Today the Church Commemorates Joseph of Arimathea

This Joseph, mentioned in all four Gospels, come from a small village called Arimathea in the hill country of Judea. He was a respected member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish religious council in Jerusalem. He was presumably wealthy, since he owned his own unused tomb in a garden not far from the site of Jesus' crucifixion (Mt 27:60). Joseph, a man waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God, went to Pontius Pilate after the death of Jesus and asked for Jesus' body (Mk 15:43). Along with Nicodemus, Joseph removed the body and placed it in the tomb (John 19:39). Their public devotion contrasted greatly to the fearfulness of the disciples who had abandoned Jesus.

To listen to an interview of Dr. Jeff Gibbs of Concordia Seminary-St. Louis, MO on Joseph of Arimathea on Issues Etc, click on the Issues Etc logo below.

Today the Church Commemorates Robert Barnes, Confessor and Matryr

Above picture: "Barnes and his Fellow-Prisoners Seeking Forgiveness", from an 1887 edition of Foxe's Book of Martyrs, illustrated by Kronheim.

Remembered as a devoted disciple of Martin Luther, Robert Barnes is considered to be among the first Lutheran martyrs. Born in 1495, Barnes became the prior of the Augustinian monastery at Cambridge, England. Converted to Lutheran teaching, he shared his insights with many English scholars through writings and personal contacts. During a time of exile to Germany he became a friend of Luther and later wrote a Latin summary of the main doctrines of the Augsburg Confession titled "Sententiae." Upon his return to England, Barnes shared his Lutheran doctrines and views in person with King Henry VIII and initially had a positive reception. In 1529 Barnes was named royal chaplain. The changing political and ecclesiastical climate in his native country, however, claimed him as a victim; he was burned at the stake in Smithfield in 1540. His final confession of faith was published by Luther, who called his friend Barnes "our good, pious table companion and guest of our home, this holy martyr, Saint Robertus."

To listen to an interview of Dr. Korey Maas of Concordia University California on 16th Century Confessor and Martyr Robert Barnes on Issues Etc, click on the Issues Etc logo below.

Today the Church Commemorates Mary, Martha, and Lazarus of Bethany

Mary, Martha, and Lazarus of Bethany were disciples with whom Jesus had a special bond of love and friendship. John's Gospel records that Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus (John 11:15). On one occasion Martha welcomed Jesus into their home for a meal. While she did all the work, Mary sat at Jesus' feet listening to his Word and was commended by Jesus for choosing the good portion which will not be taken away from her (Lk 10:3842). When their brother Lazarus died, Jesus spoke to Martha this beautiful Gospel promise: I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he life? (John 11:2527). Ironically, when Jesus raised Lazarus from the death, the Jews became more determined than ever to kill Jesus (John 11:3954). made Jesus' enemies more determined than ever to kill him (John 11:3954). Six days before Jesus was crucified, Mary anointed his feet with a very expensive fragrant oil and wiped them with her hair, not knowing at the time that she was doing it in preparation for Jesus' burial (John 12:18; Mt 26:6-13).

To listen to an interview of Dr. Jeff Gibbs of Concordia Seminary-St. Louis, MO on Mary, Martha, and Lazarus on Issues Etc, click on the Issues Etc logo below.

Prepare for Sunday, July 29, 2012

To help you prepare for Sunday click on the picture below to read the readings.
Text: Mark 6:45-56
Title: "Take Heart"

Today the Church Commemorates Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) is acknowledged as one of the most famous and gifted of all composers past and present in the entire western world. Orphaned at the age of ten, Bach was mostly self-taught in music. His professional life as conductor, performer, composer, teacher, and organ consultant began at the age of 19 in the town of Arnstadt and ended in Leipzig, where for the last 27 years of his life he was responsible for all the music in the city's four Lutheran churches. In addition to his being a superb keyboard artist, the genius and bulk of Bach's vocal and instrumental compositions remain overwhelming. A devout and devoted Lutheran, he is especially honored in Christendom for his lifelong insistence that his music was written primarily for the liturgical life of the church to glorify God and edify his people.

To listen to an interview of Dr. Paul Grime of Concordia Theological Seminary-Ft. Wayne, IN on The Life and Work of Johann Sebastian Bach on Issues Etc, click on the Issues Etc logo below.



To listen to an interview of Pastor Paul McCain of Concordia Publishing House on 18th Century Composer Johann Sebastian Bach on Issues Etc, click on the Issues Etc logo below.



Below is a link to the J. S. Bach Home Page where you will find much more about Bach.



One of my Seminary classmates the Rev. Walter Snyder (XRYSOSTOM) wrote a paper titled: "J. S. Bach: Orthodox Lutheran Theologian?"  You can find it by clicking here.

Sermon - July 22, 2012

To listen to the sermon click on the picture below.
Preacher: Vicar Dan Murray
Text: Mark 6:30-44

Today the Church Commemorates St. James the Elder, Apostle

St. James the Elder, Apostle
St. James and his brother John, sons of Zebedee and Salome (see Matthew 27:56 and Mark 15:40), were fishermen in the Sea of Galilee who were called with Peter and his brother Andrew to follow Jesus (Matthew 4:18-22).  In the Gospel lists of Jesus' disciples, James is listed following Peter and preceding John.  Together, these three appear as leaders of the Twelve.  Because James precedes John, it is reasoned that James is the elder of the brothers.  The Book of Acts records that James was beheaded by Herod Agrippa I, probably between AD 42 and 44 (Acts 12:1-2).  Thus James is the first of the Twelve to die a martyr.

Higher Things a Recognized Service Organization of the LCMS recently posted an excellent sermon by Nebraska Pastor Brent Kuhlman.  The sermon deals with the questions many have following the shootings in Aurora Colorado.  I commend the sermon for you to read.  You may find it by clicking on the Higher Things logo below.    

Today the Church Commemorates St. Mary Magdalene

St. Mary Magdalene
Whenever the New Testment Gospels name the women who were with Jesus, St. Mary Magadalene is listed first (John 19:25 is the only exception), perhaps because she was the first to see the risen Savior alive.  Luke 8:2 reports that Jesus had cured her of being possessed by seven demons.  Through the centuries, she has often been identified with the repentant "woman of the city" who anointed Jesus' feet as He sat at the table in the Pharisee's home (Luke 7:36-50).  But there is no biblical basis for this indentification of her with a penitent prostitute.  Nor is she to beidentified with Mary, the sister of Martha, in Bethany.  According to the Gospels, Mary Magdalene saw Jesus die, she witnessed His burial; and, most important, she was the first to see Him alive again after His resurrection (John 20:11-18).  It is for good reason that Bernard of Clairvaux calls her "the apostle to the apostles."

To listen to an interview of Dr. Peter Scaer of Concordia Theological Seminary-Fort Wayne, IN on Mary Magdalene on Issues Etc, click on the Issues Etc logo below.

Today the Church Commemorates Ezekiel

Ezekiel, son of Buzi, was a priest, called by God to be a prophet to the exiles during the Babylonian captivity (Ez. 1:3). In 597 B.C. King Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian army brought the king of Judah and thousands of the best citizens of Jerusalem including Ezekiel to Babylon (2 Kgs 24:816). Ezekiel's priestly background profoundly stamped his prophecy, as the holiness of God and the Temple figure prominently in his messages (for example, Ezekiel 910 and 4048). From 593 B.C. to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 586 B.C., Ezekiel prophesied the inevitability of divine judgment on Jerusalem, on the exiles in Babylon, and on seven nations that surrounded Israel (Ezekiel 132). Jerusalem would fall, and the exiles would not quickly return, as a just consequence of their sin. Once word reached Ezekiel that Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed, his message became one of comfort and hope. Through him God promised that his people would experience future restoration, renewal and revival in the coming Messianic kingdom (Ezekiel 3348). Much of the strange symbolism of Ezekiel's prophecies was later employed in the Revelation to St. John.

To listen to an interview of Dr. Andrew Steinmann of Concordia University-Chicago on Ezekiel the Prophet on Issues Etc, click on the Issues Etc logo below.

Prepare for Sunday, July 22, 2012

To help you prepare for Sunday click on the picture below to read the readings.
Text: Mark 6:30-44
Title: "Fed by Christ"

Today the Church Commemorates Elijah

The prophet Elijah, whose name means, My God is Yahweh [the Lord], prophesied in the northern kingdom of Israel, mostly during the reign of Ahab (874853 B.C.). Ahab, under the influence of his pagan wife Jezebel, had encouraged the worship of Baal throughout his kingdom, even as Jezebel sought to get rid of the worship of Yahweh. Elijah was called by God to denounce this idolatry and to call the people of Israel back to the worship Yahweh as the only true God (as he did in 1 Kgs 18:2040). Elijah was a rugged and imposing figure, living in the wilderness and dressing in a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt (2 Kgs 1:8). He was a prophet mighty in word and deed. Many miracles were done through Elijah, including the raising of the dead (1 Kgs 17:1724), and the effecting of a long drought in Israel (1 Kgs 17:1). At the end of his ministry, he was taken up into heaven as Elisha, his successor, looked on (2 Kgs 2:11). Later on the prophet Malachi proclaimed that Elijah would return before the coming of the Messiah (Mal 4:56), a prophecy that was fulfilled in the prophetic ministry of John the Baptist (Mt 11:14).


To listen to an interview of Dr. Nathan Jastram of Concordia University-Wisconsin on Elijah the Prophet on Issues Etc, click on the Issues Etc logo below.

Issues Etc New Video

Each Sunday our bulletin has the following weeks topics for Issues Etc a Lutheran Radio talk show covering a variety of Issues facing Christians.  The video below shows how many different topics the show covers.  The Issues Etc webpage has a search feature where you can look for shows on a particular topic.  Host Todd Wilken does an excellent job of interviewing experts regarding the various topics.  Check out the video, better yet check out the program that you can listen to on the internet.  Or download shows to your iPod or mp3 player.  Here is a link to Issues Etc.

Today the Church Commemorates Ruth

Ruth of Moab, the subject of the biblical book that bears her name, is an inspiring example of God's grace. Although she was a Gentile, God made her the great grandmother of King David (Ruth 4:17), and an ancestress of Jesus himself (Mt 1:5). A famine in Israel led Elimelech and Naomi of Bethlehem to emigrate to the neighboring nation of Moab with their two sons. The sons marriend Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth, but after about ten years, Elimelech and his sons died (Ruth 1:15). Naomi then decided to return to Bethlehem and urged her daughters-in-law to return to their families. Orpah listened to Naomi's but Ruth refused, replying with the stirring words: Where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God (Ruth 1:16). After Ruth arrived in Bethlehem, Boaz, a close relative of Elimelech, agreed to be Ruth's redeemer (Ruth 3:713; 4:912). He took her as his wife, and Ruth gave birth to Obed, the grandfather of David (Ruth 4:1317), thus preserving the Messianic seed. Ruth's kindness and selfless loyalty toward Naomi, and her faith in Naomi's God, have long endeared her to the faithful and redounded to God's praise for his merciful choice of one so unexpected.


To listen to an interview of Dr. John Wilch of Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary-St. Cattharines, Ontario, Canada on Ruth on Issues Etc, click on the Issues Etc logo below.

Prepare for Sunday, July 15, 2012

To help you prepare for Sunday click on the picture below to read the readings.
Text: Mark 6:14-29
Title: "The End of John"

Pastor Andy Richard's Mission Video

Click on the picture below to watch the promotional video for St Silas Lutheran Church the Iowa East District new mission plant led by Pastor Andy Richard former Grace and Trinity Lutheran Vicar.

Good News for Homeless in Philadelphia!

Good news from Pastor Joshua Gale posted on Brothers of John the Steadfast:
Today in Philadelphia, a federal judge blocked the enforcement of the ban to prohibit feeding the homeless in public.  Since much of a homeless person’s food supply is distributed outside due to high costs for downtown kitchens, and much of my mercy work is literally on the streets, this is truly an amazing development.  In the ruling, relief agencies are required to work toward long-term solutions.  I rejoice that the poor have been given justice in the courts and better cooperation is encouraged.  Click on the picture to go to the original post.

Prepare for Sunday, July 8, 2012

To help you prepare for Sunday click on the picture below to read the readings.
Text: Mark 6:1-13

Title: "A Prophet's Honor"

Today the Church Commemorates Isaiah

Isaiah son of Amoz is considered to be the greatest of the writing prophets and is quoted in the New Testament more than any other Old Testament prophet. His name means Yahweh [the Lord] saves. Isaiah prophesied to the people of Jerusalem and Judah from about 740 B.C. to 700 B.C. and was a contemporary of the prophets Amos, Hosea, and Micah. Isaiah was a fierce preacher of God's Law, condemning the sin of idolatry. He was also a comforting proclaimer of the Gospel, repeatedly emphasizing God's grace and forgiveness. For this he is sometimes called the Evangelist of the Old Testament. No prophet more clearly prophesied about the coming Messiah and his saving kingdom. He foretold the Messiah's miraculous birth (Is 7:14; 9:6), his endless reign (Is 2:15; 11:116), and his public ministry (Is 61:13), but most notably his Suffering Servant role and atoning death (52:1353:12). The apostle John's description of Isaiah, that Isaiah saw Jesus' glory and spoke of him (John 12:41), is an apt summary of Isaiah's prophetic ministry.

To listen to an interview of Dr. Andrew Bartelt of Concordia Seminary-St. Louis, MO on Isaiah th Prophet on Issues Etc, click on the Issues Etc logo below.

Sermon - July 1, 2012

To listen to the sermon click on the picture below.
Preacher: Pastor David Kuhfal
Text: Mark 5:21-43