In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus told His disciples of His impending death. Someone will betray Him; others will ridicule, spit on, and kill Him. And although Jesus’ words were straightforward and clear, His disciples didn’t understand them. For this world doesn’t understand true love, the love that drove Jesus to die to give us His […]
Acts, Lesson 26: Paul is Under Arrest
February 8, 2015 by
The warnings to Paul that he would face trouble in Jerusalem have now materialized. A Jewish mob wanted to injure him when they “heard” that he had brought a Gentile into the Temple. After the Romans got involved because of the disturbance, the commander allowed him to speak to the Jews assembled. Paul spoke to […]
1 Corinthians, Lesson 8: Being Holy in Christ
February 7, 2015 by
In 1 Corinthians chapter 5, Paul confronted a sin taking place: a son was sleeping with his “father’s wife.” Now Paul deals with Christians bringing a lawsuit to another Christian in a secular court. Paul opens his worldview of what it means to be in Christ. Settle Your Differences within the Church Read 1 […]
Luke 8:4-15: The Parable of the Sower and the Four Soils
February 1, 2015 by
When we say, “The Bible is the Word of God,” we mean that it originates from God. After all, God the Holy Spirit inspired various writers of old to put words to parchment. And the Holy Spirit inspired His Church to copy, preserve, and collect those writings into what we, today, call the Bible. But […]
1 Corinthians, Lesson 7: Community, Holiness, and Covenant
February 1, 2015 by
In the first four chapters, when dealing with sin, Paul dealt with division in the Corinthian congregation expressed by favoring one pastor over another. In chapter 5, Paul switches subjects: he is still dealing with sin but the sin is related to the gift of sexuality. How are Christians living in Christ to live out […]
Acts, Lesson 25: Paul’s Troubles Begin
February 1, 2015 by
Paul finally arrived in Jerusalem, having completed his third missionary travels. He knew from repeated warnings that trouble awaited him, but “constrained by the Spirit,” he made his way to Jerusalem anyway (Acts 20:22). But it’s more than those warnings that prepare us for what awaits Paul. In Jerusalem, Luke shows the change in how […]
The Church Choir
January 25, 2015 by
This is our pastor’s article for the February 2015 edition of The Shepherd’s Voice, our congregational newsletter. At Shepherd of the Hills, our choir has been adding to our worship services long before I came here to serve as your pastor. But, I suppose, we can ask, “Why did churches have choirs in the […]
Confession of St. Peter: Petros or Petra?
January 25, 2015 by
Texts: Mathew 16:13-20, Mark 8:27-38, Acts 4:8-13, and 2 Peter 1:1-15 Each Christian congregation is to be a living embodiment, in a particular place and time, of the Church of Jesus Christ. And that just makes sense. After all, don’t Christians believe that the Jesus in heaven is the same Jesus who rose from […]
1 Corinthians, Lesson 6: Just as a Father Corrects a Son
January 25, 2015 by
Paul just finished with words saying that “we” (that is, pastors such as Paul, Apollos, Cephas, and Sosthenes) are stewards of the mysteries of God. For that reason, the congregation at Corinth were not to judge them, at least that which “is now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart.” With […]
Acts, Lesson 24: Paul Makes His Way to Jerusalem, Despite the Troubles that Await
January 25, 2015 by
Paul is still on his third missionary journey, having met with pastors from Ephesus in Miletus. He and his traveling contingent now press on toward Jerusalem. A short stay in Tyre Read Acts 21:1-6 In this section, we find Luke doing what he had earlier done in the book of Acts: he speeds up […]
