Issue 11, Aug 2008
In the previous three issues of this ezine, we examined the first six of the Eight Beatitudes found in Matthew 5:3-10.

 

In the Seventh Beatitude (Matthew 5:9) Jesus proclaims the Good News: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God” (NIV).

 

We live in a world where concepts like mutually assured destruction, truces where centuries old hatred remain, genocide, civil wars, and the like fill our news reports and political philosophies. It is hard to find a real definition and experience of “peace” in this world today and especially in the lives of the people of this world. Since no mere man has ever brought a truly lasting peace to even a part of this world, we have to ask o ... Read More »

Issue 11, Aug 2008
We continue this month our discussion of the role of women in the church, focusing particularly upon why the church for two thousand years did not permit women to be pastors and bishops. As promised last month, we turn now to the question of why Paul and the other apostles forbad women to teach publicly. Why was the public ministry, the office of pastor, reserved for the male sex? We look at this particularly against the background of what is taught in many Lutheran circles in our day, namely that baptism makes us all equally prepared for public ministry. Baptism is viewed as a kind of ordination, giving men and women equal rights to occupy the public office.

 

In 1 Corinthians 14 Paul ... Read More »

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the Amen is spoken by us to the glory of God. 2 Cor. 1:20

 

Last month we began a two part Bible study of God's promises. We learned there are over 7,500 promises by God to mankind. We looked at the words for promise in the Bible, provisions of the promises, promises about afflictions and promises about physical life.

 

This month we conclude our brief study with a look at promises about daily life and promises concerning prayer, We pray this meditation upon God's Word will bless you and those with whom you may share it. Read More »

Issue 10, Jul 2008
In the previous two issues of this ezine, we began an examination of the Eight Beatitudes found in Matthew 5:3-10. Specifically, we looked at the meaning of “blessed”, “poor in spirit”, “those who mourn”, “the meek”, and “those who hunger and thirst for righteousness”. (Matthew 5:3-6)

 

In the Fifth Beatitude (Matthew 5:7), Jesus offers this blessing: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (NIV) Unfortunately, many people today understand this Beatitude as a command of law demanding an action to be chosen by a believer on a case by case basis. However, the original Greek word is really an adjective so that could be translated as & ... Read More »

Issue 10, Jul 2008
A dear friend wrote to me after last month’s article saying, “This topic ought to keep you busy for the next two years.” I agree. There is much to be said. This month I will pick up where I left off as I wrote in the final paragraph,

 

The fact that the NT apostles did recognize that God revealed His Word through women, is not a question of dispute. The ordering of their speaking was, however, a great concern (1 Corinthians 11). This did not make them holders of the Apostolic office, public spokesmen for Christ, e.g. public ministers or pastors. That is where the issue still resides. We dare not deny that God may still reveal insights to His Word and will t ... Read More »