“The Amazing, Astonishing Authority of Jesus” (Sermon on Mark 1:21-28, by Pr. Charles Henrickson)
“The Amazing, Astonishing Authority of Jesus” (Mark 1:21-28)
Authority. What is your reaction when you hear that word, “authority”? I’m guessing that many of us would have a negative reaction to it. We Americans, in our culture, tend not to like authority. Especially since the 1960s, all forms of authority at every level of our society have been torn down. We don’t like anyone having authority or exercising it over us. And to a degree, that’s understandable. We don’t like anyone telling us what to do. “You’re not the boss of me!” we would say.
But now today I would like us to rethink this a little bit, this matter of “authority.” For today we will meet someone who has . . . Read All
Overture to Memorialize the Commission on Theology and Church Relations to Draft Doctrinal Statements
Here is a suggested overture that your district pastor’s conference can pass and submit to the CTCR well before the 2016 convention. To make it easier for you, we have included a DOC file here that you can customize for your district. You can read the bylaws listed below here: 2013 LCMS Handbook_January_12_2015_v2.
Overtures have more impact if they come in from all over the country. Please consider submitting either this or one like it from your area. Also, if you have overtures that you are working on, please submit them to us so we can publicize them. As in past years we will be providing a list of recommended overtures.
Overture to Memorialize the Commission on Theology . . . Read All
You Know are in a Good Place in the Parish When You Get a Note about Beth Moore Like This, by Pr. Rossow
I found the note in the picture below on my chair when I got to church the other day. It is from my Principal and Assistant Principal. It was attached to an ad for some goofy spiritualist speaking at some local church that reminded them of Beth Moore. …
Cost of Salvation
February 1, 2015 Daily Devotion from Lutheran Hour Ministries
Boring? Not Likely!
Jesus’ enemies considered Him too dangerous to let live, but we have wrapped the Savior in a cloak of dullness.
No Pietist Allowed Parties – Making a List of Favorite International Beers, by Pr. Rossow
In honor of Rev. James May, the Director of Lutherans in Africa (LIA) coming to the BJS conference this year, at one of our “No Pietists Allowed” parties we will be serving international beers. When I was over in Africa last month I discovered a great lager from Kenya called Tusker. At the end of a long day of teaching the Gospel to eager Africans, a cold Tusker was just the thing for this pilsner kind of guy.
So we need your help. Let us know what your favorite international beer is and we will try to get some for the party. We will be shopping at Binny’s Liquor Store (Naperville or Plainfield store) so if they have your favorite . . . Read All
Food
You know it’s a favorite theme of mine, and tops among first article gifts for which I give thanks to our kind Creator. Cindi and I have been through a pile of different phases and learning when it comes to the eats. We both lost weight with Atkins and…
Concord Matters – Augsburg Confession, Articles XXI “Review of Various Abuses” and Article XXII “Both Kinds in the Sacrament”
Today’s topics: The Church Universal (catholic); Rites and Ceremonies; Canon Law; Both kinds in the Sacrament.
BIM Honors Missionary for 28 Years of Service in Africa
President Matthew Harrison and Dr. David Erber, OIM Area Director for West Africa
31 January 2015
The Board for International Mission (BIM) honored Rev. Dr. David Erber, OIM Area Director for West Africa, for the 28th anniversary of his arrival in Nigeria. Dr. Erber was in Saint Louis first for the Office of International Mission Regional Directors’ meeting, the ALMA conference, and the BIM meeting, where he spoke how the Gospel of Jesus was being shared in Africa by the LCMS. Yesterday, while attending the ALMA meeting, Dr. Erber mentioned that his wife sent him an email, “Happy Anniversary.” Everyone, of course, assumed he spoke of his wedding anniversary to his wife, Joyce. David explained, “Not my wedding anniversary,
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BIM Honors Missionary for 28 Years of Service in Africa
President Matthew Harrison and Dr. David Erber, OIM Area Director for West Africa
31 January 2015
The Board for International Mission (BIM) honored Rev. Dr. David Erber, OIM Area Director for West Africa, for the 28th anniversary of his arrival in Nigeria. Dr. Erber was in Saint Louis first for the Office of International Mission Regional Directors’ meeting, the ALMA conference, and the BIM meeting, where he spoke how the Gospel of Jesus was being shared in Africa by the LCMS. Yesterday, while attending the ALMA meeting, Dr. Erber mentioned that his wife sent him an email, “Happy Anniversary.” Everyone, of course, assumed he spoke of his wedding anniversary to his wife, Joyce. David explained, “Not my wedding anniversary, . . . Read All
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Light for My Path Daily Devotion Bible Reading After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus…
Septua*what*ima?
I’ve recently begun sending a weekly pastoral letter to my congregation. When the contents of the letter are universally helpful, I’ll post them here for the benefit of all. This week, I cover the practice of preparing for Lent with the “Gesima” Sundays (something which was done in many Lutheran congregations through the lifetime of The Lutheran Hymnal, but which was dropped with the lectionary used in Lutheran Worship. It has been restored along with the Historic One-Year Lectionary in Lutheran Service Book. I believe this is one of the stronger arguments for use of the Historic One-Year Lectionary over against the Three-Year.
Dear beloved in the Lord,
Last Sunday we said goodbye to our alleluias as we came down . . . Read All
A case for God?
So many Christians have surrendered the idea of a creation that in any way resembles the Genesis story that it seems foolishness to contend for God at all. Our children are taught from early on that creation was merely a set of accidents that could likely have happened or still happen elsewhere and that evolution is the only reasonable explanation for what is. Even Pope Francis appears to have consigned God to merely a prime mover in a movement that more or less conforms to the usual parameters of evolutionary theory.
So it was with interest I read an article one of my members slipped into my church mailbox. Writing in the December 26, 2014, edition of The Wall Street. . . Read All
Before fishers, fish. . .
Sermon for Epiphany 3B, preached on Sunday, January 25, 2015.
How easy it is to jump to the call to be fishers of men – too easy – to begin with the fishing and forget that we were fish before we were fishers of men. Before we were set apart for the work of the kingdom, we were the work of the kingdom. We often assume that fishing for men is a matter of strategy, planning, and expertise. We forget we were caught up on the net of Christ’s Word and Sacraments. We were the sought out of the Lord who made us His own before we were ever called to seek others out with His Word. To forget. . . Read All
Our special Super Bowl edition
My team, the Green Bay Packers, were 5 minutes away from getting to go to the Super Bowl when the Seattle Seahawks made a miraculous comeback. My interest in the Super Bowl plummeted. I would be for the New England Patriots. But then that interest deflated. I guess I’ll be a disinterested observer. But I [Read More…]
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Does God determine who wins the Super Bowl?
Last year a respected research institute found that 50% of sports fans believe supernatural forces are at work in sporting events. That includes 19% who believes that God determines the outcome, 26% who pray for their team to win, and 25% who believe their team has been cursed. More recently it’s been reported that 25% [Read More…]
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Live-blog the Super Bowl
Here is where you can comment on the Super Bowl as the game is unfolding. Comment on the plays, analyze what you see happening, complain about mistakes, talk trash, get into sports arguments, whatever you want.
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Live-blog the Super Bowl commercials
A curious development in the history of the NFL championship game has been the role of commercials. Viewership is so huge for the big game that ad agencies have been going all-out to come up with the best commercials they can devise. So commercials have become themselves a beloved part of the festival. And for [Read More…]
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Herrenhuter readings for Saturday, the 31st January 2015
I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them. (Hosea 11,3) If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. (2.Timothy 2,13) Teaching a child to walk is one … Continue reading →. . . Read All
Saturday of Transfiguration
Daily Lectionary: Zechariah 10:1-11:3; 2 Timothy 3:1-17
How lovely is Your tabernacle, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints For the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. (Psalm 84:1-2 from the Introit for Se…
God Shows Grace
11 And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. (Acts 19:11-12 (ESV)
Miracles and miracles. We don’t see things like this happening today. I think too often we want to dismiss things such as this. But the generation brought out of Egypt were given to see many miracles and great deeds. Even then many of them disbelieved. The generations that followed were not given to see the same things. But they would remember the deeds of old, and were not so quick to dishonor their fathers, . . . Read All
Eastlake’s Blasphemous Betrayal
Your browser does not support the HTML 5 audio tag. Click Here to Download this episode Program segments: • Heidi Baker on Matt Sorger’s Program • Email • Eastlake’s Blasphemous Betrayal • Two Sermons by Chris Rosebrough and Jeremy Rhode…
Reformation Rush Hour – Theology of Glory and Theology of the Cross
With guest Rev. Charlie Henrickson.