Course Outline and Descriptions Lay School of Ministry

1^st Semester

Faith Formation (Friday Evening)

This course presents the Formation of Faith as a lifelong process of inquiry, dedication, practice and believing. The process of "coming to full stature of Christ" (Eph. 4:13) will be examined from two perspectives: history and psychology. First, spiritual development will be studied as it is preserved in the lives and works of early and more contemporary Christian writers. Second, the psychological aspects of sound faith development will be explored in the writing and theory of important current authors.

Old Testament (Saturday Morning)

This course seeks both to deepen the participants’ understanding of the content of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and also to provide an interpretative framework for reading Scripture in the context of local congregational life.

New Testament (Saturday Afternoon)

This course is an overview of New Testament content and context. You will have the opportunity to develop a foundation for further study in the specific Gospels and New Testament Epistles. The course is broken down into three specific areas. First semester is an overview of the Gospels and the Historical Jesus. Summer interlude is a time to prepare and write a four to six week Bible Study on one of the New Testament Epistles. Second semester will focus on the Epistles and the student prepared Bible Studies with an opportunity for participants to facilitate these learning sessions.

2^nd Semester

The Church: Its Ministry & Mission (Friday Evening)

This course focuses on the church as the assembly of believers in Jesus Christ whose life together serves God’s mission for the entire world. Particular attention will be given to practices of worship, stewardship, fellowship, education, evangelism, and social ministry as central to the church’s ministry and mission. Participants will analyze their own congregation within its geographical and societal context. This learning experience should prepare participants for subsequent ministry courses.

Old Testament (Saturday Morning)

Continuation of 1^st semester class

New Testament (Saturday Afternoon)

Continuation of 1^st semester class

3^rd Semester

Ethics (Friday Evening)

This course is an introduction to Christian ethics with a Lutheran perspective. Each student will have the opportunity to acquire general knowledge of basic ethical positions. There will be opportunity to research an ethical issue of special interest to the individual student. Scripture, books, movies and case studies will serve as documents for this study.

Church History (Saturday Morning)

The objective of this class is to provide an overview of the history of Christianity from the founding of the Church to the present. In summary, participants will see that the Church is primarily God’s mission in which God’s people are granted various roles.

Lutheran Confessions/Systematics (Saturday Afternoon)

This course provides the opportunity for participants to think theologically about the major questions of faith. Participants will also gain understanding of the Church’s historical position on such topics of faith as well as the content and context of the Lutheran Confessions (e.g., the Augsburg Confession).

4^th Semester

Worship (Friday Evening)

As an initial study of the worship of Lutheran congregations, the course will examine the liturgical assembly as the center of the church’s life and mission and focus on three of the principle structures of the liturgical system – Word, Baptism, and Communion. Attention will be give to the biblical, theological, and historical roots of congregational worship as well as to issues of contemporary liturgical practice.

Lutheran Confessions/Systematics (Saturday Afternoon)

Continuation of 3^rd semester class.

Church History: including the Augsburg Confession (Saturday Morning)

Continuation of 3^rd semester class.

5^th Semester (offered if there is sufficient enrollment)

Sacramental Worship Practices (Friday Evening)

This course provides practical knowledge and skills in planning, implementing, and leading worship. Resources for planning worship will be reviewed and participants will prepare orders of service for various occasions in the life of the congregation. To understand implementing a worship plan, participants will write reviews of worship experiences they take part in. Some time in each session will be devoted to practicing leading worship in various ways.