Preaching Series on Psalm 23
The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. (v.1) (Eph. 5:19)
He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. (v.2) (Jer.31:14)
He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. (v.3)
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (v.4) (Deut. 30:11)
History of the Early Church (Fall 2025/Winter 2026)
The scope of the course extends from the origins of Christianity up to the year 843 CE, a date representing the “Triumph of Orthodoxy” in the East and the end of the Carolingian revival and Treaty of Verdun in the West. Themes include: the geography of Christianity; the relation of Christian faith to its cultural settings; the relation of Christianity to other religions; the development of doctrinal and ethical positions; forms of Christian life, worship, and organization.
Time: Wednesday evenings, 7-8 pm.
Enrollment: For the zoom link, email Tom Power at thomppower@gmail.com
Course Schedule 7 Jan.-25 Mar. 2026
7 Jan. Reactions to Imperial Christianity I: Monasticism
14 Jan. Reactions to Imperial Christianity II: Schismatic & Pagan
21 Jan. The Shaping of Christian Doctrine 1: Augustine
28 Jan. The Shaping of Christian Doctrine 2: Scripture and Its Interpretation
4 Feb. Life Together: Benedictine Monasticism
11 Feb. Rise of Islam
18 Feb. NO CLASS
25 Feb. Byzantine Christianity
4 Mar. The Cappadocians
11 Mar. The Expansion of Christianity Inside and Outside the Empire
18 Mar. The Carolingians: Papacy and Empire
25 Mar. Course Summation and Legacy of the Early Church
Preaching Series on the Ten Commandments
Prelude: The Covenant of God With Us (Deut. 5:6)
Necessary Surgery (Deut. 6:4-6, 8:2) [First]
Worship (2 Tim.4:2) [Second]
Believe in Him (John 6: 29b) [Third]
Keep My Sabbaths Holy (Ezek. 20: 20) [Fourth]
God and Authority (Rom. 13: 1-2) [Fifth]
The Sanctity of Life (Gen.9: 6) [Sixth]
Love One Another (Rom. 13:8) [Excursus]
You Were Bought at a Price (1 Cor. 6: 20) [Seventh]
Everything Belongs to God (Mal. 3:8) [Eight]
The Necessity of the Cross (Eph. 4:25) [Ninth]
Everything Belongs to God (Gal. 5:24) [Tenth]
Preaching Series on the Apostles’ Creed
These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you. (Titus 2: 15) [Introduction]
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth (Is. 40:25)
And in Jesus Christ his only Son, Our Lord (Acts 2:36)
He was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary (Luke 1: 35)
Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried: He descended into hell (Math.27: 45-46)
The third day he rose again from the dead (1 Cor. 15:20)
He ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty (Acts 1:1)
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead (John 5: 23)
I believe in the Holy Ghost (Ezek. 37:6)
The Holy Catholic Church (Eph. 5: 32)
The Communion of Saints (1 John 4: 20)
The forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:11b)
The resurrection of the body (Phil. 3: 21)
Preaching Series on the Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven (Gal. 4:6)
Thy Kingdom come (2 Pet. 1: 10-11)
Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven (Math. 4:4)
Give us this day our daily bread (1 Kings 17:16)
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us (Gen. 50: 19)
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil (Gen. 22: 1a)
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory. Amen (John 10: 25b)
The Lord’s Prayer
Talk 1: The Heavenly Petitions
Talk 2: The Earthly Petitions
A free copy of the booklet, The Lord’s Prayer ed. Karen Stiller is available on request to Rev. Paul Luth (revpaulluth@gmail.com).
Reformation History Course
-The course has concluded. Watch for a future course beginning September 2025,
