We love to sing a variety of hymns at our conferences; this breakaway will explore the Scripture texts and composer contexts that are behind these sung confessions of faith. Bring your singing voice!

How do I care for my friends or family who are suffering from the tragic death of a loved one, illness, injury, a broken heart, or other crisis? How do I help them make sense of it? How do I make sense of my own suffering? Where is God in all of this? Why does God seem silent or distant when He is needed the most? An LCMS pastor and police chaplain will discuss these questions, and how and where to find and share Christ and the mercy of God in the midst of trauma and trial.

Debates over “Christian Nationalism” often suffer from confusion and theological imprecision. This lecture clarifies the issue by examining the Lutheran doctrine of the Two Kingdoms as taught in Scripture and the Confessions. It distinguishes Christ’s spiritual reign through Word and Sacrament from God’s governance of the civil realm through temporal authority. By addressing the proper roles of Church and state, this presentation challenges both the fusion of Christianity with national identity and the privatization of faith, equipping Christians to navigate political pressures with doctrinal clarity and vocational faithfulness.

AC 24 claims that the churches of the Wittenberg Reformation retained "nearly all the usual ceremonies" of the mass. So what, exactly, did the Lutherans' reform of the mass? What did that look like? And what does it mean for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the 21st century? The "Reformation of Worship" takes up these and many other questions as it explores key liturgical works and passages of Luther, Chemnitz, and the Confessions, with a concluding look at the instantiation of Reformation principles and practices in the Saxon Church Order of 1580. Course approach: some lecture with high level of guided student-teacher and student-student interaction.

Are witches real? In the mountain island nation of Papua New Guinea (located just north of Australia), witchcraft is a fearsome part of life. As an LCMS missionary there, Rev. Larry Matro soon got to know the people, their life experiences and stories. Rev. Matro will share his experiences in how witches affected Lutheran families in PNG, how we need to be on the alert for witchcraft in the U.S., and how God’s Word overcomes the power of the devil.

You care for the young people of your congregation but what does healthy youth ministry even look like? Seven Practices of Healthy Youth Ministry will break down critical components for youth ministry by exploring scripture, theology, research, and practice. With healthy youth ministry, we can support the ongoing faith lives of teens and young adults so they are disciples of Jesus Christ for life.

As we spend the conference discussing "Dying Church, Rising Hope," we know that we are given tools that God can use through us to reach the lost. One of those means is going against the advice to "avoid talking about religion at the dinner table." This belief has crept into Church even though it is one of main ways given in Scripture and the Confessions to share our faith with our family and teach our children to reach out with the Gospel to others. For the youth, as the future generation of parents, we can start to change this trend.

God commands prayer. Isn't He required to answer? Even though you might pray aloud or even cry, it is a silent endeavor because when we ask, there is no immediate answer. (Maybe OUR answer never comes.) Your heavenly Father is no vending machine, but is a gracious Giver in Christ. He promises all things in Him: to hear and to save. We pray and meditate on these Promises, even as we suffer. Faith prays and waits in hope, "for weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes in the morning."

Jesus' model prayer, "Our Father," is unique because He explicitly taught it to His disciples. Far from rote repetition, it covers the totality of our faith—integrating worship, surrender, daily needs, forgiveness, protection, and deliverance. Its seven petitions create a vibrant rainbow of life, from God's glory and coming kingdom to our battles against evil. In a world of joy and struggle, it answers our biggest questions: Who are we (beloved children of the Father)? Why are we here (to honor His name and do His will)? Where are we going (toward His eternal kingdom)? This 45-minute session spends time each petition, followed by some time of Q&A on the Lord's Prayer and prayer in real life. Come discover how to pray not as orphans, but as children held safely in the Father's hands.

Doubt crept into the apostles' hearts, but we're afraid of what it means if we find it in our own. The devil sets a trap to leave you feeling alone, cut off from the Christians around you who don't seem to struggle like you. Some things aren't getting better, and it feels like if there is a God, He doesn't seem to care about my life. What if it's not real? Answer those questions. Say "Christ is risen!" The resurrection stands as hope to shape how we view every day before our own.

We often hear that all religions are basically the same. That's like saying all movies are the same because they all have characters and plot. As with Slasher Flicks and Educational Cartoons, some genres are so different that they have basically no meaningful similarities at all! The same is true of the world religions. In this session we will look at one fundamental question each world religion must answer: “What’s your problem?” Focusing on the Eastern Religions of Hinduism and Buddhism, we will consider what people believe is the main problem facing humanity, and what is the solution.

God's Word and our creation testify to God's inbuilt blessing to be fruitful and multiply. Christians should see children as God's work of creation, not a human choice. The welcoming of children is not a right but a privilege and helpful cross to crucify the sinful nature, providing ample opportunity to trust in God to provide and be our true Father. The blessing of children is not our choice, yet it is not completely optional nor without bodily cost on earth. The right motivation, in faith, before God contrasts with the worldly, fleshly desire for offspring.