What Does It Mean to Be a Lutheran Christian?

Wednesdays at Trinity at 7:00 pm.

September 6, 2006 - October 18, 2006

What Does it Mean to be a Lutheran Christian?

Course Description

What does it mean to be a Lutheran Christian? The Rev. Dan Kistler of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Pacifica will help answer this question as he leads the student through a study of Dr. Gene Edward Veith, Jr.’s book Spirituality of the Cross. The course will help the student give answers to those who ask him about what Lutherans believe and why they believe what they believe. In addition, it will help the student to appreciate more thoroughly the distinctive teachings and practices of Lutherans over and against those of non-Lutheran denominations, so that he might boldly and joyfully bear the name “Lutheran.” The course hopes to instill an understanding in the student that the word “Lutheran” is not just a name, but a confession of God’s Word.

Course Schedule

September 6 - Read pp. 9-29 (Intro and “Justification”), complete questions and answers

September 13 - Read pp. 31-53 (“The Means of Grace”), complete questions and answers

September 20 - Read pp. 55-69 (“The Theology of the Cross”), complete questions and answers

September 27 - Read pp. 70-89 (“Vocation”), complete questions and answers

October 4 - Read pp. 91-106 (“Living in Two Kingdoms”), complete questions and answers

October 18 - Read pp. 107-124 (Conclusion and Appendix), complete questions and answers

Required Text and Materials

The Spirituality of the Cross, Dr. Gene Edward Veith, Jr. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1999.

Photocopies of study questions by Rev. John T. Pless