Daniel Leyrer

A list of satellite courses offered by Prof. Daniel Leyrer:

Exegesis of Hebrews 11-13
The concluding three chapters of this rich epistle focus on applying its inspired truths to the believer’s life. In chapter eleven we find the “hall of faith,” an artistic collection of Old Testament heroes of faith who show us what it means to trust in the Lord. The thought of enduring suffering as God’s loving discipline dominates chapter twelve and leads into strong exhortations for the believer never to turn his back on Jesus. With his final chapter the writer encourages Christians to remember what they have learned from their leaders as the foundation of lifelong allegiance to Christ. Participants in this course will have opportunity to mine these gems through careful exegesis. Our goals will be personal renewal through the Word and corporate growth for the congregations to whom we preach and teach these truths.

SQ course: 15 hours

Exegesis of James
James, the Lord’s brother, was inspired to write this practical and encouraging letter to Christians who were tempted to give up in their fight against persecution and accommodate their lives to the ways of the world. Under God’s blessing participants in this course will make the epistle their own through careful exegesis. Along the way we hope to focus specifically on how we preach and teach this “faith that works” to our congregations. A church like ours that rightly values its creeds must listen to James’ inspired advice: Be careful that you do not deny your creeds by your deeds. In our study we shall seek to understand the faithful balance between doctrine and practice presented in this epistle.

SQ course: 15 hours

Faithful Use of Law and Gospel in Preaching
As Christian pastors we mount the pulpit every week as ambassadors of the Lord Jesus. As Lutheran pastors we appreciate the different tasks of the law and gospel, and we seek to distinguish them rightly in our preaching. Yet, Luther’s remark that he who masters this art of distinguishing law and gospel properly is worthy to be called a Doctor of Holy Scripture has been proved accurate in our preaching careers. Sometimes we struggle. Sometimes our proclamation of law and gospel is not as clear as it could be, or as clear as we know it should be. In this course we shall seek to learn from God’s Word, from sermons of the past, and from one another what it means to employ the law and gospel faithfully in our preaching. We’ll endeavor to tie the purposes of our sermons to the purposes of the law and gospel. Both by identifying their misuse and accentuating their proper function, participants will, God willing, reconnect with law and gospel in a way that will bring power to preaching.

PI course: 4-10 hours

Pastoral Ethics from the Pastoral Epistles
What should a congregation look for in its pastor? How does a pastor examine his own faithfulness as he carries out his daily duties? Paul was inspired to write pointed directions for ministry to pastors Timothy and Titus. Participants will take an exegetical look at key Pastoral Epistle passages that deal with the pastor’s ethical duty toward confronting false doctrine, leading congregational worship, organizing the parish for service, handling money matters, and other responsibilities in ministry today. Our study of 2 Timothy will especially focus on the pastor’s responsibility in handling the gospel so as to proclaim it and preserve it. Our goal will be to have the Lord renew our servant hearts by his Word and perhaps to find in the Pastoral Epistles, as Martin Franzmann once wrote, our “own New Testament within the New Testament.”

SQ course: 15 hours
PI course: 5-10 hours

Exegesis of Hebrews 8-10
These three chapters continue the inspired writer’s theme for his letter to the Hebrews: “Christ is superior.” In chapter eight Christ is presented as the Mediator of a covenant superior to the old law covenant. Chapters nine and ten portray the Savior as the High Priest who brings a superior sacrifice in a superior tabernacle. The writer concludes the section by applying these great truths, so rich in Old Testament imagery, to the New Testament believer’s life. Participants will have the opportunity to mine these gospel gems through exegesis. Our goals will be personal renewal through the Word and spiritual growth for our congregations through the preaching and teaching that will be built on this exegetical study.

SQ course: 15 hours