Paul Zahl at Knox Theological Seminary
The Rev. Dr. Paul Zahl will be teaching a class based on his influential book, Grace in Practice: A Theology of Everyday Life, at Knox Theological Seminary in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, from July 30-August 3. The intensive, week-long course will address the real gut level and on the ground impact of grace in our lives, as it connects to our everyday relationships: from my understanding of myself and relationship to others to pastoral care and current trends in culture and society. Standing on the shoulders of Martin Luther and the Apostle Paul, Zahl leaves no stone unturned as he shows that God’s grace knows no bounds, penetrating into the darkest and most hidden recesses of our lives. God’s grace is not an abstract, merely psychological or subjective experience, it is God’s one-way-love that creatives a tangible, physical reality: the unlovable becomes the loved and through this alone comes the fruit of the Spirit. For Zahl it is important to understand that the law can never cause what it commands, only God’s grace can. This is essential not only for pastors in their relationships with congregants, but for all people, including those like me, a stay-at-home-mom in the nitty-gritty of caring for small children. All of us need to hear what Zahl says about God’s grace in everyday life, and we need to hear it continually.
Here is the schedule for the week:
Day one: Short systematic theology of grace.
Day two: The implications of grace for personal development, from the cradle to the grave.
Day three: Consideration of ethics as it connects to the theology of grace, examining how grace relates to male-female relationships as well as to parents and children.
Day four: Transition from our family to our neighbor, observing grace in practice in the world–especially in relation to criminal justice, economics, and war.
Day five (final day): The course will conclude with grace in practice in the church, focusing special attention on preaching, pastoral care, and church administration.
To register for the course contact Lori Gottshall, the registrar at Knox.
Lauren R.E. Larkin
Lauren Larkin is a graduate of Trinity School for Ministry (Ambridge, PA) where see earned an MDiv and STM focusing on Systematic Theology and Ethics with a special interest in grace, gender, and justice. She stays at home with her two boys and is currently a doctoral candidate at Johannes Gutenberg Universität. She has contributed essays to various publications, including The Gospel According to Pixar and Comfortable Words: Essays in Honor of Paul F.M. Zahl.
Filed under: Blogs, Contributors