Do you feel lost at sea when it comes to conversations about AI and emerging technology? When lost, it’s helpful to have a map! As we navigate the complicated realities of AI, we need to employ maps—mental models and visual frameworks—that can help us. Join Trevor Sutton as he shares AI maps to help make sense of the impact that AI has on the church, the world, and our own lives.

 

 

If you love the Bible, you might have questions. “I do not permit a woman to teach or have authority over a man.” “Let the women keep silent in the churches.” That seems pretty clear. What does that mean for us today? What about the faithful, Spirit-led, Jesus-preaching women serving congregations in LCMC? This breakout will offer an overview of Bible passages relevant to the topic and explain the strong Biblical foundation for women and men serving equally in pastoral ministry.

 

 

Traumatic experiences can produce storms of unforgiveness. Waves of bitterness, resentment and anger threaten our physical, emotional and spiritual peace. Whether it’s forgiving ourselves or forgiving others, often we are told that we need to forgive. The real question is, “How can we forgive?” In this breakout session, we identify and validate traumatic experiences but also explore practical techniques that help us on our journey of forgiveness and genuine peace.

 

 

Every Consider this: Most non-Christians want spiritual, not religious space. In other words, what if your non-Christian family and friends won’t go to your church but would gladly engage you in a spiritual conversation? Would you be prepared? In this breakout, Nate Guelzow will share 5 Principles of Creating Spiritual Space that you can leverage into spiritual conversation anywhere, anytime.

 

 

Did you know that you don’t have to travel abroad for your congregation to participate in Global Mission? Join Mike Wind to learn how the LCMC Global Mission Fellowship helps congregations connect with trusted international pastors, missionaries, and mission organizations. From hosting speakers, sponsoring short-term missions, to building mission partnerships, come hear the real-world stories of mission engagement and explore how your church can row alongside the global Body of Christ!

 

 

GenZ (13 to 28 year-olds) are open to relationships that provide belonging while developing their identity in Jesus as they discover their purpose in life. The formative power of the church can be harnessed by intergenerational ministry with 45 to 60 year-olds sharing experiential wisdom and cultivating deep relationships. There can be in-person connections as well as digital discipleship.

 

 

What is sanctification? Luther called it “the work by which God the Holy Spirit makes us holy, that is, brings us to Christ our Lord and enables us to live a godly life.” Yet many walk away from the faith because they find living a godly life to be impossible. So how do we do it? Luke Allison will walk through the basic biblical concepts on transformation, how we experience it, and how to help other people experience new life in Christ, too.

 

 

We live in a culture where young people commonly learn about God through media, if they are learning about God at all. Today’s media is full of spiritual messages that are confusing if not deceptive. Come and discover the various spiritualities that are presented to youth through media that are counterfeit alternatives to Christianity. How can we address this through apologetics and ensure our youth are not led astray by the messages found in popular culture?

 

 

While our communities, schools, and workplaces become more culturally diverse, many of our churches remain anything but. Yet as all nations are coming to us, we no longer have to look or go very far to become diverse in our disciple making. The multi or intercultural church does not have to be just a glimpse into eternity or a vision for the future, it can be something we experience here and now!

 

 

In today’s culture, sometimes our boat springs leaks because we are not sure how to answer life’s biggest questions (e.g. What is our purpose? Why does evil exist? How can we have hope?). We can find answers to these questions from the first three chapters of Genesis. When we understand the ABC’s of Genesis 1, 2, 3, we have a Biblical foundation to not only stay afloat but even ‘get out of the boat’ and walk against the cultural current.

 

 

The core values of Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ did not arise out of thin air, nor are they interpreted in a vacuum. Join Julie Smith for an exploration of how our core values are informed by Luther’s Catechism and how reading them together can help us imagine how to more fully engage our core values in our work as congregations, as a district, and as an association.