Lecturer: Rev. Dr. Reed Lessing, Professor of Theology & Ministry, Director of The Center for Biblical Studies | Concordia St. Paul

Dr. Reed Lessing is The Edwin F. and Esther L. Laatsch Chair of Old Testament Studies, the University’s Pre-Seminary Director, and the University’s Director of the Center for Biblical Studies. With over twenty years of parish ministry and fourteen years as a professor at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Reed is well-positioned to provide biblical resources for leaders in the LCMS and beyond. He is the author of six commentaries in the Concordia Commentary Series—Isaiah 40–55, Isaiah 56–66, Amos, Jonah, Zechariah, and Lamentations—a seventh, on Genesis 12-36, is in progress. Reed has written two additional books on the Old Testament, “Deliver Us: God’s Rescue Story in Exodus (Concordia Publishing House, 2022) and “Overcoming Life’s Sorrows: Studies in the Book of Jeremiah” (Concordia Publishing House, 2021). Together with Andy Steinmann, he has also co-authored “The Messianic Message” (Concordia Publishing House, 2023) and “Prepare the Way of the Lord” (Concordia Publishing House, 2014). Reed has also written sermon series, Bible Studies, and devotional booklets for Concordia Publishing House, Concordia Seminary, and Creative Communications for the Parish.

Reed was ordained into the Office of the Holy Ministry on June 29, 1986, at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, West Monroe, Louisiana, where he served as the church’s pastor until March of 1990. From March 1990 to August 1999, he was the pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Reed was on the faculty of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO from 1999–2013—earning the rank of full professor in 2011. He then served as Senior Pastor at St. Michael Lutheran Church in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

Reed has three children and four grandchildren. In his spare time, he enjoys jogging, biking, hiking, and cross-country skiing.