The Didache now moves into what brings one into the community (communion) of Christ: Baptism. To understand this New-Covenant act, we need to look at its Old-Covenant predecessor, which baptism superseded and replaced. As God used an act of His choosing to bring someone into His Old Covenant, it’s easy to see how He would […]
John 2:13-22: Jesus Cleanses the Temple
March 11, 2012 by
Today, we hear about a Jesus who doesn’t match what we usually think of Him. We see Jesus as our friend, even our buddy. We see him as a pleasant, smiling person who never confronts anyone but is always there to confirm whatever you may be doing. That’s the Jesus we want. That’s also the […]
The Wound of Apathy: Matthew 26:36-45
March 7, 2012 by
Jesus did not want to be alone as He wrestled in prayer that night. How often we forget that our blessed Lord was, and is, fully human! He needed the comfort of companionship. He needed encouragement from others. And so, as Jesus leaves the larger group of His disciples behind, He takes with Him His […]
The Didache, Lesson 10: Staying Faithful
March 6, 2012 by
After describing the way of death, the Didache tells those being instructed not to be led astray, which leads one into the way of death. 6.1 Take care that no one leads you astray from the Way of the teaching [didache], since he is teaching you apart from God. Jeremiah 23:32: “‘Indeed, I am against […]
The Didache, Lesson 9: The Way of Death
March 6, 2012 by
After describing the way of Life, the Didache moves on to chapter 5, which describes the way of death. 5:1 In contrast, this is the way of death. It is evil and fully cursed: Murders, adulteries, lusts, sexual immoralities, thefts, idolatries, magic arts, sorceries, robberies, false accusations, hypocrisies, double-dealing, deceit, arrogance, malice, self-will, greediness, abusive […]
Rejoice in Your Suffering: Romans 5:1-11
March 4, 2012 by
Note: This sermon has a quotation from the Apocrypha and treats that quotation from Sirach as Scripture. This is simply how our Confessions treat the Apocrypha. Ref: Ap XXI, 9: “We grant that angels pray for us. For there is a passage in Zechariah 1:12, where an angel prays, ‘O Lord of hosts, how long […]
Tornado Aftermath Update
March 2, 2012 by
By Pr. Rich Futrell With a local-resident escort, I was able to get past the Sheriff’s cordon at Joe Bald and Stone road. It was then that we made our way to visit the five households in our parish affected by the Leap-Day tornado down the Stone-Road corridor. The first folks we visited had significant […]
The Wound of Betrayal: Matthew 26:20-25
February 29, 2012 by
The “sore abuse and scorn” that scourged our Lord’s head “with anguish” (LSB 450:2) began long before the physical abuse. It began with the actions of a friend, of one whom He loved. It began with a companion with whom He had traveled many miles and shared many meals. This was a wound that weighed […]
Still Standing after Kimberling City’s Leap-Day Tornado
February 29, 2012 by
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Kimberling City has survived the Leap-Day Tornado of February 29th. As far as we know, we have sustained no damage. As of today, some in our congregation are still without power and have suffered property damage. And again, as far as we know (Deo volente), we have had […]
Our Lenten Season Radio Ad
February 28, 2012 by
This is our latest Radio ad for the season fo Lent on KOMC, 100.1 FM in Branson. Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church -Mid Lent Season 2012
