Wrestling with Theology

Christ often connects the promise of forgiveness of sins to good works, yet not because He means that good works are an atoning sacrifice (for they follow reconciliation. Christ makes this connection for two reasons. One is because good fruit must necessarily follow. He reminds us that if good fruit do not follow, the repentance is hypocritical and fake. The other eason is that we have need of out...

''When [Jesus] was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate said to Him, "Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?" But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed. (Matthew 27:12-14)'' Before Pontius Pilate, Jesus fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah 53:7: "Like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, s...

Savannah Jack vs Jason Kincaid Bobo Brazil vs Curt Hennig #1 Contender for American Heavyweight Title: Honky Tonk Man vs Raven Television Title vs $1000 Lumberjack Match: 'Dirty' Dutch Mantell (c) vs Buzz Sawyer Iceman King Parsons vs 'Hot Stuff' Eddie Gilbert World Tag Team Titles Match: 'Dirty' Dutch Mantell & David von Erich (c) vs Iceman King Parsons & Brickhouse Brown WarGames Match:...

"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness" (Psalm 30:11). "Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God" (Psalm 31:5).

''Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me." (Matthew 27:9-10)'' The chief priests' purchase of the potter's field fulfills one more Messianic prophecy. Even the purchase price was...

July 14, 2021 Wintrust Arena Chicago, IL First two rounds of the Deadly Dozen Tournament for the Illinois Heavyweight Title! Savannah Jack vs Nightmare Danny Davis Deadly Dozen Tournament Round 1 Steve Corino vs Billy Gunn Bobo Brazil vs Christopher Daniels Honky Tonk Man vs Ken Wayne Buzz Sawyer vs Chris Adams Iceman King Parsons vs Jerry Lawler Steve Austin vs Chris Candido Television Title vs L...

''So they took counsel and bought with them the potter's field as a burial place for strangers. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. (Matthew 27:7-8)'' When we think of bloody fields, we think of places like Gettysburg, Antietam or the shores of Normandy. But outside Jerusalem is probably one of the most underrated bloody fields in history. The chief priests couldn'...

''But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money."  (Matthew 27:6).'' There are few things more despicable to sensible people than blood money. Throughout history, bounty hunters have been thought of as about as evil as the criminals they were chasing. Doing anything to secure the money placed on someone else'...

First, the Law cannot be obeyed unless we have been reborn through faith in Christ, just as Christ says in John 15:5, "Apart from Me you can do nothing." (Ap V 135)

Liturgical Date: Seventh Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 10B) Calendar Date: July 11, 2021 Location: Our Savior, Milford, IL Order of Service: Matins Hymns: #555, "Salvation unto Us Has Come" #743, "Jesus, Priceless Treasure" #659, "Lord of Our Life" Sermon Theme: Plumb Line Sermon Text: Amos 7:7-9 Other Lectionary Readings:  Psalm 85:8-13 Ephesians 1:3-14 Mark 6:14-29

''Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." They said, "What is that to us? See to it yourself." (Matthew 27:3-4).'' After Judas betrayed Jesus, he tried to make it right. He tried to give the money back. But the chief priests...

''Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders,  saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." They said, "What is that to us? See to it yourself."  And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. (Matthew 27:3-5)...

"Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness." (Psalm 29:2)

''And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate the governor (Matthew 27:2).'' As we compare our Lord's Passion to His birth in this Advent season, we see one great irony. Pilate got what Herod the Great wanted. Herod the Great got what Pilate wanted. Herod the Great wanted Jesus dead as a baby (Matthew 2:13). He slaughtered the innocent boys of Bethlehem, trying to kill Jes...

Fiserv Forum Milwaukee, WI Savannah Jack vs J.C. Ice Armstrong Brothers vs Smokin' Gunns Honky Tonk Man vs Raven Curt Hennig vs David von Erich 'Fallen Angel' Christopher Daniels & Steve Corino vs Nightmares Jimmy Golden vs Eric Embry Television Title Match: Brickhouse Brown (c) vs 'Dirty' Dutch Mantell American Heavyweight Title Match: Great Muta (c) vs Goldust American Tag Team Titles Match:...

''When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death (Matthew 27:1).'' When dawn broke on Good Friday, it was the opposite of the first day of Creation. On the first day, all was dark before God said, "Let there be light" (Genesis 1:3). On Good Friday, all was light before the elders and chief priests said, "Let him be condemned!"&n...

How does the holocaust--the whole burnt offering--point us to Jesus' sacrifice on the cross? How can we find comfort in our daily lives that Jesus' sacrifice is for us? This is the first of a five-part monthly series on the Old Testament sacrifices in Leviticus 1-7.

''Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you mean." And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth." And again he denied it with an oath: "I do not know t...

"You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone." (James 2:24) "The subject matter itself shows that the works spoken of here follow faith and that such faith is not dead, but living and effective in the heart." (Ap V 125)

''Then the high priest tore his robes and said, "He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your judgment?" They answered, "He deserves death." (Matthew 26:65-66)'' Jesus is accused of blasphemy. But it's not Caiaphas' proclamation of blasphemy that hurts us. It's God's proclamation of blasphemy that hurts us. Jesus is crucified for blasp...

Liturgical Date: Sixth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 9B) Calendar Date: July 4, 2021 Location: Our Savior, Milford, IL Order of Service: Divine Service 1 Hymns: #728, "How Firm a Foundation" #583, "God Has Spoken by His Prophets" #832, "Jesus Shall Reign" #631, "Here, O My Lord, I See Thee Face to Face" #617, "O Lord, We Praise Thee" #830, "Spread the Reign of God the Lord" Sermon Theme: No Honor...

''And the high priest said to him, "I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven." (Matthew 26:63-64).'' The question is asked. The gauntlet has been thrown down. Will Jesus declare His Godhood or not?...

"Good and upright is the LORD;  therefore He instructs sinners in the Way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble His way. All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep His covenant and His testimonies." (Psalm 25:8-10)

''And the high priest stood up and said, "Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?" But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, "I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." (Matthew 26:62-63).'' After hearing all the various charges, Caiaphas glares at Jesus who stands in silence. Befuddled by our Savior's silenc...

Xcel Energy Center Minneapolis, MN Brad Armstrong vs Bart Gunn Savannah Jack vs S.D. Jones Honky Tonk Man & Chris Adams vs Eddie Gilbert & Raven Jerry Lawler vs Steve Corino Austin Idol vs Christopher Daniels Six-Man Tag Match: Jimmy Golden & PG-13 vs Eric Embry & Nightmares Television Title Match: Brickhouse Brown (c) vs Dutch Mantell Buzz Sawyer vs Iron Mike Sharpe Lumberjack Mat...