At first, it might not seem particularly impressive that there are so many gentile converts, after all, what difference does it make whether someone was a Jew or Gentile whether God would convert them? A fairly big difference, as a matter of fact. The distinction between Jew and Gentile was not, after all, just a racial distinction. Rather the distinction was between believer and unbeliever. Generally when the Bible refers to gentiles, it refers to not just unbelievers, but unbelievers who descend from a lineage of unbelievers, and live in a society of unbelievers. Think about the term “Gentile” as you might use the term “secular”, or pagans, or heathens….For more, click on the title above.
Author: kyriss
Jesus: The Way and the Truth and the Life
Today, in a penitential season of the year, God has gathered us to hear of the One Who bore sin into death, the One Who was raised to everlasting life to grant true hope and peace to all who believe in Him. Now, we remember God’s faithfulness in calling Maxine Wirth to eternal life in Christ. Hear Jesus speak to us again as we remember the Faith God gave and sustained in Maxine throughout her mortal life and into everlasting life:
I AM the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one continues to come to the Father except through Me. …For more, click on the title above.
High Noon
Throughout this Lent we are looking at various Gentile Confessions of Christ. First stop: Jacob’s well in the village of Sychar. It’s high noon, the sixth hour. Jesus is hot, tired, and thirsty. The disciples went ahead to the town and get some food and so the only one there with Jesus is this Samaritan woman. And a conversation ensues…For more, click on the title above.
Christ’s victories over temptations common to man
The First Sunday in, but not of, Lent begins this day in the Church as it has for centuries. That is, the faithful, you, continue to hear proclamations of Christ’s victories over temptations that occurred in a wilderness long ago. On Lent I, the Son of God’s besting humankind’s old evil foe is declared.
Out of that eternal reality, we are called again to remember that Jesus’ facing and victorying over temptation happened just before He began His earthly, incarnate, public ministry….Fore more, click on the title above.
Called by Jesus to turn one’s heart focus from self to God
Our sermon for this Ash Wednesday has been drawn forth from our inspired readings. In them, today, you are being called by Jesus to turn your heart focus from self to God. This day, we pray that your heart-thoughts would be guided by the following dynamically translated verse:
Where your treasure remains, there your heart remains. …for more, click on the title above.
Faith alone: Lessons from a blind man
Everything—yes, everything—hinges and depends upon the Word of God in Christ. However, because that Word centers in His Cross, Christ’s Word remains a great Mystery, and even His disciples were blind to what it means and signifies—both for Him and for themselves—until it was revealed and explained by the Holy Spirit….For more, click on the title above.
God’s will is ours to hear in the proclamation of His Word
Jesus feeds His apostles
Some suggested that John’s Gospel is like an Eastern Orthodox liturgy. It goes on and on and on. Chapter 20 has brought a perfect conclusion. But then, there is something more. The whole chapter 21 is like a sermon that does not know when to stop. There is just so much there that we can’t fit in, least of all the risen Lord. …For more, click on the title above
Because I am a Christian, I am a Lutheran
Septuagesima is so named because we Christians have entered the 70-day countdown that comes before the time, God-willing, when we will again celebrate the Highest, most Holy Feast in the Church Year, that of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus still asks all who hear of the “Laborers in the Vineyard:”
“Is it not proper for me to do that which I will with my things? Or does your eye remain evil because I AM good? Thus, they will be, the last ones first, and the first ones last.”
…For more, click on the title above.
Jesus’ beautiful baptism fitting to fulfill all righteousness
It is His Presence that we celebrate at every gathering of any Lord’s Service to us. It is Who He was, is, and ever shall be that the Word of God continually places before us. It is He, Jesus, Whom we are called to receive in the Faith on account of God’s grace toward us, sinners though we continue to be.
That is why days such as today have a prominent position in the life of the New Testament Church. In today’s readings we hear of the prophecy concerning God’s Son, and its fulfillment in Jesus. That is why the Baptism of our Lord is remembered in the rightly confessing Church during Epiphanytide each year. This is one day of the Year in which we are given to specifically hear that Jesus’ beautiful Baptism remains necessary to fulfill all righteousness. …for more, click on the title above.