Structure This psalm has a pattern, revealed by its grammatical switching of “person”: Verses 1-2: Being blessed. This is the “third person,” which refers to someone else, not the writer […]
Romans: Lesson 7: God’s Righteousness for Us
In Romans 3:1, Paul started focusing on the Jewish Christians’ sin of insisting on circumcision when Christ fulfilled it on the cross, then instituting His baptism. The Jewish Christians’ insistence […]
The “Lament” Psalms: Lesson 2, Psalm 6
Structure This psalm has a four-part pattern. The psalm’s first part consists of 24 words in the Hebrew, which make up the first three verses. The second part contains 15 […]
Romans, Lesson 6: Circumcision and the Christian
The overall culture in the church at Rome is one of division between the Jewish and Gentile Christians. The Jews want the Gentiles to follow the Old-Covenant rituals, as they […]
The “Lament” Psalms, Lesson 1: Introduction
The “lament” psalms are a group of psalms that grieve, and or complain, expressing deep sorrow for the travails of a person or nation (Israel). The psalms also ask for […]
The “Yes” of Sex
Adult catechesis at SOTHLC begins with a study of the Small Catechism. After that, the instruction is individualized based on one’s questions, experiences, and the “baggage” he brings with him. This […]
Recovery
This is our pastor’s newsletter article for the October edition of our newsletter. At our last Voters’ Assembly, I said it was dangerous for a pastor to reveal too […]
Romans: Lesson 5: The Remnant of God’s Instruction in the Fallen Heart and the Jewish Failure at Rome
To confront the Gentile sin of license, Paul wrote that God will judge everyone impartially, even that His impartiality is a character of His righteousness (Romans 2:6-11). Of course, Paul […]
Understanding Alzheimer’s
This is our pastor’s article for the September issue of our newsletter. We are defective copies of imperfect copies of flawed copies. Humanity’s fall into sin introduced, not only […]
Romans: Lesson 4: God Gives Salvation but also Judges
Paul is dealing with both Jewish works-righteousness and Gentile sinful license. Against works-righteousness, he drew from Isaiah 51, affirming that salvation IS the righteousness of God. Against sinful license, he […]