responses from the Israelites
in Babylon and Palestine. Some confessed their past wrongdoings,
making exile inevitable. Others longed to return to the
good old days. Some just wondered whether or not God
was even out there! How does your congregation's response
to change (or yours) compare?
November: Paul and the Corinthians
Read 1 Corinthians
Sumney: Chapter 14
- Journal Summary: Paul is more important in shaping
Lutheran theology than any of the gospel writers. Do
you agree? Why or why not.
December: Paul and Galatians
Read Galatians
Sumney: Chapter 15
- Journal Summary: Parallel to Paul's task, missionary
work today faces the challenge of crossing cultural borders
and translating the gospel from one side to the other.
Where in the world today is this challenge most evident?
What kind of Paul do we need today to do the job? Which
Paul does your congregation need? Your community?
January: Life in the Promised Land - Part 1
Read 1 & 2 Samuel
Sumney: Chapters 5 & 7
- Journal Summary: Between the time of the Exodus (@1200
BCE) and the Exile (597 BCE), Israel struggled with its
relationship to God. Worship of Yahweh was only one of
many religious options. Compare this period with our
own in modern America.
February: Life in the Promised Land - Part 2
Read 1 & 2 Kings
Sumney: Chapter 8
- Journal Summary: One of the major dilemmas faced by
the Israelites was determining who spoke for God. How
did one know just what God expected out of the average
Israelite
"in the pew?" Was God more interested in an
individual's belief in God and his/her worship in the
temple, or in one's dealings with the stranger in our
midst? How does this compare to the tension in our own
church surrounding social justice issues?
March: Acts and the Early Church
Read Acts
Sumney: Chapter 13
- Journal Summary: Acts shows the struggle the early
followers of Jesus had in determining how inclusive the
church should/could be! Compare the choices made in Acts
with those made by your congregation/the ELCA.
- The Greco-Roman world was in many ways a very pluralistic
one, as is our own. How does the way Acts portrays Paul
and others dealing with this pluralism shed light on
our own struggle to deal with the pluralism in our age?
April: Apocalyptic Literature
Read Daniel and Revelation
Sumney: Chapters 8 & 17
- First the Assyrians, then the Babylonians, Persians,
Greeks, and finally the Romans romped and stomped on
Israel. One response to this experience was Apocalyptic
literature such as Daniel (written about 168 BCE) and
Revelation (written about 95 CE). How can the modern
Christian Community use these books filled with vivid
images and esoteric symbolism?
May: Your Biblical Questions
No additional readings
This will be our final meeting of the LSM. We will
spend the two hours answering any questions you wish
to pose. I look forward to this session!
|
Return to the LSM Homepage | Return
to Top of this Page
|
|
|
