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The Christian Pentecost

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“They were all filled with the Holy Spirit”  (Acts 2:4). 

An expression I remember from my childhood is Emma go ‘het. It didn’t make much sense, but I knew what it meant. Forward with zeal and determination! I suppose the words were a rendering of a German-English phrase Immer go ahead! Always forward!

The Jewish festival of Pentecost was named Shavuot in Hebrew—meaning weeks. It fell seven weeks, or a “week of weeks,” after the Passover Sabbath. The festival, by count, was on the 50th day after the Passover Sabbath (Leviticus 23:15-16). The Feast of Weeks marked the end of the grain harvest and was the time to offer the first fruits (Leviticus 23:20). The name Shavuot later became Pentecost—Greek for fiftieth.

On the first Christian Pentecost, the one after Jesus’ death and resurrection, the promise Jesus had given to His disciples was fulfilled. He had said, before ascending, “Tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high (Luke 24:49), and “You shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts 1:5). The Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity, was poured out upon the disciples on Pentecost (Acts 2). The Holy Spirit had already brought the disciples to faith in Christ. Now the Holy Spirit was giving them special blessings to proclaim the saving Name of Jesus—courage, zeal, wisdom, understanding of the Scriptures, ability to speak other languages, power to work miracles—all to further their witness that the crucified and risen Jesus was the Savior from sin.

The Penetrating Word

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STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

“Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:11-13). 

HEROES OF THE FAITH: Valentin Loescher

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As we approach the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, we take a brief look at the lives of some of the most influential and important Lutheran theologians.   HEROES OF THE FAITH (FIFTH  IN A… 

THE BELC: Building on the Foundation of Christ

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NOTES FROM THE FIELD (FOURTH IN A SERIES) In this series, those involved with CLC foreign missions profile one area of our overseas endeavors. (Note: because of the risk of persecution, the full names of… 

The Art of Inviting

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Do I doubt that church will be a blessing in someone else’s life, as it is in mine? Perhaps I fear rejection, or being seen as a religious zealot. But remember– we are zealous for… 

Resurrection Power

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“. . . that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death”  (Philippians 3:10).

Before his conversion, Paul was a man who knew power. He knew the power of a sharp mind and a good education, of high social standing, of friends and allies in high places. He knew the power that goes with confidence in the rightness of one’s cause. He also understood the power of intimidation by the threat and use of force and violence.

It was surely with a sense of power that Paul set out for Damascus to deal with the Christians there (Acts 9), for he had the full authority of the high priest for his mission.

May 2015 Bread of Life

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TLH = The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941;   WS  = Worship Supplement 2000;   SC  = Martin Luther’s Small Catechism; [  ] = Minor Festivals or commemorations in the Christian Church Year

May 1 John 6:1-14 PS 61

[St. Philip and St. James, Apostles] 
Jesus strengthens Philip’s faith in His redeeming work using five loaves, two fish, and twelve baskets in the feeding of the five thousand.

May 2 Luke 18:1-8 SC Lord’s Prayer Address
Does God forsake His children? No, He hears each and every prayer of the faithful.

May 4 1 John 4:1-11 TLH 346
The great theological test question is “What do you
think of Jesus?”

Peace Lutheran Church—Mission, South Dakota

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Peace Lutheran Church of Mission, South Dakota is a unique congregation in the CLC in a number of ways. Although it began as did many of our CLC congregations, its subsequent history proved in a… 

Bread of Life March 2015

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March 2015

TLH = The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941;
WS  = Worship Supplement 2000;
SC  = Martin Luther’s Small Catechism;
[  ] = Minor Festivals or commemorations in the Christian Church Year

Mar 2 Romans 5:1-11 WS 723
We can rejoice even in our sufferings because God’s love for us has been made obvious in Christ Jesus.

Mar 3 Mark 8:27-38 WS 722
Jesus the Christ was specifically chosen to suffer many things, be killed, and rise again in three days.

Into the Wilderness

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christinthedesert

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry” (Matthew 4:1-2).

Just when we are seeing signs that spring is coming soon, as the days are getting longer and warmer, we begin what may seem to be a darker, colder journey—the journey of Lent. We follow Jesus into the wilderness.