The Didache, Lesson 10: Staying Faithful

After describing the way of death, the Didache tells those being instructed not to be led astray, which leads one into the way of death.  6.1   Take care that no one leads you astray from the Way of the teaching [didache], since he is teaching you apart from God. Jeremiah 23:32: “‘Indeed, I am against […]

The Didache, Lesson 9: The Way of Death

After describing the way of Life, the Didache moves on to chapter 5, which describes the way of death.  5:1  In contrast, this is the way of death.  It is evil and fully cursed: Murders, adulteries, lusts, sexual immoralities, thefts, idolatries, magic arts, sorceries, robberies, false accusations, hypocrisies, double-dealing, deceit, arrogance, malice, self-will, greediness, abusive […]

Rejoice in Your Suffering: Romans 5:1-11

Note: This sermon has a quotation from the Apocrypha and treats that quotation from Sirach as Scripture.  This is simply how our Confessions treat the Apocrypha.  Ref: Ap XXI, 9: “We grant that angels pray for us.  For there is a passage in Zechariah 1:12, where an angel prays, ‘O Lord of hosts, how long […]

Tornado Aftermath Update

By Pr. Rich Futrell With a local-resident escort, I was able to get past the Sheriff’s cordon at Joe Bald and Stone road.  It was then that we made our way to visit the five households in our parish affected by the Leap-Day tornado down the Stone-Road corridor. The first folks we visited had significant […]

The Wound of Betrayal: Matthew 26:20-25

The “sore abuse and scorn” that scourged our Lord’s head “with anguish” (LSB 450:2) began long before the physical abuse.  It began with the actions of a friend, of one whom He loved.  It began with a companion with whom He had traveled many miles and shared many meals. This was a wound that weighed […]

Still Standing after Kimberling City’s Leap-Day Tornado

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Kimberling City has survived the Leap-Day Tornado of February 29th.  As far as we know, we have sustained no damage.  As of today, some in our congregation are still without power and have suffered property damage.  And again, as far as we know (Deo volente), we have had […]

Our Lenten Season Radio Ad

This is our latest Radio ad for the season fo Lent on KOMC, 100.1 FM in Branson.   Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church -Mid Lent Season 2012

Pastor Will Weedon to Head LC-MS’ Commission on Worship

by Pr. Charles Lehmann Every time the Verba are spoken by one of the Lord’s pastors over the bread and wine, heaven comes down to earth. Angels, archangels, and all the company of heaven sing before the Lamb who was slain but is alive forevermore. The saints in heaven and on earth join together in […]

Mark 1:9-15: Jesus Faces Down the Tempter

The water from the Jordan River slowly trickled off our Lord’s wet hair.  The hot, wilderness sand glued itself to His damp, walking feet.  Behind Him, the well-known river snaked along.  Before Him, the ancient serpent lay in wait. Still wet with baptismal water, Jesus boldly goes into the desert of temptation.  This is when […]

Real Stewardship for Real Life

What is Stewardship? In the New Testament, the Greek words oikonomos (house manager) and oikonomia (house management) are the original words for the idea of “stewardship.”  Stewardship involves the responsibility or work of managing a household.  A steward is someone who uses what the owner has to manage his house. Oikonomia occurs nine times in […]