With burning lamps, ten virgins await their Groom’s arrival. The waiting virgins are all dressed in white—but everything is not as the picture portrays. Some are wise; some, foolish. So, how can we tell which is which? For they are all wearing the proper garments. Each one uses the same hymnal and liturgy. Every maiden […]
The Parables of Jesus, Lesson 8: Matthew 25:1-13: The Parable of the Ten Virgins
November 26, 2017 by
Matthew 22:1-10, Galatians 3:27, Isaiah 61:10-11: Thanksgiving in Robes of Righteousness
November 26, 2017 by
The Lord Jesus tells a tale of a wedding feast, to which a king invites others to attend. Earlier, those asked to take part agreed, confirming their attendance according to the custom of the day. First, the invitation goes out. Those who plan to be present respond, and when the feast is later ready, a […]
Philippians 3:17-21: Your Citizenship is in Heaven
November 26, 2017 by
The pastor is ready as he plans to proclaim Christ to the people. Born in 675 AD in Devon, England, Winfred, whose Latin name is “Boniface,” travels to Germany at age 44. Most of the Germanic tribes are still pagan, and he brings the Gospel with him. Through forests and valleys, he goes, starting several […]
Reformation 5: Romans 3:19-28: By Faith in Christ or by the Faithfulness of Christ
November 26, 2017 by
Oh, how ambiguous ambiguity can be! “In my opinion, you will be fortunate if this person will work for you.” Tell me, what can this statement mean? The person is a hard worker. No, whoever can motivate him enough to work is lucky, for he is lazy! “Never did I eat such a cake!” The […]
Reformation 3: Jeremiah 29:4-7, Romans 13:1-7, Matthew 22:15-22: The Two Kingdoms, Church and State
October 22, 2017 by
Human history is full of people not wanting to fund its government or services. Without both, a nation cannot endure. So, taxes are the costs a country incurs for its civilization. Still, most of us want the advantages of taxation but not the expenses. The first Israelite king recognized people’s distaste for taxes. A Philistine […]
Reformation 2: 2 Kings 5:1-3, 9-14; Romans 6:1-4; John 3:1-6, 16: Baptism
October 8, 2017 by
A Syrian commander, a well-respected military leader, who won the respect of his King. Still, something can come along in your life and undo much of what you built up over the years. Such is Naaman. For a fearsome affliction—leprosy—now overshadows his imposing warfighting skills and combat prowess. To protect others from the infectious contagion, […]
Reformation 1: Isaiah 55:10-13, 1 Peter 1:22-25, John 1:1-5, 14: The Word
October 8, 2017 by
“Now, if I told you once, I told you a thousand times.” A dressing-down entwines itself in those words. Often, we scold children through this warning, with an explanation trailing behind. “Don’t play in the street.” “Do your homework before turning on the TV.” The overstatement of “1,000” clatters out the parent’s frustration. From afar, […]
Matthew 6:24-34: Seek First …
September 24, 2017 by
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob rescued His people from Egypt, protected them through the sea, and led them through the wilderness. On manna formed from the dew and quail, which flew in, the people feasted. Still, they griped, and their appetites remained unquenched. Released from slavery and fed on God’s miracle bread, they […]
Luke 17:11-19: The Rituals of Mercy
September 17, 2017 by
A standard introductory ritual when you meet someone is to shake his hand. To greet another, you extend your hand. “Hello, I’m Rich,” as I grab hold of the other person’s hand and we both move them up and down. So, we grasp hands and shift their movement in a set pattern. Can we not […]
Mark 7:31-37: Not Only What, but How
September 7, 2017 by
The entrance and exit for our words—hearing and speaking. Into our ears, words enter; out of our mouths, they leave. For our vocal cords to form coherent sounds, our eardrums need those sounds to vibrate on them. By listening, we learn to speak. A little child makes many random noises, later mimicking the pitch, timber, […]
