These Are Written Toward a Cruciform Theology of Scripture

Nafzger, Peter H. \u27These Are Written\u27 : Toward a Cruciform Theology of Scripture. Ph.D. diss .. Concordia Seminary, 2009. 244 pp. This dissertation is an attempt to ground the Christian theology of Scripture in the trinitarian economy of salvation. Rather than approaching the Scriptures with the assumptions, concepts, and categories that have governed the modem battle for the Bible, this account locates the Scriptures in the theology of the Word of God. In the biblical narrative this Word is found in three forms: Jesus Christ is the personal form of the Word of God who was sent by the Father in the power of the Spirit for the salvation of the world. His identity and mission come together in the cross, and all that he did and said was vindicated in his resurrection from the dead. The proclamation of God\u27s deputized prophets, apostles, and preachers in the church is the spoken form of the Word of God. This form of the Word is the primary means by which God forgives sins and creates saving faith in the hearts of sinful human beings. In this context the Scriptures are most properly understood to be the written form of the Word of God. They are definitive versions of the prophetic and apostolic Word. They serve the proclamation of the Word as the only rule and norm for the preaching and teaching of the church. This foundation in the theology of the Word of God enables the church to answer more fully and consistently contemporary questions about the canon, authority, and interpretation of the Scriptures

Preaching as Symbolic Congregational Leadership

Lutherans have often thought of preaching primarily as speaking scriptural words of convicting Law and comforting Gospel to individual consciences. While this remains vitally important, a possibly neglected aspect of preaching deserves further attention: its communal nature in speaking words of Law and Gospel to the congregation corporately. How might preachers carry out the servant leadership of pastoral ministry specifically from the pulpit? After exploring corporate aspects of preaching as portrayed in the Scriptures, William Willimon\u27s new book Leading with the Sermon: Preaching as Leadership will be engaged as well as the foundational text on leadership, Reframing Organizations, by Bolman and Deal. One of the frames considered in this leadership text is the symbolic frame which attends to the corporate and often aesthetic dimension of leading a group of people. Finally, some concrete examples of corporate preaching as pastoral leadership from practitioners in the field will be considered. This session will help preachers as well as hearers of sermons to explore the corporate and aesthetic dimensions of preaching as vital to congregational leadership

Helping young designers design for children: evaluating toys and possible values

When designing for children, it remains important not only to emphasise elements such as ergonomics and usability but also values, that can be translated into pleasurable user experiences for children. While methods such as interviews are commonly used to better understand our users, interviewing children can be a challenge. Experience as part of a year project on designing toys for children highlighted that children might answer questions in a surprising way, or students might struggle to ask questions that are not suggestive. To overcome some of these difficulties, we developed a Value Matrix, that can help students to explore the various values or incentives children might have while playing. This Value Matrix can subsequently be used to scan existing toys or new concepts and translate these insights into toys that consist of a wider variety of values children like to experience in a game or toy. We evaluated this tool with 118 first year Industrial Product Design students. Our results show that the Value Matrix gives students guidance and support while designing

01-17 Pentecost 15, 15th Sunday after Pentecost, September 10, 2023.

Spark your thoughts for September 10, the 15th Sunday after Pentecost. Jessica Bordeleau hosts professors of homiletics- Dr. Peter Nafzger and Dr. David Schmitt in a discussion of the lectionary texts from Ezekiel 33:7–9, Romans 13:1–10, Matthew 18:1–20. This podcast is also available at Concordia Theology-Podcast, and all major podcast platforms Lectionary Kick-start

The Word of the Cross and the Story of Everything

Dr. Okamoto explains the idea of that the Word of the cross can explain everything

01-19 Pentecost 17, 17th Sunday after Pentecost, September 24, 2023.

Spark your thoughts for September 24, the 17th Sunday after Pentecost. Jessica Bordeleau hosts professors of homiletics- Dr. Peter Nafzger and Dr. David Schmitt in a discussion of the lectionary texts from Isaiah 55:6–9, Philippians 1:12–14, Matthew 20:1–16. This podcast is also available at Concordia Theology-Podcast, and all major podcast platforms Lectionary Kick-start

01-28 Last Sunday of the Church Year, November 26, 2023.

Spark your thoughts for November 26, the last Sunday after Pentecost. Jessica Bordeleau hosts professors of homiletics- Dr. Peter Nafzger and Dr. David Schmitt in a discussion of the lectionary texts from Ezekiel 34:11–16, 1 Corinthians 15:20–28, Matthew 25:31–46 and Psalm 95:1–6. This podcast is also available at Concordia Theology-Podcast, and all major podcast platforms Lectionary Kick-start

01-35 Third Sunday After the Epiphany

Spark your thoughts for January 21, the 3rd Sunday after the Epiphany. Jessica Bordeleau hosts professors of homiletics- Dr. Peter Nafzger and Dr. David Schmitt in a discussion of the lectionary texts from Jonah 3:1–5, 1 Corinthians 7:29–31, Mark 1:14–20, Psalm 62:1–12. This podcast is also available at Concordia Theology-Podcast, and all major podcast platforms Lectionary Kick-start

01-09 Pentecost 7, 7th Sunday after Pentecost, July 16, 2023.

Spark your thoughts for July 16, the 7th Sunday after Pentecost. Jessica Bordeleau hosts professors of homiletics- Dr. Peter Nafzger and Dr. David Schmitt in a discussion of the lectionary texts Isaiah 55, Romans 8, Matthew 13. This podcast is also available at Concordia Theology-Podcast, and all major podcast platforms Lectionary Kick-start

01-21 Pentecost 19, 19th Sunday after Pentecost, October 8, 2023.

Spark your thoughts for October 8, the 19th Sunday after Pentecost. Jessica Bordeleau hosts professors of homiletics- Dr. Peter Nafzger and Dr. David Schmitt in a discussion of the lectionary texts from Isaiah 5:1–7, Philippians 3:5–14, Matthew 21:33–46. This podcast is also available at Concordia Theology-Podcast, and all major podcast platforms Lectionary Kick-start