“6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with […]
August 2023
“26Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to […]
(Briefly) On the Work of the Holy Spirit
py Pentecost! And what a better time for the season of Pentecost to fall than the beginning of summer. As you well know, the day of Pentecost is celebrated as the day that the Holy Spirit came down and was given to the disciples, and by extension, us. So we have the Holy Spirit among […]
On Post-Easter & Pentecost
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” Peter 2:9 We are post-Easter and have heard constantly that Jesus has died for us, taken all of our […]
Palm Sunday & Lent
Depending on when you are reading this, we will either be just about to enter into Holy Week, amidst it, or perhaps the newsletter got to you late and you are reading this after the entire Easter celebration. Regardless, Holy Week is a deep and meaningful week. It is jam-packed with the feels of excitement […]
On Lent
Lent is a dangerous time. Traditionally speaking, it is a time of great piety, self-sacrifice, and attempts to improve upon one’s own faith. So why is it so dangerous? Certainly giving something up to make oneself better can’t be bad. Trying to do faith-based devotions more often couldn’t possibly hurt could it? Well, no. Those […]
On Preaching Beyond the Church
The Apostle Paul to the Corinthians: “1 When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I came to you in weakness and […]
On Advent
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Christmas songs are on the radio, houses are being decorated inside and out, the Christmas tree is set up in the church, and the hustle and bustle of Christmas vacation is ramping up. As far as the church year goes, we are into the well-known season of […]
On The Reformation
October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the doors of the Wittenberg Castle. This was the start of what would come to be known as the Reformation. The Reformation was significant to all in the early church – Roman Catholics and the future Protestants (pretty much everyone other than Roman Catholics) alike. […]
On Prayer
Prayer. While it seems to be a common, everyday thing, prayer also can be seen as intimidating and riddled with questions. Why should I pray? How do I pray? When should I pray? What if I pray wrong? We have been spending a lot of time in Paul’s letter to Timothy with our Epistle readings […]