A Case for Character: Towards a Lutheran Virtue Ethics

Dr. Joel Biermann (Professor of Systematic Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis) has written an important book entitled A Case for Character: Towards a Lutheran Virtue Ethics. I should begin by defining virtue ethics. You may have taken a course in Christian ethics that dealt with issues like abortion, euthanasia, just war, and capital punishment. Virtue ethics, on the other hand, is more interested in the routine, ordinary habits and practices that people make in daily life. Virtue ethics assumes that humans have a telos (purpose for which we are made), and that certain practices, habits, skills, and even communities will help us attain this telos better than others. Biermann argues that Lutheran theology, properly understood, is well-suited for producing people of virtue, although many argue that just the opposite is true.

Lutherans in America: A New History

This is the main textbook for one of our AFLC seminary classes, “Lutheranism in America.” Other fine histories have been used over the years for this course, and they are still good resources for studying past events as well as important personalities. The last major text, however, was published in1980, and a lot has happened within American Lutheranism since then. There was need for a more up-to-date text, to tell the story of the formation of the ELCA, for example, and this is what Dr. Granquist has provided for us.

Celebrate Jesus! At Easter: Family Devotions for Ash Wednesday through Easter

As a mother, it is very important that I strive to mentor my children in the Christian faith. However, the scope of such a task is so monumental that it can prove very daunting.

Never is this more true than during the Lenten season. Having grown up outside of the Lutheran church, the whole idea of Lent is entirely new to me. There is too much glory and truth to be distilled down into 40 days, and I easily grow overwhelmed by all of the wonderful ideas and suggestions thrown my way. Where do I even start?

Betty Lukens Flannelgraph Sets

We have used Betty Lukens Flannelgraph Deluxe Set on three continents. In each place, we have found it to be an effective Bible story teaching aid. The figures are brightly colored, the scenery back drops beautifully designed, and the amount of material for the dollar is well worth the cost. The stories are laid out in the guidebook, along with the numbers of each flannel figure needed, including the backdrop and scenery items.

The Gospel Comes with a House Key

Radically ordinary hospitality. Does this term seem oxymoronic to you? The concept that something deemed “radical” could also be described as “ordinary” is difficult to comprehend. And, further, how could hospitality be considered “radical” in the first place? In The Gospel Comes with a House Key, Rosaria Butterfield’s entire thesis rests upon this concept—Christian hospitality, when lived out in accordance to examples set forth in Scripture, will look radical in our 2020 world, but should feel ordinary as well.

Post-Christian: A Guide to Contemporary Thought and Culture

“Postmodernism” has been used frequently to describe our culture. However, this concept, which has been around for quite a while now, no longer seems to fit our society today. But what does that mean? Are we still living in a world dominated by a postmodern worldview? And if we’re not, what kind of age are we in now, and how should we as believers respond?

Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Our Minds

Women of the Word is Jen Wilkin’s approach to studying and teaching the Bible. Fond of alliteration, as so many teachers seem to be, she’s broken down the art of Bible study into Purpose, Perspective, Patience, Process, and Prayer. In a simple, down-to-earth manner,
she explains timeless concepts like “metanarrative,” “genre,” and “context.” I appreciated that she included prayer in her study structure and that she advises us to hold off on consulting commentaries until after we have thoroughly examined the passage, its context, and any cross-references we see in our Bibles.

Art and the Bible

Once again, Francis Schaeffer blew my mind and brought such joy to my heart in this book simply titled: Art and the Bible. I’ve come to love Schaeffer’s passion for truth and the way he brings to light the way we live out the lies we don’t even know we believe. His practical philosophy gets to the heart of the modern believer, and this book was no exception.

Kregel Pictorial Guide Series

Do you know . . . how the Bible came to be, what daily life was like during Bible times, or what the Jewish festivals were all about? These are just a few of the questions answered within Kregel’s Pictorial Guide series. As you can see from the list below, with so many books available within this series it might seem overwhelming at first. However, each short booklet provides simple, colorful insights to a variety of biblical topics, making each of them very interesting for both older kids and adults.