Kirsi I. Stjerna
Ethics, Culture & Social Issues
“In the footsteps of the religious reformer Martin Luther, who called attention to the spiritual urgencies of his day, the authors in this timely volume express a critical and an expansive Lutheran voice for the urgent care of creation and the common good. The essays make a compelling point that honoring and choosing life in its different forms belongs at the center of the re-orientation and paradigm shifts with the Reformation legacy.”
History & Biography
“Martin Luther's passion for the Word and his creativity as translator have drawn ample scholarly attention. Dr. Gordon A. Jensen's discovery of Luther's decision to capitalize certain words in his Bible translation led to this delightful study that demonstrates both Luther's intentionality in communicating the gospel and his commitment to lead the reader to experience forgiveness. The book contributes to the study of the art of biblical translation and the themes of Luther's essential theology.”
Ethics, Culture & Social Issues
“Anna Madsen has a unique, prophetic voice as a Lutheran theologian. With passion and erudition, she brings Martin Luther’s liberating discovery of grace as a charge for Christian communities today to make justice happen, with hope embodied. ‘Our God is revealed in every move we make, and people are watching.”
History & Biography
“What makes this Luther biography distinct is its explicit attention to Martin Luther’s spiritual journey as a sixteenth-century person haunted by his demons and driven by his passions, and the way it presents Luther’s own voice and reflection throughout, paired with a restrained but poignant analysis that invites the reader to dig deeper. Luther is introduced as a ‘problem’ in his church context with evolving roles in which he is shaped by his relationships. He is assessed as a ‘unique phenomenon’ on the one hand, while as a flesh-and-blood human being with a temperament, strong emotions, and tragic ailments on the other. Selderhuis’s clearly written and immediately engaging narrative, with wit, offers an abundance of detail and apparatus for the reader to understand one of the most fascinating personalities in Christian history and the complexities of his Reformation hermeneutics.”
Martin Luther's Ninety-Five Theses
History & Biography
“Timothy Wengert has prepared a most helpful volume for 21st Century readers who wish to re-explore the heart of the Lutheran tradition by returning to Luther's original work and vision. What better way to assess and define Lutheran identity and theology for the new world, than starting with Luther’s first reformation treatises that effectively instigated an avalanche! Wengert's expert translations, engaging introductions, study guides, and annotations promise to equip new voices for the Lutheran church of the future.”
Theology
“Taking body as the starting point for theology sheds critical light on the dangers of body cult vs. body loathing today, and the historic dualism with its many tentacles. Elisabeth Gerle returns to the fundamentals of Christian faith: God mysteriously, yet really, present in body, and human beings' sensory experience of God in grief and delight. In this aesthetically and intellectually stimulating treatment, immersed in apt global discourse across disciplines, Martin Luther emerges as an ally for a holistic spirituality with political consequences. A unique book, written with passion.”
History & Biography
“The truth of Lutheran history in the US is complex and “curious,” as revealed through these eye-opening and honest examinations of the interactions between Black and white siblings of the Lutheran faith. The experiences and agency of Black Lutherans demonstrate the imperative for accurate naming and recording of human history. The shared Lutheran heritage of enslavement calls for critical engagement and mutual learning about the realities and promises of the Lutheran faith over the centuries. A gem and an indispensable resource!”
Discipleship & Christian Education
“The Small Catechism is Luther’s timeless contribution to the spiritual seekers. Timothy Wengert offers a new crisp translation and a contextualizing introduction to the portable and concise guide for a Christian life rooted in scriptural wisdom. With its illuminating images and annotations, the text-gem does what catechisms are designed to do: educate, orient, and inspire.”
History & Biography
“What could have been, and what (still) could be! The 1536 Wittenberg Concord–signed by the 'giants' of Wittenberg theologians, Luther, Melanchthon and Bugenhagen–presents a model for a 'sufficient' and gospel-spirited sacramental unity among the different reformation traditions. Jensen’s focused study of one of the ecumenically most inspirational documents reveals the first-generation reformation theologians’ deep desire and tireless colloquial, international labor for unity for the sake of effectively conveying the gospel of grace for the terrified consciences, and particularly so with the sacraments. The lesson for contemporary ecumenical negotiators across the board is this: a 'differentiated consensus' seems to serve the gospel proclamation the best when there is both specificity of the doctrinal issues at stake, and willingness to not let (human) wording and grammar stand on the way of grace. A precisely and sympathetically written book rich with historical narrative and lucid theological analysis, this study is an excellent tool in both ecumenical work and in classroom.”
History & Biography
“A pioneer in spiritual theology in Sweden, Karin Johannesson invites the reader on a spiritual mountaineering adventure with the Carmelite teachers and Martin Luther as the guides. Identifying the widespread experience of ‘secularization from within’ as a particular form of despair, or a demon for contemporary Christians to face, she draws from the wisdom of the desert mothers, the monastics, and the reformers of the church to imagine a way forward towards a healthy and holistic religiosity.”
Philosophy
“A Lutheran philosopher, Jennifer Dragseth uniquely advances the scholarly examination of gender and sexual difference. In search for truth on the complex question of what is a woman, Dragseth invites readers to critically engage major gender theories and to do so specifically in conversation with the thinking women who for centuries have approached the quandary of gender philosophically. This sparkling book speaks volumes of the consequential nature of philosophy and theory in the lives of women and advocacy for equality.”
Theology
“Rev. Dr. Larson speaks powerfully to the urgencies the Christian religion faces in the current fractious times. Drawing from the wisdom found in philosophy, honest consideration of the Lutheran experiences vis-à-vis power and church, and with deep appreciation of the Lutheran eschatological imagination, Larson unfolds the promise of Luther’s doctrine of the two kingdoms as a hopeful apocalyptic vision with roots in the proclamation of the Apostle Paul. This engagingly-written work with original theological analysis and arguments both educates and empowers its readers.”
History & Biography
“The Christian story opens up in beautiful, diverse faces, phases, and spaces when following the webs involving women. Tracking Christian women's involvement from the time of Jesus's first followers through the modern era, Dr. Jennifer Hornyak Wojciechowski has laid out an inviting road map to engage and teach the Christian tradition(s) from an intentionally gender-inclusive perspective. The reader of this book will be energized and delighted.”
NOTE: Only includes books currently in our catalog; not necessarily a complete list.
Theology
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