Today, as we read John 1:6–8 and 19–28, we can connect the message of John the Baptist to God’s presence among the Israelites wandering in the wilderness prior to entering the Promised Land. John, Christ’s herald, is not himself the light, but he will eventually baptize the light, Jesus. This begins Jesus’ ministry, at the end of which, He will die and rise again to open the gates of heaven.
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This post is an excerpt from Getting Through Grief: Eight Biblical Gifts for Living with Loss. How can you be absolutely certain that, even in your grief and loss, you can live with...
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...
Psalm 22 has one of the most memorable opening lines, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” These words are instilled into our memories as the words Jesus spoke from the cross....
In Mark 10, Jesus demonstrates how He is the perfect sacrifice for all by humbly obeying God the Father through His death and resurrection.
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...
This post is excerpted from Blessed Be His Name by Rev. Dr. Kevin Golden. Everything that the Lord packs into His name is found in Christ. In the name of Jesus, the Lord dwells among...
As Lent is underway, many Christians throughout the world are participating in various spiritual disciplines. Some are fasting from a particular food, drink, or activity. Some are...
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...
This blog post is adapted from Lutheran Bible Companion, Volume 1: Introduction and Old Testament.
This blog post is adapted from Blessed Be His Name by Rev. Dr. Kevin Golden.
If you are a pastor, when was the last time you preached on one of the Psalms? If you are not a pastor, when was the last time you heard a sermon on one of the Psalms? Is it just me, or...
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...
50:56Christ’s Church is never isolated. Join Pastor Brian Davies to learn how to break out of isolation, find identity and belonging in Christ and invite others to join faith-filled community again.
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...
This post is adapted from Gospel Sermons: Volume 1 by C. F. W. Walther.
The season of Epiphany is one that often gets overlooked in the Church Year calendar. We’re on board for Advent and Lent, with many congregations meeting midweek to mark these...
The pastor steps up to the pulpit. He lays before him the outline of his sermon. There are some correction marks throughout the pages, but he is ready to preach. He lifts up his head,...
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...
This post is an excerpt from Theological Commonplaces: On Christ by Johann Gerhard.
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,...
