Lutheran Brethren Seminary hosts J-Term every year. It is a time of training for church leaders and a chance for continuing education and renewal for our pastors in the Church of the Lutheran Brethren. Learn more and download and stream the sessions at lbs.edu.
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Tue, Mar 06, 2012
One overwhelming theme of our present culture is the theme of tolerance: nobody has any right to pass judgment on anyone else. This non-judging culture has created a non-judging Jesus in its own image. But, we must ask, is that the true Jesus?
Tue, Mar 06, 2012
We love the many names and titles of Jesus...But what about this name for Jesus? SIN. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians that, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us.”
Tue, Mar 06, 2012
His first appearance on the earth was anything but noteworthy. No fanfare, no birth announcements, no splashy headlines in the Nazareth Gazette; his birth hardly caused a ripple.
Sun, Jan 08, 2012
So in September I stood on a tranquil beach on the west side of the Pacific facing this blue sea. After spending days walking among ruins, photographing the aftermath of such a horror, it’s not hard for one’s thoughts, even on a blue-sky day, to begin to imagine what my own desperate attempts at self-preservation might have been.
Sat, Jan 07, 2012
There is something notable about the first and final words a person says. We love to hear the first words of a baby. What someone says on their deathbed also carries great significance.
Sat, Jan 07, 2012
The Christmas message has surely things in it insulting to human reason. When God wanted to bring his firstborn into the world, why did he not have arrangements made for his coming in a different way? Let a young, unmarried woman be with child, having conceived by the Holy Spirit, as we read in our confession. What an insult to reason!
Tue, Nov 08, 2011
I think every Christian desires to hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” from our Lord on the last day. But I wonder how many of us hear those words today as Law, not Gospel?
Mon, Nov 07, 2011
“Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her king!” Hearing that particular message in that particular place at that particular moment rocked me to the core.
Mon, Nov 07, 2011
Captain Smith felt invincible as the Titanic sailed in the cold icy Atlantic toward its doom. Warnings! Since the beginning of time, humankind has ignored warnings.
Sat, Sep 10, 2011
Who of us hasn’t been quick to condemn a sinner? Who of us doesn’t want others punished while we get off unscathed? And who of us, when confronted with our own sin, doesn’t first seek to blame others? I am broken by Jesus’ words and the severity of this parable.
Sat, Sep 10, 2011
The Church in mission is not merely a collection of individuals; it is a community that God calls and sets apart to demonstrate his transforming work and reign on earth, and to point toward the glorious future that awaits all who love him.
Thu, Sep 08, 2011
The facts are tough enough: 4000 or so homes in the Minot area in the water. Over 90 families from Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Brethren Church and School had homes in the flood waters. If you are thinking of coming to Minot, stop thinking and come! Come now, before winter.
Sun, Jul 03, 2011
In the last 20 years, our world and how we function in our society has changed more significantly than in the previous 100 years.
Sat, Jul 02, 2011
What were the beliefs and passions of the founders of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren? This fictional interview takes place on the day following the founding convention.
Sat, Jul 02, 2011
In North America we live in a culture permeated by various worldviews. The prevailing view of our society is that people can individually decide what is right for them, that there is no objective truth.
Thu, May 05, 2011
“Are you called?” Have you been “vocated?” Do you have a vocation? It makes sense to ask this of a monk, but according to Luther, every one of us has a vocation. Frankly, there are times when I need a vacation from my vocation.
Thu, May 05, 2011
So how do you view your profession? Who are you serving and why? Since my time as a paperboy, I have been a carpenter, youth minister, salesman, estimator, manager, and now a pastor. I am convinced that in each one of those roles, God has been working through me for his glory, even when I was not aware of it.
Thu, May 05, 2011
God’s purposes are to justify us, conform us to the image of Christ, glorify us, and lead us to walk in the good works he prepared for us. The word vocation, as we are using it, means much more than just our occupation or profession.
Tue, Mar 08, 2011
by Richard Iverson | Our family’s journey into adoption has been like a long walk. Having been blessed with four biological daughters, we had a sense that our nest (and minivan!) was full. We had no thought or plan to grow our family through adoption. But about six years ago God started working on our hearts about opening up our home to another child.
Tue, Mar 08, 2011
by Brad Pribbenow | All those who receive God’s Word and believe his promise, as Abraham did in Genesis 15:6, are made righteous like Abraham. In fact, they are not only children of Abraham, but children of God.
Tue, Mar 08, 2011
by Mark Erickson | What adoption story has more meaning and power than that of a little baby conceived in dysfunction or disadvantage who is adopted into an anxiously waiting, healthy family where that child’s basic needs are abundantly met? Try this one: The message of the Bible is that a perfectly righteous God has made the supreme effort and sacrifice necessary to welcome (adopt) rebellious sinners into his eternal family!
Sat, Jan 08, 2011
by Joel C | I’ve been involved in international outreach for almost three decades now. Along the way, I’ve come to realize that witnessing rarely, if ever, has anything to do with learning the right “techniques” or “methods” of evangelism.
Sat, Jan 08, 2011
by Harland Helland | In my 55 years in the ministry I saw how important it was for congregations, families and individuals to live their lives as witnesses and disciples of Jesus Christ.
Fri, Jan 07, 2011
by Ruth Vallevik | I began to realize that I needed to be a better listener to the voice of my Master, and then to intentionally daily yield my body—my feet and hands, my mind and my mouth—for his purposes.
Sat, Oct 30, 2010
As believers, we are called to be witnesses of Christ in our own Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Some of us literally go to a place which seems the “end of the earth” geographically. Some of us do not. But we live in a world which often brings the “ends of the earth” to us.
Sat, Oct 30, 2010
My lions show up in the morning. Their roars as they walk around the bed remind me that Tim is gone, that another day has dawned and he’s not here…
Sat, Oct 30, 2010
Does the lions’ den come to mind when you describe what you are going through at this time in your life? There are many ways to find yourself there: persecution, conflict, fear, loss or impending loss, suffering, isolation... You know the original lions’ den story. How did Daniel get there?
Thu, Sep 09, 2010
The Church of Jesus Christ has lived and ministered in a variety of contexts since its birth in the first century. However, each time has aspects that are particular to it such as: What is real? (their worldview); What is true? (their beliefs); What is good? (their values); What is done? (their behavior). We need to ask, “What are the implications of these realities for the Church’s ministry of the gospel in evangelizing, establishing, edifying and equipping?”
Thu, Sep 09, 2010
The world that we face is much like the Roman imperial world faced by the first generations of Christians. While the deities are different, the structural features of paganism are already here.
Wed, Sep 08, 2010
How do we effectively evangelize and make disciples of the people of 21st century North America? If we accept the widespread assertion that North America is a mission field, we will also come to think and act like we are on a mission field.
Fri, Jul 02, 2010
Sometimes the pastor becomes the object of our friendly fire. So what can we do to support our pastors and avoid the friendly fire?
Fri, Jul 02, 2010
The Church of the Lutheran Brethren encourages congregations to grant their pastors a sabbatical after seven years of service. As one example, Rev. Aage Larsen, pastor of Oak Ridge Lutheran Brethren Church, is currently on a three month sabbatical.
Thu, Jul 01, 2010
Pastors need to be reassured that we understand at least some of the stress they are under and that it's safe for them to ask for help.
Tue, Apr 27, 2010
Having faced bravely the trauma of combat, returning wartime veterans now face the challenge of not allowing those experiences to scar them permanently. How can the Church help meet their needs? What are their needs?
Tue, Apr 27, 2010
Too many of these young (mostly male) sailors and marines had no solid, positive male role model in their lives. Coupled with the constant indoctrination of "What's in it for me?" that permeates our culture, young military members and spouses are disappointed, frustrated, and disillusioned about what they are doing and where they are going.
Tue, Apr 27, 2010
For some reason in this present day, we have been largely content to see our returning warriors' needs as primarily mental and emotional, and thus tried to help them in those areas. I am convinced that the Church has a profound role to play in the lives of our returning warriors.
Wed, Feb 24, 2010
This year, in June, the Church of the Lutheran Brethren will experience its first Biennial Convention. The committee has been meeting since September to brainstorm and plan for the first convention of its kind.
Tue, Feb 23, 2010
I am grateful that the Church of the Lutheran Brethren convention delegates stated our mission personally, that is, in language that speaks to us individually, to our congregations and to each cluster of churches.
Tue, Feb 23, 2010
God's Story does not begin and end with the cross. It continues today and we, as his Church, are part of his story.
Wed, Dec 30, 2009
We usually discourage one another from looking back or dwelling too much upon things in the past. Our faith in God helps us keep our eyes on the finish line, but it can also be encouraging to look back and see how God has answered our prayers.
Mon, Dec 28, 2009
Does the title make you uncomfortable? Many Christian families in our day have had to face the sudden shock that comes from the announcement that an adult son or daughter is gay.
Mon, Dec 28, 2009
Lutheran Brethren Seminary's J-Term, beginning January 18th, explores the topic of homosexuality. Speakers include Dr. David Glesne, Dr. Mark Yarhouse, Rev. Dan Borsheim and Dr. Kirk Militzer.
Mon, Nov 30, 2009
It was breakfast time at Dan and Rachel's home when I arrived to ask about Christmas in Chad. I sipped tea while the kids wolfed down pancakes and warmed to the conversation. Because an early Minnesota snow had fallen that October morning, it seemed natural to me to talk about Christmas.
Mon, Nov 30, 2009
We live in a culture that, on a yearly basis, tries to flatten the remembrance of Christ's birth to the horizontal world of gift giving. But St. Luke reminds us that Christmas first had a vertical dimension - God came down to us. This fact makes the horizontal world all the more meaningful.
Mon, Nov 30, 2009
Our stores set up Christmas displays even before Halloween in hopes of encouraging a head start on Christmas shopping. We have Christmas specials on television. We have Christmas outfits and Christmas pictures, Christmas decorations and Christmas dishes, Christmas music and Christmas traditions and, of course, everyone's favorite: Christmas gifts! So as Christians, how do we handle our culture's obsession with Christmas? Do we embrace this Culture of Christmas? Do we hide from it? Do we fight it? What is the appropriate response?
Mon, Nov 02, 2009
A year or so ago, I was seeking input from Seminary professor Dr. Eugene Boe on some loose ends on the final editing of the Commentary on the Statement of Faith of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren. When we’d covered most of my questions on that project, I ventured one more question on an entirely different topic. It was a question I thought he might answer “yes” or “no,” or perhaps in a couple of minutes give a slightly more detailed answer. Instead, I received much, much more. My question: “Does the Church of the Lutheran Brethren have a theology of stewardship?”
Sun, Nov 01, 2009
How did your mom keep you quiet in church when you were young? My personal favorites were those funky and mysterious pencil-shading pictures, the ones where shading over the blank area magically revealed a picture of Jesus. Another favorite was connect-the-dots. Yep, there was nothing more satisfying than seeing those dots connect up to show a jagged picture of David and Goliath. Today I still love to play connect the dots. But now it is much trickier. The dots I try to connect are the ways that the Lord brings people and experiences together to reveal a picture of his bride, the Church.
Sun, Nov 01, 2009
At Oak Hill Lutheran Brethren Church in Bloomington, Minnesota, the mission of our stewardship ministry is to “Grow Stewards in our Congregation.” As the makeup of our church body trends younger, we feel it is God’s calling for us to show our people that stewardship is an action of the heart, not one of the wallet. It’s our commitment to grow generous givers as a faith response to God, and therefore we want to recognize generous gifts of time and talents, as well as treasure.
Thu, Aug 27, 2009
It's something that plays with each of our five senses, communicating an idea, question, or statement, and sometimes something that can't be explained. God works through art in so many ways, such as outreach, praise and worship, personal devotions and even as a Sunday morning sermon! We wanted to give artists a chance to talk about how they see God working through their art and how He has blessed them through their talent.
Thu, Aug 27, 2009
It is universally recognized that music has the power to stir us to our depths. King Saul called upon David to play the harp when he was tormented by a spirit. The prophetess Miriam sang songs of deliverance after Israel crossed the Red Sea in safety. The arts assist us in the work of teaching and proclamation, in fellowship and in the worship of God's community.
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