Advent 1 Midweek “For unto us a Son is Given” : The Laughter of Isaac
The following sermon corresponds to Advent 1 Midweek according to the Advent service plan “For unto us a Son is Given.” Grace to…
Author: Pastor Andrew Richard
Pastor Andrew Richard received his Master of Divinity from Concordia Theological Seminary in 2012, and serves Mount Hope Lutheran Church and School in Casper, WY as Assistant Pastor, Headmaster, and upper level teacher. He formerly served as pastor of St. Silas Lutheran Church, a mission congregation of Iowa District East. Pastor Richard enjoys studying the biblical languages, and language in general. He is also an avid proponent of classical education. Pastor Richard is married and has three girls and a boy.
Grain, Wine, Oil, and Reproaches
Grain, wine, and oil were the food staples of Israel, along with the animals. When the people stopped listening to the Word of…
Optative Semi-Universalism
Many Christians unfortunately believe a certain strange doctrine at the deathbeds of their loved ones. Perhaps this doctrine already has a name, though…
Blessed Be Jael
Previously, we heard how Jabin king of Hazor had arisen, as if from the dead. A certain Jabin king of Hazor had suffered…
The Silence of Shamgar and Deborah
The judges in the book of Judges are individually shadows of Christ, and taken together are a more defined shadow. Othniel is a…
Ehud the Left-Handed
Other gods always look so appealing. The Israelites were drawn to the Canaanite agricultural religion, perhaps because the wars had settled down and…
The Fear of the Lord
“Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord” (Ps. 34:11). Do you fear the Lord? “Why…
The Vice of Forgetfulness
As with virtue, remembering takes effort; as with vice, forgetting comes readily. And of all the things that mankind so readily forgets, he…
On the Usefulness of Pagans and Heretics
The pagan world is useful to the Church. Certainly, it doesn’t seem that way most of the time. We often cry out with…
The Means of Wrath
There are two cups: the Cup of Salvation (Ps. 116:13) and the Cup of Wrath (Is. 51:17). And if you will not drink…
Catechlysm
What would happen if an entire generation failed to recount the mighty works of God to their children? What if these children could…
Judges 1:21-2:5, The Victors Capitulate
And he brought them to the territory of his holiness, The mountain that his right hand had acquired. And he drove out the…
Judges 1:1-20, Grizzled Grasshopper Stamps Out Giants
Judah – O you! – your brothers shall give thanks to you. Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies. The…
Introduction to Judges: Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods
This post introduces a commentary on the Old Testament book of Judges; I will put it up in weekly installments here at Steadfast…
David and Goliath as the Culmination of Lent
David and Goliath. Christ and the Devil. This ancient battle takes on new meaning in light of the salvation that Jesus accomplished during…
Israel’s Musical Inheritance
“Hosanna!” the crowd cries out on Palm Sunday. “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” The people had sung…
Cleansing from Death: A Brief Study of Hebrews 9 and Numbers 19
Hebrews 9:13-14 is an example of arguing from lesser to greater: For if the blood of goats and calves, and ashes of a…
Catechetical Questions in the Torah by Pastor Andrew Richard
I recently read an excellent article by Pastor Ryan Loeslie entitled, “Say It!” Says the Little Girl. In it he noted the childlike…
Word Study for The Third Sunday in Lent: HAZAQ by Pastor Andrew Richard
One of the options for the Old Testament reading on Oculi is Exodus 8:16-24 (which is 8:12-20 in Hebrew). Exodus 8:19 has a…
Word Study for Reminiscere: Pleonekteo
A note on the Epistle for Reminiscere, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-7, particularly verses 3-7. Paul introduces these few verses with the phrase “For this…
The Challenges of Planting a Church
Editor’s Note: Below is the State of the Congregation Address that Pastor Andrew Richard recently gave to his congregation. It is magnificent as…