News & Events

The Institute of Lutheran theology not only provides programs to train pastors and teachers, but it also provides educational and devotional resources for individuals and congregations. These resources are provided free of charge and made available through our web page. Please subscribe to and use any of these resources.

Evangelism Course Success

Sharing the Good News of Evangelism

ILT welcomed 39 students to the Evangelism course being taught by Rev. Mark Mattes, Ph.D. This class is designed to equip and empower sharing Christ in ministry and is made up of pastors and lay people alike from various locations. It was offered free and open to the public to celebrate the founding of ILT’s Center for Congregational Revitalization.

The Center for Congregational Revitalization (CCR) works with pastors and congregations to bring vitality back to their mission as Christ’s church. CCR is in the development stage, as we research the state of congregations in North America. Both vibrant as well as declining congregations are being studied, with the purpose of finding ways to help return vitality to congregations that seem to be unable to grow.

For a more detailed description on the course, visit https://cst.ilt.edu/evangelism-a-course-from-cst-the-center-for-congregational-revitalization/.

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Spring Semester Has Started

Spring 2025 Semester Classes Have Started!

The start of classes yesterday marked the beginning of ILT’s 16th spring semester. In the spring of 2009, ILT first offered graduate credit to two students taking the course, New Testament Greek. This semester, ILT will be offering a total of 62 courses and this spring’s enrollment has students in 12 different programs. We’ve come a long way with your prayers and support!

Please continue to pray for our students as we begin this next semester. Many of our students are trying to juggle work commitments, ministry commitments, and financial concerns as they prepare for the ministry God has called them. They can certainly use your support as they take classes and face these struggles.

Please also consider giving to our financial aid fund. ILT students depend upon the generosity of donors who support them by funding their studies and helping to make tuition less of a concern for them.

If you’re interested in supporting the mission of ILT and it’s students, click here to donate or call 605-692-9337.

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Enroll Today!

You still have time to enroll before classes start on January 23.

ILT is offering 60 classes at the graduate and undergraduate level, taught by exceptional faculty from around the world. We are an accredited school that provides academic rigor as well as practical education so students can gain the knowledge, understanding and experience to successfully answer God’s call of ministry.

ILT continually strives to support students of all ages in preparation for congregational ministry, church body leadership, or the continued task of theological reflection.

If you’re interested in enrolling or have any questions, please contact Joel Williams at admissions@ilt.edu or call 605-692-9337.

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Pastoral Ministry Openings

Are you a pastor looking for a church ministry or a church looking for a pastor?

Visit the Pastoral Ministry Openings page on the ILT website to view current openings for pastors: https://ilt.edu/pastoral-ministry-openings/. Church pictures, location and community details are available, as well as details of the pastoral needs of each church. Contact information is included so you can get in touch directly with the church if you have questions or are interested in applying.

Help ILT fill the need for pastors. If you or a member of your church has heard the call to step into a pastoral role, we can provide options to earn the necessary credentials while remaining in your home church. We offer undergraduate and graduate certificate and degree programs that equip pastors and lay people to gain the training and degrees necessary to serve their neighbors according to God’s Word.

If your church is looking to extend a call for a pastor and you would like it posted on our website, please email your information to admissions@ilt.edu or call 605-692-9337.

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Enroll in Classes Today

There’s Still Plenty of Time to Enroll in Classes!

BT 664: ROMANS – Dan Lioy, Ph.D.

Immerse yourself in a study of Romans, addressing the letter’s history, form, content, and theological motifs. Classes meet January 6-10 from 9:30 am-12:30 pm and 1:30 pm-4:30 pm (Central time).

PT 532: DEATH AND DYING – Beth Hoeltke, Ph.D.

Examine end-of-life discussions that include death, dying, grief and burial from a Christian perspective, as well as other cultures/religions. Discussion will include ethical, economic, and emotional costs that are part of the end-of-life process. Classes meet January 2, 3, 6-10, 16-17 and 20 from 10 am-12 pm and then 1 pm-3 pm (Central time).

Introducing the inaugural course of ILT’s Center for Congregational Revitalization:

PT 400/500: EVANGELISM – Rev. Mark Mattes, Ph.D.

Build your confidence in sharing Christ with others, especially the unchurched. Whether layperson or pastor, student, faculty, or brand-new to ILT, all are invited to be a part of this groundbreaking course.

Explore opportunities to spark congregational outreach, along with hands on experiences of sharing Christ one-on-one and through social media. Attend presentations from skilled pastor/evangelists who will help you creatively strategize effective outreach. Pastors are not expected to be the sole evangelist in their congregations. Instead, pastors are encouraged to model a life of witness and lead a team creating momentum for outreach. This promises to be a life-changing course. Sign up for this invaluable course at no cost! Classes meet on Thursdays from 6 pm-9 pm this spring semester.

To learn more about these opportunities, contact Joel Williams at jwilliams@ilt.edu, or call (605) 392-9337.

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A Blessed Nativity

“Of the Father’s love begotten, ere the worlds began to be.” (LBW #42)
“Even as he chose us in [Christ] before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him” (Eph. 1:4).
You are God’s child as surely as the babe born in Bethlehem is the Son of God; you are chosen, made holy, and stand without blame before your Father in heaven.

“He is the Alpha and Omega, He the source, the ending be.” (LBW #42)
Jesus said, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end” (Rev. 22:13).
Beginning and end, Jesus is the source—the center, the “radix” of your life. Beginning and end, Jesus is the boundary of your life—the edge, the limit; no one goes further. (This Jesus is truly radical.)

“Of the things that are, that have been, and that future years shall see, evermore and evermore.” (LBW #42)
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (He. 13:8).
“God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God” (1 Cor. 1:28-29).
You are chosen in him and this Jesus does not relent or repent of his choice. To those who thought they were something, this Jesus comes as nothing, a baby bedded on straw, to bring you “somethings” to nothing so that he would be your all-in-all.

“Christ, to thee, with God the Father, and, O Holy Ghost, to thee…” (LBW #42)
Jesus said, “…baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt. 28:19).
Now you, newborn into the kingdom of God, you bear on your brow the seal of him who died. You have been marked by the cross of Christ and sealed by the Holy Spirit forever. You bear the sign and seal of your election in this babe born in Bethlehem.

“Hymn and chant and high thanksgiving and unwearied praises be…” (LBW #42)
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Col. 3:16).
This Jesus, the Christ child laid in Mary’s lap, is the Word of God for you… you particularly, individually, and specifically. He is yours, and you are his.

“Honor, glory, dominion, and eternal victory evermore and evermore! Amen” (LBW #42)
“Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Ro. 8:24-25).
“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations” (Ps. 145:13).
You have no victory but Christ’s victory, no dominion but Christ’s dominion, no honor or glory but that of Christ Jesus. He, born in the stable… He, babe of Bethlehem… He, flesh and blood in this world broken by sin… He is your Savior, your one true Lord, faithful to you from beginning to end. Thanks be to God!

To you and yours from all of us at ILT, “Merry Christmas!”

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ILT on YouTube

ILT’s YouTube Channel

ILT has begun to engage people around the world by building an online video library on YouTube. Presentations include video podcast discussions and videos introducing ILT professors.

ILT has released eight of nine episodes of a video series entitled “Christianity’s Foundational Assumptions” where Dr. Dan Lioy, professor of Biblical theology for ILT’s Christ School of Theology, and Kevin Swift, Ph.D. student and IT specialist, discuss the building blocks and assumptions of the Christian worldview, what they might be and how to understand them.

To view the playlist for this video series, visit https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOJSXCKR55l-tY0LRbM2bOUPEZg0GhkBM.

Subscribe to the ILT YouTube channel today at https://www.youtube.com/@ilt3944.

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New Spring Course

HST 604/704: The Bible and the Reformation with Dr. Erik Herrmann

“The history of the Church is the history of biblical exegesis.” In the study of Christian history, too often the Bible is treated as a waxen nose, twisted to fit whatever political, social or philosophical forces drive men and women to act. But what if we ascribed to the Bible the same importance and power that the historical figures we study did?

Come explore how the Bible shaped church history, especially in the Reformation period when the study and debate over the meaning of the Scriptures was especially pronounced and urgent. Luther, Zwingli, Melanchthon, Bucer, Oecolampadius, Calvin—these are a few of the interpreters that we will examine, with an eye to how their reading of the Bible continues to influence us today.

Eric Hermann, Ph.D. is internationally recognized for his research, writing prolifically on Luther, Lutheran Theology, and the Reformation. Dr. Herrmann has authored several works in Reformation Biblical interpretation such as:

·  Quid Igitur Lex? Salvation History and the Law in Martin Luther Early Interpretation of Paul. Götingen: Vanderhoeck & Ruprecht, forthcoming.

·  From Witenberg to the World: Essays on the Reformation and Its Legacy in Honor of Robert Kolb, eds. Charles P. Arand, Erik H. Herrmann, and Daniel L. Matson. Götingen: Vanderhoeck & Ruprecht, 2018.

·  The Babylonian Captivity of the Church, 1520: The Annotated Luther, Study Edition. Fortress Press: 2016.

·  “Luther’s Approach to the Bible,” introductory essay for Martin Luther’s Large Catechism with Annotations and Essays, St. Louis: CPH, 2022, 13-18.

·  “Evangelical Grammar: Luther, the Genitive, and the Gospel,” in Preaching and Teaching the Reformation: Essays in Honor of Timothy J. Wengert’s 70th Birthday. Eds. Martin Lohrmann and Luka Ilic. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2021.

·  “Luther and the Importance of the Hebrew Heritage for His World of Thought” in Simul: Inquiries into Luther’s Experience of the Christian Life. Eds. Torbjörn Johansson, Daniel Johansson, Robert Kolb. Götingen: Vanderhoeck & Ruprecht, 2021, 49-61.

·  “Luther’s Divine Aeneid: Continuity and Creativity in Reforming the Use of the Bible,” in Lutherjahrbuch (2018): 85-109.

·  “A Lutheran Response to the Reformed Tradition,” in God’s Two Words: Law and Gospel in the Lutheran and Reformed Traditions. Edited by Jonathan A. Linebaugh. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2018, 155-182.

·  “The Relevance of Remembering the Reformation,” in Concordia Journal 43 (Fall 2017), 17-28.

·  “Commentary on Psalm 118, 1530,” in The Annotated Luther, Volume 6: The Interpretation of Scripture. Ed. Euan Cameron. Fortress Press: 2017, 247-318.

·  “Biblical Commentary: New Testament” in The Oxford Encyclopedia of Martin Luther. Oxford University Press: 2017.

·  “Preface to the Wittenberg Edition of Luther’s German Writings, 1539” in The Annotated Luther, Volume 4: Pastoral Writings. Ed. Mary Jane Haemig. Fortress Press: 2016, pp. 475-488.

·  “Luther’s Absorption of Medieval Biblical Interpretation and His Use of the Church Fathers,” in The Oxford Handbook to the Theology of Martin Luther, eds. Robert Kolb, Irena Dingel, Lubomir Batka. Oxford University Press: 2014, 71-90.

For more information, contact Joel Williams at jwilliams@ilt.edu or call 605-692-9337.

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ILT Giving Tuesday

Dear Friends of ILT,

At the Institute of Lutheran Theology, we are Standing Against the Tide of secularism, cultural compromise, and theological drift. Our Calling is clear: to faithfully equip the next generation of Christian leaders who will boldly proclaim the truth of God’s Word in a world that often resists it.

This Giving Tuesday, we invite you to stand with us. Your support allows us to:
· Stand against the tide of theological uncertainty by providing robust, biblically grounded education backed by our ATS accreditation.
· Empower students to uphold the Gospel in their ministries, even as society moves away from traditional Christian values.
· Expand our reach to communities and churches that seek leaders who are prepared to hold fast to their faith, no matter the challenges.

Your gift today helps us continue to develop pastors, scholars, and lay leaders who are ready to stand firm and lead with conviction.

How You Can Help:
1. Give online at https://connect.clickandpledge.com/w/Form/6b5ac832-c470-4ecb-9fdb-a27159f1d2a6.
2. Mail your gift to: Institute of Lutheran Theology, PO Box 833, Brookings, SD 57006-2173.
3. Pray for our mission as we stand together in faith.

In a time when many institutions are conforming to the pressures of culture, ILT is committed to remaining steadfast. With your partnership, we will continue to stand against the tide and equip leaders who will do the same.

Thank you for your faithful support.

In Christ,
Dr. Dennis Bielfeldt
President, Institute of Lutheran Theology

P.S. I have chosen to donate my entire 2024 salary to help ILT remain a beacon of theological truth. Please join me in standing firm in what God has Called us to do.

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Remembering Rev. John Rasmussen

The Institute of Lutheran Theology has lost a committed faculty member, an excellent student, and a very close friend. Reverend John Rasmussen passed away on November 13, 2024, losing his earthly body to cancer.

What can we say about this?

John was not his earthly body but rather a baptized child of God who lived each day with the sure and certain belief of the resurrection. His life was a witness to the future rather than to the past. He boldly proclaimed the Word of God, insisting that his students likewise proclaim with good tidings and clarity the eminent Kingdom of God. They learned that there is no time to talk about oneself when there is such exciting news to share.

Among the scores of things I could say about John, I am thinking about three things right now:

  1. John Rasmussen and his wife Lenae were perhaps the first to talk very clearly about the need to form a new seminary. Long before I was selected by the WordAlone Network in 2005 to head the Study to develop a “house of studies that would employ the hermeneutic of the Lutheran Reformation,” John and Lenae were talking with me about the need for a new institution that would take theology seriously again.
  2. In 2011, I had the opportunity to team-teach the Lutheran Confessions with John. What fun we had! Sometimes we talked on the phone about what happened in the class a full hour after the students had gone home.
  3. In 2021, I offered a PhD course in Kant, in which John was a student. While I was blessed to have John as a student in a number of my courses, I remember with clarity how good he was in this course. His summary of the First Critique of Kant was simply excellent.

These three memories show John as visionary, teacher, and student, roles that he assumed and performed gracefully for decades.

While I will miss John as a friend, colleague, and student, I know that John’s work is not done among us. There will be posthumous works appearing soon, the first forthcoming in the next issue of Verba Vitae. There is the manuscript of Usus Legis edited and translated by John Rasmussen and Tim Swenson currently at ILT Press that will be published in the next year. There are other writings that will likely see print as well.

Brother John, I will miss you, the faculty will miss you, and your students will miss you. However, you above all people have taught us to attend to the important. ILT is not about us, after all, nor are our lives about us. We live in anticipation of the One who has already come, the One who has livened your days and animated your witness, the One who is our hope as well as yours. We are blessed to have known you, John!

Ave et Vale

Dr. Dennis Bielfeldt, ILT President and Chancellor

John Rasmussen’s funeral will be held Friday, November 22, in El Paso, Texas. Here is a link to the details: https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/33789397/john-h-rasmussen.

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