Blest Be the Ties That Binds

Blest Be the Ties That Binds For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain.  But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.  For our...

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Blest Be the Tie That Binds

Blest Be the Tie That Binds For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in...

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Imitators and Examples

Imitators and Examples “For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.  And you became imitators of us and of...

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Remembering in Prayer

Remembering in Prayer We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.  1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 There is a familiar pattern to St. Paul’s letters.  One of...

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Separated by Distance, not by Heart

Separated by Distance, not by Heart [T]hey came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,  5 But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set...

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Reconciliation Is Not About You, But About Jesus

Reconciliation Is Not About You, But About Jesus “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message...

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Waiting Witnesses “And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, ‘you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’” Acts 1:4-5 The narratives of the Scriptures show...

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Beloved by God – Baptized and Justified “And behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17             One of the most clear demonstrations of Lutheran theology is the baptism of an infant.  Thereby, we practice and preach the clear Gospel that we...

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The Full Circle of Baptisms and Funerals

The Full Circle of Baptisms and Funerals “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”   1 Peter 3:21 The gifts given in Holy Baptism are...

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The Seal of Baptism–God’s Name

The Seal of Baptism – God’s Name “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14 One of my favorite “tools”...

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