The Lord has a taken a bride for Himself. Israel has a husband. At Sinai He pledged Himself to her with an everlasting love. “I will be your God and you shall be my people.” Sprinkled clean by the blood of the sacrifice, she answered, “We will do all that the Lord commands.” Yes, beloved the Lord has taken a bride for Himself. Israel has been bathed in the promises of Her God and Lord.
Part 2 Catechesis: The Quiet Crisis William E. Thompson Outline: Serialization Note: Part 1 Introduction Brothers of John the Steadfast gratefully acknowledge the…
Shock Jock radio hosts have come and gone over the years. Their whole shtick is to be offensive and provocative in their discussions….
Brumalia–Pre-Julian Latin Sources: Chronological Presentation One of the modern claims against Christmas is that Christians took the ancient Roman holiday known as Brumalia…
These shepherds weren’t anyone special according to the world’s definition of special. They didn’t dress in fine cloths. They didn’t frequent the hot spots of Jerusalem on the weekends. They weren’t chic, or hip, or trendsetters in any way. Nor were they pretending to be. They weren’t worried about their self-esteem. They didn’t doubt their purpose in life. They were simple keepers of sheep, watchers of the flock, defenders of animals too stupid to know the difference between a hill or a cliff. In many ways they were a lot like parents . . . and like parents today these shepherds weren’t much appreciated. They were despised. They were poor. They were unclean. And they shared the same fears that you and I suffer. They were afraid of failure – of losing their sheep to lions or wolves, or gravity. And like all men, they were afraid of death. Nevertheless these shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks by night. They were doing their job, keeping their vocation, working the work they had been given.
John 21:19-24 New King James Version 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken…
Sermon for the Third Sunday in Advent (13 December A+D 2015) The Rev. Dr. John W. Sias Pastor, Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Colstrip,…
God has a plan, a purpose for John. God has a plan and purpose for you. Right now, John’s eyes are preaching a sermon that John’s heart struggles to bear. Everything he sees tells not of God’s grace but of God’s judgement. Your eyes are preaching to you this morning. What do you see? What is real? John is struggling with reality. What are your struggles? John is in prison.
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also…
Here’s a submission from a Concerned Layman: Before I begin in earnest, let me say that I am not a pastor, nor am…
How did the Christian faith come from my grandparents to my grandchildren? It came by mission, but not by missionalism. If this mission…
“Born a Priest, Made a Pastor” (Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-16) Circuit Pastors’ Conference, November 10, 2015 Today is Martin Luther’s birthday. He’s 532 today,…
We’ve all read church growth material which encourages you to share your faith while serving your neighbor through your various vocations. It’s a…
Pastor and author Eugene Peterson wrote, “The pastors of America have metamorphosed into a company of shopkeepers, and the shops they keep are…
In keeping with the theology of the Old Testament, some Christian churches (including many Lutheran ones)[i] have retained the custom of referring to clergy…
At the beginning of October conservative news outlets were bemoaning the fact that a controversial statue of the 10 Commandments was removed under…
There have historically been two dominant approaches to the determination of worship forms and substance within Protestantism, known as the “normative principle of…
You’re Killing Me Peter St. Paul guides us to treat one another gently when it comes to correcting each other. He, inspired by…
“The popes have never seriously intended to wage war against the Turk; instead they used the Turkish war as a cover for their…
Sermon Text — Mark 9:31-37 Proper 20 — September 20, 2015 Audio — Grace, mercy and peace be unto you from God our…
As I was looking ahead on the calendar this morning for the upcoming Labor Day weekend, I found myself thinking about the doctrine…
This sermon was posted on LutheranSermon.com, a website that allows pastors to post their sermons. This sermon by Rev. Alan Taylor was preached…
Of the four gospels Mark alone sets Jesus’ death and resurrection in the context of Old Testament purity rituals. From the very beginning we find Christ’s herald in the water, baptizing for the forgiveness of sins. We find Jesus, Himself, baptized and then driven to the wilderness to face the Prince of this World. Everything that follows in Mark’s gospel follows these events and is an unfolding of Christ’s invasion of the strong man’s house. It is a battle not just of God and Satan but of Holiness vs. Uncleanness.
This was my Facebook status posted on Father’s Day this past June. “On Father’s Day I want to thank my children Katie, Leah,…
Found over on Gottesdienst Online: I know you’ll all want sources. “Where have you seen this?” “Who said this?” I can’t give…