WELS National Teen Bible Study
(Online)

WELS National Teen Bible Study is an online opportunity for teens across the country to digitally connect with each other around the Word.

The online Bible study is not intended to replace local ministry efforts but complement existing ministries like the WELS International Youth Rally and area WELS Youth Nights. The goals are:

  1. To encourage greater spiritual growth during critical teen years.
  2. To encourage greater relational connections with other WELS teens locally and across the country.

2025 – 2026 Online Bible studies

During the 2025-2026 school year, the National Online Teen Bible Study will focus on the book of Judges. Dave Scharf, Professor of Theology at Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., will lead this series of four online interactive Bible studies via Zoom. Lessons take place on Sundays at 6 p.m. Central.

Please register separately for each Bible study date, and save the confirmation e-mail you receive from Zoom. We hope to see you there – bring a friend!

God gave the Promised Land to the Israelites under Joshua’s leadership. Then a new generation came along who turned away from God, starting a cycle for Israel that lasted centuries. However, God provided “saviors” or judges who saved the people from their enemies. This first lesson gives us a chance to look in the mirror as we see their example, but also rejoice in the grace of God, who provided THE Savior we need!

This section of God’s Word provides an exciting judge like Ehud and a surprising judge in Deborah. God does not sit in heaven, letting the world turn, uninterested. His deliverances are not a thing of the past. Yes, sometimes it’s only when we see how hopeless we are that we can appreciate how powerful the LORD is.

The account of Gideon convinces us that we need to alter our stereotypes of what a servant of Christ is like. We are duped into thinking that a real servant of Christ is dynamic, assured, confident, fearless, witty, glamorous, fit for the Christian TV network…you get the idea! Don’t think you are unusable because you don’t have that air about you.

We can’t help but be drawn to him. If people can name one judge, it’s Samson. He has superhuman strength and is brimming with confidence. We admire that confidence. And we can be confident! However, Samson teaches us where to place that confidence and where not to!

Register for the September Bible study

About Professor Scharf

Dave Scharf served as a parish pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Greenville, WI, from 2005-2016. He now serves as a Professor of Theology at Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN. He is the chairman for the Commission on Congregational Counseling and has presented at numerous Leadership, Outreach, and Missionaries conferences around the WELS. Dave and his wife, Beth (nee Koelpin), have six children ages 12-23 (Anastasia, Zoe, Isaiah, Dahlia, Evangeline, and Nika).

Media Kit

Graphics are available for download below to promote the 2025 – 2026 online Bible studies.

Download the digital display graphic

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More about WELS national teen Bible study

Why an online teen Bible study?

The idea originated with a teenager.

After attending a WELS Youth Rally, Oliva came away with immediate friendships and connections with other teens across the country. But how do you keep spiritual engagement and relationships going in a culture that makes it easy for teens to disconnect from church and faith? Oliva’s idea was to harness the youth rally strengths of relationships and faith and continue it for WELS teens who may feel alone in their faith or be isolated due to distance.

How does it work?

  1. Teens will be able to sign up using their phones to register for an upcoming one-hour Bible study via Zoom quarterly.
  2. Bible study topics will be relevant and led by various WELS pastors.
  3. Teens will be able to interact with one another through breakout rooms.