Immanuel Lutheran Church invites parents of confirmation age children to learn and grow with their kids in the Christian faith. To encourage that continual learning and growth, each week of class we post a reading from the Large Catechism or other portions of our Lutheran Confession of the faith here especially for the mothers and … Continue reading Parents in the Household of Faith: The First Commandment (Week One 9.13-19.2018)
A Deeper Dive into Galatians 5:25-6:10 (Bible Study for 9.9.18)
Late to post, but here goes a bit of a study into Galatians 5:25-6:10. We didn't hold class due to special 2018 Rally Day events to kick off our Sunday School and Catechism year, but for those who wanted to dig a little deeper into the conditions of sowing Seeds of Gentle Restoration, here's a … Continue reading A Deeper Dive into Galatians 5:25-6:10 (Bible Study for 9.9.18)
A Deeper Dive into Luke 17:11-19 (Bible Study for 9.2.2018)
A Bible Study Guide on Luke 17:11-19 Part One: STOP Speeding; SLOW Down; YIELD Him the Right of Way!A.Basic Training: Part of our purpose during Bible Class time is to develop the discipline of a closer reading of Holy Scripture. Our first questions should almost always be the most basic sorts of questions. Too often, … Continue reading A Deeper Dive into Luke 17:11-19 (Bible Study for 9.2.2018)
These Pleasant Places
"...we may be despising and rebelling against a divine ordering of things..." Below is an essay I wrote back in 2014, with one very slight edit of word order. Because a dear brother in Christ fondly recalled it and asked if he might use it in his Intro to Pastoral Theology course at Concordia Theological … Continue reading These Pleasant Places
Psalm 51: Do Good for Us and Build Up The Walls!
Walls don't only hold back our many fierce enemies, protecting those within from external threats. Walls break and block out howling winds of life's many storms. For that heavenly Jerusalem, God builds up walls for the shelter and support of all who enter under the scarlet banners of repentance and forgiveness of sins. God is … Continue reading Psalm 51: Do Good for Us and Build Up The Walls!
Give Thanks, Take and Eat All The Good
Communion is no decorative bread left behind on the table for show, but Living Bread from Heaven given to put all the good on the go in love of the household of God... I don't remember why I paused in Philemon. Between the post surgical pain and pain meds, who knows? But this much I … Continue reading Give Thanks, Take and Eat All The Good
Sunday Bible Study Notes From 2.18.18
Series Bible Study for PART TWO: Does Your “One Lord” Sign His Covenants on Infants? From the series for "All Who Believe and Are Baptized." CONTRASTING BAPTISM AND CIRCUMCISION—Immanuel Bible Class for 2.18.18 Throughout Lent 2018, our 9am Sunday Bible Classes take up in greater detail the passages we will hear during the following Wednesday … Continue reading Sunday Bible Study Notes From 2.18.18
“Here stand God’s Word and command…”
From Luther's Large CatechismHoly Baptism (par. 1-10) 1] We have now finished the three chief parts of the common Christian doctrine. Besides these we have yet to speak of our two Sacraments instituted by Christ, of which also every Christian ought to have at least an ordinary, brief instruction, because without them there can be … Continue reading “Here stand God’s Word and command…”
Sunday Bible Study Notes from 2.11.18
Throughout Lent 2018, our 9am Sunday Bible Classes take up in greater detail the passages we will hear during the following Wednesday Midweek service. Our series begins this Wednesday with the Baptism question Jesus raised in Matthew 21:23-27 "Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, … Continue reading Sunday Bible Study Notes from 2.11.18
Preface to the 2018 Lent Series
Read the origin story of this 2018 Lent sermon series about a small town wrestling with big questions about Baptism… The chapel at that southern Illinois State Correctional Center was quiet except for the distant whir and hum of the prison porter's vacuum cleaner. New Inmate Orientation was over. Chapel rules, activities and services were … Continue reading Preface to the 2018 Lent Series
Isaiah 50:4 Blues 