Civic Life  & Faith

September 8 - October 13

Using the ELCA videos and discussion guide, we will tackle how our faith can influence our life as citizens.

The 6 videos we'll watch are available online:
ELCA Civic Life & Faith

 

Each session is self-contained - although related - so join us any Sunday you can.

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Bible Study: Revelation

Want to decipher the code in the book of Revelation? Join us in cafè Sunday mornings. 

 

Written to seven cities (one is Philadelphia), the book begins and ends with a blessing. The middle is a mess of confusing death and destruction, endurance, and waiting and hope. Let's talk about what it meant when it was written, and what it may mean now. Why did our friend Martin want it kicked out of the Bible?

 

Come for introductions at 9 and content at 9:15

Bart Ehrman's View of the Book of Revelation

Nancy Guthrie on Revelation (45-minute video)

What Happened to the 7 Churches of Revelation?

 

Bible Study: Genesis

Genesis, according to the BEMA Discipleship podcast:

Abraham, Buried in a Genealogy   (27 minutes)

Letting Go - The Call of Abraham (40 minutes)

Walking the Blood Path - God's Covenant (49 minutes)

Here I Am (53 minutes)

A Mission Realized - Isaac (38 minutes)

Jacob - Grappling with God Part 1 (36 minutes)

Jacob - Grappling with God Part 2 (38 minutes)

Jacob - Into the Pit (46 minutes)

Jacob - Out of the Pit (46 minutes)

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June & July Study

Genesis Chapters 1-11: The Preface (episodes 1-7)

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June 4

We are studying Romans 12, God's instructions for living with others. In contrast to God's rules, listen to the Hidden Brain podcast Made of Honor, which is about honor culture around the world. 

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The Gender of God

The Gender of God: the word for God in the Old Testament has a feminine ending; the Greek word in the New Testament indicates male gender. Why did the Greek word become the norm? Café continues the conversation about the treatment of women in the Bible, and attention to the translations of gender references to God. 

 

What difference does it make today? Not many churches have many women in decision-making roles, at local and national levels. Why is that important for a church to grow? Is it because we refer to God mostly as a male?

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“More women need to be thought of for senior pastor positions,” said Norma Cook Everist, pastor and professor at Warburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. In following the careers of former students, Everist noticed a trend: “A lot of our women pastors, as they become middle-aged or older, can’t get calls. Thousands of strong, older laywomen serve our congregations. Why not more older women pastors?”

 

Is there a relationship between women's issues and the gender of God as young people question the church?

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Church and State

Church and state - where we've been, where we are, where we're going. What do the Constitution and the Bible say about the relationship between these two major forces in our lives? Join us for a lively discussion that will include history, politics, and faith.

• Handful of articles on the "Render to Caesar" passage, Mark 12:17,  Matthew 22:21

• Balance of Law & Freedom  &

• Where Religious and Secular Meet

Two articles from from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints​​

What does God call the faithful to do in the secular world?

• Some insights from scripture 

• Consider the Witness of the Lutheran Church on Church & State 

• Pluralism has Life Left

• Religion & Government: Addressing Civil Religion & Christian Nationalism

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