This entire series is my 30-paged bachelor thesis I submitted to the theology department at Concordia University-Ann Arbor—a higher Lutheran education university—as part of the requirement to graduate from the Pre-Seminary programme. It has been reformatted to fit this blog. This is the first section of my paper. Go here to read the introduction. The…
Psalm 25:14, The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear Him, and He makes known to them His covenant. 1 Kings 19:1-8, Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to…
Job 14:4, “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean thing? There is not one.” Sometimes we make big messes that are hard to clean up—wine on our shirt or carpet, grease on our jeans after working on our car. What’s even worse is that sometimes our best efforts to clean up the mess…
I get asked this question often, and I was inevitably asked this question during my Michigan District interview as part of the process in applying for the LCMS seminary. When it comes down to it, I really just have a simple answer: Because of Jesus. Of course, that’s not a satisfactory answer for one probing at…
Psalm 100:1-2, Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into His presence with singing! In 1 Chronicles 16, the ark of the covenant is brought into the tent of meeting and David leads the congregation of people in worship at this church dedication. They are rejoicing that they have…
Hebrews 8:12, “For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” We often joke about the forgetfulness of old people. My pastor is in his fifties and he frequently makes jokes about his forgetfulness, attributing it to his age, although in truth I don’t think his forgetfulness is any…
As a future pastor, this question bugs me. I come across Christians from all different walks of life who somehow get it in their heads that since they’re Christian, church isn’t required. Actually, the opposite is true. Church is required because you’re Christian! If you’re not Christian, obviously church isn’t required. After all, why would an unbeliever…
