'Peter' Tagged Posts
“WHODUNIT?”
It’s terrible English grammar, of course, but a good crime novel or movie is often called a “Whodunit.” We even spoof those corny old movie scenes where the detective assembles everyone in the parlor or the library of the mansion after a murder and announces: “The murderer is someone in this room!” And as the background music plays a few tense notes – all of them – from the maid to the butler, from the millionaire playboy to the…
THE BACKSTORY REVISITED
An old man named John wrote it down in a little letter years later: “We have heard…we have seen…we have observed….our hands have touched.” Those days long ago scroll across the old man’s memory. He was a young man then, maybe all of nineteen. He was hanging on the words of a rugged preacher named John the Baptist on that day when Jesus came in sight of the Jordan River. “Look!” said the preacher, pointing at Jesus, “The Lamb of…
TRANSFIGURATION TRUTHS – A REVIEW
On this Sunday before the start of the Lenten season, the Church has always tipped its hat to the account of Christ’s transfiguration. The Gospel of Matthew says that Jesus took Peter, James and John up a high mountain by themselves. “There he was transfigured in front of them. His face was shining like the sun. His clothing became as white as the light. Just then, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus.” There are several lessons in…
“TREASURE IN CLAY JARS”
Speaking of the life-giving gospel he preached, Paul once said, “We hold this treasure in clay jars” (2 Corinthians 4:7). Martin Luther echoed this in the 62nd of his 95 Theses. He said: “The true treasure of the church is the holy Gospel of the glory and grace of God.” You would think that God would entrust the priceless treasure of the gospel to some exceptionally strong containers. After all, you don’t keep gold bars on the front porch, or…
THE HOLY SPIRIT’S GIFT – THE HOLY BIBLE
How’s your memory of everything you said or heard last year? Have you ever wondered how the evangelists and apostles could remember all the things God wanted them to remember as they wrote the New Testament Scriptures? Jesus answers this in our Gospel lesson: “The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I told you (John 14:26 EHV). The New Testament is not a collection…
“WHEN THE DAY OF EVIL COMES”
In the closing lines of his letter to the Ephesian Christians, Paul encourages us to arm ourselves as soldiers do, to put on “the full armor of God.” Elsewhere he gives similar warnings: “There will be terrible times in the last days,” and again, “The time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want…
LESSONS FROM THE TRANSFIGURATION
On this Sunday before the start of the Lenten season, the Church has always tipped its hat to the account of Christ’s transfiguration. The Gospel of Matthew says that Jesus took Peter, James and John up a high mountain by themselves. “There he was transfigured in front of them. His face was shining like the sun. His clothing became as white as the light. Just then, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus.” There are several…
“THE BALAAM SYNDROME”
As the calendar year winds down and Advent ushers in a new church year, our thoughts focus on the future. The Scriptures clearly tell us what awaits those who trust in Jesus and those who don’t. When it comes to the future, one writer describes what he calls “the Balaam syndrome.” You can read about the sorcerer, Balaam, in the Old Testament book of Numbers (chapters 22-25). Hired by Balak, king of Moab, to curse Israel on its march to…
WHERE IS THIS WRITTEN?
In the second chapter of his second letter, Peter releases a blistering attack on false teachers. We know that false doctrine is poisonous. We know that true doctrine is the only antidote. In the Small Catechism Luther was accustomed to ask: “Where is this written?” He then set down the Bible passages where a given doctrine or teaching was found. By way of review and for your personal Bible study at home, here are some of the main teachings of…
WHO SAYS?
“Who says I can’t drive 95 on the Interstate?” Probably the wrong question to ask the trooper who pulled you over. “Who says I can’t use pine tar when I’m pitching against the opposing team?” Best not to say that to the umpire. “Who says I can’t holler ‘Fire!’ in a crowded theater?” The district attorney may tell you who says so. “Who says it’s time to come in from playing?” says the kid to his older brother. “Dad…
“DO NOT HINDER THEM” – A REVIEW OF INFANT BAPTISM
“Baptism now saves you,” says Peter in his first epistle (1 Peter 3:21). Baptism is never spoken of as something we do for God, but as something God does for us – an expression of the gospel. In The Gospel According To St. Mark, we are introduced to John’s “baptism for the forgiveness of sins,” and then to our sinless Savior who comes to Jordan’s bank for baptism as our Substitute to fulfill all righteousness. Understandably, as people were first…
THE MARRIAGE ARENA
St. Paul wrote one last letter to young pastor Timothy from death row, his “green mile,” in a Roman dungeon. The old lion in winter sounded a warning: “Know this: In the last days there will be terrible times…” (2 Timothy 3:1 EHV). He lists a legion of symptoms. We see the truth of Paul’s warning all around us, don’t we? The family feuds, rebellious children, irresponsible parents, recreational sex, gay marriage, abortion dumpsters, out-of-control love affairs with alcohol, unscriptural…