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Like to golf? What about cycling or hiking? Just want to enjoy wine tasting and see the sights? This adult retreat is for you. You will have many opportunities to be active and to rest on the shores of Lake Michigan. We will organize golf outings and direct you to some of the best cycling (road and trail) and hiking in Northwest Michigan – all within 20 minutes of Camp. Each evening we will meet for fellowship, dinner and a Bible study.
Everlasting Joy
On vacation in Northern Michigan, we can find many things that bring happiness to our lives… And yet, while the world chases happiness, God offers us something different. We’ll explore the difference between happiness and joy as described using the book of Philippians as our guide – and dig into the everlasting joy of the Spirit!
Rev. Craig Bickel is Sr. Pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids, MI. He also serves as the West Region Vice President of the Michigan District of the LCMS.
To Almost Every Question, the Answer is: Go to Church.
Dr. Just offhandedly dropped this nugget into a lecture at RKD a decade ago — and people are still talking about it! In a world where most folks have never gone to Church, many more have stopped going, and others only attend online, come hear why being in Church — physically, bodily, incarnationally, locatedly, communally — still matters.
Rev. Dr. Scott Bruzek has been Senior Pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Wheaton, Illinois for 26 years. His preaching, teaching, and writing have focused on the beauty and rhythm of the sacramental life that orbits Christ.
Arthur Just has been on the faculty of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, since 1984 as a Professor of Exegetical Theology. He teaches New Testament, liturgics, homiletics, catechetics, and pastoral theology. He also serves the Office of International Mission as Associate Executive Director overseeing global theological education.
Kevin Hildebrand is Cantor at Concordia Seminary and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, IN.
In the Dust of Rabbi Jesus
Jesus was a Jewish rabbi and he lived, breathed, and existed in a first-century Jewish world. Martin Luther once said, “Without this language of Hebrew there can be no understanding of Scripture, for the New Testament, though written in Greek, is full of Hebraisms.” With a rabbinical background, Dr. Chad Yeshayahu Foster, presents the teachings of Jesus in their authentic Hebraic culture and context. Have fun learning the Jewish background of our Christian faith, maybe even pick up a little Hebrew, and see some of the most familiar stories of the Bible in an entirely different light.
Rev. Dr. Chad Yeshayahu Foster is a Jewish pastor in the Lutheran Church, as well as, an ordained rabbi. Dr. Chad’s areas of specialty include First-century discipleship in the Galilee and how that should inform discipleship today; Jewish mysticism and Rabbinical thought; the Festivals/Feasts of the Bible; and making Hebrew and a middle eastern Hebraic understanding of Scripture fun and relevant for followers of the Messiah.
Dr. Chad has studied at Yeshivat Kol HaTor and the Azamra Institute in Jerusalem. In addition, he has a Master’s degree from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, a Doctorate from Trinity Theological Seminary in partnership with the University of Liverpool, and Post-Doctorate studies in Human Rights in Strasbourg, France. He has published ten books and taught as an adjunct professor of theology for over a decade. Dr. Chad has received ordination from the United Messianic Jewish Assembly (UMJA) and has served on the UMJA Beit Din. Currently, Dr. Chad is the Senior Pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and School in Macomb, MI.
Terrible Parables: A Deep Dive into Jesus’ Toughest Teachings
Did Jesus teach in parables to make things clearer or to confuse his hearers? His intentions aren’t always plain and direct. His parables can be perplexing, and quite terrible. We will learn why Jesus used parables to clarify and confound. Together we’ll study parables, to better understand this method of teaching.
Scott Keith is the Executive Director of 1517 and Adjunct Professor of Theology at Concordia University, Irvine, as well as a co-host of The Thinking Fellows Podcast and a contributor to 1517 and Christ Hold Fast. He is also the author of “Being Dad: Father as a Picture of God’s Grace.” He earned his doctorate from Foundation House Oxford, under the sponsorship of the Graduate Theological Foundation, studying under Dr. James A. Nestingen.
Mark’s Gospel: Rehearsing the Reign of God
Mark’s Gospel was written to be heard all at once, in the amount of time we devote to watching a movie. It was presented to a small group by a storyteller, probably from memory, full of action and emotion. Zeigler will rehearse this experience with you in five sessions. Sit back and listen—do not try to read along. Let the rule and reign of God verbally engage you in the crucified and risen Jesus.
Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler is the 10th Speaker of The Lutheran Hour, LHM, in St. Louis, MO. Prior to this role, he served as pastor of Epiphany Lutheran Church (2014-2018) and assistant pastor at Timothy Lutheran Church (2012-2014), both in St. Louis. Before becoming a pastor, he served as an aircraft maintenance officer in the Air Force.
So Much to Chew On: Learn to Read the Bible the Way It Was Intended
Have you ever tried swallowing a steak whole? Maybe not literally, but that’s how most Christians approach reading Scripture, especially the Old Testament. Psalm 1 tells us to meditate on Yahweh’s Word, yet we don’t often take the time to truly chew on it. Like savoring a delicious meal, not only do we need the time to really digest and enjoy reading it, but we also need to set the table with the right tools to do so. Throughout the week, we’ll break down what it means to meditate on Hebrew literature and the wisdom it offers, mull over what Yahweh reveals about Himself and humanity and how that changes the way we read and the way we live. I promise that you will leave the table feeling full and eager to enjoy the meal over and over again.
Sarah Salzberg teaches Old Testament at Orange Lutheran High School in Orange County, CA. In addition, she has served as a planner and theological advisor for the LCMS Youth Gathering as well as a speaker for youth and women’s retreats around the country. She earned her Masters in Theology from Concordia University in Irvine, but her pride and joy will always be Concordia Seward where she earned her Bachelors in Education.
Jonathan Kohrs is Associate Professor of Music and chair of the music department at Concordia University Chicago and serves as minister of music at Grace Lutheran Church in Northbrook, IL.
The Force of Love
During these angry and contentious times, Christians can easily get dragged into the so-called culture wars. We will explore some of the specific identity traps (e.g., social, ideological, and political) that divide people. Alternately, we will share the ways that Jesus Christ forms our baptismal identity and how God’s love serves as a unifying force for churches, families, and communities.
Rev. Dr. John Nunes is a pastor in Santa Monica, California and a Senior Fellow at the Center for Religion, Culture, and Democracy. Formerly, he served as the President of Concordia College NY and the President and CEO of Lutheran World Relief. He and Monique, his wife, reside in Southern California where she serves as a Director in Student Affairs at Concordia University Irvine.
I Can Relate
It is not good to be alone. The Bible tells us that from the outset. Yet, relationships can be really difficult. We will spend time together examining some personality traits and relationship characteristics that are helpful to living peacefully with others. That’s biblical, too. Along the way, we will encounter examples of virtue and vice from the relationships encountered in the Bible.
Rev. Scott Giger is the senior pastor of Cornerstone Lutheran Church, with sites in Carmel, Fishers, Indy and Eagle Creek, IN. He formerly served congregations in MI, AZ and OH. Scott and Kate are the parents of three great children and the servants of one mediocre dog.
Surrender: Jonah and the Difficulty of Doing What’s Right
Obedience is tough. Submitting our wants to the will of God and the needs of others is not easy. Instead we are tempted to flee from what’s right and rationalize it every step of the way—just like Jonah. We’ll take a fresh look at this most famous of Old Testament tales, and learn what it means (and why it matters!) to embrace a life of submission and surrender.
Rev. Matt Popovits is the Senior Pastor at St. Mark Houston in Houston, Texas. Matt is also the host of What Matters Most Radio and the Make It Simple Podcast. He’s the author of Tough Call and a forthcoming book with 1517.org. For more, head to mattpopovits.com.
On the Other Side of Empty
Empty. Unless it’s your inbox, empty is rarely what we desire. An empty bank account, social calendar, or an empty nest. Perhaps you know the ache of empty purposes or promises. Maybe you are running on empty! Throughout the Gospels, Jesus is well-acquainted with empty—whether wine, wombs, or tombs. During the week, each story we will look at assures us that, for our own empty places, the far-from-empty promises of God are more than enough.
Shelly Schwalm is a Director of Christian Education serving as University Ministry Associate at Concordia University St. Paul. She is a double alum from CSP with her DCE degree and a Master’s in Creative Writing and has also served as a Bible study leader for the LCMS Youth Gathering.
Bob Unger is the Director of Worship and Music Ministry at Resurrection Lutheran Church and School in Cary, North Carolina.
How to be a Self
Every day, in a million different ways, we are bombarded with messages about being a self. “You do you.” “Just be yourself.” “Express yourself.” There are plenty more we could list. But, what does that mean? What does it mean to be your true self? In the Gospels, Jesus argues that it is in losing yourself that you truly find who you are. Join us as we explore what that looks like.
Rev. Gabe Kasper is Lead Pastor of University Lutheran Chapel in Ann Arbor, MI. Prior to his current role, he spent 5 years as a church planter in Austin, TX. His passion for preaching and teaching has led him to speak across the country on a variety of theological, philosophical, and cultural topics. He has an MDiv from Concordia Seminary St. Louis and an MPhil from Eastern Michigan University. In his spare time, Gabe enjoys soccer, reading books, listening to punk rock, and co-hosting the Pint Glass Preachers Podcast. He and his wife Melissa have 3 great kids.
Faith, Hope, Love: Trinitarian Thinking in a Fractured World
We live in a world that feels fractured. St. Paul faced a similar situation in a Corinthian church that resembled its cosmopolitan city: arrogant, divisive, and puffed up with knowledge. Nevertheless, he says, “Live in harmony with one another.” But how can we do that in a broken world? Warren invites us to put on the trifocal lens of faith, hope, and love to see beyond division and live as ministers of reconciliation.
Rev. Warren Lattimore is a Th.D. student at Duke University. His research interests include First Article Theology and the history of African-American Lutheranism, particularly Alabama Lutheran College and Immanuel Lutheran College.
Rev. Dr. Paul Maier is a best-selling author of fiction and nonfiction and a retired Professor of History at Western Michigan University.
Bob Unger is the Director of Worship and Music Ministry at Resurrection Lutheran Church and School in Cary, North Carolina.
Renewing the Parish: Combating Loneliness with Christian Community
We’re more connected than ever, and yet many of us feel increasingly disconnected, isolated, and lonely—“alone together,” as one author put it. In our week together we’ll consider an antidote to this pervasive loneliness in an unlikely place: the revival of the traditional and time-tested notion of the church as a parish. Drawing on sources ancient and modern, we’ll see how close-knit Christian community can provide what our lonely world desperately needs.
Rev. Dr. Ryan Tinetti is pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Arcadia, author of the book Preaching by Heart, and co-host with Chip May of the podcast Campfire Conversations.
A Gateway to Grace in a World of Burnout
We all go through life with an “anthropology”–a sense of what human beings are like, our potentials and our limitations. An overly optimistic or high anthropology can breed perfectionism, anxiety, burnout, loneliness, and resentment. A more sobering or low anthropology, on the other hand, fosters hope, deep connection with others, lasting love, vulnerability, compassion, and happiness. With an array of fresh illustrations from pop culture (and lessons learned from a year-plus spent on the road talking about this subject), we’ll spend the week looking at the surprising ways that a Biblical view of human nature forms the key to a more gracious view of both others and ourselves, to say nothing of God.
David Zahl is the director of Mockingbird Ministries, co-host of the Mockingcast, and author of Seculosity and Low Anthropology. He also serves on the staff of Christ Episcopal Church in Charlottesville, VA.
Bob Unger is the Director of Worship and Music Ministry at Resurrection Lutheran Church and School in Cary, North Carolina.
Freedom from Illusions
What does it mean that we believe in a God who is present everywhere, knows it all, fixes it all, has it all, and is good in all? When you read Scripture, it reveals who our God is, and it also reveals who we are. In these sessions, we will experience the freedom that comes from not buying into the illusions of this world but clinging to the God who exceeds our expectations.
Dave McGinley is the Senior Pastor at the Lutheran Church of Webster Gardens, located in Webster Groves, MO, just outside of St. Louis. He previously served as a Mission Pastor at Trinity Galewood on the Westside of Chicago. He’s been married to his wife, Gretchen, for 14 years and they have 3 kids: Malachi (12), Raelynn (10), and Romy (8). Dave enjoys any sport that has intense competition, reading anything nonfiction, and asking big questions.
Living in Polarized Times: The Role of Spiritual Formation
American Christians are facing an unfamiliar challenge in our current moment of cultural polarization. It’s tempting to retreat into our echo chambers and cultivate anger and cynicism about our neighbors. But the gospel has transformative power in these circumstances. Apply the tried and true practices of Christian spiritual formation to anchor ourselves to Truth, defend it with genuine love and goodness, and disrupt worldly habits and patterns of interaction.
Rachel Ferguson is the Director of the Free Enterprise Center at Concordia University Chicago, Assistant Dean of the College of Business, and Professor of Business Ethics. She is an affiliate scholar of the Acton Institute and co-author of Black Liberation Through the Marketplace: Hope, Heartbreak, and the Promise of America. Her commentary has been featured at the National Review, the Christian Post, the Acton Power Blog, Discourse Magazine, Law and Liberty, EconLib, and the Online Library of Liberty.
Contending for the Faith Through the Ages
Christianity is no stranger to adversity. You have no doubt heard stories of early Christian martyrs in Rome and the bold confessions or reformers in the sixteenth century. But what about the apologists—the defenders and contenders for the truthfulness of the gospel? This session will look at the ways Christians have defended the faith over the centuries—from ancient Rome and medieval Baghdad to Enlightenment Europe and post-Christian America.
Adam Francisco is a Scholar in Residence at 1517. He earned his DPhil at the University of Oxford and has taught history, Christian apologetics, and Islamic studies at a number of universities since 2000. Adam cohosts The Thinking Fellows podcast and is the author and contributor to a number of books, including Martin Luther and Islam; Making the Case for Christianity; and The Resurrection Fact. He has published scholarly articles in journals such as The Muslim World and Concordia Theological Quarterly as well as more popular publications such as the Lutheran Witness and Modern Reformation.
Limping with God: Jacob and the Life of Discipleship
Following Jesus feels like limping after God, as Jacob did after his wrestling match with the Lord. We hobble our way through life, beset by weakness. Our discipleship is a messy business. But that’s okay. We follow a Lord who doesn’t pick the pious but calls sinners. In these presentations, we will delve into Jacob’s life, and God’s work in his life, to see how it mirrors Christ’s work in our own.
Chad Bird is a Scholar in Residence at 1517. He is the author of The Christ Key and co-host of the podcast “40 Minutes in the Old Testament.”
