Table Talk
Do you like to get together and talk theology?
If you get excited about the Gospel, you should join us!
We get together once a month and discuss an essay from our Crossings library. There will be a different discussion leader for each session for the sake of variety and emphases.
These talks are free and we hope you will join us, but you MUST pre-register via email with Cathy Lessmann. After registering, you will receive an invitation to join our Zoom-based Crossings Table Talk.
We are thrilled to be able to connect, talk theology with you, and share in the hope of the Gospel. As you are aware, these events are free to you.
With your generous donations, we are able to offset the costs of these events and will be able to offer more opportunities for discussion and learning in the future. Thank you for your involvement in Crossings and your support in our mission!
Signup. Spread the news. See you soon!
(Tuesday at 1pm Central)
The Rev Dr Fred Niedner, retired professor of Theology at Valparaiso University: “Marrying and Burying Nones and Strays”
Nowadays we call them “occasional practitioners,” and they sometimes come to us in a time of need. We agree to conduct their weddings and funerals, and we struggle with how we might preach law and gospel to and for folks we hardly know. Their stories may not include baptism, but they surely have their share of fear, hurt, suffering, regrets, guilt, and a hunger for some word they trust we might have for them. We have precisely that–the Word made flesh.
Suggested Readings:
1. “Funeral Fails and Grace: How I Learned to Stop Celebrating Life and Preach the Gospel“ by Rev. Matthew Metevelis.
2. Marrying and Burying Nones and Strays Handout
3. “Accompany Them with Singing: The Christian Funeral.” This book is by Thomas Long. (This can be found on Amazon or at your favorite local bookstore.)
(Tuesday at 1pm Central)
Martin Lohrmann: Luther’s Faith Mysticism for Today
Table Talk Archive
Rev. Steve Albertin will lead us in what I think will be an intriguing – and fun – conversation regarding HOW we talk theologically: Language is Everything: The Challenge of Speaking the Gospel in the Trenches of the Church.
To wit, Axioms and maxims can be helpful, but do they express what we really mean? For example: “Live into your baptism.” Is that Law or Gospel? How about “Flourishing Congregations?” What does that imply about the purpose of the church?
Preaching and Teaching the Gospel in a Politically Polarized Society-led by Rev. Dr. Steven Kuhl and Rev. Dr. Michael Hoy.
Recommended readings:
- Political Preaching – by Robert Bertram
- Matthew 6:25-34
Elert’s “The Christian Faith,” Part 2 – a continuation of November’s Table Talk with Rev. Robin Lütjohann.
The recommended reading is chapter 6 of Werner Elert’s “The Christian Faith.” (This is the same recommended reading as the November 2024 Table Talk).
“Who is Jesus Christ for Us Today?“: Inspiration from the Life and Writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer led by Rev. Dr. David Krause (board, International Bonhoeffer Society)
Jesus’ Christmas gift for children and families led by Rev. Steve Albertin and Ann Diefenthaler (Steve’s wife and a retired ELCA deacon who for 35 years did faith formation ministry with children and families).
Steve and Ann will talk about telling the Christmas story to bring Christ and his benefits to children and families.
Suggested Reading: A Joyful Certainty Sermon
The Authority of Scripture: Werner Elert’s Middle Way led by Rev. Robin Lütjohann
We’ll be focusing on chapter 6 of Elert’s systematic theology, Der christliche Glaube. This chapter deals with the authority of scripture, threading the needle between a simplistic/magical belief in inerrancy and a casual liberal dismissal of the Bible’s authority. Elert shows where the emphasis lies for a confessionally Lutheran approach to the Bible’s authority in the church’s faith and life.
The Lively Use of the Liturgy: led by Rev. Amandus (Mandy) Derr
Readings: The Lively Use of the Liturgy and
Article XXIV. Of the Mass.
Objective and Subjective Justification Revisited: How best to understand these doctrines for preaching and pastoral ministry? Will everyone be saved? led by Rev. Dr. Norman Metzler
June 25, 2024
Law & Gospel are both Grace: God’s Double Reign led by Rev. Dr. Patrick Keifert
Readings: e-copy of Seminex booklet (chapters 6 & 7). Article 3 of Smalcald Article
May 21, 2024
Two Kingdoms and the Position of the Church led by Rev. Dr. Gary Simpson
How Luther helps today’s citizen: “Written on their hearts”: Thinking with Luther about Scripture, Natural Law, and the Moral Life.
April 30, 2024
Jerry Burce led the Table Talk in April. The topic was “Seminex’s Legacy in 2024: An Assortment of Reflections”. Suggested readings:
The Other Focus and Unfinished Business: A Project for Seminex-style Theology in 2024 and Beyond
by Ron Roschke”Seminex Remembered” by Edward Schroeder, edited by Michael Hoy. This is free 62-page booklet was recently published and is available upon request. Request your copy here.
March 19, 2024
Paul Jaster led March’s Table Talk on his 6-series Thursday Theologies called “A Crossings Guide to Apology IV”.
A Crosser’s Guide to Apology IV (Part One)
A Crosser’s Guide to Apology IV (Part Two)
A Crosser’s Guide to Apology IV (Part Three)
A Crosser’s Guide to Apology IV (Part Four)
A Crosser’s Guide to Apology IV (Part Five)
A Crosser’s Guide to Apology IV (Part Six)
January 23, 2024 and February 20, 2024
Seminex: Its Impact and Significance
Join a panel of alumni and friends discuss the lasting impact Seminex made on their lives and the life of the Church. Suggested Reading: “Seminex Remembered” by Edward Schroeder, edited by Michael Hoy. This is free 62-page booklet was recently published and is available upon request. Request your copy here.
For additional reading on Seminex, please note especially the following articles from our Crossings library:
Seminex Exile – Love It. Don’t Leave It
An excellent essay by Ed Schroeder on the meaning of exilic theology
The WORD for New Orleans
Bob Bertram’s brief 9-point word of warning and hope written in 1973, the year prior to Seminex
Missouri Synod/Seminex/Bethel Church in Crisis (Part 1)
Missouri Synod/Seminex/Bethel Church in Crisis (Part 2)
Art Beckman’s reflections on what all happened at Bethel Lutheran Church during the mid-1970s – how the LCMS/Seminex controversy impacted the congregation where many of the Seminex faculty worshipped
February 2024
January 2024
Table Talk: December 12, 2023
(Tuesday at 1 PM Central)
For December, we are moving our schedule up to December 12 – to help you prepare for Christmas week. We are calling it Christmas Sermon Potluck, to be led by Steve Albertin. We want to involve EVERY ONE of you, so ask you to please bring your own Christmas-sermon ideas to share.
To wit, what has worked for you in the past that you can share with the rest of us? To get us started, we are posting a few sermons.
“A Little Dirt for Christmas.” by Steve Albertin
“Luke’s Operetta: Scene 5—2001 Version” by Fred Niedner
“Fighting the Good Fight with Jesus by our Side” by James Squire
“It is what it is” by Paul Otterstein
“Joy and the Christmas Burglar” by Jerome Burce
“Lighten our Darkness” (Text Study for Luke 2:1-20) by Michael Hoy
Table Talk: November 28, 2023
(Tuesday at 1 PM Central)
We are pleased to have Rev. Dr. Matthew Becker (Professor of Theology at Valparaiso University) lead us in a discussion related to The Rise of Atheism in North America – although, as Matt comments in the trailer below, many people don’t really know what they mean when they call themselves atheists!
View a trailer for the November Table Talk
The reading for this discussion is a chapter from Matt’s new book, Fundamental Theology, 2nd ed. (Bloomsbury/T&T Clark, 2024). As Matt explained to Crossings, this second edition is quite different from the first, not least because it includes three new chapters, including the one on atheism.
However, we cannot post the chapter on our website because of publication restrictions. Nevertheless, if you plan to join the session, please write to Cathy, and she will email you a confidential copy. And thanks for being understanding.
September 26th and October 31, 2023
(Tuesday at 1 PM Central)
Rev. Robin Lütjohann is speaking on September 26th and October 31st on
What Elert can Teach the Church Today
View a trailer for the Sept/Oct Table Talk
Robin has picked Ed’s article “Think Gospel, Preach Christ!” Lessons from Elert for Today’s Church to discuss. It was posted over a 3-week period. You can read the entire article here:
Robin is pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Cambridge MA. He also co- teaches Lutheran Confessions at nearby Harvard Divinity School and was a feature speaker at our past January conference. Robin is bilingual, so he leads worship and teaches in both German and English. We are excited to have him for 2 sessions!
July 25, 2023 (Tuesday at 1 PM Central)
Dr. Fred Niedner will be discussing his article, Proclaiming the Sweet Swap’s Gift of Metanoia; How preaching can serve the church’s continual practice of shedding the false stories in and by which we live, and inhabiting Christ’s story instead.
View a trailer for the July Table Talk
June 20, 2023 (Tuesday at 1 PM Central)
Rev. Matthew Metevelis will be discussing his article “Where the Kingdoms are Held Together”: Free Institutions and the American Church’s Political Vocation. This article was first published in Word and World, Vol 43 #2, Spring 2023. Shared with permission.
You might also want to read Matthew’s Pentecost Text Study (on the Acts reading). Additionally read our recent Thursday Theology, an uncovered gem by Bob Bertram explaining our Crossings 6-steps, called “From Three to Four and Not Before.”
May 23, 2023 (Tuesday at 1 PM Central)
David Zahl, theologian and author, will be discussing his latest book, Low Anthropology. David is also the founder and director of Mockingbird Ministries, editor-in-chief of the popular Mockingbird website, and cohost of The Mockingcast.
You can find his book on Amazon or through Baker Publishing Group. Our suggested readings for this month (if you can’t finish the book in time!) are:
- David’s announcement article about Low Anthropology
- Bruce Modahl’s Thursday Theology’s review of the book
- Chad Bird’s review of the book from 1517.org
View a trailer for the May Table Talk
April 24, 2023 (Monday at 1 PM Central)
“A Law-Gospel Approach to Influencing Our Children’s Faith”
A Midsummer Reflection on Parenting, by Carol Braun
Discussion Leader: The Rev. Lori Cornell
A question to consider: How would you, as a parent, explain to your young child—in good law-gospel terms—why you are so careful about your child’s safety at the ocean?
March 28, 2023 (Tuesday at 1 PM Central)
“Proclaiming and Receiving Christ in Liturgical Worship”
Discussion Leader: The Rev Brian Stoffregen
February 28, 2023 (Tuesday at 1 PM CST)
“Telling Time, or Whose Millenium is it Anyway?”
by Robert Bertram
Discussion Leader: Steve Albertin
Telling Time, or Whose Millenium is it Anyway? -Part 2
February 28, 2023 (Tuesday at 1 PM CST)
“Telling Time, or Whose Millenium is it Anyway?”
by Robert Bertram
Discussion Leader: Steve Albertin
Telling Time, or Whose Millenium is it Anyway? -Part 1
December 13, 2022 (Tuesday at 1 PM CST)
“How I Finally Got Advent”
by The Rev Dr Jerome Burce
Discussion Leader: The Rev Dr Jerome Burce
November 15, 2022 (Tuesday at 1 PM CST)
“In Praise of Thanks”
by The Rev. Dr. Marcus Felde
Discussion Leader: The Rev. Dr. Marcus Felde
October 18, 2022 (Tuesday at 1 PM CDT)
“How the Distinction of Law and Gospel Shapes My Preaching”
by Fred Niedner
Discussion Leader: Fred Niedner
September 27, 2022 (Tuesday at 1 PM CDT)
Robert Bertram’s Dissertation: Chapter 11; The Human Subject as the Object of Theology: Luther by Way of Barth
by Robert Bertram
Discussion Leader: Matthew Becker
July 19, 2022 (Tuesday at 1 PM CDT)
“Death and ‘the Divided I’: Law, Gospel and the Reality of Death”
The Theology of Helmut Thielicke by Edward Schroeder
Death and the “Divided I”: The Law and Gospel of Dying by Matt Metevelis
Discussion Leader: Matthew Metevelis
June 21, 2022 (Tuesday at 1 PM CDT)
Robert Bertram’s Dissertation: Chapter 10; The Human Subject as the Object of Theology: Luther by Way of Barth
by Robert Bertram
Discussion Leader: Matthew Becker
May 24, 2022 (Tuesday at 1 PM CDT)
‘From “Tappert” to “TroBoc” Sola Fide’ by Robert Bertram
Discussion Leader: The Rev Dr Kurt Hendel
April 26, 2022 (Tuesday at 1 PM CDT)
“Third Use of the Law – One More Time” by Edward Schroeder
“A Third Use of the Law? Does the Formula Say That? Does the Notion Make Sense?” by Edward Schroeder
Discussion Leader: Martin Lohrmann
March 29, 2022 (Tuesday at 1 PM CDT)
“Reformation Resources: Law/Promise Hermeneutics & the Godly Secularity of Sex” by Edward Schroeder
Discussion Leader: Rev Lori Cornell
February 22, 2022 (Tuesday at 1 PM CDT)
“Confessional Allegiance and Historical Method: Conflicting Accountabilities?” by Robert W Bertram
“Informal Remarks on the Historicity of Adam” by Robert W Bertram
Discussion Leader: Rev Dr Arthur (Chris) Repp
December 14, 2021 (Tuesday at 1 PM CDT)
“Let’s Roll!” The Mission of Christ the Insurgent, A.D. 2010” by Jerome Burce.
Discussion Leader: Rev. Dr. Jerome Burce
Let’s Roll!” The Mission of Christ the Insurgent, A.D. 2010 – Part 2
December 14, 2021 (Tuesday at 1 PM CDT)
“Let’s Roll!” The Mission of Christ the Insurgent, A.D. 2010” by Jerome Burce.
Discussion Leader: Rev. Dr. Jerome Burce
Let’s Roll!” The Mission of Christ the Insurgent, A.D. 2010 – Part 1
November 16, 2021 (Tuesday at 1 PM CDT)
“Confessing the Faith” by Robert Bertram.
Discussion Leader: Rev. Dr. Michael Hoy
October 26, 2021 (Tuesday at 1 PM CDT)
“Freedom Under Law” by Robert Bertram.
Discussion Leaders: Rev. Dr. Steven Kuhl
September 28, 2021 (Tuesday at 1 PM CDT)
“Funeral Fails and Grace: How I Learned to Stop Celebrating Life and Preach the Gospel” by Rev. Matthew Metevelis.
The second reading is: “Memento Mori“ (Thursday Theology June 28, 2007) by Edward Schroeder. Ed includes a Memorial Funeral “The Last Passage” preached by Fred Niedner.
Discussion Leaders: Rev. Matthew Metevelis and Rev. Dr. Fred Niedner
July 27, 2021 (Tuesday at 1 PM CDT)
“Preaching the Prognosis: Keeping the Gospel in Good Works” by Steve Hitchcock.
Discussion Leaders: Steve Hitchcock, Rev. Candice Wassell and Rev. Dr. Bruce Modahl
June 22, 2021 (Tuesday at 1 PM CDT)
“It can’t be all that bad: Why God’s Deadly Diagnosis of our Human Condition Matters” by Steven E. Albertin.
Discussion Leader: Steve Albertin and Lori Cornell
Please also take a minute to read and/or listen to the sermon “Talk to My Lawyer” by Steve Albertin. It will be part of the discussion at this month’s Table Talk.
May 18, 2021 (Tuesday at 1 PM CDT)
“How our Sins were Christ’s” by Robert Bertram.
Discussion Leader: Rev. Dr. Matthew Becker
April 20, 2021 (Tuesday at 1 PM CDT)
“The Homiletical Bind: Preaching Law and Gospel in the Congregation” by Rev. Dr. Steven E. Albertin
Discussion Leader: Rev. Dr. Steven E. Albertin
March 23, 2021 (Tuesday at 1 PM CDT)
“Is There a Lutheran Hermeneutics?” by Edward H. Schroeder
Discussion Leader: Rev. Dr. Bruce Modahl
February 23, 2021 (Tuesday at 1 PM CST)
“Ethical Implications of Military Leadership” by Robert W. Bertram
Discussion Leader: Steven Kuhl
January 26th, 2021 (Tuesday at 1 PM CST)
“The Orders of Creation—Some Reflections on the History and Place of the Term in Systematic Theology”
by Edward Schroeder
Discussion Leader: Dr. Kathryn Kleinhans
December 8th, 2020 (Tuesday at 1 PM CST)
“The Hermeneutical Significance of Apology IV” by Robert W. Bertram
Discussion Leader: Steven Kuhl
November 10, 2020, at 1 PM CST
The Miller Lectures: “Luther and the Liberation of the Laity: Part I: The Liberation They Enjoy”
and
“Part II: The Freedom They Employ” by Edward Schroeder
Discussion leader: Fred Niedner
October 6, 2020, at 1 PM CST
“The Lively Use of the Risen Lord” by Robert W. Bertram
Discussion Leader: Steve Albertin
