The Didache, chapter 3, instructs us in the “no” and the “yes” of the faith. For the “no,” the Didache teaches us to look deeper into the root causes of our many sins. Then, it beckons us to see “discretion as the better part of valor.” The “No” 3:1 My child, flee from every […]
Jonah
January 23, 2012 by
It’s unsettling when you finally realize that you’ve haven’t had all the information you’ve needed. You go into a business transaction and make a lousy deal because you’ve only had part of the information. You live your life, working under certain presumptions, only later to find out that some of your presumptions were based on […]
Lester Haas’ Graveside Memorial Service Sermon
January 23, 2012 by
Lester Haas was buried in Pekin, Illinois on January 21st, 2012. His memorial service in Pekin was at the grave site during on a cold, winter day. So both the service and sermon were abbreviated. Here was the liturgy for such an abbreviated, combined memorial and committal service. Funeral Service (Memorial with Committal)–Lester Haas (19 […]
Lester Haas’ Funeral Sermon
January 23, 2012 by
This sermon was preached at Lester Haas’ funeral, which was on January 19th, 2012. Sermon Text:Isaiah 43:27-31 For some, no grander sight exists in the entire world than that of an eagle in flight. As they watch that majestic bird soar, strong and free, it lifts their spirits and emboldens their hearts. In our […]
God Saves You Body and Soul: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
January 15, 2012 by
“May God the Father, who created this body; may God the Son, who by His blood redeemed this body; may God the Holy Spirit, who by Holy Baptism sanctified this body to be His temple, keep these remains to the day of the resurrection of all flesh.” These are the words I speak at the […]
The Didache: Lesson 3, The 2nd Great Commandment
January 14, 2012 by
As we continue studying the Didache, we find that it does not directly use the Ten Commandments as a guide for Christian behavior (3rd use of the Law). Instead, the Didache continues with Jesus’ summation of the Law: love God and love neighbor. If you were to compare the Didache’s “dos and don’ts,” you would […]
The Baptism of Jesus
January 8, 2012 by
The Bible begins with baptism. It starts out, “And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters” (Genesis 1:2). Over the ancient and chaotic creation, there was Spirit and water, water and Spirit. That’s baptism! Do you remember Jesus speaking to Nicodemus at night? What did He say? Jesus said, “I […]
The Didache, Lesson 2: The Two Ways
January 7, 2012 by
Lesson 2: The Two Ways (Chapter 1) “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching [didache] and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” Acts 2:42 – What could (not is) St Luke be saying about the Didache? When we make our way through the Didache, we will find […]
Circumcision and Naming of Jesus
January 1, 2012 by
Genesis 17:9-14 Then God said to Abraham, “Now as for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants throughout their generations. Here is my covenant that you are to observe, between me and you and your descendants: Every male among you is to be circumcised. Circumcise the flesh of your foreskin. That will […]
New Year’s Eve: Joshua 23:14
December 31, 2011 by
Joshua 23:14: [Joshua said,] “I am now about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and being that none of the good promises the LORD your God made to you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed. At the end of the year, […]
