Father Jeremiah, Pastor Brack, and Pastor Jason conclude our study of the Four Pastoral and Educational Affirmations of the ACNA and NALC. We consider how we agree upon our understanding of the core of our faith in Jesus Christ, his Gospel, and how it is brought to us through Justification and our response to that.
Jesus Revealed: Transfiguration and Tabernacles, Luke 9.28-36
When Jesus was transfigured on the mountain before Peter, James, and John, Peter suggested building tabernacles for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. Was he merely trying to delay their departure from the mountain, or is there something revealed here about Jesus being the true tabernacle through whom we draw near to God? Listen to find out the answer!
Image: Public Domain. Located at:https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Armadio_degli_argenti,_trasfigurazione.jpg
Jesus Revealed: Loving Because God Loves, Luke 6.27-38
Love your enemies, Jesus tells us, in our Gospel passage for this Sunday. Jesus is not merely telling us something, but is commanding us to radical way of relationship with others. Why would he command this? Is this consistent with who God is? It most certainly is! After all, God first loved his enemies by sending Jesus to die for their sins. Who are those enemies that God first loved? You and me and the whole host of humanity. Jesus’ command is a perfect reflection of God’s character just as all of the moral law of the Bible is.
Image: Sermon on the Mount, Cosimo Rosselli [Public domain]
Jesus Revealed: Feelings, Blessings, and Woes, Luke 6.17-26
What do our feelings have to do with Jesus’ blessings and woes from Luke 6.17-26? How do our feelings affect our everyday walk with Jesus? Father Jeremiah brings before us the importance of the whole Word of God in regard to how we allow our feelings to be our guides in life too easily.
Image: Sermon on the Mount, Cosimo Rosselli [Public domain]
Four Pastoral and Educational Affirmations: Holy Scripture
Father Jeremiah, Pastors Brack and Jason continue our two churches’ study of the Four Pastoral and Educational Affirmations put forward by the Ecumenical Consultation of the ACNA and the NALC. This week we go over our understanding of the nature and use of Holy Scripture. What is it? How does it lead us? How is it authoritative? How does it relate to both Jesus and the Holy Spirit? These are some of the questions addressed in our time together.
Jesus Revealed: Our Confession, His Absolution, Luke 5.1-11
Jesus was teaching by the seashore and goes out on a boat in order to better teach the crowds. Afterwards, he asks Peter to go out and cast his nets in the middle of the day. When Peter catches more fish than his nets can handle, he turns to Jesus and confesses his sinfulness. What does Jesus do? What happens here changes the course of Peter’s life and it can change yours too. Listen to find out how Jesus works through our confession and His absolution.
Image: Maestà, Altarretabel des Sieneser Doms, Rückseite, Predella mit Szenen zur Versuchung Christi und Wundertaten, Szene: Die Berufung der Apostel Petrus und Andreas, Duccio di Buoninsegna [Public domain] Image Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Duccio_di_Buoninsegna_036.jpg
Four Pastoral and Educational Affirmations: Holy Communion
We continue our study of the ACNA-NALC Four Pastoral and Education Affirmations. We consider our agreement upon how we understand Holy Communion, also known as the Eucharist and the Lord’s Supper. Father Jeremiah and Pastor Jason lead us through the study explaining what God is doing in our midst when we receive the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ through the bread and wine.
Jesus Revealed: Knowing Where You Are, Luke 4.21-32
The people of Nazareth rejected Jesus’ preaching because they refused to understand where they were. They couldn’t see just what the Messiah was going to do and so became infuriated with him. Do you know where you are in this life? Do you know what you truly need? Can you receive Jesus as he truly is by seeing where you truly are?
Image: Christ Preaching, Rembrandt [Public domain]. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rembrandt_van_Rijn_-_Christ_Preaching_(The_Hundred_Guilder_Print)_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
Four Pastoral and Educational Affirmations: Baptism
Father Jeremiah, along with the pastors of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Brack and Jason, walked through the first study of the Four Pastoral and Educational Affirmations of the ACNA and NALC. In this teaching they talk about the history, importance, and application of baptism. Our two church bodies are from two different denominational traditions and yet can find common ground on how we understand baptism. Find out how we agree on this most important doctrine of the church.
Jesus Revealed: Year of Jubilee, Luke 4.14-21
When Jesus went into Nazareth after his baptism, he was full of the Holy Spirit and he went to the synagogue. He was the reader and preacher that day. What is the meaning of his words that day? What does it mean for the Messiah to proclaim the year of the Lord? How do we respond to the words of Scripture before our eyes and ears? Listen today to find out more about this passage from Luke 4.
Image: Year of Jubilee, from the book The story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Told in simple language adapted to all ages, but especially to the young, author unknown. Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Year_of_Jubilee.jpg
Jesus Revealed: Wine for Newness, John 2.1-11
What does water turned into wine have to do with the great marriage feast of the Lamb? What does Jesus being at a wedding reveal about marriage? Is there something about prayer to be learned from the wedding at Cana? These questions are dealt with this week as we consider Jesus revealed through the wine for newness.
Image: Unknown [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Marriage_at_Cana_-_Decani.jpg
The Coming of the Spirit in Baptism, Luke 3.15-22
Jesus changes the very nature of John's baptism by being baptized and receiving the Holy Spirit. Why does this matter? How does it affect us today?
Image: anonimoius [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The Star that Leads, Matthew 2.1-12
The wise men came searching for the King of the Jews by following a star. That star led them to the Christ child and they worshiped him recognizing something more to this little one than many others who would encounter him in the future. What does all of this mean? How are we led to Christ? What are the means by which God draws us to himself through Jesus?
Image: St Mary Major; 13th century mosaic: Adoration of the Magi, by Franciscan, Jacopo Torriti.
Incarnation and Salvation, John 1.1-18
What is the true gift that humanity needs? It needs salvation to come down from God. It needs God to provide a way for our restoration because we can’t do it ourselves. In the first chapter of the Gospel of St. John, we hear about how God became man and that he became man that we might know God the Father through Jesus his Son. Listen now to find out more from Father Jeremiah
Image: Image from Codex Alexanrinus [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons. Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Codex_Alexandrinus_J_1,1-7.PNG
God Came Down at Christmas: Born that We might be Saved, Luke 1.1-20
At Christmas Eve, we so often hear about Jesus being born in Bethlehem and the angels and the shepherds. What is the importance of this event? Why is it so important that we continue to read about it and hear about it 2000 years later? God Came Down at Christmas truly did happen and we hear about it now!
Image: The Adoration of the Shepherds, Ivan Honchar Museum [Public domain]. Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shepherds_Bow_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
God Came Down at Christmas: Transforming Love, Micah 5:2-5a
Micah has promised the coming of a ruler over Israel who will be born in the insignificant town of Bethlehem. This ruler will bring peace and comfort to God’s people. All of it is out of God’s great love for his people.
Image: Dr Mary Gillham Archive Project [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons. Located at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Berber_shepherd_at_10,000%27_clears_flock._Near_Fes_(23903400918).jpg
God Came Down at Christmas-Joyous Rejoicing, Zephaniah 3.14-20
How do we come to know joy? Why do we rejoice? The prophet Zephaniah called the people of God to rejoice because God was going to remove the judgements against them and then God himself would rejoice over his people. How does God accomplish this in our lives? What do we do when we come face to face with God’s rejoicing over us?
Image: The Ghent Altarpiece: Singing Angels, Jan van Eyck [Public domain]. Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jan_van_Eyck_-_The_Ghent_Altarpiece_-_Singing_Angels_(detail)_-_WGA07642.jpg
God Came Down at Christmas-Refining Fire of Peace, Malachi 3:1-5
Though we didn’t meet for church on Sunday due to inclement weather, Father Jeremiah recorded his sermon for the 2nd Sunday of Advent. How is it that we receive peace with God the Father? How does Jesus’ sanctifying of us relate to the peace that we receive by his coming? Father Jeremiah explores these questions and helps us all draw near to Jesus as our peace.
Image: By Neelaka, Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) Located at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/33925187@N00/5102225210
God Came Down at Christmas-Reason for Hope, Zech 14.1-9
During Advent we prepare for God coming to us through Jesus his Son. We begin a new series for Advent called: God Came Down at Christmas. In this first sermon, Father Jeremiah looks at Zechariah 14 and connects it to the coming of Christ and to our lives now. Listen now to find out more!
Image: UnknownUnknown author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1099_Siege_of_Jerusalem.jpg
Christ the Suffering King, John 18.33-37
What kind of king is Jesus? How is he different from all the rest of the kings and rulers of the world? On this last Sunday of the Church Year, Christ the King Sunday, find out what makes Jesus stand out when compared to all others.
Image: Christ before Pilate Again. Duccio di Buoninsegna [Public domain] Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Duccio_di_Buoninsegna_-_Christ_Before_Pilate_Again_-_WGA06805.jpg