Proper 17 · Mark 7:14-23 · August 30, 2009


Proper 17 · Mark 7:14-23 · August 30, 2009

By Travis J. Scholl If last week’s Gospel reading dealt with things external (defiled hands), this week deals with things internal (an unclean heart), part two in Jesus’ teaching on what makes things (and people) clean and unclean. The audience has changed: “Then he called the crowd again and said to them …” (v. 14, emphasis ..


Anselm, friendship, and “how we think about God”


Anselm, friendship, and “how we think about God”

Anselm of Canterbury, under glass Feed your inner philosopher by checking out this column by Nathan Schneider on the “Happy Days” blog at the NY Times. If you want to go further outside the box, check out the provocative religion blog that Schneider edits: Killing the Buddha . Anselm of Canterbury was the eleventh century philosopher and theologian who famously articulated what we now know as his ‘ontological’ proof for God


Ten year-old Dutch prodigy to play Concordia Seminary’s carillon bells


Ten year-old Dutch prodigy to play Concordia Seminary’s carillon bells

Luther Tower, home to Concordia’s landmark carillon TOMORROW (Wednesday, Aug 12) at 7:00PM, Jacob Bodden, a 10 year-old boy from Amersfoort, Holland, will give a free carillon concert at Concordia Seminary . After taking carillon lessons for only a year and a half, Jacob has played concerts at the Belgium Monument in Amersfoort, the Munt Tower in Amsterdam, and the tower in Hilvarenbeek. Last summer, he was interviewed and filmed in Amersfoort for being the youngest carillonneur in the Netherlands


Proper 14 · John 6:35-51 · August 9, 2009


Proper 14 · John 6:35-51 · August 9, 2009

By Joel Okamoto Notes on the text 1. This passage is an excerpt from Christ’s “Bread of Life” discourse, and forms the middle section of a three-lesson series taken from this same chapter. This pericope’s exchange occurred after Jesus fed the 5,000 (w. 1-13) and after the people failed to discern the sign that he had ..


Proper 13 · John 6:22-35 · August 2, 2009


Proper 13 · John 6:22-35 · August 2, 2009

By David I. Lewis Literary Context Today’s Gospel is the first of a series of three lessons taken from the so called “Bread of Life Discourse” of John 6:22-71. Here Jesus engages in an extended dialogue first with the crowd (6:25-59) and then with his disciples (6:60-71). At several points, this dialogue shifts to monologue/short ..


Proper 12 · Mark 6:45-52 · July 26, 2009


Proper 12 · Mark 6:45-52 · July 26, 2009

By David Peter Exegetical Analysis and Homiletical Treatment: This text is conducive to the development of a sermon which is constructed inductively. This is not only because the text is narrative in form (and thus inherently inductive), but also because it presents a couple of areas of tension for resolution. These tension points are manifested ..


Proper 11 · Mark 6:30-44 · July 19, 2009


Proper 11 · Mark 6:30-44 · July 19, 2009

By James Voelz The Feeding of the 5000 I. Introduction: This pericope occurs within the critical events of chapter 6 of Mark. The chapter begins with Jesus’ rejection in his hometown (vv. 1ff) and continues with the twelve being sent out as “apostles” to carry forth his mission of preaching and healing (vv. 7ff). This is ..


The most trusted man in America


The most trusted man in America

Photo credit: Evan Agostini, AP I’m watching the television tributes to the original news anchorman, Walter Cronkite. Growing up, the “CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite” was a nightly ritual in my family home. And I am remembering that night as a young child when I watched Cronkite sign off (and that’s the way it is) for the last time


Faith and Creative Writing


Faith and Creative Writing

That’s the title of a summer workshop I will be leading later this month (July 27-29) at Concordia Seminary. It’s a topic I’ve studied, talked, and thought about for a long time. Peter Mead, senior editor at Creative Communications for the Parish , will lead some of the presentations too


Proper 9 · Mark 6:1-13 · July 5, 2009


Proper 9 · Mark 6:1-13 · July 5, 2009

By Travis J. Scholl Here we are at the first week of July—Fourth of July weekend no less!—and the Gospel of Mark gives us no “summer vacation” from its cruciform sense of faith, discipleship, and the way of Christ. In this text (a continuation of last week’s Gospel text from Mark 5), Jesus has returned ..