LifeLight Bible Study meets Thursday mornings at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Joplin — an in-depth, 9-week study of Scripture led by DCE Jason Glaskey. All are welcome. Books are provided.
Class Schedule & Details
When: Thursday mornings, 9:30–11:00 a.m.
Where: Fellowship Hall, Immanuel Lutheran Church — 2616 S Connecticut Ave, Joplin, MO 64804
Format: 9-week studies; books are provided
Donation: $10 per study appreciated — no one is ever turned away
Contact: (417) 624-0333 or info@immanueljoplin.com
Current Study: Judges
Our current LifeLight series is a 9-session study of the Book of Judges, beginning Thursday, July 30, 2026. After Israel enters the Promised Land, the people fall into a heartbreaking cycle — they forsake the Lord, suffer under their enemies, cry out in distress, and are rescued when God raises up a judge to deliver them. Then it begins again. Judges is honest about human sin and the chaos that comes when “everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”
Yet Judges is finally a book about God’s patience and mercy. Again and again the Lord is “moved to pity” and raises up flawed, unlikely deliverers — Deborah, Gideon, Samson — to rescue His people. Each imperfect judge points ahead to the perfect Judge and King, Jesus Christ, who alone breaks the cycle of sin once and for all. The study connects directly to what Lutherans believe about Law and Gospel, sin and grace, and the deliverance God works for us in Christ.
Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them. … For the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who afflicted and oppressed them.
Judges 2:16, 18 (ESV)
O Word of God incarnate, O Wisdom from on high,
LSB 576, st. 1 — “O Word of God Incarnate”
O Truth unchanged, unchanging, O Light of our dark sky:
We praise You for the radiance that from the hallowed page,
A lantern to our footsteps, shines on from age to age.
What to Expect at LifeLight
Each week, you will read a Scripture passage and work through study questions on your own. Then you come together on Thursday morning for group discussion and a lecture led by DCE Jason Glaskey. LifeLight is designed for depth — not a quick devotion, but a real engagement with what the Bible says and how it applies to your life. Past studies at Immanuel have included Genesis, Romans, Revelation, the Gospel of John, Daniel, and Miracles, among many others.
LifeLight is open to everyone — members of Immanuel, Martin Luther School families, and anyone in the Joplin community who wants to go deeper into Scripture. No prior Bible study experience is needed. We have been meeting continuously since 1997, and there is always room at the table.
Nearly 30 Years of LifeLight at Immanuel
Immanuel has offered LifeLight since 1997 — working through more than 70 in-depth studies of Scripture. From Matthew to Miracles, from Exodus to Ecclesiastes, this class has been a consistent place of Word-centered growth for the congregation and community. View the complete study history →
About LifeLight Bible Study
LifeLight is published by Concordia Publishing House and used by thousands of congregations throughout The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Each study covers a specific book or theme of the Bible over the course of nine weeks. The series combines directed personal reading, study questions, and group discussion — designed to help Christian adults grow in their personal faith in Jesus Christ through regular, in-depth encounter with God’s Word.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to buy a book or have prior Bible study experience?
No experience is required, and books are provided for each study. A $10 donation per study is appreciated to help cover materials, but no one is ever turned away. Just show up Thursday morning — we will take care of the rest.
Can I join mid-study, or do I have to start at the beginning?
It is best to join at the start of a new 9-week study, but if you are curious, you are welcome to visit any week. Contact us at (417) 624-0333 or info@immanueljoplin.com and we will let you know when the next study begins.
Is this class only for members of Immanuel Lutheran?
Not at all. LifeLight is open to anyone in the Joplin community — members, guests, neighbors, and seekers. You do not need to be Lutheran or a member of Immanuel to attend. If you are curious about what Immanuel is like on a Sunday morning, we would love to have you for that too.
What studies has the class covered in past years?
Since 1997, Immanuel’s LifeLight class has completed more than 70 studies — including Matthew, Romans, Revelation, Daniel, Isaiah, the Gospel of John, Genesis, Baptism, the Triune God, Job, and many more. The complete study history is on our LifeLight page. It is a remarkable record of a congregation committed to knowing God’s Word.
How is LifeLight different from a Sunday morning Bible class?
LifeLight is designed for deeper, sustained engagement with a single book or theme of Scripture over 9 weeks. It includes personal study at home each week in addition to the Thursday morning group session — so participants come prepared and discussions go further. If you are looking for something more than a weekly survey, LifeLight is built for that. You can also explore more about what Lutherans believe and how Scripture shapes our faith and worship.
Immanuel Lutheran Church is a congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. 2616 S Connecticut Ave, Joplin, MO 64804. LifeLight materials published by Concordia Publishing House. Families with school-age children are also invited to explore Martin Luther School.