September 12-17
12 Genesis 22 -THL 170 Self-sacrifice = the way of redemption. 13 Luke 15:11-20 -THL 280 Drawn home by the Father’s generous love. 14 James 2:8-13 -THL 382 Just one pin-point will burst a…
September 12-17
September 5 – 10
5 Genesis 19 – THL 383 Many don’t escape from a low-life-style. 6 Genesis 21:1-21 – THL 337 “God was with the lad” says a lot. 7 1 Samuel 24:16-22 – THL 46 “The LORD…
Announcements
Great Lakes Pastoral Conference September 27-29, 2011 Messiah Lutheran Church Eau Claire, Wisconsin Agenda: + Modern Media Methods—An Avenue for Ministry?—Pastor Bruce Naumann + Simplified Guide to Common Greek Grammatical Constructions for Use in Sermon…
Called To Be Witnesses
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
(Acts 1:8)
In the first chapter of Acts we read the account of how Jesus, in the weeks leading up to His ascension, appeared to His disciples on various occasions and confirmed for them His great Easter victory. At this time He also informed them that He would soon bless them with power from on high that would enable them to serve as His gospel witnesses. After His departure to heaven He would use them as His instruments to broadcast far and wide in the world the news of His death-destroying, life-restoring work as mankind’s Savior.
Wedding Address
Dear family and friends of the bride and groom, and especially today, dear Jackie and Mac:
The text you’ve chosen is a most appropriate one for your wedding day. The setting is Old Testament Israel, where the people had recently conquered the Canaanites under the leadership of Joshua. The Lord, going before them, had won the battles. He had kept all of His promises to His people, to the last word.
Then the aging Joshua, after all the military campaigns, was about to retire from his post as commander in chief. They had reached a milestone, and they faced a fork in the road for their future. Joshua presented them with a choice—one of two options. They could choose to blend in with unbelieving world around them, OR they could resolve to remain faithful to the true LORD, their Deliverer.
Living For Christ
When you read the following Bible words, you can be certain they are talking specifically about your heart—that it “is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked...” (Jeremiah 17:5).
At first you might feel insulted. It’s normal—just your sinful flesh acting up. The original Hebrew words are frightening (the English is bad enough!). The situation is serious; you may have forgotten how and why.
In your heart there are two religions. Both come from superior beings. Both give revelations. Both have doctrines and writings. Both claim rulership over you. Both talk of sinfulness and forgiveness. Both have a doctrine of justification. Both have commandments. Both of them promise advantages (good) and to ward off disadvantages (evil). Both use the idea of fear, promise to provide knowledge, and promise to give eternal life. And both encourage worship and praise to be directed to them.
You are a Christian, and you believe that things in the previous paragraph pertain to Christianity. And so they do.
A Christian Perspective — Days of Infamy
The nation will surely be pausing to observe 9/11 in various ways ten years after it happened. (How time flies!)
In the annals of world and/or a nation’s history, certain events and/or days—such as the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941—have been said to “live in infamy” (as then President Roosevelt put it).
Reaching Out with the Gospel… “Bragging Rights”
Many people like to brag to others about what they have or what they’ve done.
The child on the playground may brag about what his dad can do. He may even get into a “My dad’s better… stronger than your dad” argument with other kids.
As adults we are inclined to brag about our children or grandchildren and their accomplishments. If one proves to be better than others, or has cuter grandkids than others, it might be said that he has the “bragging rights.”
As Christians we are somewhat reluctant to brag about ourselves, for in His Word our God warns about the destructiveness of pride. However, we do have the greatest bragging rights when it comes to our God. We truly have a God and Father who is greater than all.
We can rightfully and proudly brag and boast about our God!!
Christian Apologetics – Sixth in the Series
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you…” 1 Peter 3:15
The Uniformity of Nature
How would you respond to the following: “You Christians are so unscientific. Science and religion have nothing to do with each other because science is about facts, and religion is about faith.”
Remember, when defending the Christian faith we will always do an internal critique of the other person’s presuppositions. Because your opponent is not starting with God as the ultimate authority, there will and must be inconsistencies in what he says versus how he lives. These need to be brought to light.
Christ — Our One Mediator
“Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said:
“Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, 2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. 6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. 7 Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You.