We have chosen LSB 743, Jesus, Priceless Treasure, as our AD 2023 Lenten seasonal hymn. The 40-day (not counting Sundays) season of Lent is penitential, as we contemplate our sin and need for a Savior, in the run-up to the Feast of the Resurrection. Long ago, Lent became penitential in tone as those who had… Continue reading LSB 743 Jesus Priceless Treasure
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Heathens become Christians, Christians raise Christians
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.
Lent 2 Wednesday 2023
Lent 2 Wednesday
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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.
Hold God accountable to His promises
“And He said, ‘Let me go, for the day breaks.’ But [Jacob] said, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me.’”
Thus far our text. This text has always been one of fascination for me, and not just because of the mental picture of God and Jacob locked in a professional wrestling-style bout. Surely, there are a lot of “weird” things in the Old Testament. Balaam’s Donkey, Jonah and the Great Fish, Elisha and the she-bears, all of these seem quite strange at first glance. So also, with this story of Jacob who becomes Israel. How can anyone wrestle with God? …For more, click on the title above.
Catechism Lesson for the Week of March 5, 2023
The Lord’s Prayer – The Introduction and The Conclusion
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Lent 2 (Reminiscere) 2023
Lent 2 (Reminiscere)
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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.
Lent 1 Wednesday 2023
Lent 1 Wednesday
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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.