Lutheranism 101 - Who is Luther? (part 3 of 4)

Lutheranism 101 - Who is Luther? (part 3 of 4)
Led by Rev. Dr. Justin Nickel (Lenoir Rhyne - Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, SC)
This presentation is an introduction to the life of Martin Luther (1486-1546). Particular attention is given to his theological development and contributions, and the way these contributions still matter for 21st century Christians.
Questions to Ponder…
1. What about Luther's biography surprised you? Why so?
2. In what ways has your understanding of Luther been complicated or confirmed?
3. In what ways does Luther's understanding of faith differ from other ways you have heard the term used?
4. In what ways is Luther's definition of faith significant for our own time and place?
5. What do you do to nurture your own faith? What Lutheran resources help with this?j
6. How does Luther's understanding of freedom differ from the way we typically use the term? How is this good news?
7. Do you think primarily of yourself as an individual or member of a community? Why?
8. How do our baptism complicate this relationship?
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About the Speaker, Rev. Dr. Justin Nickel:
Ph.D., Religion and Society, Princeton Theological Seminary
M.Div., Luther Seminary
B.A., English Literature, University of Colorado, Boulder
The Rev. Dr. Justin Nickel is an assistant professor of Lutheran studies. He teaches courses in theology, Lutheran confessions and Lutheran theology and ecclesiology. Nickel joined the faculty of Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in 2020 as the first Baxter and Frances Weant Chair in Lutheran studies.
He was ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 2010 and served congregations in Colorado and Pennsylvania. Nickel’s research and teaching interests focus on Lutheran theology in its confessional, constructive and moral forms. He has a particular focus on bringing Lutheran theology to bear on contemporary ecclesiastical and social problems.
Nickel’s work is featured in Studies in Christian Ethics, The Journal for the Society of Christian Ethics and Lutheran Forum. In 2020, he published a book, The Work of Faith: Divine Grace and Human Agency in Martin Luther's Preaching.