Rooted and Renewing: Imagining the Church’s Future in Light of Its New Testament Origins

Nearly everyone everywhere who loves the church is wondering how it can grow in vitality and mission in today’s realities. Dozens of reasons have been pitched attempting to explain why so many churches are struggling to be the vibrant communities we hope for them to be.

Wartburg Theological Seminary Associate Professor of New Testament, Dr. Troy Troftgruben, will lead five sessions dealing with issues vital to the health of the church.

What does it means to be the church today? In an age of transition and adaptation, we wonder about the future. To do so faithfully, we revisit our roots — we start with where we’ve come from. Using insights from Dr. Troftgruben’s book, Rooted and Renewing: Imagining the Church’s Future in Light of its New Testament Origins (2019), together we will engage questions about how we have been a church on the move, a church of true community, a church united in a divided world, a church practicing the things that matter, and a community that bears constructive witness. We will explore New Testament texts and early traditions, putting them in dialogue with modern realities and challenges. Together we will ask: “What does it mean to be a church that is rooted and yet renewing?”

The book is not required to participate but is warmly encouraged and will complement class conversations well.

Zoom Class open to all: October 12, 19, 26, November 2 and 9, 2023 from 6:30 – 8:00 pm Central Time.
Recordings will be available for missed classes upon request.

Registration: $45