The Legislative Sections of Numbers
The Book of Numbers gets its name from the censuses in chapters 1 and 26. It recounts the travels and experiences of the people of Israel from Sinai to the borders of Canaan. Laws and...
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Sacrifice, Atonement, and Holiness in Leviticus
Externally, Israel’s sacrifices have much in common with sacrifices all over the world, but Israel’s sacrifices are sacraments. From God’s side they belong to the realm of...
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Using Daily Prayer and God's Word to Battle Anxiety
This is an adapted excerpt from Take Heart: God's Comfort for Anxious Thoughts by Lindsay Hausch.
A daily rhythm of time in God’s Word and in prayer is a way to abide in God. As we do...
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Teaching Jesus in the Old Testament: Exodus 12
The importance of the blood on the doorpost and lintel likely “passed over” the Israelites the night before the Lord freed them from centuries of slavery under Pharaoh. Being of...
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Digging Deeper into Scripture: James 1
James, the brother of Jesus, is the author of this book. It is important to remember that James is related to Jesus by Mary, their mother, as Jesus is the Son of God, conceived by the...
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Exodus and God’s Law
This blog post is adapted from Lutheran Bible Companion, Volume 1: Introduction and Old Testament.
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Teaching Jesus in the Old Testament: Genesis 22
Jesus in the Old Testament?
This month begins a new series of materials for teaching Sunday School. Christians often view the Old Testament as intimidating, irrelevant, evidence of...
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Digging Deeper into Scripture: Mark 1
In this weekend’s Gospel reading, we find Jesus calling Peter, Andrew, and James and John, the sons of Zebedee, to be His disciples. Mark moves quickly through John the Baptist’s call...
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Genesis and God’s Salvation Plan
This is an adapted excerpt from the
Lutheran Bible Companion. Over the
next year, we will be using the
Lutheran Bible Companion to travel through
the Old Testament...
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To Us a Child Is Born: Luther’s Interpretations on Isaiah 9:6–7
Christmas is a time of celebration that the Savior of the Nations is born! His name is revered throughout the earth as we rejoice in God’s promises fulfilled. Isaiah 9:6–8...
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Luther’s Introduction to Micah
This post is adapted from Luther's Works, vol. 18 (Lectures on the Minor Prophets I).
When the destruction of the Jewish people was imminent, when the new age and kingdom—namely,...
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The Integrity and Authenticity of the Book of Micah
This is an adapted excerpt from the Concordia Commentary on Micah by Jason R Soenkensen.
Up until the late nineteenth century, the book of Micah was regarded as the work of the prophet...
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Understanding and Applying Proverbs
This post is an adapted excerpt from Concordia Commentary: Proverbs by Andrew E. Steinmann.
Those who read Proverbs today, like all modern readers of Scripture, are separated by a...
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Four Bible Verses on the Gift of Forgiveness
Have you ever fully thought about God’s forgiveness? About what it means that He has forgiven us?
I’m not good at forgiveness. I hold grudges. I say I forgive but then I don’t forget....
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5 Political-Season Reminders from the Book of Daniel
There’s no question that this has been one of the most contentious political seasons in memory. Since the primaries ended, the low favorability of both candidates has been a...
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An Interview with Rev. Dr. David Coe on Provoking Proverbs
Have you ever looked at the Book of Proverbs through the lens of the Ten Commandments? A new Bible study, Provoking Proverbs, guides you through these beautiful, insightful works of...
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Digging Deeper into Scripture: Romans 13:1–10
Have you ever been wronged by someone? Have you ever disagreed with the laws or decrees of your local community or the state in which you live? Almost everyone has likely experienced at...
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Digging Deeper into Scripture: Matthew 15:21–28
The Gospel reading of Matthew 15:21–28 shares how God's salvation plan is unlimited. Although the Gospel is primarily for the Jews, it is also for the Gentiles. Through the confession...
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How to Memorize Scripture (and Why It’s Important)
If you grew up going to Sunday School or confirmation classes, I can almost guarantee that you had to memorize Bible verses. It likely went something like this: You remember you have a...
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