Wrestling with Theology

  Amazing grace--how sweet the sound-- that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see! (LSB #744.1)  "Amazing Grace" The grace of God is truly an amazing thing. Scripture comes with so many references to God's coming to sinners and making them His people. Jesus tells His disciples, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you" (John 15:16). Jesus tells...

"Farther along we'll know all about it, Farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by." Office Hymn: "Shepherd of Tender Youth" Small Catechism: Sixth Commandment Large Catechism: I 200-205 Scripture: Titus 2:11-14 Commentary: Gregory of Nyssa, On Virginity 13

Daily reading of the Qur'an for Ramadan http://www.wrestlingwiththeology.org/wiki/index.php?title=Ramadan_9_Reading

  "Fear not, for I am with you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)  "How Firm a Foundation" What a firm foundation we have as Christians. That foundation is well-said in the hymn, "Throughout all their lifetime My people will prove My sov'reign, eternal, unchangeable love; and then, when gray hairs will their temples adorn, like lambs they will still in My bo...

"Farther along we'll know all about it, Farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by." Office Hymn: "Angry Words, O Let Them Never" Small Catechism: Fifth Commandment Large Catechism: I 188-194 Scripture: Matthew 5:21-26 Commentary: Incomplete Work on Matthew, Homily 11

Daily reading of the Qur'an for Ramadan http://www.wrestlingwiththeology.org/wiki/index.php?title=Ramadan_8_Reading

Daily reading of the Qur'an for Ramadan http://www.wrestlingwiththeology.org/wiki/index.php?title=Ramadan_7_Reading

Daily reading of the Qur'an for Ramadan http://www.wrestlingwiththeology.org/wiki/index.php?title=Ramadan_6_Reading

  And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but [Jesus] was asleep. (Matthew 8:24)  "Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me" This story was the setting for Edward Hopper's hymn "Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me," a prayer asking Jesus to guide us through our lives. He calls life on earth as a tempestuous sea with "unknown waves", "hidden rock and treach'r...

"Farther along we'll know all about it, Farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by." Office Hymn: "God Bless Our Native Land" Small Catechism: Fourth Commandment Large Catechism: I 150-157 Scripture: Romans 13:1-7 Commentary: Theodoret of Cyr, Interpretation of Romans

Daily reading of the Qur'an for Ramadan http://www.wrestlingwiththeology.org/wiki/index.php?title=Ramadan_5_Reading

  The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, in whom I take refuge, (Psalm 18:2)  "A Mighty Fortress" Luther wrote the words to one of his greatest hymns thinking of the many psalms that talk about God being the fortress for believers. In the second verse, he writes, "With might of ours can naught be done, soon were our loss effected; but for us fights the valiant One, whom Go...

"Farther along we'll know all about it, Farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by." Office Hymn: "Oh, Blest the House" Small Catechism: Fourth Commandment Large Catechism: I 105-111 Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4 Commentary: Ambrosiaster, Ephesians 6.5.1

Daily reading of the Qur'an for Ramadan http://www.wrestlingwiththeology.org/wiki/index.php?title=Ramadan_4_Reading

Common Ground - Catechism of the Catholic Church - PART I, SECTION TWO, CHAPTER TWO, ARTICLES 2-3 (paragraphs 422-511)

  And the four living creatures ... never cease to say, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!" (Revelation 4:8)  "Holy, Holy, Holy" St. John's Revelation brings us a picture of the throne room of Heaven. Surrounding God's throne, four living creatures worship God, singing as we do, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, all Thy works shall praise Thy...

"Farther along we'll know all about it, Farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by." Office Hymn: "Christ Sits at God's Right Hand" Small Catechism: Third Commandment Large Catechism: I 79-86 Scripture: Hebrews 10:19-25 Commentary: John Chrysostom, Hebrews 19.4-5

Daily reading of the Qur'an for Ramadan http://www.wrestlingwiththeology.org/wiki/index.php?title=Ramadan_3_Reading

  "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into Heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into Heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into Heaven." (Acts 1:11)  He's Coming Back Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! The words of the angels on top of the Mount of Olives ring true still today. They are words of hope. The disciples had just asked, "Lord, will...

"Farther along we'll know all about it, Farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by." Office Hymn: "The Great Redeemer" Small Catechism: Second Commandment Large Catechism: I 51-56 Scripture: Jeremiah 23:1-8 Commentary: Theodoret of Cyr, On Jeremiah 5.23.5-6

Our monthly look at the Apostolic Fathers sees us looking at the epistle of 1 Clement as a whole and taking a look at what the titles "bishop", "presbyter" and "deacon" mean in the Apostolic Age.

Daily reading from the Qur'an with faithful Lutheran commentary.

  And when He had said these things, as they were looking on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight. (Acts 1:9)  Ascended Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!! For forty days after He rose from the dead, Jesus continued to appear to His disciples. On the fortieth day, there was a bit of difference in the appearance. Well, maybe not in the appearance but defi...

"Farther along we'll know all about it, Farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by." Office Hymn: "Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah" Small Catechism: First Commandment Large Catechism: I 13-21 Scripture: Isaiah 42:5-9 Commentary: Barnabas 14:4-7

Theme: Good Shepherd Text: John 10:11-16   11  I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12  He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13  He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14  I...