This is a new study series, which begins with Jesus establishing the New Covenant and finishing (we hope) with the Church recognizing and listing the texts of both the Old- and New-Testament Scriptures in 397 AD. Jesus Establishes What Is to Take Place in His Church The New Covenant Ready to go to the cross, […]
Luke 24:47: Preaching Repentance into the Forgiveness of Sins
May 8, 2016 by
Before our Lord ascended into heaven, He gave His Apostles several enduring mandates, commanding them what to do until He returned. We’re most familiar with the one in St. Matthew’s Gospel. Having gathered His Apostles on the mountaintop, Jesus told them: “Disciple the Gentiles by baptizing them into the name of the Father, Son, and […]
2 Timothy, Lesson 7: Conclusion of 2 Timothy
October 8, 2015 by
Throughout 2 Timothy, Paul has been urging Timothy to remain faithful as a pastor. Now Paul bring all of what he has previously written to a climax, all introduced by an oath. This is serious, eternal-life-and-eternal-death serious. Timothy, Do What You Were Ordained to Do! Read 2 Timothy 4:1-2 In these verses, we’ll first […]
1 Timothy, Lesson 8: Instructions for Overseers/Elders
July 9, 2015 by
Earlier, Paul had told Timothy that the Church is a pillar and bulwark of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15). Paul then delved into what the Christian religion is that the Church catholic believed and confessed (as opposed to the dysfunction in Ephesus, where Paul had placed Timothy as pastor to “clean up the mess”). Now […]
Luke 24:44-53: Preaching Repentance into the Forgiveness of Sins
May 20, 2015 by
It’s easy to think of Jesus ascending into heaven as His goodbye to His people. But that isn’t so. Jesus’ ascension wasn’t a goodbye, even though we who live in this world see Him no more. Ascension wasn’t an ending, or even a time to be sad. But neither was Christ’s ascension a convenient way […]
Acts, Lesson 14: Paul’s First Missionary Journey, Pt. 1
September 10, 2014 by
Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch after they had delivered aid for the mother Church at Jerusalem. At Antioch, we find out what the Lord has planned for Saul and Barnabas. The Church calls and commissions Saul and Barnabas to be missionaries There’s a lot going on in the first few verses of this […]
Acts, Lesson 3: A glimpse into the earliest New-Covenant Church
June 4, 2014 by
In the last lesson, pastor taught that the “they” in Acts 2:1 referred to the entire Christian Church at the time: those before whom Peter spoke (Acts 1:15). And we find more confirmation that more than just the Apostles spoke in other languages. Read Acts 2:5-13 What brought the Jews to where the Christians were […]
1 Corinthians 4:1-5: Pastors as the Stewards of God’s Mysteries
December 17, 2012 by
John the Baptizer was a preacher’s preacher, putting the rest of us pastors to shame. We fuss and fret over preaching what we know God wants us to preach–all because it might upset some people. We worry about our livelihood, future, reputation, and status. But John didn’t worry about that. He just preached. He didn’t […]
Sermons Don’t “Do” It All
March 21, 2012 by
Jesus commissioned His Apostles to preach the Gospel (Luke 24:47). The Apostle Paul told Pastor Timothy to “preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:2). And so our Lutheran churches have properly valued faithful preaching. Jesus said to those whom He had sent to preach: “Whoever hears you, hears me. Whoever rejects you, rejects me. And whoever […]
Mark 1:29-39: Why Jesus Came
February 5, 2012 by
Imagine if we had a Jesus in Kimberling City. Imagine that! What if we had a Jesus who would open His door each day, so people could see Him for healing? People could bring others who were sick for Jesus to heal them of their illnesses. If that were so, we wouldn’t need Skaggs at […]
