The Poetic Structure and Numbers of Revelation Poetic Forms that Convey Meaning Because the book of Revelation is largely written using Hebraic poetic forms, we can’t fully understand Revelation unless we recognize and understand those poetic forms. Since thinking in such poetic forms is not part of our North-American cultural literacy, we have to gain […]
James, Lesson 5: Church in Conflict (Chapter 4)
May 30, 2012 by
The Problem James chapter four discusses a subject that is as relevant for us today as it was in the first century: quarrels and fights in the Church. St. James ended chapter three by telling his readers, “The harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace” (3:18). Then, “what is the […]
Seminarian Mark Hunsaker to visit on June 10th
May 27, 2012 by
Our LWML-adopted seminarian, Mark Hunsaker, will be here on June 10th. He is a student at our LC-MS St. Louis Seminary, but is also a “local boy,” who calls Republic, MO his home. When here, he will be teaching Sunday School, preaching, and assisting with the Sacrament. Let us all give him a hearty, Shepherd-of-the-Hills welcome!
Pentecost: Acts 2:1-21
May 27, 2012 by
This past week in our liturgical, Church calendar, we’ve been in limbo. We’ve been existing between two realities. We celebrated our Lord’s ascension into heaven. But since the Ascension, we’ve been waiting. We’ve been waiting for this day. Like the Apostles of old, we’ve been listening to our Lord’s instructions to “wait in Jerusalem until […]
Revelation: Lesson 1: A Rocky History
May 26, 2012 by
Authorship Four times the author of the book of Revelation calls himself “John” (1:1, 4, 9, and 22:8). This John wrote that he was in exile on the island of Patmos when he received his heavenly visions and the instructions to write them in a book (1:11, 19, 2:1). The earliest Christian sources identify the […]
James, Lesson 4: Taming the Tongue (Chapter 3)
May 22, 2012 by
In chapter 3, James does not start a new subject but, instead, develops more fully what he previously mentioned in passing. James 1:19: Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak … James 1:26: If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue, […]
Jesus’ Ascension: Acts 1:1-11
May 20, 2012 by
No matter who we are, at one time or another, life’s frustrating events have left their abusive marks on us. It’s not a matter of if. It’s a matter of when, for we are talking about life in this fallen world, where this world’s sin and chaos ramrod our tidy and ordered lives. It was […]
The Queen Mother: The New Covenant
May 19, 2012 by
Is Jesus the Successor of David? We know that Israel’s Old Testament kings had queen mothers. The exceptions were when a king started a new dynastic line, such as Saul and David. That’s why both Saul and David did not have queen mothers. So, the question before us is this: Did our Lord start a […]
Study to Begin on Revelation (aka The Apocalypse)
May 17, 2012 by
On May 27th, during our Sunday School hour (8:15-9:15 AM), we will begin a study on the book of Revelation. All are invited to learn about this mysterious and often misunderstood book.
James, Lesson 3 (Chapter 2): Faith is impartial
May 17, 2012 by
This section of James differs from what we have seen so far. This section begins with words of censure, which James further develops. Read James 2:1 – What is James calling Jesus? Galatians 3:28: [Concerning salvation] There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you […]
