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Coram Deo in Las Vegas, NV

Available Sectionals:

Apocalyptic Numbers

Rev. Timothy Pauls
What’s up with those numbers in the book of Revelation? If your school locker is 666, should you ask for a different one? Are there really going to be seven years of tribulation and a 1,000-year millennium before the end of the world? And are you among the 144,000? What do the all the numbers mean? Join Pastor Pauls as we spend some time unraveling the mystery behind the numbers of Revelation and learning how they point to Christ. Pastor Pauls serves Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Boise, ID and is the former Editor of Higher Things Magazine.

Before God in the Liturgy

Mr. Jonathan Kohlmeier
In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—that’s how we stand before God in the Divine Service. Come find out how we are “Coram Deo” in the church’s worship, whether we are standing, sitting, or kneeling. We’ll walk through the liturgy and order of service and see how in each part, we stand before God in Christ Jesus. Jonathan Kohlmeier is a member of Mount Zion Lutheran Church in Greenfield, WI and is the Assistant Webmaster for Higher Things. 

Being in the Word and Praying without Ceasing

Rev. Jon Sollberger
Christians may hear that to be faithful Christians, they should constantly “be in the Word”. Maybe even more often, Christians are urged to “pray without ceasing”. How can we be in the Word? Which Word should that be, and when? And how can we “pray without ceasing”, and what should we pray for? The answers to these good questions are found in the pages of our Church’s “Prayer Book”, our hymnal which provides for both daily aspects of the faithful Christian’s life: Being in the Word, and praying without ceasing. Pastor Sollberger serves Immanuel Lutheran Church in Louisville, NE.

Beyond Sadness

Rev. Christopher Amen
How is sadness and grief different from depression and other mental illnesses? Like all sicknesses and bodily imperfections, mental illness results from living in a sinful, fallen, broken creation. How can we best serve our friends and relatives suffering from depression and mental illness? How do we seek help for ourselves? In addition, we will learn about the importance Confession/Absolution and the Sacraments in these situations, and and how this care differs from other care. Pastor Amen serves Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Carson City, NV.

Blood All Over the Place

Mr. Bryce Hedstrom
Please, pastor, preach Christ. I need to hear the message of Christ crucified every week. I am sinful to my core and if I am not constantly reminded, I will begin to stray. I will begin to invent my own religion. It will happen by despair or pride. According to Scripture, a Christian preacher has but one message. In this sectional, we’ll look at passages in the New Testament that stress the centrality of Christ crucified and why that should always be the main message you hear in every sermon. Bryce Hedstrom is a member of Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Loveland, CO. He is a high school Spanish teacher.

Chanting, Chasubles, Incense and Genuflecting: Being Just Catholic and Evangelical Enough

Rev. Dr. D. Richard Stuckwisch
Lots of different congregations, with lots of different practices, some of which seem quite strange and unfamiliar. You’ve heard people suggest that such and such a practice is “too catholic,” but what is that even supposed to mean? What is a Lutheran supposed to look like, anyway? How should the Church act Coram Deo? Pastor Stuckwisch will answer some frequently asked questions about liturgical practices, as well as some other questions that you might never have considered. He’ll also do his best to answer any questions that you actually do ask about the Liturgy and worship. In short, it’s all about Jesus and His Gospel, and a confession of the one Lord, one faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all. Pastor Stuckwisch serves Emmaus Lutheran Church in South Bend, IN and is the Chaplain of the Coram Deo—Las Vegas conference.

CHRIST ON CAMPUS: Campus Ministry – Just Add Water (adults)

Christ on Campus Team
Have a college near you? Would you like to learn how to begin a campus ministry outreach at a local college on a shoestring budget? Get some help getting started from those who do it full time. This sectional is designed to be tailored to your specific campus situation and provide practical help and support.

CHRIST ON CAMPUS: College Survival 101

Rev. Marcus Zill
Life in college can be both terribly exciting and extremely frightening all at once. This sectional is designed to help you better understand the undercurrents of today’s college context, develop a framework to handle the many challenging things you will face, and give you some helpful hints as to how to choose a college and remain connected to the life of the Church during your college years. Pastor Zill serves St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church & Campus Center in Laramie, WY and is the Christ on Campus Executive for Higher Things.

Christian Apologetics: An Introduction

Rev. Ian Pacey
Have you ever been asked why you believe in God? What was your response? Have you ever been asked why you believe the Bible is God’s Word? What did you say? When people see tragedy and suffering in the world and ask the question: where is God?, what did you think? If you have heard any of these questions and would like to begin working through faithful, Christian responses, this sectional is for you. Pastor Pacey serves Catalina Lutheran Church in Tuscon, AZ and is the LCMS Campus Pastor at the University of Arizona. He is also the CCV Manager for the Coram Deo—Las Vegas conference.

Christianity, Islam, and Jesus

Rev. Dr. Steve Mueller
Many people are curious about Islam and look at its similarities and differences to Christianity. Nothing is more important than what they both say about Jesus. In this session we’ll look at Islam’s basic teachings, what they say about Jesus, and how this compares to the Christian faith. Dr. Steve Mueller is a professor of theology and Dean of Christ College at Concordia University in Irvine California.

Dating, Relationships, and THAT

Rev. George Borghardt
Young love. The butterflies. The long conversations in text and on the phone. Holding hands. Cooties. And then, there’s THAT—you know—that thing that God wants only in marriage. How do you know he’s the one for you? How do you know she is? What’s the Bible say? This sectional will take a look at dating, relationships, and THAT too. Pastor Borghardt serves Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in McHenry, IL and is the Conference and Deputy Executive of Higher Things.

Feminist, Fundamentalist, Or...?

Ms. Sandra Ostapowich
Submit, obey, be quiet. Don’t cut your hair. Don’t wear makeup. Don’t wear jewelry. Cover up. There are a lot of instructions for women in the Bible, and we really don’t like most, if not all, of them. If we rebel against them, we’re feminists. If we follow them blindly, we’re fundamentalists. So what’s the Lutheran perspective on these passages? Bring your Bibles and your questions about being a faithful Christian woman to this frank discussion of all those verses we love to hate. Sandra Ostapowich is the Conference and Retreat Coordinator for Higher Things and is a member of University Lutheran Chapel in Minneapolis, MN.

Holy Smokes!  What Do I Now?

Rev. Mark Maas
It has happened. The Lord appeared in all His glory. The angels came without a word and separated everyone. They said “stand here” and I stood. The throne was set in place, the Judge of all the earth appeared and the courtroom was set. There was a prosecutor and a defense attorney—this was IT. My name was called and the books were opened containing everything I had ever done. “Holy Smokes! What do I now?” Come and hear the answer. Pastor Maas serves King of Glory Lutheran Church in Cheyenne, WY.

Into the Wardrobe: Jesus in Narnia?

Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz
C.S. Lewis once said that one of the chief reasons he wrote the Chronicles of Narnia was to “sneak past those watchful dragons” of unbelief. And there’s no better dragon-slayer than Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. He’s the real Lion to whom Aslan and all of the Narnian tales point. We’ll travel into the wardrobe to Lewis’ world of Narnia where we will meet Aslan and explore the Christ-centered life of Narnia, so that knowing Aslan for a little, we may learn to know him better in the real world, by His true name, Jesus Christ. Pastor Schuldheisz serves Redeemer Lutheran Church in Huntington Beach, CA.

Jesus vs. the Jehovah’s Witnesses

Rev. Eric Lange
Why in the world isn’t it obvious to Jehovah’s Witnesses that Jesus is God? Why would anyone want to deny this basic biblical truth? Learn why it’s important for you to know that Jesus is Jehovah, the ways that Jehovah’s Witnesses respond to traditional proofs that Jesus is God, and how to talk to them about the true Jesus when they come knocking. Pastor Lange serves Redeemer Lutheran Church in Gresham, OR, and is a former Jehovah’s Witness.

Like the Face of God: Seeing Christ in Esau

Rev. Nathan Dudley
He traded his great birthright for a bowl of stew. He wanted to murder his twin brother. The writer of Hebrews calls him a godless and immoral man. What can one of the Bible’s most notorious villains tell us about Jesus and our relationship to him? A lot more you might think. Pastor Dudley serves St. Paul Lutheran Church in Yorktown, IA

Living in a Pornographic Culture

Rev. Michael Joynt
God’s Word teaches that sexuality is a good gift from God, intended for the enjoyment of married couples. Our culture teaches that it is a source of immediate gratification. Pornography is readily available, frequently used even by Christians, and and has a destructive effect on people. The corruption of our sexuality is revealed in what we see, what we read, the language we use, and how we dress. How should men protect themselves from this corruption? What should women expect from relationships when so many men have been corrupted? Pastor Joynt serves Calvary Lutheran Church in Yuma, AZ.

Military Service: A Christian Perspective

Rev. Joseph Murphy
Thinking about what to do after High School? Maybe you have thought about joining the military, but you have questions. Active duty or reserve? Will they pay for me to go college? (Yes!) What if I have to fight and kill someone? Can a soldier be saved? How does the 5th Commandment and Jesus’ call to love our neighbor fit with serving in the military? What is a “Just War”? Pastor Murphy serves Grace Lutheran Church in Parker, CO and has served as a chaplain in the Air National Guard for ten years.

Mormonism Exposed

Rev. Brent W. Kuhlmann
WARNING! What you’ll learn in this breakaway might just shock you! You’ve seen them walking or riding their bikes. Perhaps they’ve knocked on your door and been in your livingroom. Mormon missionaries! Are Mormons Christians? What do Mormons really believe? About God? Jesus? Salvation? And what’s that they’re wearing under their clothes? And why? Come find out. Pastor Kuhlman serves Trinity Lutheran Church in Murdock, NE and is Vice President of the Higher Things Board of Directors.

One Person, Many Hats

Rev. Sherman Stenson
Every person is uniquely equipped, prepared, and placed by God to bring Him glory through service to his or her neighbor. As Lutherans, we believe that “vocatio” (calling) goes well beyond a simple understanding of how we earn a living. What vocation(s) do you have? You may have many more than you think! Let’s look at how each of us wears many hats and lives out our several vocations in the areas of church, family, profession, and community. Pastor Stenson serves St. Paul Lutheran Church in Austin, TX.

Planning a Lutheran Wedding

Dr. Jon Eifert
Your wedding day is probably years away, but this ceremony is potentially a powerful way of sharing your faith with those who attend. Come and discover ways in which the music for your wedding can be a statement of faith made to your family and friends. Dr. Eifert is Music Director at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in San Antonio, TX, and is the organist for the Las Vegas Coram Deo Higher Things conference.

Talking to Your Non-Lutheran Friends about Jesus

Rev. Mark Buetow
Ever heard this from your non-Lutheran (but Christian) friends? “It doesn’t matter what you believe about the little stuff. What matters is that we all believe in Jesus?” What do you say to that? Come learn how every little teaching is actually connected to Jesus. You’ll also learn how to talk to your non-Lutheran friends about Baptism, Communion and other topics and to do so on the basis of Jesus and the Word of God. Pastor Buetow serves Bethel Lutheran Church in Du Quoin, IL and is the Media Executive for Higher Things.

The Emperor has No Clothes! (Part 1)

Dr. Barbara Helmkamp
Is the "Big Bang" theory bankrupt? Is it reasonable to believe that God created the universe in six days about six thousand years ago? Come and learn why you can answer “Yes!” to both of these questions in this survey of topics relating the Genesis account and cosmology. Dr. Helmkamp is a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Parker, CO. She has a Ph.D. in physics and teaches high school science at a home school co-op.

The Emperor has No Clothes! (Part 2)

Dr. Barbara Helmkamp
Is Darwin's theory of Evolution bankrupt? is it reasonable to believe that earth's rocks and fossils are only thousands, not millions or billions of years old? Come and learn why you can answer “Yes!” to both of these questions in this survey of topics relating the Genesis account and the two G's of genetics and geology. Dr. Helmkamp is a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Parker, CO. She has a Ph.D. in physics and teaches high school science at a home school co-op.

The Third Use of the Law...You Gotta Love It

Rev. Daniel Bremer
You know the Law: “Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the signs?” We know the Law condemns, Paul says so: “For I would now know what sin was unless the law told me.” But what about the Christian...can we do that Law without being condemned? What’s with this third use of the Law? How does that work? Let me explain. Pastor Bremer serves Grace Lutheran Church in Grand Island, NE.

The Threat of Baalism

Rev. Warren Graff
The prophets of Baal had an enticing message for the Israelites. Just what was the worldview the Baalists set before the Israelite, and how did it impact the him and inform how he would treat his wife, his family, and his neighbor? Does the message of Baalism impact us today? The name Baal is no longer used, of course, but the foundational doctrines of the Baal prophets are still in place. And what is the Gospel’s relief? Pastor Graff serves Grace Lutheran Church in Albuquerque, NM.

The Write Stuff

Ms. Katie Micilcavage
Today, we'll take significant steps toward solidifying the basics of writing or fine-tuning the skills you already possess. Set your sights on constructing a compelling essay- something which could come in very handy for a college or scholarship application. You could even lay the groundwork for writing a theological article for a publication like Higher Things Magazine Competent writing skills have an amazing way of broadening the possibilities in your life. Katie Micilcavage is the Editor of Higher Things Magazine. She is a member of Risen Savior Lutheran Church in Chandler, Arizona.

Trapped in a Hall of Mirrors: The Distorted Self of Homosexuality

Rev. L. Jay Reinke
In a world of illusion and distortion, the pursuit of identity and sexuality becomes endless and confusing. To this world of chaos and confusion, God speaks words of clarity and hope. While homosexuality teaches a lie—that love and self are found in the mirror—God frees us with the truth that love and self are found outside ourselves: The real you is found in Christ. Pastor Reinke serves Concordia Lutheran Church in Williston, ND.

Two Religions?

Rev. Mark Jasa
Is there any reason to be Christian rather than some other religion? It seems like there are so many choices out there. What do other people believe and who is right? What do the religions themselves claim? Join us in exploring the beliefs of others and hearing it in their own words. Pastor Jasa serves University Lutheran Chapel in Los Angeles, CA and is the LCMS Campus Pastor at UCLA.

What? You Want ME to Play the Hymns??

Dr. Jon Eifert
Leading God’s people in song is a great privilege and a great responsibility, but the shortage of organists across the country has created a challenge for many congregations. This sectional will explore some basic guidelines for keyboardists of any skill level in the basics of hymn-playing. No service playing experience is necessary. Dr. Eifert is Music Director at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in San Antonio, TX, and is organist for the Las Vegas Coram Deo Higher Things conference
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