Bible Class Schedule
and Book Group, see below.

 



House of Studies

 

Bible. From September to May there are two different 90 minute Bible studies on Wednesdays – at 10 am and 7:30 pm. Each class is 16 weeks long. There is also an eight week, 60 minute study at 9 am on Sundays, year round, that often studies the Bible. Every month there is a two page home Bible study made available.

 

Luther. From September to May the Sunday 9 am class usually includes a couple eight week classes on Martin Luther. Quotes from Luther are also included in the church newsletter articles and in the sermon notes for each Sunday.

 

Historical & Social Topics. From September to May the Sunday 9 am class periodically studies an historical topic or social matter that is germane to the Lutheran church, e.g. the causes of WWI or recent US Supreme Court decisions on prayer in public schools.

 

Book Club. From September to May a selection of five books on topics in Christianity are discussed in a two hour session on Sunday following the liturgy. Book lists from past years are posted on the church webpage – flcws.org.

 

Publications. Pastor Marshall has published over 50 peer reviewed articles in journals and magazines – as well as his 2013 book, Kierkegaard for the Church: Essays and Sermons. These works are available through the church office. Appointments can be made to discuss them with Pastor Marshall.




 




 

Sunday Education

with Pastor Marshall

 

2019-2020

9:00 to 10:00 am, Room D

 

FALL SESSION I, September 8 – October 27

Luther’s Favorite Gospel: The Gospel According to Saint John

        This eight week class will study the Gospel of John – Luther’s favorite Gospel. Worksheets will be provided before every class to guide your reading.

 

FALL SESSION II, November 3 – December 22

The Bladensburg Peace Cross: The Supreme Court on Religious Freedom

        In this eight week class we will study the recent US Supreme Court decision, The American Legion vs. American Humanist Association (June 20, 2019). In this case the Court upheld the display of a cross on public property arguing that it didn’t violate the US Constitution’s provision on the separation of church and state. Paper copies of the decision will be available.

 

WINTER SESSION, January 5 – January 26

Why God Doesn’t Change: Kierkegaard’s Famous 1855 Discourse

        In this four week class we will study Søren Kierkegaard’s 1855 discourse on the changelessness of God. We will do this by reading Pastor Marshall’s analysis of it from his book, Kierkegaard for the Church (2013).

 

SPRING SESSION I, February 2 – March 29

Back From the Dead: The Prophet Elijah and Jesus

        In this eight week class we will study portions of the saga on Elijah from the Old Testament. When Jesus was dying on the cross those standing by thought he cried out to Elijah to help him (Matthew 27:46–49). This class will explore that possible connection. Each class session will be based on a worksheet of questions handed out the week before.

 

SPRING SESSION II, April 5- May 31

Luther’s Great Treatise: On Christian Freedom

        This eight week class will study Martin Luther’s 1520 treatise on Christian freedom – on the occasion of its 500th anniversary. Our text will be the new translation and annotated text by Timothy J. Wengert (2016).

2018-2019

9:00 to 10:00 am, Room D

 

FALL SESSION I, September 9 - October 28

A Christian Battle Manual: Re-Reading the Book of Judges

       This eight week class will study the Book of Judges – not a favorite among Christians because of all of its violence. This will be done by reading through the 63 page pamphlet, A Christian Battle Manual: An Unexpected Reclamation of the Book of Judges for the Church (2005) by Pastor Marshall.

 

FALL SESSION II, November 4 - December 23

Poisoning Baptism: Luther’s View of Baptism

       In this eight week class we will study Luther’s view of Holy Baptism. It will be based on the article, “Poisoning Baptism” (The Bride of Christ, Lent-Easter, 1991) by Pastor Marshall. This class is will be the culmination of our 100th Anniversary Celebration.

 

WINTER SESSION, January 6 – January 27

A Conflict of Rights & the Cake Baker’s Freedom

       In this four week class we will study the recent US Supreme Court decision, “Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission” (June 2018). This is one the last decision written by recently retired justice, Anthony Kennedy, and it addresses the conflict between the civil right of a gay couple and the religious freedom of a cake baker. It is being called a landmark decision.

 

SPRING SESSION I, February 3 – March 31

Religious Horrors: Eight Rejected Psalms

       In this eight week class we will study eight psalms most Christians don’t know about, and if they do, they’re outraged over – Psalms 9, 39, 55, 58, 107, 109, 137, 139 and 144.

Each class session will be based on a worksheet of questions handed out the week before.

 

SPRING SESSION II, April 7- May 19

A Fast Gospel: Reading Mark, the Shortest Gospel

       This eight week class will study The Gospel of Mark. This Gospel has the latest beginning in Jesus life (with no birth or infancies stories). It also has a strange ending that will be explored.

       Each class session will be based on a worksheet of questions handed out the week before.






 





Schedule for

Wednesday Bible Classes

with Pastor Marshall


2019-2020

 

Morning 10- 11:30 am

Fall: Romans                                                   Spring: Genesis

1) Romans 1.1-32       9) Romans 9.1-33           1) Genesis 1.1-3.24           9) Genesis 28.1-30.43

2) Romans 2.1-29     10) Romans 10.1-21         2) Genesis 4.1-6.22         10) Genesis 31.1-32.32

3) Romans 3.1-31     11) Romans 11.1-36         3) Genesis 7.1-10.32       11) Genesis 33.1-36.43

4) Romans 4.1-24     12) Romans 12.1-21         4) Genesis 11.1-14.24     12) Genesis 37.1-39.23

5) Romans 5.1-21     13) Romans 13.1-14         5) Genesis 15.1-18.33     13) Genesis 40.1-42.38

6) Romans 6.1-23     14) Romans 14.1-23         6) Genesis 19.1-21.34     14) Genesis 43.1-45.28

7) Romans 7.1-25     15) Romans 15.1-33         7) Genesis 22.1-24.67     15) Genesis 46.1-48.22

8) Romans 8.1-39     16) Romans 16.1-27         8) Genesis 25.1-27.46     16) Genesis 49.1-50.26

 

Evening 7:30 - 9:00 pm

Fall: Jeremiah                                                            Spring: Acts

1) Jeremiah 1.1-2.37         9) Jeremiah 26.1-29.32        1) Acts 1.1-2.47          9) Acts 16.1-40

2) Jeremiah 3.1-5.31       10) Jeremiah 30.1-32.44        2) Acts 3.1-4.37        10) Acts 17.1-18.28

3) Jeremiah 6.1-8.22       11) Jeremiah 33.1-36.32        3) Acts 5.1-42           11) Acts 19.1-41

4) Jeremiah 9.1-12.17      12) Jeremiah 37.1-41.18        4) Acts 6.1-8.40        12) Acts 20.1-21.40

5) Jeremiah 13.1-15.21    13) Jeremiah 42.1-46.28        5) Acts 9.1-10.48      13) Acts 22.1-23.35

6) Jeremiah 16.1-19.15    14) Jeremiah 47.1-49.39        6) Acts 11.1-12.25    14) Acts 24.1-25.27)

7) Jeremiah 20.1-22.30    15) Jeremiah 50.1-51.64        7) Acts 13.1-14.28    15) Acts 26.1-27.44

8) Jeremiah 23.1-25.38    16) Jeremiah 52.1-34            8) Acts 15.1-41         16) Acts 28-1-31

 

2018-2019

 

Morning 10- 11:30 am

Fall: 1 & 2 Corinthians                                    Spring: Isaiah

1) 1 Cor 1.1-31            9) 2 Cor 1.1-24             1) Isaiah 1-4                     9) Isaiah 34-38

2) 1 Cor 2.1-3.23        10) 2 Cor 2.1-3.18          2) Isaiah 5-8                   10) Isaiah 39-41

3) 1 Cor 4.1-5.13        11) 2 Cor 4.1-5.21          3) Isaiah 9-12                 11) Isaiah 42-44

4) 1 Cor 6.1-7.39        12) 2 Cor 6.1-7.16          4) Isaiah 13-16               12) Isaiah 45-48

5) 1 Cor 8.1-9.27        13) 2 Cor 8.1-9.15          5) Isaiah 17-22               13) Isaiah 49-51

6) 1 Cor 10.1-11.33    14) 2 Cor 10.1-18           6) Isaiah 23-26               14) Isaiah 52-56

7) 1 Cor 12.1-13.13    15) 2 Cor 11.1-33           7) Isaiah 27-29               15) Isaiah 57-60

8) 1 Cor 14.1-16.24    16) 2 Cor 12.1-13.14       8) Isaiah 30-33               16) Isaiah 61-66

 

Evening 7:30 - 9:00 pm

Fall: Hab., Zep., Haggai, Zach. & Malachi        Spring: Matthew

1) Hab 1.1-2.20            9) Zech 7.1-8.23           1) Matthew 1.1-2.23         9) Matthew 14.1-15.39

2) Hab 3.1-19             10) Zech 9.1-10.12         2) Matthew 3.1-4.25       10) Matthew 16.1-17.27

3) Zeph 1.1-2.15        11) Zech 11.1-12.14        3) Matthew 5.1-48          11) Matthew 18.1-19.30

4) Zeph 3.1-20           12) Zech 13.1-14.21        4) Matthew 6.1-7.29       12) Matthew 20.1-21.46

5) Haggai 1.1-2.23     13) Mal 1.1-14                5) Matthew 8.1-9.38       13) Matthew 22.1-23.39

6) Zech 1.1-2.13        14) Mal 2.1-17                6) Matthew 10.1-42        14) Matthew 24.1-25.46

7) Zech 3.1-4.14        15) Mal 3.1-18                7) Matthew 11.1-12.50   15) Matthew 26.1-75

8) Zech 5.1-6.15        16) Mal 4.1-5                 8) Matthew 13.1-58        16) Matthew 27.1-28.20

  

 

“You cannot read in Scripture too much, and what you do read you cannot read too well, and what you read well you cannot understand too well, and what you understand well you cannot teach too well, and what you teach well you cannot live too well.”

 

                                                        Luther’s Works 60:285









 





 

With the Mind

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Readings in Contemporary Theology with Pastor Marshall

2021

 

March 14     J. M. Coetzee, The Schooldays of Jesus: A Novel (2016)

 

April 25       Jim Wallis, Christ in Crisis (2019)

 

June 6         J. M. Coetzee, The Death of Jesus: A Novel (2019)

 

July 18         Michael Curry, Love is the Way (2020)

 

August 29    Robert Kolker, Hidden Valley Road (2020)

2019-2020

 

Sept. 15    Landon Dowden, Exalting Jesus in Esther: Christ-Centered Exposition (2019).

Nov. 17     Richard LeMieux, Breakfast at Sally’s: One Homeless Man’s Inspirational Journey (2009).

Jan. 19      Tara Westover, Educated: A Memoir (2018).

Mar. 15     Matthew Levering, Dying and the Virtues (2018).

May 17     D. Bruce Hindmarch, The Spirit of Early Evangelicalism: True Religion in a Modern World (2018).

 

2018-2019

Sept. 16       Sarah Jakes, Colliding With Destiny: Finding Hope in the Legacy of Ruth (2014).

Nov. 18        Bryan Stevenson, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption (2014).

Jan. 20         George M. Marsden, C. S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity: A Biography (2016).

Mar. 17        Jacob Soll, The Reckoning: Financial Accountability and the Rise and Fall of Nations (2014).

May 19        Karen Armstrong, Fields of Blood: Religion and the History of Violence (2014).

 


2017-2018

Sept. 23     Thomas C. Oden, How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind: Rediscovering the African Seedbed of Western Christianity (2007).

Oct. 28      Martin Luther, Notes on Ecclesiastes (1527, 1532), Luther’s Works, Vol. 15.

Nov. 26     Peter Marshall, The Reformation: A Very Short Introduction (2009).

Dec. 23      Alister McGrath, The Passionate Intellect: Christian faith and the Discipleship of the Mind (2001).

Jan. 27      Michael Rota, Taking Pascal’s Wager: Faith, Evidence and the Abundant Life (2016).

Feb. 24      Greg Garrett, Entertaining Judgment: The Afterlife in Popular Imagination (2015).

Mar. 24     Thomas C. Oden, A Change of Heart: A Personal and Theological Memoir (2014).

Apr. 28      Terry Eagleton, Culture and the Death of God (2015).

May 26      Thomas C. Oden, Two Worlds: Notes on the Death of Modernity in America and Russia (1992).