The crowd at Pentecost thinks the first Christians are drunk. They hear the cacophony of 120 Christians. They hear the old and wrinkled, the young and sparkly eyed, men and women, and pastors and parishioners all speaking in the rush of excitement. The crowd thinks they are hearing a bunch of drunkards. That’s what St. […]
Tornado Recovery Efforts at SOTHLC
June 8, 2011 by
On Sunday, May 22nd, a massive tornado struck in the heart of Joplin, Missouri. In response, besides including Joplin in the Prayer of the Church, we at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church have had a special collection. We will send whatever we collect directly to Immanuel Lutheran Church at Joplin, Missouri. This is a […]
The Cruciform Life in Christian Caregiving (Part 2)
June 8, 2011 by
Although the reality of having Christ within us is real because of being baptized into Him, we are still called to “imitate” Him. This is because we are both sinner and saint. Our sinful natures force us to be reminded of who we are and to live out our true identity in Christ. Even so, […]
The Cruciform Life in Christian Caregiving (Part 1)
June 7, 2011 by
The “cruciform life” is a life shaped by the cross of Christ. It is a life based on who we are in Christ Jesus—and Christ Jesus in us! It is a sacrificial servanthood that is breathed out and lived out in real time, not simply imitated from afar. This is the Christ for you becoming […]
John 15:26-16:4
June 5, 2011 by
Jesus says that whoever confesses Him before others, He will confess before His Father in heaven (Matthew 10:32). The Apostle Peter says, “Always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15). So, every Christian in his everyday life is to point others to Jesus. […]
Faith and Works from Clement of Rome
June 3, 2011 by
The Greek word for “justify,” dikiao, has a couple of meanings. It can mean “declare and make righteousness” but also “show to be righteous.” In Romans 3:28, Paul used “justify” to mean “declare and make righteous.” In James 2:24, James used “justify” to mean “show to be righteous.” Romans 3:28 reads, “For we maintain that […]
John 16:23-30: Praying in Jesus’ Name
May 29, 2011 by
Jesus says, “Whatever you ask.” So what have you asked of God? Jesus says, “Whatever you ask the Father … He will give you.” So what have you asked the Father? Was it a want or a need? And did you get it? But have your prayers become sparse and spindly, because you haven’t received […]
How to Read the Bible
May 23, 2011 by
Jesus said, “You pore over the Scriptures because you suppose that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” (John 5:39-40). People often pass by those words of Jesus without a second thought. In those words, Jesus is […]
Isaiah 12:1-6 (Luke 15:11-32)
May 22, 2011 by
Isn’t the idea of “holy anger” strange? I mean, how can anger be holy when we consider it sinful? But if we think about it, we know that anger itself can’t be a sin. Read the Bible! More than just once, it describes God getting angry with His people. And since God doesn’t sin, anger […]
Understanding God: His Divine Being (Essence) and His Energia
May 19, 2011 by
We have little problem recognizing, as a concept, that God exists as a Divine Being. God in His Divine Being is God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is God as He exists in His essence (or “substance” as we confess in the Creeds). Although we don’t have problem understanding that God exists as a […]
