In what is fast becoming a graduation week tradition, Concordia Seminary will honor faculty members who have recently written or contributed to published books on Tuesday, May 18, from 4:00-6:00 p.m., at a wine and cheese reception in Koburg Hall. This year we will also toast the long-anticipated release of the new book from the ..
Earth Day last month made me wonder why we don’t have a similar day within the church. We wouldn’t have to call it “Earth Sunday” or anything. We could call it “Creation Sunday” or have a “Season of Creation.” Currently, the first half of our church year rightly focuses on the life of Jesus
Maybe it’s a guy thing. Maybe its a childhood memory thing. Maybe its a Robinson Crusoe thing (or was it the Disney version, namely, the Swiss Family Robinson movie). I don’t know
Pope Benedict XVI “all but gave an outright endorsement of the authenticity of the Shroud of Turin.” The shroud, which depicts the image of a man crucified in precisely the same way as Jesus, is on display in Turin cathedral for the first time in a decade, and 2 million people have made reservations to ..
By Dr. Francis C. Rossow Comments on the text 1. Whether intended or not, there are remarkable similarities in the emphases of the readings appointed for this Sunday. The “All is vanity” message of the Old Testament reading, our text, is dramatized by the Parable of the Rich Fool in the Gospel, Luke 12: 13–21. ..
By Dr. Jeffrey A. Gibbs Introduction The text presents two particular problems for interpreters. The first is the question of how “AD Christians” read the “BC Old Testament.” The second pertains to the whole issue of prayer in general, and intercessory prayer in particular. I will comment on the latter problem first. It is dangerously ..
By John Loum General approach to preparing your sermon A. Start the process by praying about the subject or topic area B. Select and clearly state to the audience the subject area that you plan to address. C. At the point of your sermon delivery, start with an arousing statement or illustration in order to ..
By Dr. Thomas Manteuful A Bible Study What statement is made repeatedly here to help God’s people remember and take to heart what is said? It is “I am the Lord your God,” sometimes abbreviated: “I am the Lord.” It tells the people of God that they are his special possession, redeemed and governed by ..
By David I. Lewis Introduction Several challenges face the preacher of this text: one challenge is how best to understand this text in its literary and historical context where it speaks to the restoration of Israel from captivity and how—if at all—this message then relates to our hearers today. Other challenges stem from this text ..
By Dr. Joel P. Okamoto Notes on the pericope This pericope presents Elijah’s encounter with Yahweh on Mount Horeb and his call of Elisha. Recently Elijah had been on another mountain, Carmel, where he challenged the prophets of Baal and demonstrated the truth about Yahweh (1 Kg 18). This infuriates Jezebel, so he runs for ..
By Travis J. Scholl Let’s be honest. Given the wondrous epistle reading from Galatians 3 (“But now that faith has come … There is no longer Jew or Greek … But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son … So you are no longer a slave but a child … ”) ..
By Dr. Victor Raj The Setting During the season of Pentecost, the texts appointed for the third week underscore God the Holy Spirit’s specific activity of convicting us of our sin, calling us to repentance and faith, and pronouncing absolution. By means of a story, prophet Nathan convicts king David of his ‘affair’ with his ..
By Dr. Timothy Saleska A question I want to ask you: Does it matter to you if this story is true or not? I don’t mean the question as a test of your orthodoxy. It is not a, Do you believe the Bible is true or a bunch of fables? type question. I don’t mean ..
By Dr. Charles Arand This Sunday provides an opportunity to highlight one of the most significant events within the history of the church. By the fourth century, the church had found itself with a conflict between its monotheistic principle (the oneness of God) and its Christocentric principle (the deity of the Son). Many argued that ..
By Dr. Arthur F. Graudin Textual Notes Genesis 1:1 through Genesis 11:1–9 has been referred to as “primeval history.” According to the Hebrew, Genesis 11:1–9 forms a textual unit. The text refers to the time after the Flood when “the whole world had one language and the same words” (ESV). After the Flood, God (Elohiym) ..
With One Accord Rev. Paul Philp As the Eleven returned from the Ascension of Jesus, Luke tells us that they were of “one accord” (v. 14). The union was found within the context of praying together with others who were followers of Jesus. In this interim period between the Ascension and Pentecost, Peter addresses the ..