BIBLE INFORMATION CLASS: Resources & Links
Pastor Johnold J. Strey
Gloria Dei Evangelical Lutheran Church
This page is provided as a place where participants in Pastor Strey’s Bible Information Class (BIC) at Gloria Dei can find links to videos, books, and other resources that supplement each lesson in the Bible Information Class. Bible Information Class is offered one or two times each year, as interest warrants. BIC is typically held one evening a week for ten weeks; we meet for 2 to 2 1/2 hours each night so that we can cover two lessons each night and complete the course in ten weeks (rather than meeting one hour an evening for twenty weeks).
Our Bible Information Class serves three main audiences:
- Parents of school children in Gloria Dei Lutheran School can learn what their children are taught in our school’s religious curriculum. We ask that school parents attend at least the first week of the class at some point during their child(ren)’s enrollment.
- Church members can review the basic teachings of the Lutheran Church, the same teachings many Lutheran church members were first taught in youth Catechism class, but presented at an adult level.
- Interested individuals can learn, without further obligation, what we believe at teach at Gloria Dei. This course is the basic requirement for membership at Gloria Dei, but becoming a member is not required if someone takes the course.
The curriculum used for our BIC is called Grace upon Grace. This course covers the basic teachings of Scripture as confessed in the Lutheran Church, and its contents are comparable to any of the adult doctrine classes used in Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) churches. Even though other curricula are available, Pastor Strey developed this course for these primary reasons:
- to teach Christian doctrine by aquainting people with larger sections of Scripture (rather than using only an assortment of “proof passages”),
- to incorporate educational methods geared more toward the way that adults learn, and
- to connect the teachings of the Bible with the church’s worship life so that people understand why we do what we do in worship.
The entire Grace upon Grace curriculum has not been placed here, but four of the lessons (1, 2, 10, 20) are available among the links below as samples of what the curriculum is like. Please contact Pastor Strey directly if you would like an electronic file of the entire curriculum.
Videos from the WELS Streams media website that connect to each lesson are listed first in each group of links. These videos are from a WELS-produced, video-based Bible Information Class called Communicating Christ Today. The order of the lessons in Communicating Christ Today is not the same as the order in Grace upon Grace, so be aware that the video links below do not reflect the sequence in the Communicating Christ Today curriculum. There are videos that correspond with lessons 1-16; no corresponding videos are available for lessons 17-20. (Be forewarned that the Communicating Christ Today videos are pretty “cheesy” at times!)
Books, essays, audio files, and other video files are listed after the Communicating Christ Today videos for each lesson. These resources provide additional information that augments each lesson. Books marked with an asterisk (*) are a part of the “People’s Bible Teachings” series from Northwestern Publishing House (NPH), the official publisher for the WELS. Many of the other listed books are also published by NPH. Watching the videos or reading the additional material are not requirements of the class, but participants who would like to explore a particular subject further will find useful resources here.
Note: The WELS website was recently updated. As a result, most links to the WELS website on this blog may not be operational. Links on this site will eventually be updated.
LESSON 1: God’s Grace-Plan (Study Guide)
Subjects Studied: Law and Gospel
- Video - Law and Gospel
- Book – *Justification: How God Forgives by Wayne D. Miller
- Book - *Law and Gospel: Bad News – Good News by Leroy A. Dobberstein
LESSON 2: Our God of Grace (Study Guide)
Subjects Studied: Triune God, God’s Characteristics
LESSON 3: God’s Creating Power
Subjects Studied: Creation
- Video – Who Is Man? (Creation)
- Book – *Angels and Demons: Have Wings, Will Travel by John D. Schuetze
- Book – *Creation: God Made All Things by Cleone H. Weigand
- Book – The Case for a Creator by Lee Strobel
- Book – Genesis by John C. Jeske
- Book – Luther’s Large Catechism translated by F. Samuel Janzow
- Audio – Creation & Evolution on “Issues, Etc.” with David Menton
- Audio – Darwinian Evolution on “Issues, Etc.” with Michael Behe
- Audio - The Creation & Evolution Debate on “Issues, Etc.” with Ron Rhodes
LESSON 4: Our Need for Grace
Subjects Studied: Sin and Its Effects
- Video – The Fall
- Video – Consequences of the Fall
- Book – *Man: From Glory to Ashes and Back by Lyle Luchterhand
- Book – Genesis by John C. Jeske
LESSON 5: The Man of Grace
Subjects Studied: Old Testament Historical Overview, The Person of Jesus Christ
LESSON 6: God’s Grace in Jesus’ Humiliation
Subjects Studied: The Life of Jesus from Birth to Crucifixion
- Video – Jesus’ Humiliation
- Video – The Value of Christ’s Death
- Book – Matthew by G. Jerome Albrecht and Michael J. Albrecht
- Book – Mark by Harold E. Wicke
- Book – Luke by Victor H. Prange
- Book – John by Gary P. Baumler
- Books – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are available as a collection at this link
- Book – The 1529 Holy Week and Easter Sermons of Dr. Martin Luther
LESSON 7: God’s Grace in Jesus’ Exaltation
Subjects Studied: The Life of Jesus from Resurrection Forward
- Video – Jesus’ Exaltation
- Book – 1 Corinthians by Carleton A. Toppe (see comments on chapter 15)
- Book – The Defense Never Rests by Craig A. Parton (see chapters 5-8)
- Book – The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus by G. Habermas & M. Licona
- Audio – Evidence for Christ’s Resurrection on “Issues, Etc.” with Gary Habermas
- Audio – Answering Objections to the Bodily Ressurrection of Christ on “Issues, Etc.” with J.W. Montgomery
LESSON 8: The Holy Spirit Administers Grace
Subjects Studied: Holy Spirit, Pentecost, Faith
- Video – The Holy Spirit
- Book – *Converstion: Not by My Own Choosing by John M. Brenner
- Book – *Holy Spirit: The Giver of Life by John F. Vogt
- Book – Luther’s Large Catechism translated by F. Samuel Janzow
LESSON 9: God’s Gracious Word
Subjects Studied: Bible, Biblical Interpretation
- Video – Natural Knowledge of God
- Video – Revealed Knowledge of God
- Book – *Bible: God’s Inspired, Inerrant Word by Brian R. Keller
- Book – The Book of Books by John Schaller
- Book – Biblical Interpretation: The Only Right Way by David P. Kuske
- Essay – The Gnostic Gospels: A River of Lies by Nathan Cordes
- Audio – The Dead Sea Scrolls on “Issues, Etc.” with Nathan Jastram
- Audio & Video – A Lawyer Examines…Christianity with J.W. Montgomery
- Audio & Video – Veracity of the New Testament with Gary Habermas
Note: The last link under lesson nine is a presentation with Gary Habermas, who gives an excellent defense of the New Testament’s transmission and accuracy. Near the end of the presentation (about 51:15), Habermas seems to imply that some teachings in the Bible (especially those not related to Christ and salvation) may be less significant or important. This view runs counter to the view promoted in Scripture, this course, and in the Confessional Lutheran Church that all of Scripture’s teachings are equally important because they are all inspired by God. No teaching(s) should be viewed as negotiable or less significant simply because they are not connected directly to Christ and salvation. Please keep this caveat in mind while watching or listening to the last link above. But the vast majority of the presentation, which focuses on the defense of the New Testament, is excellent and extremely helpful.
LESSON 10: Eternal Grace (Study Guide)
Subjects Studied: End of the World, Heaven & Hell
- Video – Come, Lord Jesus
- Book – *End Times (not yet published)
- Book – *Heaven and Hell: Eternal Life, Eternal Punishment by Brian R. Keller
- Book – Revelation by Wayne Mueller
- Audio & Video – Near-Death Experiences: … an Afterlife? with Gary Habermas
- Audio & Video – Near-Death Experiences and the Afterlife with Gary Habermas
Note: The last two links under lesson ten, which are two different but very similar presentations by Gary Habermas, are not directly connected to this lesson. Participants in past Bible Information Classes have asked about and discussed the matter of the soul’s existence apart from the body during lesson ten. The last two links above are provided to offer information related to that particular discussion.
LESSON 11: God’s Grace in Holy Baptism
Subjects Studied: Baptism
- Video – The Holy Spirit Works through Baptism
- Video – Baptism Q&A
- Book – *Baptism: My Adoption into God’s Family by Gaylin R. Schmeling
- Book – Baptized into God’s Family by A. Andrew Das
- Book – Luther’s Large Catechism translated by F. Samuel Janzow
LESSON 12: God’s Grace in Holy Communion
Subjects Studied: The Lord’s Supper
- Video – My Body and Blood
- Video – Lord’s Supper Q&A
- Book – *Lord’s Supper: The Lamb’s High Feast by Arnold J. Koelpin
- Book – Luther’s Large Catechism translated by F. Samuel Janzow
LESSON 13: Announcing and Applying Grace
Subjects Studied: Absolution
- Video – Office of the Keys
- Book – *Baptism: My Adoption into God’s Family by G. Schmeling (see ch. 10)
- Book – Luther’s Large Catechism translated by F. Samuel Janzow
LESSON 14: Administering Grace
Subjects Studied: Church, Fellowship, Ministry
- Video – Ministry of the Keys
- Video – Church Membership
- Video – Men and Women in God’s Church
- Video – False Doctrine
- Book – *Church-Mission-Ministry: The Family of God by Armin W. Schuetze
- Book – *Church Fellowship: Working Together for the Truth by John F. Brug
LESSON 15: Living in Grace
Subjects Studied: Commandments, Sanctification, Prayer
- Video – Law: First Table
- Video – Law: Second Table (part 1)
- Video – Law: Second Table (part 2)
- Video – Prayer and Bible Study
- Book – *Prayer: An Audience with the King by Joel V. Petermann
- Book – *Sanctification: Alive in Christ by Lyle W. Lange
- Book – Gospel Motivation: More than “Jesus Died for Me” by Robert J. Koester
- Book – Luther’s Large Catechism translated by F. Samuel Janzow
- Book – Sanctification: Christ in Action by Harold L. Senkbeil
LESSON 16: The Christian in the Home
Subjects Studied: Marriage and Family
- Video – God’s Will for Marriage
- Video – Marriage and Divorce
- Book – *Marriage and Family: The Family Photo Album by John D. Schuetze
- Book – Building the Christian Home: A Marriage … Manual by John D. Schuetze
- Book – Growing Together in Christ by Gene Gronholz and Mark Zarling
LESSON 17: The Christian in the World
Subjects Studied: Government
LESSON 18: Receiving God’s Grace
Subjects Studied: Worship
- Book – *Worship (not yet published)
- Book – Christian Worship: Manual ed. by G. Baumler & K. Moldenhauer
- Essay – Proclaiming the Gospel in Worship by Johnold J. Strey
LESSON 19: Responding to God’s Grace
Subjects Studied: Stewardship
- Book – *Stewardship: What I Do with What God Gave Me by Arno J. Wolfgramm
- Book – Family Finances by Thomas B. Franzmann
LESSON 20: God’s Grace Gives Freedom (Study Guide)
Subjects Studied: Christian Freedom
- Book – *Christian Freedom: Christ Sets Us Free by William E. Fischer
- Book – Romans by Armin J. Panning (see comments on chapter 14)
RSS - Posts



