Recap and Intro A parable is a comparison, from the Greek “para,” meaning as “in parallel” and “balo,” meaning “to cast.” Through a parable, the speaker casts a net or […]
Church History, Lesson 12: Christianity in North Africa, Part 2
October 8, 2017 by
The Writing Down of What Was Handed Down Intro Tertullian (160-225 AD), the first Latin Church Father, provided us with much of our Church language and ways of thinking. He […]
The Parables of Jesus: Lesson 1, Introduction
September 23, 2017 by
What are Parables? To introduce a parable, Jesus often used this phrase, “The kingdom of God is like …” In a non-parable-like fashion, Jesus revealed the structure of a parable: […]
Church History, Lesson 11: Christianity in North Africa, Part 1
September 20, 2017 by
Intro Several influential theologians in early Christianity were Africans, including Tertullian (160-225 AD), Cyprian (200-258 AD), and Augustine (354-430 AD). Today, we will only learn about Tertullian. So, when did […]
The Apocrypha, Lesson 20: Baruch
September 16, 2017 by
Intro We know of Baruch from the book of Jeremiah, where he is presented as Jeremiah’s scribe (Jeremiah 32:10-16; 36:1-31). Baruch means “blessed one,” a shortened form of Berechyahu, “blessed […]
Church History, Lesson 10: The Tradition is Passed On: Irenaeus
September 14, 2017 by
Intro Irenaeus (135-202 AD) came from Smyrna in Asia Minor, which today is Izmir, Turkey. Born between 130-140 AD, he studied under Polycarp (AH 3, 3:4; “Letter to Florinus” Eusebius’ […]
The Apocrypha, Lesson 19: Sirach, Part 2: The New Testament’s Use of Sirach
September 9, 2017 by
Intro Last week, we surveyed the Lutheran Church’s “lovefest” with Sirach. Today, we do the same but focus our attention on the New Testament. In about 195 BC, “Jesus, son […]
Church History, Lesson 9: Letters to Non-Christians about Christ and His Church
September 7, 2017 by
Intro Today, we focus on two sets of letters written to non-Christians. The first is by Pliny the Younger, a provincial Roman governor; the second by Justin Martyr, a Christian. […]
The Apocrypha, Lesson 18: Lutheranism’s Love Affair with Sirach
September 7, 2017 by
Intro For this first lesson on Sirach, we are breaking protocol. When your pastor started preparing this lesson, he found an extensive use of Sirach in the history of the […]
Church History, Lesson 8: The Last of the Apostles’ Students, Ignatius and Polycarp
August 30, 2017 by
Intro Ignatius Ignatius of Antioch (35-107 AD) was the 3rd Bishop of Antioch. Late in Emperor Trajan’s reign (98-117 AD), he was arrested for being a Christian, chosen because of […]
