The Pharisees were out to trap Jesus in His own words. And what better place than to set the trap in the tripwire of marriage and divorce! So, they asked Jesus, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” Now, the Republicans of Jesus’ day, the conservative rabbis, said a man could only […]
Revelation, Lesson 15: Christ’s Final Victory
October 6, 2012 by
Last week, we saw the only time Revelation showed what anti-Christic worship looked like, of course from an eternal perspective. It was full of lament. Now, in contrast, we again see what worship looks like in heaven. We also see a similarity among the worship scenes in heaven in Revelation. Chapters 4-5 Chapter […]
Church and Scripture; Scripture and Church
October 2, 2012 by
This is the article that our pastor wrote for the October 4th edition of the Stone County Gazette. The Apostle Paul wrote, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). Based on Scripture being so valuable in our life of faith, […]
Numbers 11:4-6,10-16, 24-29: It’s about God … and Others
September 30, 2012 by
Did you ever go on a date where the other person fully dominated the conversation, going on and on, speaking only about herself (or himself)? Was it so terrible that your date didn’t even allow you into the center of the conversation? That’s frustrating! Such a person rarely gets a second date–I don’t care how […]
Mark 9:30-37: The Greatest is the Least
September 23, 2012 by
This was the second time the disciples heard Jesus speak of His death and resurrection. Jesus said: “The Son of Man will be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” Jesus didn’t mince words. He didn’t speak in mysteries, riddles, or parables. Jesus was about […]
Mark 9:30-37: The Greatest is the Least
September 23, 2012 by
This was the second time the disciples heard Jesus speak of His death and resurrection. Jesus said: “The Son of Man will be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” Jesus didn’t mince words. He didn’t speak in mysteries, riddles, or parables. Jesus was about […]
Revelation, Lesson 14: Christ’s Victory over Satan’s Earthly Agents
September 22, 2012 by
The Power of Satan’s Earthly Agents (17:1-18) Last week, we learned that Babylon does not represent any one specific city but, instead, represents humanity in organized opposition against God and people in rebellion against Him. We find that after the final outpouring of wrath on the world and Babylon (Revelation 16:9), an angel came and […]
Mark 9:14-29: Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!
September 16, 2012 by
At first listen, today’s Gospel sounds as if it’s only about demon possession and exorcism. For we hear about a boy with a troubling demon that causes epileptic-like seizures and even tries to throw the boy into fire or water. That’s frightening stuff. What makes this even more frightening is that Jesus’ disciples couldn’t deal […]
Review of The Apocrypha: The Lutheran Edition with Notes
September 12, 2012 by
No Longer Missing In Action: The Apocrypha, The Lutheran Edition By Pr. Rich Futrell In 397 AD, at Carthage (today in Tunisia), the Church gathered to resolve an issue: what books being read in the Church are Scripture? Throughout the New Testament Church’s history, there was never complete unanimity on what books made up the […]
Mark 7:31-37: We, too, are born deaf and mute
September 9, 2012 by
To Joseph, the stepfather of Jesus, the angel had this to say about the Virgin Mary’s Son: “And you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). There you have it. That’s a clear and concise summary of Jesus’ work as Savior. He rescues and frees us […]
