Wrestling with Theology

''And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, "This man is calling Elijah." And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him" (Matthew 27:47-49).'' "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani!" Jesus cries out the first line of Psalm 22. He very likely prayed the...

''And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46)'' Jesus was truly forsaken by both God and man. Hanging between Heaven and earth, He was truly alone. Suffering Hell's torment for you. Being forsaken by God is to exist in Hell. Without the Light of God's presence. Always groping...

''Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour (Matthew 27:45).'' From noon until three, the entire world was utterly dark as Jesus hung on the cross. Three hours. The whole world darkened. St. John calls this to mind in Revelation when the fourth trumpet sounded: "Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a...

Iron Mike Sharpe vs Savannah Jack S.D. Jones vs Brickhouse Brown Armstrong Brothers vs Smokin' Gunns Eric Embry vs Terry Funk PG-13 vs Nightmares Austin Idol vs Rick Rude Television Title Match: Jason Kincaid (c) vs Jimmy Golden Great Muta vs Raven Curt Hennig vs David von Erich American Heavyweight Title Match: Goldust (c) vs Honky Tonk Man

How will a conscience know when a work was done by the inclination of this habit of love so that it is possible to conclude that the work merits grace in a wholly deserving way? This very distinction has been created to dodge the Scriptures. (Ap V 200)

''So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, 'I am the Son of God.'" And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way (Matthew 27:...

''And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross" (Matthew 27:39-40).'' The chief priests and elders were filled with haughtiness over Jesus' complete helplessness on the cross. They make fun of Him while using His own words of boasting against Hi...

''Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left (Matthew 27:38).'' James and John wanted it. But they weren't the ones whom God had appointed. They wanted to sit on Jesus' left and right when He entered His kingdom. Instead of two of His greatest disciples, the people at Jesus' left and right were common criminals. Robbers. Thieves. Not those who we would consider...

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! (Psalm 34:8)

''And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews" (Matthew 27:37).'' This morning we discuss the most familiar four letters in the Bible: INRI. Jesus Nazarenus Rex Judaeorum. Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. The charge that was nailed over Jesus' head. Why He was crucified. Because He was the King of the Jews. Although the chief priests pile...

''And when they had crucified Him, they divided His garments among them by casting lots (Matthew 27:35).'' Trophies can take many forms. We have the traditional trophies with the brass plate detailing either an accomplishment or simply participation in an event. Trophies can be t-shirts or signed pictures from celebrities. Trophies for Roman soldiers took darker forms. Pieces of fallen enemies' ar...

Rounds 5 & 6 of the Illinois Heavyweight Title Deadly Dozen Tournament! Iron Mike Sharpe vs Savannah Jack Deadly Dozen Tournament Round 5 Chris Candido vs Ken Wayne Bobo Brazil vs Chris Adams Iceman King Parsons vs Steve Corino Billy Gunn vs Jerry Lawler Christopher Daniels vs Buzz Sawyer Steve Austin vs Honky Tonk Man Television Title Match: Jason Kincaid (c) vs 'Dirty' Dutch Mantell ANNOUNCE...

''And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it (Matthew 25:33-34).''  Golgotha. The Skull. Fitting place for the deciding battle between good and evil to take place. Fitting place for the Son of God to crush the serpent's head. On this hill outside Jerusalem, the firs...

''As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross (Matthew 27:32).'' Have you ever been at the wrong place at the wrong time? Simon of Cyrene was definitely at the wrong place at the wrong time on Good Friday. Minding his own business, the Roman soldiers "compel" him to carry Jesus' cross. Most infamous example of wrong place, wrong time. But...

Our teaching, we hope, is readily understood by pious minds and brings godly and wholesome consolation to terrified consciences. ... People of sound mind can easily judge the faith that believes we are cared for by God, that we are forgiven and heard by Him. It is something that surpasses nature. (Ap V 182) If anyone wants a distinction between faith and hope, we say that the object of hope is pro...

How does the grain offering (Leviticus 2) help us understand Jesus' sacrifice on the cross and our own sacrifices of praise? Listen and find out!

''Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they spit on him and took the reed an...

''So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves." And all the people answered, "His blood be on us and on our children!" Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified. (Matthew 27:24-26)'' Pilate...

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. (Psalm 32:1-2) For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD. (Psalm 33:4-5)

''The governor again said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said, "Barabbas." Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said, "Let him be crucified!" And he said, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Let him be crucified!" (Matthew 27:21-23)'' The crowd screamed for Jesus' blood. They wanted...

Rounds 3 & 4 of the Illinois Heavyweight Title Deadly Dozen Tournament! Savannah Jack vs Iron Mike Sharpe Deadly Dozen Tournament Round 3 Steve Corino vs Ken Wayne Bobo Brazil vs Jerry Lawler Chris Candido vs Buzz Sawyer Honky Tonk Man vs Billy Gunn Iceman King Parsons vs Christopher Daniels Stone Cold Steve Austin vs Chris Adams Television Title Match: Buzz Sawyer (c) vs Jason Kincaid Deadly...

''Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream." (Matthew 27:19)'' Who hasn't had a nightmare? Someone chasing you. Being lost somewhere that looks familiar but really isn't. Monsters and demons. We're not told what type of nightmare Pilate's wife had. We just kno...

''Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. (Matthew 27:15-16)'' Continuing the irony of Jesus' Passion, Barabbas is offered to be released instead of Jesus. Barabbas. "Son of the Father" in Aramaic. He is released instead of Jesus. The Son of God. Two sons are offered to you this...

Liturgical Date: Ninth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 12B) Calendar Date: July 25, 2021 Location: Our Savior, Milford, IL Order of Service: Matins Hymns: #809, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" #752, "Be Still, My Soul" #544, "O Love, How Deep" Sermon Theme: Rainbow Sermon Text: Genesis 9:8-17 Other Lectionary Readings:  Psalm 136:1-9 Ephesians 3:14-21 Mark 6:45-56

Liturgical Date: Eighth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 11B) Calendar Date: July 18, 2021 Location: Our Savior, Milford, IL Order of Service: Divine Service 3 Hymns: #646, "Church of God, Elect and Glorious" #748, "I'm But a Stranger Here" #645, "Built on the Rock" #763, "When Peace Like a River" #641, "You Satisfy the Hungry Heart" #711, "Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us" Sermon Theme: Fellow Citiz...