We have a saying: “Ignorance is bliss.” When we say that, we don’t apply that expression to every piece of our life. But ignorance is bliss instead of knowing every […]
Exodus, Lesson 18: Sabbath Laws and God’s Instituted Festivals
November 19, 2013 by
We now move from societal laws to God-mandated festivals in the Old-Covenant annual calendar. Read Exodus 23:6-9 – Who is specifically singled out to help ensure justice is done? Why? […]
Exodus, Lesson 17: On Being “Gods” and the Consecration of the Firstborn
November 10, 2013 by
We’ve seen so far that the civic laws focused on making sure that people did not unduly take advantage of the disadvantaged. And now when it comes to resolving disputes, […]
Matthew 9:18-26: Healing Salvation
November 10, 2013 by
“If I only touch his robe, then I’ll be healed.” So said the woman with a chronic, bleeding hemorrhage, which we heard about in today’s reading from St. Matthew’s Gospel. […]
Hosea, Lesson 8: The Way to Wellness
November 6, 2013 by
Hosea, chapter 13, delivers four of the prophet’s sayings just before the death of the nation in 722 BC. Last week, we looked at two of these sayings, which dealt […]
Exodus, Lesson 16: Civil Ordinances Protecting Possessions, Property, and People
November 4, 2013 by
Moses had just given the Ten Words (Exodus 20) to God’s people. After that, he started giving God’s laws (mishpatim, not “words”), civil statutes, on how their society was to […]
All Saints: 1 John 3:1-3: You will be like Jesus
November 4, 2013 by
If you want to know what a church or pastor believes, go to one of their funerals. What’s at the heart and center of a pastor’s teaching? He’ll reveal it […]
Hosea, Lesson 7: The Stench of Death
October 31, 2013 by
In Hosea 11, we went over God’s love letter to His people. In it, God was wistful, remembering when faithfulness was more a part of His people. Yet, looking forward, […]
Reformation Sunday: Romans 3:19-28: Saved by Grace through Faith, Apart from the Works of the Law
October 27, 2013 by
It’s lonely being a Lutheran. Of this, one of the last, true 20th-century Lutheran theologians in Germany, Hermann Sasse, wrote: As Luther once went the lonely way between Rome and […]
Exodus, Lesson 15: Civil Ordinances Protecting Life and Limb
October 26, 2013 by
It has only been a few months since Yahweh rescued Israel from their slavery in Egypt. In Exodus 3:12, He had promised to bring Israel to Mt. Sinai and again […]
