AC XXI: Invocation of the Saints Our churches teach that we are to remember the history of the saints so that our faith may be strengthened when we see how they experienced grace and how they were sustained by faith. Even more, their good works are to be an example for us, each of us […]
Acts, Lesson 7: The Martyrdom of Deacon Stephen
July 15, 2014 by
The Church had just established the Office of Deacon to free pastors (at this time, the Apostles) to focus on Word and Sacrament ministry. Deacons assisted the pastor, primarily focusing on the physical needs of parishioners. Yet, we see they also did more, as we see evidences with Stephen, one of the ordained deacons. Read […]
Matthew 11:25-30: Becoming as Little Children, even Infants
July 6, 2014 by
Jesus had been teaching and preaching to His own people. But what did they do? They went on believing what they wanted to believe, thinking they had the last word, instead of God. Jesus compared His generation to a bunch of spoiled, religious brats. A few verses before our Gospel reading for today, Jesus recited […]
Pastor Futrell Receives Call to Serve at St. Paul, Thermopolis
July 6, 2014 by
On June 30, 2014 our pastor received a call to serve at St. Paul Lutheran Church at Thermopolis, Wyoming. This is his letter that he read to our congregation on July 6. July 2, 2014 From: Richard Futrell, Pastor, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Kimberling City, MO Dear members and […]
Augsburg Confession, Articles 19-20
July 5, 2014 by
AC XIX: The Cause of Sin Concerning the cause of sin, our churches teach that–although God creates and preserves nature–the cause of sin is located in the will of those who are evil, that is, of the devil and ungodly people. Without God’s help, the will of the wicked turns itself away from God, as […]
Acts, Lesson 6: Persecution from the Jewish Leadership
July 3, 2014 by
In last week’s lesson, Ananias and Sapphira had decided to deceive the Apostles and congregation in Jerusalem by stating they sold property for a certain amount, deliberately understating the amount they had received. After that fear-inducing event, Luke takes us to see what is going on with the Apostles in Jerusalem, in particular, Peter. […]
St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles
June 29, 2014 by
What a daring deed it is to call someone a saint. Saint comes from the Latin word for holy. So, let us speak in clear English today. Today, we celebrate the Feast of Holy Peter and Holy Paul. How can we say that? Only God is Holy. That’s what we sing every week in the […]
Acts, Lesson 5: Dissension Within the Ranks
June 29, 2014 by
In last week’s lesson, Peter was preaching within the Temple complex. Today, we learn how the Jewish leadership responded, especially the Sadducees. To understand their reaction, we need to know a bit about the Sadducees. The Sadducees The Sadducees emerged as a religious and political-interest group in the 2nd century BC, around the time […]
Augsburg Confession, Article 18: Free Will
June 26, 2014 by
AC XVIII: Freedom of the Human Will Our churches teach that a person has some freedom to choose civil righteousness and to do things subject to reason. However, it does not have the power to produce the righteousness of God or spiritual righteousness without the Holy Spirit. For the “unbeliever doesn’t accept what comes from […]
Jeremiah 20:7-13: Chosen to carry God’s Gospel Word
June 22, 2014 by
Jeremiah was the weeping prophet. He had the job of speaking God’s Word to an ungrateful people who didn’t want to hear it. And if you’ve read through portions of the Old Testament, you know how the Israelites often flirted with idolatry. But in Jeremiah’s day, it was a full-blown affair. So, God used Jeremiah […]
