Prophets In the last lesson, we saw the Didache link the Apostles to Jesus (11:4.) But today, we will see the Didache link prophets to the Holy Spirit. Although, at first, this seems a hair-splitting distinction, it simply shows the worldview of those who put together the Didache. It shows that the Apostles were directly […]
Bible Study on James to Begin
April 19, 2012 by
On Thursday, May 3rd, at 2:00 PM, our Pastor will begin the season’s midweek class, starting with the book of James. Lutherans often find James to be a puzzling book. James writes, “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone” (James 2:24). Instead of ignoring that passage from the […]
Remaining Firm in the Faith, Even When Your Feelings are Hurt
April 19, 2012 by
What would you think of a medical doctor who watched someone suffer a heart attack, but did nothing to help? What would you think of a police officer who walked past someone committing a crime but didn’t even care enough to raise an eyebrow or report the crime? You would probably despise such doctors and […]
The Office of the Holy Ministry: John 20:19-31
April 15, 2012 by
When Jesus speaks His divine peace to His disciples, He shows them His wounds He received on the cross. For Jesus, the crucified One, is now risen from the dead. He is the Messiah–and His wounds prove it. But Thomas denied what he hadn’t experienced. Instead, Thomas demanded a religious experience of his own choosing […]
Easter: John 20:11-16
April 8, 2012 by
It doesn’t matter how many times you face it, it never feels natural. It never feels right. Death always feels wrong. Something inside us doesn’t accept that we will never again hear that voice, see that face, touch that hand, or experience that laughter. The grief counselors can talk until they are blue in the […]
Good (God’s) Friday: Isaiah 53:1-6
April 6, 2012 by
We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. For, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. Amen. Crucifixes make us uncomfortable–and well they should. We squirm before them. And this is even apart from any lingering, anti-Roman Catholic bias we still may have. It is simply painful to look at our Lord […]
Maundy Thursday: Exodus 24:3-11
April 5, 2012 by
Did they even realize or have a clue what they had agreed to do? “We will do everything the LORD has said.” We don’t even have to think about all the Lord had commanded to realize the futility of that response. All we have to do is remember the two chief commandments: Love the Lord […]
Our King Comes In Humility: Zechariah 9:9-10
April 1, 2012 by
Suppose the President of the United States was coming to town. You then set up chairs at the side of the road and wait to see him. A short while later, the traffic begins to thin out on the road. You hear the thumping sound of helicopter blades overhead. Ten minutes later, the road is […]
The Didache, Lesson 14, The Apostles and Prophets, Part 1
March 31, 2012 by
Lesson 14: (Chapter 11:1-6) After going over the epicenter of the New Covenant, the Lord’s Supper, the Didache, tackles a most-practical issue in its day. It deals with those who would visit, claiming to be an apostle, prophet, or pastor (remember this was still early enough when the Apostles were still alive). Knowing the Truth […]
Holy Week at Shepherd of the Hills
March 29, 2012 by
April 1st begins Holy Week. Our Holy Week services start with our Palm-Sunday service, which is at our regular Divine-Service time of 9:30 AM. The sermon text will be based on the Old Testament reading from Zechariah 9:9-10. On Thursday, April 5th, is our Maundy Thursday service at 7:00 PM, which will focus on the epicenter […]
