Summer Family Camp

The account of Joseph in Genesis is one of the great narratives in the Bible, yet it includes such a laundry list of human failings that it could be pulp fiction or the script for a soap opera!  God hardly makes an appearance.  Still, Joseph's saga witnesses poignantly and unforgettably to God's providential work to sustain creation and preserve His covenant to the chosen people.

This inspirational mission-focused week will feature Pastor Bob Nordvall of Eastern European Mission Network and Shanta Saptoka, director of a shelter in Kathmandu for victims of human trafficking.  Also speaking will be Carmen Groenewold of the World Mission Prayer League who has worked at the shelter as a missionary.  Time will be spent praying and learning how to pray for these concerns, understanding how this problem is part of our culture too, and learning about mission work.

Hebrews shows us how Jesus fulfills all God’s promises in the scriptures.  As the true High Priest, Jesus is our mediator with God and he is also the true sacrifice that reconciles us and the entire world to God.  All God’s promises find their “yes” in Jesus and through Jesus we can live confident, secure, and meaningful life of discipleship.

The Bible mentions joy even more often than love.  We'll look at ways to find joy, live joy, and share joy.  Since joy is highly contagious, sharing it will be the easiest of these challenges.  My (Katrine's) confirmation verse that was prayerfully chosen for me so many years ago urges me to 'rejoices in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice!'  It is high time that I give that command some deeper thought.  One last question to kindle your interest:  How is the pursuit of joy different from the pursuit of happiness?

Luther’s theology of the cross has been an important theme for theologians and seminarians.  But what does it mean for the Christian life in practical terms?  Throughout this week, we will explore ways in which the cross helps us in all areas of life including our spirituality, worship, humor, suffering, and evangelism.

Who are we?  What has gone wrong?  What is the solution?  These world-view questions confront us on a daily basis, and the Bible's grand narrative witnesses to a missionary God who consistently moves toward His creation to heal and reclaim it for His good purpose.  In this Biblical survey of God's promised plan to heal the world through a Savior, we not only see God's faithfulness in the past, but we hear the newness of His care for us and His call to us in the present.

Theology of a liberal bent dominates mainline Protestant denominations in America such as the Lutherans (ELCA), Presbyterians, Episcopalians, etc. We will look at the origins of liberal theology in the 16th century (Erasmus, Socinianism) and then trace its development up to the present. What are the strengths of this tradition? Why is it so dominant in the mainline church? What are its weaknesses? How has it contributed to membership decline?

Pastor Dale Wolf will be preaching on the theme of Evangelizing the Lost.  On Monday night he will focus on the ministry that Peter had with the Roman Soldier, Cornelius.  This is from Acts 10.  On Tuesday, Dale will continue his messages with an overview of how we are called to evangelize as our first love in sharing Jesus with our world.

 

The story of Jacob gives us clues to this question. First, leaving home on a bad note, Jacob unexpectedly finds himself in the house of God. Then Jacob meets and falls madly in love with Rachel. He's met the woman of his dreams, but in her father he's met his match! Finally, Jacob gets down to the hard work of starting and providing for his growing family, facing the same sorts of financial pressures and family problems we know ourselves.