The Crossings Blog

Thursday Theology -full listing Crossings Film Series
  • Depth in the Faith
    Co-missioners, Last week we promised to send you an essay by Robert Bertram on the topic of faith. Here it is. Bob wrote this in 1994 for the fall edition of the LSTC Epistle, a publication of the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago where he had taught from 1983 to 1991. As you read, you’ll notice ...
  • Believing Into….
    Co-missioners, From our editor: an observation this week on a huge little thing in the text of John. Peace and Joy, The Crossings Community ________________________________________________________________ “Believing Into…” by Jerome Burce A few days ago I finally spotted something in the Greek of St. John’s Gospel that I wish I had noticed years ago. That I did so now is due entirely to a ...
  • Luther on the Sound of the Wind (John 3)
    Co-missioners, Our editor has been poking around some more in Luther’s Works. We send you something he wants to share as a follow-up of sorts to last week’s post. Peace and Joy, The Crossings Community ________________________________________________________________ Luther on the Sound of the Wind (John 3) by Jerome Burce Earlier this week a pending pericope study sent me to the American edition of ...
  • Some Thoughts on Christian Preaching
    Co-missioners, Our conference in January featured a session on preaching. Jerry Burce prepared some notes to get it started. A week or so later, these notes somehow reached an ELCA bishop who doesn’t know Crossings. He promptly asked Jerry for permission to share it with his deans. Today we make these notes available for anyone who might ...
  • Glowing Jesus, Real Sin
    Co-missioners, Matt Metevelis blessed our recent conference with a superb analysis of St. Matthew’s beatitudes. On returning home to Las Vegas he did as do we all, slipping instantly into the rhythms and habits that constitute our usual days. For Matt these habits include some steady posting on Facebook, though with a twist of sorts. Matt ...
  • Can I Get a Witness? Here I Stand
    Co-missioners, Our conference in Belleville, Illinois last month was graced by the presence of several people who were attending their first-ever Crossings event. Among them was Dr. George C. Heider, a Senior Research Professor of Theology at Valparaiso University. You’ll recognize his name, perhaps. Thanks to an invitation—some gentle arm-twisting?—from Bruce Modahl, a good friend, George ...
  • Law and Gospel in Spiritual Care
    Co-missioners, Steve Hitchcock is a member of our editorial team. Some months ago, he found today’s item in our online library and thought it worthy of fresh attention, demanding though it is. The team agreed. The author of the piece is the late Robert C. Schultz (1928-2018). Those who knew him as a friend and colleague called ...
  • Cruciger’s Hymn Revisited, A Preaching Course, A Birthday
    Co-missioners, Our editor sends three notes today, two brief, one longer. Peace and Joy, The Crossings Community __________________________________________________________________ Assorted Notes: Cruciger’s Hymn Revisited, A Preaching Course, A Birthday by Jerome Burce 1. Cruciger’s Hymn Revisited I got an altogether unexpected note from Timothy Wengert three Thursdays ago. For those not in the know, Dr. Wengert is one of America’s leading Reformation scholars, with particular expertise ...
  • The Net Made Flesh (A Not-To-Miss Rerun)
    Co-missioners, The folks who get Thursday Theology on its way to you these days spent much of last week at our 2023 Crossings conference. The days were full and ever so rich. When they were done some decompression time was of the essence. That’s why you didn’t get a post from us last Thursday. It’s also one ...
  • “Kill Me, Jesus!” Notes on a Hymn and the Woman who Wrote It
    Co-missioners, This week’s offering comes from our editor. Peace and Joy, The Crossings Community __________________________________________________________________ “Kill Me, Jesus!” Notes on a Hymn and the Woman who Wrote It by  Jerome Burce I met Elisabeth Cruciger last week. I want you to meet her too. I think she merits our high regard as the first woman theologian of the Lutheran movement. My encounter with ...