In reflecting on
David Lose's presentation about Finding Ourselves in the Biblical Story
, this scripture text comes to mind.
from Luther Seminary's
EntertheBible.org
Use this passage reflection to open up discussion:
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What evidence do you see of young people finding the bible irrelevant?
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How can we use the texts of scripture to bring God into the current lives of young people?
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How is the church remembering the God history
…
"Thrive: Curating Environments for Vibrant Faith Communities"
Mike King
How do we move from being programmers who do events and programs that tend to create mere connections with adolescents, to youth workers who craft environments where young people inhabit transforming space and sustained Christian formation? Serving as a curator requires deep theological reflection and an inclusive posture, along with the acquisition and development of skills to shape an environment of transformation
…
"Following Jesus in Participatory culture: Faithful Living in a World Mediated by technology"
Dr. Ryan Bolger, Part 1 above
Click HERE for Part 2
Ryan Bolger examines how the social media revolution has reshaped daily life for those in the first third of life. In addition, he explores how these cultural changes impact churches. How might Christians pursue the reign of God in these new cultures?
Here are a couple of ways you can begin to get your church talking about and practicing the shaping power of living into a child of God identity rather than a consumer one, and address the issue of cyber-bullying at the same time.
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Here is a resource that
…
by Jesse Weiss, MA senior at Luther Seminary
A Redefined Childhood
In order to embrace a “Faithful Future,” we need to understand the influence of the consumer society on faith formation. Dr. Terri Elton pointed us to the reality that Identity in American society had been based on tradition. Families went to church because that is simply what families had always been doing. Society has now shifted the place we find identity from tradition to consumption. Consumption has
…
"Cultivating a Consequential Faith in a Consumer-Driven World: From Object to Subject to Agent"
Dr. Terri Elton, Part 1 above
Click
HERE
for Part 2
In a world where bullying is the top news story and teens are becoming defined by their technology, how are today’s children and youth going to discover a Christian way of life? In this presentation, Terri Elton critiques our predominate societal understanding of human identity in light of those in the first third of life, re-examines
…
Terence Fretheim
, Elva B. Lovell Professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary, talks about prayer and relationship with God.
"God understands what a healthy relationship entails, and that means communication on the part of both parties. . . What people have to say to God in this relationship counts!"
Fretheim says that biblical understandings of prayer can show us what it means to be connected, and how to make that connection.
Fretheim will be one of the presenters at "
A Faithful Future: A Conversation
…
[Part 2 in a series. See also
Timeonomics, Part 1: Quitting Church
]
Roland Martinson, academic dean of Luther Seminary and long-time expert in children, youth and family ministry, discusses the challenges that families face when it comes to devoting time to each other and to church.
Martinson shares tips on how to make time for reflection within families and in the church community, and discusses how the stewardship of time demands our greatest efforts as stewardship leaders in today's church. …
I don't know about you, but as a family with children in school, this time of the year I get caught in the current.
Our family tries hard to be intentional about how we spend our time, who we spend our time with and what commitments we take on all year long, but this time of year it never works.
The annual transition from summer to fall feels like someone else takes over the reins at our house for about six weeks:
- Those dinners we were going to have together were eaten on the run.
- That
…
Roland Martinson, academic dean of Luther Seminary and long-time expert in children, youth and family ministry, invites you into a story of encountering a man who has decided -- with his family -- to quit church!
Martinson helps to tease out valuable lessons about how the stewardship of time demands our greatest efforts as stewardship leaders in today's church.
(This video was developed in collaboration with Luther Seminary's
Center for Stewardship Leaders
.)