(…continued) The story then goes on to say God established in our midst a ‘Kingdom’, the Church, and gave to the Church the Holy Spirit. And He gave to the Church the Word and Sacraments. Again, in some strange and unaccountable way, the Holy Spirit working through these means, would recruit from out […]
3346) God’s Big Story (2/2) Read More »
Alvin Rogness (1906-1992) was a Lutheran pastor, author, and seminary president. In his sermons and books he would often retell the ‘big’ story of the Bible, summarizing the whole story of God and His world in a single narrative. The following reading is a blend of several of those narratives. —————————– Colossians 1:21-23a — Once
3345) God’s Big Story (1/2) Read More »
Above Painting: For He Had Great Possessions, 1894, George Frederic Watts (British, 1817–1904) ————————————- As Jesus was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one
3277) Good News / Bad News (2/2) Read More »
A certain ruler asked Jesus, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your
3276) Good News / Bad News (1/2) Read More »
By Randy Alcorn, from his book The Grace and Truth Paradox and posted November 10, 2025 on his website at: http://www.epm.org ********************************* Many evangelical Christians are speaking grace without truth, while others are speaking truth without grace. But Scripture tells us this about Jesus: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
3061) Grace AND Truth Read More »
(…continued) It is not for me to judge Harvey or Walter. But I tell their stories to help you understand this for your own life. First of all, you must not take for granted God’s grace like Harvey. Secondly, you need not be filled with anxiety like Walter. As always, the Bible will be
2951) Can it Be That Easy? (3/3) Read More »
(…continued) Can it be that easy? The Christians in Rome thought so. The Apostle Paul faced that same question. So, after five chapters of going on and on about grace, in chapter six verse one Paul says: “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may
2950) Can it Be That Easy? (2/3) Read More »
From my July 20, 2025 sermon at Faithpoint Lutheran Church, New Prague, Minnesota —————————- Mickey Cohen (1913-1976; pictured above) was a major player in the world of organized crime in the 1940s and 50s. He spent several years in and out of prison, but when he was out, he moved about freely and
2949) Can it Be That Easy? (1/3) Read More »
(…continued) We all approach life with a “worldview;” which is our ‘philosophy’ of life. How we understand the world and everything in it, will, in a big way, determine how we will live our lives. Every world-view has to answer four basic questions: #1) How did we get here?; #2) Why is everything such
2943) Everything You Need to Know About Philosophy (2/2) Read More »
(…continued) There are many reasons why the unconditional grace of my college professor is not the same thing as the unconditional grace of God. At its most basic level, a college class is like a business transaction; you do the work, and you get the reward. It is not the place for unconditional
2939) Nothing to Do? (b) Read More »
