Wrestling with Theology

You will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. (1 Timothy 3:15) Conduct Yourselves Paul's instructions to Timothy are to show how everyone ought to behave in God's household. Why should we behave in God's household? Because we are God's children. Everyone in the family needs to know the rules....

Liturgical Date: Third Sunday after Pentecost [Proper 7] (Year A) Location: Three Strands Lutheran Parish, Pipestone, MN Order of Service: Divine Service 3 Hymns:  #728, "How Firm a Foundation" #659, "Lord of Our Life" #696, "O God, My Faithful God" Sermon Theme: Dread Warrior Sermon Text: Jeremiah 20:11 But the LORD is with me as a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble; they w...

God outlines the Church Year for the Israelites. Each feast has its purpose to remind us of what God has done for us for salvation as well as daily life.

Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household. (1 Timothy 3:14-15) Delayed St. Paul was delayed in his intended visit to Ephesus and his student, his "son in the faith" (1 Timothy 1:2), Timothy. Paul wanted to give the instructions enclosed in his first epistle to the young...

For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 3:13) Good Standing Everyone wants to have good standing in life. We want people to pat us on the back and tell us that we've done a good job. But our best job is the job of Christian. A disciple of Jesus Christ. A follower who keeps himself or herself in th...

They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. (1 Timothy 3:9) Clear Conscience The hardest thing for Christians who take the Bible seriously is to keep their conscience clear. To keep what they believe. To survive the onslaughts of the world. To maintain a faithful witness to Jesus no matter what. Society wants to pressure Christians into accepting non-Christian and anti-Christi...

Deacons likewise must be ... not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. (1 Timothy 3:8) Addicted Addictions seem to be the most prevalent problems in our lives. They seem to be everywhere. There seems to be addictions for everything. Two of the greatest addictions throughout history have been alcohol and money. There is never enough of either to fulfill the wants and desires of thos...

Deacons likewise must be ... not double-tongued. (1 Timothy 3:8) Not Double-Tongued Serpents are noted for their forked tongues. Two prongs that can give and take away at the same time. Exactly the way the serpent was in Eden. He gave a promise of being God-like and took exactly that away from Adam and Eve. God's image was lost in mankind at that moment. God doesn't give with one hand and take awa...

Here is part 2 of the Reformers' statements on the relationship between Church and State, especially the bishop's power in both secular and ecclesiastical circles. In this portion, most of the emphasis is based upon the implementation of infinite traditions that burden consciences. What power and rights does the Scripture give to bishops in regards to establishing traditions and customs? Is there...

Deacons likewise must be dignified. (1 Timothy 3:8) Dignified As we move to the office of deacon, St. Paul tells us they are similar. "Deacons likewise must be dignified." Dignity encompasses many of the required virtues of pastors and deacons. Dignity is truly honor and nobility. Being dignified, deacons and pastors conduct themselves properly. This is why we hold them to a higher standard. That'...

The people outside the Church must speak well of him, or he may fall into disgrace and the devil's snare. (1 Timothy 3:7) Not Fall into Disgrace With a pastor's involvement in the community groups and organizations, he brings a higher level of respect to himself. I've seen many places in small towns just like ours where a pastor who wasn't very community-minded was run out of town because no one w...

Follow my journey from a kid in the non-denominational Church of Christ to a Lutheran pastor in southwest Minnesota. This presentation was given at the Higher Things Youth Conference at Valparaiso University in 2017.

The people outside the Church must speak well of him. (1 Timothy 3:7) Outsiders Speak Well A pastor shouldn't only be respected inside the congregation and the Church at large. He should also be respected by those outside the Church. He has to be known within the community as something other than the pastor of his congregation. This is why some pastors join community groups like Kiwanis Internatio...

He should not be a recent convert, or he may feel proud and so be condemned with the devil. (1 Timothy 3:6) Not a New Convert One of the greatest revelations made to many of my classmates in seminary was that I had to wait before I began seminary. There is the requirement that everyone seeking to become a pastor must have been a Lutheran for at least two years. Granted, many of my classmates were...

He should manage his own family well and have his children obey him as he treats them very seriously. If anyone doesn't know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church? (1 Timothy 3:4-5) Family Manager Management is a great burden for the pastor. The administrative tasks that must be done to keep a congregation going from week to week. If the pastor is unable to do that, he...

In the final "Common Ground" episode, we look at the first two Sacraments in the Catechism of the Catholic Church : Baptism and Confirmation. Is there anything inherently different between Lutherans and Catholics as we look at Baptism? What is the major difference in Confirmation that Lutherans do not agree with? 

[The pastor must be] not a lover of money. (1 Timothy 3:3) Not a Lover of Money Except for those you see on television asking for donations to keep their ministries on the air, no one becomes a pastor because they're going to make a lot of money. You don't see pastors signing contracts to preach for $20 million a year. For many, if they get $20,000, they consider themselves blessed. While St. Paul...

[The pastor must be] not quarrelsome. (1 Timothy 3:3) Not Quarrelsome Building on the idea of being gentle and not violent, the pastor is also called to not be quarrelsome. Not out looking for a fight. But that's the way many people view pastors who faithfully preach God's Word. God's Word comes to us and often points to the very darkest portion of our souls, disturbing our sins and bringing them...

[A pastor must be] not violent but gentle. (1 Timothy 3:3) Not Violent but Gentle How do the Scriptures talk about God? He is love. He is the faithful Father and Husband of His Bride, the Church. He is the Good Shepherd (John 10:10). "Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart," Jesus says (Matthew 11:29). Several times in the Gospels Jesus' disciples want to tak...

[A pastor must be] no drunkard. (1 Timothy 3:3) Not a Drunkard Do you want a drunk pastor? Me neither. Drunkenness lowers inhibitions. Drunkenness loosens the tongue. The last thing anyone wants in a pastor is a loose tongue. A loose tongue causes all kinds of problems. The pastor is supposed to be the one person you can trust with all your deepest secrets. The pastor must keep his tongue tight ab...

An overseer must be ... able to teach. (1 Timothy 3:2) Teacher One of the chief responsibilities for a pastor is to teach. This is the pastor's most noticeable work. He's seen as the guy in the pulpit. The one who speaks God's Word in the congregation. A pastor must be able to take what is in the Bible and apply it to the lives of all the people in the congregation. This application is a moving ta...

In this last section of 1 Clement, the Roman presbyters make one final push for the headstrong and arrogant party to step down from the offices they had usurped so that they might receive Absolution from the rightful presbyters. Prayers are also offered for all to confess their sins and receive forgiveness.

An overseer must be ... hospitable. (1 Timothy 3:2) Hospitable Hospitality seems to be a dying virtue. No longer are we likely to be invited to someone's home to get to know them. We're more likely to meet at a "neutral location" in order for everyone to be comfortable. A pastor's hospitality is a great portion of his attitude, both actual and perceived. This is often put to the test when the phon...

Now an overseer must be ... respectable. (1 Timothy 3:2) Respectable You have to earn respect. It's much easier to earn respect if you show respect. The idea behind being respectable is that you are respectful. How is it that a pastor can hear the confession of horrible sins, pronounce God's absolution and not look at the person differently afterwards? We show the person, no matter what sin has be...

Now an overseer must be ... self-controlled. (1 Timothy 3:2) Self-Controlled Among the rest of the pastor's qualifications, one of the greatest is the need for self-control. If one cannot control their own person, how can this same person be expected to control a congregation of hundreds of people? Self-control is one of the greatest and most misunderstood virtues in the world. While it involves s...