The Book of Job
Taught by Rev. Dr. Mark Braun (Wisconsin Lutheran College)
January 10 - February 14, 2021

The most difficult question Christians often face in life is: If God is all-powerful, and if he loves us, why must we suffer? In the book of Job, God invites us to go with Job through his suffering and eavesdrop on the lessons he learned.

Click here for class video and handouts
 

Apocalypse Now - and Then
Taught by Rev. Dr. Paul Lehninger (Wisconsin Lutheran College)
September 20 - October 25, 2020

Plagues, civil unrest, false prophets, natural catastrophes, tension between church and state; these are all contemporary issues that trouble many Christians. They’re also nothing new. But are they signs of the end? Jesus’ prophecies of the end times and the book of Revelation provide reliable insight as to the best of times, the worst of times, and whether the end is near.

Click here for class video and handouts.

Forgiveness / Life, Death, and Faith
Led by Rev. Phil Henselin (Institutional Ministries)
August 23 & 30, 2020

Rev. Phil Henselin is the Executive Director of Institutional Ministries. This ministry has four pillars: Corrections, Healthcare, Extended Care, and Ongoing Support. Institutional Ministries serves individuals behind walls, and their families. It aids them as they re-integrate or cope in society. Pastor Phil’s personal passion and chaplaincy expertise involves First Responder support.       
 

Click here for class video and handouts.

Stinking Thinking
Led by Rev. Phil Merten (Institutional Ministries)
August 2-16, 2020

For over 30 years, Chaplain Merten has walked alongside people in their process of recovery from addiction to chemicals like alcohol and narcotics. He’s come to appreciate their labor of questioning and relearning the thought patterns they’ve gotten accustomed to. One recovery slogan says, “My best thinking got me where I am now.” It’s really the same work God gives all his people: to “demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God” and “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). We’ll look at some of the ways “stinking thinking” shows up and at the grace God gives to give us a new way of thinking.

Click here for class materials and video.

Moral Injury and PTSD
Led by Rev. Phil Henselin (Institutional Ministries)
July 12-26, 2020

Pastor Phil Henselin volunteered as a police and fire chaplain for seven years before accepting the call as Executive Director of Institutional Ministries. While doing chaplaincy, he began to offer support for First Responders who were struggling with situations causing moral and post-traumatic stress injuries. He continues to offer this support in his new role at Institutional Ministries.

Click here for class materials and video.

Masks of God: Vocation as the Setting for Human Flourishing 
Led by Rev. Dr. Michael Berg (Wisconsin Lutheran College)
May 31 - June 28, 2020

The doctrine of vocation uniquely answers the ancient question “What is the good life?” God frees the Christian from the burden of self-justification through Christ’s redeeming work. He then puts on Christians as if they were masks in order to love the world. The ordinariness of life is made extraordinary, even divine. God frees the Christian and then uses the Christian. Dr. Berg explores the notions of the good life, shalom, flourishing, and happiness to show that in vocation the Christian finds his highest calling, the truly good, flourishing, and happy life.

Click here for class materials and video.

Christian Apologetics
Led by Dr. Michael Berg (Wisconsin Lutheran College)
September 15-29, 2019

Christian Apologetics can be described as “defending the faith using reason.” The biblical mandate for apologetics comes from 1 Peter 3:15, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason (apologia) for the hope that you have.” Yet there is more to the story. Apologetics is a ministry of caring: we care about the doubts of skeptics and believers alike. While Christians cannot produce faith in dead hearts, they can knock down faulty arguments against the Christian message and make a positive argument for the Christian faith. The apologetic task is to make the case for the Christian claim and let the Spirit do the work of faith by presenting the gospel to the skeptic.

Click here for class video and handouts.

Crossing Boundaries
Led by Pastor Phil Merten (Institutional Ministries)
June 30 & July 14, 2019

When Jesus told his followers to “Make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19), that included people from all economic classes, parts of town, education levels, and religious backgrounds. But we’re going to have trouble with this command of Jesus if we don’t look beyond our comfort zone. Jesus crosses all boundaries, and he calls us to cross boundaries along with him to meet the people he loves. Join us for Bible study at 9:15 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall as Pastor Phil Merten from Institutional Ministries helps us see how we can follow Jesus’ command and cross boundaries.

Click here for class video and handouts.

The Judges and Their Times
Led by Rev. Dr. John Lawrenz
February 3 - April 14, 2019

This class explores the spiritual fabric of ancient Israel from the time that God's people entered Canaan until human kings appeared to rule them. Moses and Joshua had accepted God himself as Israel's king, but 300 years later the people wanted a king like the nations around them. Again and again the people forsook God their king to follow other gods. Again and again God sent enemies to humble the nation. When things got bad enough, the people cried out for help and God sent saviors called judges. For a time these judges brought rest. But the quality and effectiveness of the judges declined until there was no longer true rest. The period ends with the Lord keeping his promises to Abraham nevertheless.  The Lord gave Israel King David, a man after God's own heart. To David the Lord promised the greatest king of all, the God/man Jesus.  

Click here for class video and handouts.