Wrestling with Theology

Wrestling Profile: Dudley Boyz/Team 3D Wrestling Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbtMyTpYQXI (Tables, Ladders & Chairs Match at WrestleMania 17) Common Ground: Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 142-184

[Jesus said:] "But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:26b-28)  God's Stewards are Served and Serving God's stewards recognize that their stewardship involves a Gospel-powered style of life which is demon...

"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: "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence" Small Catechism: Lord's Supper, Question 3 Large Catechism: V 20-27 Scripture: John 6:35-51 Commentary: Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on the Gospel of John 4.2

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:11, 19)  God's Stewards are Loved and Loving God's stewards recognize that their stewardship flows out of God's act of love for them in Christ, which empowers them in turn, to love others in acts of Christ-like love. Your stewardship is a gift from your loving God. Everything that you...

"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: "Lord Jesus Christ, Life-Giving Bread" Small Catechism: Lord's Supper, Question 2 Apology: XXII 1-4 Scripture: John 6:53-58 Commentary: Hiliary of Poitiers, On the Trinity 8.13-14

[Jesus prayed:]   "I do not ask that you take them out of the world,   but that you keep them from the evil one.   They are not of the world,   just as I am not of the world.   Sanctify them in the truth;   your word is truth.   As you sent me into the world,   so I have sent them into the world. (John 17:15-18)  God's Stewards are in the World, but not...

"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: "What Is This Bread?" Small Catechism: Lord's Supper, Question 1 Large Catechism: V 8-14 Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:16-21 Commentary: Ambrose, Letter 45

For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. (Romans 12:4-5)  God's Stewards are Uniquely Singular, yet Profoundly Plural God's stewards recognize that their lives are not solo performances but are personal responses to God, lived out within the community of fait...

"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: "Built on the Rock" Small Catechism: Office of the Keys Augsburg Confession: XXVIII 1-17 Scripture: Matthew 18:15-20 Commentary: Peter Chrysologus, Sermon 132.4-5

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.   (1 Peter 2:9-10)  Saints and Sinners God's stewards rejoice in and...

"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 Church's One Foundation" Small Catechism: Office of the Keys Apology: XI 63-67 Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20 Commentary: Theodore of Mopsuestia, Fragment 92

The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. (Genesis 2:15)  God's Stewards are Managers, Not Owners God's stewards have been entrusted by God with life and life's resources and given the privilege of responsibly and joyfully managing them for Him. When God first created Adam and Eve, He put them in the Garden of Eden to work it. He did not set them ther...

"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: "As Surely As I Live, God Said" Small Catechism: Confession & Absolution Large Catechism: Exhortation, 15-19, 32-35 Scripture: John 20:19-23 Commentary: Ambrose, Concerning Repentance 1.2.6-7

Wrestling Profile: Ric Flair Wrestling LInk: WrestleMania 24 - Career Threatening Match - Ric Flair vs Shawn Michaels - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpLoiDNAOYY  Confessional Corner: Nicene & Athanasian Creeds

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)  God's Stewards are God's Stewards God's stewards are stewards by virtue of creation and their re-creation in Holy Baptism; therefore, they belong to the Lord.   Everything we have--including the breath we breathe--we owe to God our heartfelt thanks. If He want...

"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 Advent of Our King" Small Catechism: Baptism, Part IV Large Catechism: IV 74-86 Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-27 Commentary: Jerome, Ephesians 2.4.21

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:10) "Persecuted for Righteousness' Sake" Persecution isn't the greatest thing to consider for anyone. Who likes to be harassed? Even worse, there are still those around the world who deal with just that--harassment for their faith. What many American Christians consider persecution would...

"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: "Holy Spirit, the Dove Sent from Heaven" Small Catechism: Baptism, Part III Large Catechism: IV 32-37 Scripture: John 3:1-8 Commentary: Justin Martyr, First Apology 61

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." (Matthew 5:9) Peacemakers This phrase by Jesus is a great comfort to all of us. It tells us that Christians--the sons of God--should be people who make and love peace. That is one of the great virtues of Christianity--peace. St. Paul opened each of his epistles with the words: "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the L...

"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: "I Bind unto Myself Today" Small Catechism: Baptism, Part II Large Catechism: IV 23-27 Scripture: Romans 6:1-11 Commentary: Origen, Commentary on Romans

Wrestling Profile: WWA Bruiser Bedlam Wrestling (3/1/86) Apostolic Fathers: Didache 8 & Excursus on Fasting

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." (Matthew 5:8) "Pure in Heart" Are you pure in heart? Is there really anything "pure" in this world? Even Ivory™ soap can only boast of being 99.44% pure. But 99.44% pure isn't pure enough for God. God wants hearts that are completely free of all corruption, impurities and sin. The only way He can get that is by cleansing your heart Himself by...

"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: "Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness" Small Catechism: Baptism, Part I Large Catechism: IV 14-18 Scripture: Mark 10:13-16 Commentary: Cyprian, Letter 58

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy." (Matthew 5:7) "Merciful" The merciful will receive mercy. You reap what you sow. That's basically the idea Jesus starts here in the Sermon on the Mount and expounds in many parables throughout the rest of His ministry. "Mercy" in the Bible is the external act of sympathy in response to the misery of another. Mercy is what caused Jesus to co...

"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, Who Made the Earth and Heaven" Small Catechism: Lord's Prayer, Seventh Petition Large Catechism: III 112-124 Scripture: Psalm 121 Commentary: Cassiodorus, Expositions of the Psalms 120.1-2