The Apocrypha, Lesson 17: The Wisdom of Solomon, Part 3

Intro We earlier learned Jesus is Wisdom incarnate.  The Church understood the Apocrypha book of Wisdom to foretell Christ’s coming (“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel).  Today, we continue exploring what […]

Church History, Lesson 7: The Beginning of the Rise of Rome

  Introduction History teaches us the Apostle Peter was the first recognized Bishop of Rome, though Paul did precede him as acting bishop while under house arrest.  The sources are […]

The Apocrypha, Lesson 16: The Wisdom of Solomon, Part 2

Intro Last week, we stopped at the end of chapter 6.  Today, we pick up, exploring select verses of Wisdom.   Wisdom Described and the Christ to Come Remember, “wisdom” […]

Church History, Lesson 6: Christianity becomes Illegal

The Great Fire of Rome, 64 AD Backdrop The Roman Empire enabled Christianity to spread without the effort needed in earlier centuries.  The Empire’s unifying infrastructure aided the Gospel’s expansion […]

Church History, Lesson 5: The Didache, Pt. 2

Baptism The Didache now moves into what brings someone into the community (communion) of Christ: Baptism.  7:1 As for baptism, baptize in this way: After explaining all these things, baptize […]

The Apocrypha, Lesson 15: The Wisdom of Solomon, Part 1

Intro Author: The Lutheran Study Bible Apocrypha writes: “The obvious Greek style and philosophical influences make it clear that the Hebrew king Solomon did not write the book.”  Now, this […]

The Value of the Hebrew and Greek Old Testaments

This is our pastor’s newsletter article for the September 2017 edition of “The Shepherd’s Voice.”   The Value of the Hebrew and Greek Old Testaments By Pr. Rich Futrell Today, […]

The Apocrypha, Lesson 14: 2 Maccabees and Purgatory

Recap After we had looked into prayers for the sainted dead in 2 Maccabees, one person in class wanted to explore the verse that followed.  Your teacher tactfully avoided doing […]

The Apocrypha, Lesson 13: 1-2 Maccabees, Pt. 3

Recap In 164 BC, with the ouster of Antiochus Epiphanes from Israel, the Israelites began to celebrate a festival every year to remember the dedication, or restoration, of the Temple.  […]

Church History, Lesson 4: The Didache, Pt. 1

Recap In 49 AD, the Church met in her first council to resolve issues of incorporating Gentiles into, then, an ethnically Jewish Church.  The Gentiles did not need to be […]