Malachi 3:1-4, Philippians 1:3-11, Luke 3:1-6 The name Malachi means “my messenger.” And it’s a fitting name, since that prophet so powerfully spoke about God’s coming messenger. That messenger would be like a powerful soap to purify and cleanse the Levites, the chosen priesthood of Israel. God chose that tribe of Israel to be His […]
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Luke 15:1-7: Joan Botthof’s Funeral Sermon
December 6, 2014 by
Jesus told a parable to those who thought they had sealed the deal with God. They didn’t need to repent–they were God’s people. So Jesus told them a parable, a story to make a point. But in that parable, Jesus also makes a point for us. But what is that point? Ah, Jesus sneaked it […]
Jesus Prophesied in the Old Testament
December 6, 2014 by
This lesson came into being from a question asking to see where Jesus was foretold in the Old Testament, but also where we find its fulfillment mentioned in the New. But before we delve directly into what the Scripture writers have foretold, we look at how Jesus Himself understood the Old Testament. This is so […]
Joan Botthof’s Memorial Service
December 5, 2014 by
On Wednesday, December 3, 2014, Joan Botthof died and was transferred from the Church Militant to the Church Triumphant. Her memorial service will be on Saturday, December 6, at 6:00 PM, at Stumpff Funeral Home, here in Kimberling City.
Jeremiah 33:14-16, Luke 21:29-31: Jesus Ushers in a New Springtime of Life
December 3, 2014 by
Although we are now on the cusp of winter, some of us are already looking forward to spring. In our Gospel reading, we heard Jesus speak of spring, when leaves begin to bud and finally burst forth in the marvel of new life. Jesus used a picture of “the fig tree and all the others […]
Jeremiah 23:5-8: Jesus, Our True King
December 1, 2014 by
A good king is hard to find. In Jesus’ day, if the people of Jerusalem looked at the kings around them, they wouldn’t have found a true king. If they looked at their local king, Herod Antipas, they would have thought that a king was a bloodthirsty oppressor who thought little of his people, who […]
Vain Repetition
November 29, 2014 by
This lesson is born from a concern about “vain repetition” in our worship liturgy. In our Divine Services on Sunday, we rotate settings of the Liturgy based on the season. However, during our midweek Advent and Lenten services, we have used the exact same service, Evening Prayer, for the last few years. Thus, are we […]
Thanksgiving Sermon: What Faith Is and What Faith Does
November 26, 2014 by
Our Old Testament reading had with these words: “Keep the commands of the Lord your God by walking in His ways and fearing Him.” So, how’s that going for you? How well are you keeping them, His Commandments, the Ten Words that God gave to Moses to give to the people of Israel? So let’s […]
Our Pastor interviewed on Issues Etc.
November 26, 2014 by
On Nov 25, 2014, our pastor radio host, Todd Wilken, interviewed our pastor on the Christian radio program, Issues Etc. The topic of the interview was “It’s a relationship, not a religion.” You can hear the interview by clicking here.
It’s not a Religion but a Relationship (not quite!)
November 24, 2014 by
This is our pastor’s newsletter article for the December 2014-January 2015 edition of our congregational newsletter: The Shepherd’s Voice. We’ve all heard others say it. Maybe, you’ve even said it: “Christianity is not a religion but a relationship with Christ.” Yes, we live in the age of the sound-bite, where “truths” are distilled into small, […]
