This lesson is born from a concern about “vain repetition” in our worship liturgy. In our Divine Services on Sunday, we rotate settings of the Liturgy based on the season. However, during our midweek Advent and Lenten services, we have used the exact same service, Evening Prayer, for the last few years. Thus, are we […]
Thanksgiving Sermon: What Faith Is and What Faith Does
November 26, 2014 by
Our Old Testament reading had with these words: “Keep the commands of the Lord your God by walking in His ways and fearing Him.” So, how’s that going for you? How well are you keeping them, His Commandments, the Ten Words that God gave to Moses to give to the people of Israel? So let’s […]
Our Pastor interviewed on Issues Etc.
November 26, 2014 by
On Nov 25, 2014, our pastor radio host, Todd Wilken, interviewed our pastor on the Christian radio program, Issues Etc. The topic of the interview was “It’s a relationship, not a religion.” You can hear the interview by clicking here.
It’s not a Religion but a Relationship (not quite!)
November 24, 2014 by
This is our pastor’s newsletter article for the December 2014-January 2015 edition of our congregational newsletter: The Shepherd’s Voice. We’ve all heard others say it. Maybe, you’ve even said it: “Christianity is not a religion but a relationship with Christ.” Yes, we live in the age of the sound-bite, where “truths” are distilled into small, […]
Matthew 25:31-46: The Hidden Jesus
November 23, 2014 by
What’s surprising about the resurrection of the body on the Last Day is that every physical body ever born will rise. Jesus will show to all that He DID take away the sins of the entire world when He physically died on the cross and physically rose from the grave. That’s why every person ever […]
How to Discern God’s Will in Your Life
November 22, 2014 by
How to Discern God’s Will in Your Life (Or how I learned to stop worrying and make decisions like a real Christian) By Pr Rich Futrell How does a Christian figure out God’s will in his life? Closer to home, how can you know what life choices God wants you to make? That’s the topic […]
Sermon for Bobbie Hansen’s Funeral: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18: Remember the Resurrection
November 21, 2014 by
When memory fades and recognition falters, when eyes we love grow dim and minds confused, speak to our souls of love that never alters; speak to our hearts, by pain and fear abused. O God of life and healing peace, empower us with patient courage, by your grace infused. As frailness grows, and youthful strengths […]
Acts, Lesson 22: The Ugly Intersection of Religion and Money
November 19, 2014 by
Paul is still in Ephesus, preaching, teaching, and being an evangelist. Earlier, after three months of proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah in the synagogue, many of the Jews there became flustered with Paul. Today, we learn that many Gentiles became angry with Paul, but in a way where monetary income was as important (or more […]
Matthew 25:14-30: A Talent is What?
November 19, 2014 by
In today’s church, especially when dealing with the topic of stewardship, this phrase rolls off our tongue like water: “Time, talents, and treasure.” When we say that, we think that a talent is an ability we have, or an ability we’ve cultivated. But that’s not a talent in the Bible. A talent was the amount […]
The Theology of Suffering
November 15, 2014 by
Today’s lesson comes from a request to explore how to understand suffering in our lives. How are we to view suffering and, then, based on such a view, handle the suffering that comes our way? The Theology of Glory versus the Theology of the Cross Before we look into suffering, we need to look […]
