Recently, I got our elders together in the hopes of starting a regular rhythm for continuing education for pastors. This past meeting, we examined a recent colloquium from the Kenwood Institute on Hermeneutics. As elders, we had been discussing the role and nature of typology for our course at Trinitas, so this gave us the opportunity to examine the subject in greater detail.

At the principial level, we want to create a place for elders, doctors of theology, and aspiring elders to come together and fellowship around theology. Some churches do this also in the context of elder meetings, but our geographical distance from one another usually means that we need to organize our elder meetings to focus on the business and shepherding of the church at hand. In these meetings however, we endeavor to keep a close watch on our doctrine together and also raise up those who aspire to the office.

I have linked the video from the Kenwood Institute below in case anyone would like to consider Hermeneutics and Sense(s) of Scripture.

Praise the Lord, our church continues to reap the blessings of the Lord in 2 brothers who renounced the idols of this world and were buried with Christ in baptism and raise with Him to newness of life. Also, another brother pictured joined us by transfer from a likeminded church in Los Angeles, California.

My brother pastor Kai provided this wonderful account of one those who was baptized:

"C. had met one of the men (D.) in our church about 10 years ago at University. They remained friends as D. from our church continued to witness to him. After a major life crisis, C. started reading the Gospel of Luke together with D., over about a year period. It was while studying the book of Luke, that C. met Christ as his Savior and Lord. To be honest, I have never met someone like C. who grew up so radically atheistic that he had no Christian categories whatsoever. Unfortunately, he was a living testimony of the hopelessness, darkness, disorientation (with regards to morality and purpose in life), and spiritual "death" to which atheism will drive a person. But C. found hope, light, truth, orientation, and life in Christ and his precious Gospel. C.'s baptism was a glorious day. It was the fruit of about 10 years of testimony and witness by a friend and the power of God's Word!"

Trinitas Akademie has now started its own website. Be sure to check it out here and give us your feedback as this ministry continues to grow. Here is a testimonial from one our graduates:

"Before the training, I had a very shallow understanding of what it means to call myself a Christian. I didn’t fully know what Christians believe. Trinitas Akademie provided me with insights into many areas that I had not been exposed to before: church history, apologetics and hard questions that we as Christians may face or ask ourselves; how to interpret the bible as it was intended, and so much more. I can now appreciate the gospel in a fuller, more meaningful way and am excited knowing that there is so much more to discover. I would highly recommend Trinitas Akademie to anyone who wants to understand God more deeply, strengthen their relationship with Him and allow the Spirit to grow a zest for Jesus Christ in their lives!" - Angelika U.

Biblical Theology
Praise the Lord, our biblical theology class has wrapped and the students are now learning how to teach and preach God's Word. I taught the biblical theology class together with my brother pastor Kai and a Presbyterian brother Daniel. The class was eye-opening for students. On the one hand, the students saw how the Scriptures hold together and culminate in Jesus Christ. On the other hand, we also examined a number of areas of disagreement between paedobaptist and creedobaptist covenant theologies. Overall, the students finished the course well equipped to take every thought captive to Christ.