Close

Center for Biblical Studies

Home > Center for Biblical Studies

“Your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart.”

Jeremiah 15:16

Here for you.

The Center for Biblical Studies is here for you, offering preaching, teaching, and practical resources for increasing biblical knowledge, enhancing faith in Christ, and enriching the ministry of the local church.

Working collaboratively with Concordia St. Paul’s Department of Theology and Ministry, the Center offers annual events such as preaching workshops for Advent and Lent, seminars on a book of the Bible, and workshops focused on biblical stewardship. The Center also showcases the best biblical scholarship in the LCMS by hosting three-day seminars each summer featuring a guest scholar.

The Center is here for you, so that you too might find great joy and delight in the beauty and power of God’s Word.

Scroll down to learn more, access resources, and register for upcoming events.

Where Dr. Lessing Will Be This Summer

Jeremiah for Teaching and Preaching | Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Doctor of Ministry Class | May 31-June 23
Bible Study Leader for Florida/Georgia District Convention (LCMS) | St. Augustine, FL | June 16-18
Genesis | Trinity Lutheran Church | Decatur, Illinois, CTSFW Continuing Education Workshop | July 11-13
Job | St. John Lutheran Church | Dublin, Ohio, CSL Continuing Education Workshop | August 1-3
Jeremiah | Faith Lutheran Church | Mentor, Ohio, CSL Continuing Education Workshop | August 15-17

image

Church Work Tuition Guarantee

Concordia St. Paul Pre-Seminary Students to pay $0 tuition beginning Fall 2022.

Learn more about our church work tuition guarantee.

Upcoming Events

  • June 27-29, 2022 
    ON CAMPUS ONLY–Buenger Education Center at Concordia University, St. Paul

    1.5 CEU course for pastors/professional church workers: $150
    1.5 CEU course for retired pastors/lay persona: $100
    1.5 CEU for Fort Wayne vicars/fieldwork supervisors: $0

    This course will explore the historical and theological transformation of the Hebrew people from the patriarchal era to the tribal era. At the same time, we will examine the two Messianic figures in the Joseph narratives and observe their rise and fall.

    To register, contact LeeAnna Rondot at [email protected] or 260-452-2204.

    For information about dormitory housing, contact [email protected].

    For area hotels with special Concordia University rates, click here.

     

     

  • August 23, 2022
    2:00 p.m.‒5:00 p.m.
    $25
    On-Campus or Online

    Money Matters: A Three-Week Sermon Series Based on 2 Corinthians 8-9

    Money matters.

    We go to schools to become equipped to earn it. Then we spend the rest of our lives getting it. We walk around shopping malls determining how we’re going to spend it. We get caught up worrying that we won’t have enough of it. The obsession with getting more of it destroys many lives. Its absence causes endless nightmares. Some call it the root of all evil. Others call it the means for great good. But we cannot afford to ignore the reality or the importance of money.

    Neither does St. Paul. The apostle’s most thorough teaching about money is in 2 Corinthians 8 and 9. It is fitting that a stewardship emphasis be based upon these two chapters.

    Registrants receive sermons, orders of worship, Bible studies, PowerPoint, and a recording of the sessions. Sermons include:

    1. “The Macedonian Model” (2 Corinthians 8:1–9)
    2. “Hey, Big Spender!”  (2 Corinthians 9:1–7
    3. “Sowing and Harvesting” (2 Corinthians 9:8–15)

    I invite you to join us as Paul instructs both the Corinthians and us on “Money Matters”.

    Registration link to come. Email [email protected] if you wish to receive the registration link when ready.

     

  • October 28, 2022
    2:00pm-5:00pm
    $25
    On campus or online

    Description and registration link to come. Email [email protected] if you wish to receive the registration link when ready.

  • January 20,2023
    $TBD
    9:00am-2:00pm
    On campus or online

    Description and registration link to come. Email [email protected] if you wish to receive the registration link when ready.

  • March 18, 2023
    $25
    On campus or online

    Description and registration link to come. Email [email protected] if you wish to receive the registration link when ready.

It’s such a blessing to have Dr. Lessing at CSP, able to offer such a valuable resource and it’s a joy for me to be part of it.

A.K., North Dakota District, LCMS

Resources from Dr. Lessing

  • Click to read Amos’ Earthquake in the Book of The Twelve.

  • Click to read Translating Instantaneous Perfect Verbs: Interpreting Isaiah 40-55.

  • Click to read A Symphony of Satire: Elijah and Jonah by Dr. Reed Lessing.

  • Click the following link to access the EBook Preaching Post-COVID: What We Learned About Sermons, Sermon Series, and Your Preaching Ministry: https://community.findmynextstep.org/preaching-post-covid/

    Written by award-winning author Rev. Dr. Justin Rossow.

  • Click here to read Dr. Lessing’s Module from Preach the Word titled “Preaching the Baptized Life“.

  • Click here to read Dr. Lessing’s article titled Yahweh versus Marduk: Creation Theology in Isaiah 40–55.

  • The Hymn Journal: A New Kind of Lenten Resource

    We’d all like the preaching of the Word in worship to take root in the rest of the week. At a time when attendance is complicated by COVID, pastors feel that need more than ever, with less time to do something about it. “When from Death I’m Free: A Hymn Journal for Holy Week” offers a flexible way to engage and resource your people beyond Sunday morning. With prayer experiments from Visual Faith™ Ministry, beloved hymns balanced by new music from LCMS singer/songwriter Kip Fox, and compelling devotions by award-winning author Rev. Dr. Justin Rossow, you’re sure to find support for individuals, small groups, and even worship planning. To access the companion podcast, explore a possible sermon schedule, or connect with the social learning group dedicated to this resource, visit https://community.findmynextstep.org/when-from-death-im-free/.

  • Click the following link to read “Upsetting the Status Quo: Preaching Like Amos”, originally published in the Concordia Journal in July 2007: https://www.csp.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Preaching-Like-Amos.pdf

Take a Moment to Listen

The Concordia Publishing House Podcast Interviews Dr. Lessing:
Zechariah
Jeremiah: Overcoming Life’s Sorrows

 

image

Click here to order Overcoming Life’s Sorrows: Learning from Jeremiah, released September 2021 by Concordia Publishing House.

 

Dr. Lessing's Publications

image

Rev. Dr. Reed Lessing, Director

[email protected]

651-603-6146

Learn more about Dr. Lessing