This sermon brings out a reoccurring theme in Luther’s Christmas sermons that just as contemporaries failed to identify the Baby Jesus for who he was because of his low socio-economic standing, so too do we often fail to see the image of God in those of a lesser social standing as well.
Luther’s Christmas Sermons: Nativity and Shepherds, pt.1 Read More »
The true miracle of the Nativity is not that a virgin bears a child (for that is a mere trifle), nor that God became man (which is somewhat miraculous), but that Mary believes the angel. The faith of Mary is the real miracle in the story.
Luther’s Christmas Sermons: The Annunciation and Visitation, pt.2 Read More »
Allow yourself to become part of the story. As Luther tells us in his conclusion on the Annunciation, “for us the hardest point [is] not so much to believe that He is the son of the Virgin and God himself, as to believe that this Son of God is ours. . . . [for] this Child belongs to all mankind.”
Luther’s Christmas Sermons: The Annunciation and Visitation, pt.1 Read More »
In commenting on Romans 16:6, Chrysostom says “How is this? A woman again is honored and proclaimed victorious. Again, we men are put to shame. . . . For an honor, we men have in that there are such women amongst us.”
Romans 15-16, pt.2 Read More »
This week, we are going to study everyone in Paul’s farewell.
Romans 15-16, pt.1 Read More »
Paul’s command to us is not to surround ourselves with like-minded individuals, but it is to live in love and peace and harmony with those with whom we may strongly disagree. For if you only love those who love you, what good is that?
Romans 14-15:13, pt.2 Read More »
The question, therefore, is how can a congregation be reconciled when one faction is denying God’s grace and the other is denying the clear rules of Scripture written in stone? How can the congregation live in peace and togetherness is the question addressed.
Romans 14-15:13, pt.1 Read More »
What does it look like to have love govern all things. If love is the lens through which to interpret Scripture, how do our Bibles readings change? If love governs our actions, how does our behaviour change? If love dictates our thoughts, how does we change?
In 17th century England, to be a good Biblical Anglican (as opposed to a Reformed Puritan) was a steadfast belief in the Divine Right of Kings. The unequivocal commands of Scripture required nothing less. (This understanding later influenced many Anglicans to remain loyal to George III.)
Secular society teaches us that the goal in life is self-actualization.If we are concerned with self-actualization, then our love cannot be genuine or zealous, we cannot bless those who persecute us, or even rejoice with those who rejoice, because each of these activities is ultimately self-less.
