Wittenberg Door Campus Ministry
  • Home
  • Calendar
    • Events
  • Blog
  • About
    • About Wittenberg CoMo
    • Support Us
    • Contact Us
  • Recording Archives
    • Resources >
      • Christianity 101
      • Greek Tutorials
  • Position Papers
  • Sandbox

John 20:19-31 - Lectionary for Easter 2A

4/20/2017

0 Comments

 
4/20/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

In our reading for the second Sunday of Easter, John 20:19-31, we find the risen Jesus coming to his disciples. The disciples have locked themselves in. They are holding themselves hostage. John speaks to the reason. They are afraid of what the Jews might do to them.

All of a sudden, Jesus is standing among the disciples. We notice that the disciples don’t ask Jesus anything. Jesus takes charge of the conversation. He proclaims God’s peace. He breathes on the disciples and tells them to receive the Holy Spirit. We don’t see the full force of that impartation of the Spirit immediately. The disciples remain fearful and disturbed. Not all of the disciples have returned, either. Thomas, who is missing on that first occasion, is with the others a week later when Jesus appears and calls them to trust again. This still doesn’t complete the job. John recalls that Jesus did many other things with his disciples, presumably some of them after his resurrection.

Why do we hear this teaching? John says it is so that we may believe. Are we to believe just in the resurrection of Jesus? Actually, the resurrection and the other signs urge us to believe that Jesus is the Christ. It is this belief that gives life. So we read and proclaim this message again and again. Christ is risen from the dead. He is the one who has redeemed us and gives life through belief in his name.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
0 Comments

1 Peter 1:3-9 - Lectionary for Easter 2A

4/19/2017

0 Comments

 
4/19/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

The Christian life is centered on the hope of the resurrection. This is the message of 1 Peter 1:3-9. By God’s mercy, his people are born anew. They can hpe in the resurrection. As Jesus rose from the dead, we also can expect to rise from the dead. As Jesus’ co-heirs, we have the same kind of heavenly inheritance that Jesus does.

With such promises we would expect that the Christian would never suffer. But that is not the case. Suffering continues in this world. Yet, in verses 6-7 the suffering takes on a purpose. It is intended to solidify our faith. It demonstrates that our faith is genuine. This should create confidence in Christians. We have not had the opportunity to see Jesus face to face. We are trusting that accounts of all he said and did are true. We trust that the questions we needed to ask have been asked.

Faith in work we cannot see is difficult. It tests us. We prefer to see absolutely convincing evidence ourselves. We like to be the experts. That isn’t what God gives us. He is the one who presents himself as the reliable witness. He has shown to be reliable in other ways. We trust that he is in matters of salvation as well.

Through faith in Jesus, then, the Christian has a living hope which is complete and good. This is more than we could ever devise ourselves. Thanks be to God for his salvation.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

0 Comments

Acts 5:29-42 - Lectionary for Easter 2A

4/18/2017

0 Comments

 
4/18/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

During the season of Easter the Church typically replaces the Old Testament reading with a reading from Acts, the New Testament book which traces the historical development of Christianity for a bit over 20 years after the resurrection.

As we meet the apostles in Acts 5:29-42, they have been arrested for preaching Jesus. The Jewish court has ordered them not to preach in Jesus’ name any more. The apostles refuse to stop their proclamation.

This takes us by suprise. Normally we take the fourth commandment, “honor your father and your mother” to apply also to submitting to the other leaders God has placed over us. Yet the Christian leaders don’t submit to the court. Why is this? The court is directing them to disobey the command which they received from God. They cannot obey both.

The idea of resistance and civil disobedience is popular in the United States just now. Those who think their leaders are wrong are tending to resist more than they have at some other times in history. This is a way to urge authorities and a whole culture to change an opinion. However, the Christian should engage in such protests carefully. In the Bible we see that the disobedience is based on one very simple thing. Accepting the command of the court will cause the disciples to violate God’s command. This happens relatively rarely in this country. More often, the resistance which is urged is a protest against a cultural or governmental attitude. Yet my government’s failure to do good for people does not force me to do evil. My government’s allowing evil to thrive in my nation does not force me to do evil.

As Paul says in Galatians chapter 2, there are no laws against doing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, or self control.

The Jewish court  decides not to oppose the disciples too forcefully. If their movement is a merely human one, it will fail. If it has divine origins, it will succeed. So the disciples are permitted to leave, not without a penalty. Yet they are able to go about doing good. Their disobedience shows care for others. It does not harm. It builds up. May God use his servants in just the same way in this age.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
0 Comments

Psalm 148 - Lectionary for Easter 2A

4/17/2017

0 Comments

 
4/17/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Psalm 148 calls all the parts of the created order to praise the LORD. The name used for God in the Psalm is the very particular personal name used for God in the Old Testament, not applied to any of the other deities in the world. There is no area of the created world that is not to praise God. The exhortation goes from inanimate objects, like stars and rocks, to animate objects, both plant and animal. Kings and princes are addressed along with livestock, children, and old people.

Why is there this interest in singing the praise of the particular LORD? Several reasons are given in the Psalm. He created and sustains all by his command. He is the majestic one. He has “raised up a horn,” saving his people by protecting them and rescuing them from enemies.

In these last days, Christians recognize Jesus, God the Son, as the member of the Trinity most closely involved in speaking the world into existence. He is identified as the “Word” of God. He is the one who has conquered death itself, showing himself a the resurrected Lord. This is all the more reason to sing his praises. It’s a very specific Lord who has provided a very specific kind of salvation. And it’s for all creation, everyone who believes.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

0 Comments

    ​Help Fuel This Ministry by Clicking Here!

    All the work of Wittenberg Door Campus Ministry, including this blog, is supported by the generosity of people like you. Please consider joining our team of prayer and financial supporters. Read more here!
    Please Note: The opinions presented in blog posts are not necessarily those of Wittenberg Door Campus Ministry. Frequently we report on contrary views, often without comment. Please chime in on the discussion.

    About Throwing Inkwells

    When Martin Luther was dealing with struggles in his life he once saw what appeared to be an angelic being. Not trusting that he was going to be informed by someone other than the God revealed in Scripture, he took the appearance to be untrustworthy and hurled his inkwell at it. The chipped place in the plaster wall is still visible at the Wartburg Castle, though apparently the ink stain on the wall has been refreshed periodically by the caretaker.

    Blog Feeds

    RSS Feed

    Want to keep up with what's happening at Wittenberg Door? Subscribe to our mailing list!

    Categories

    All
    1 Corinthians
    1 John
    1 Kings
    1 Peter
    1 Samuel
    1 Thessalonians
    1 Timothy
    2019-02-feb
    2 Chronicles
    2 Corinthians
    2-john
    2-kings
    2 Peter
    2 Samuel
    2 Thessalonians
    2 Timothy
    3-john
    Academic-success
    Acts
    Advent 1
    Advent-1-a
    Advent-1b
    Advent-1c
    Advent 2
    Advent-2-a
    Advent-2b
    Advent-2c
    Advent 3
    Advent-3-a
    Advent-3b
    Advent-3c
    Advent 4
    Advent-4-a
    Advent-4b
    Advent-4c
    Alesso-2009
    Alexander 1999
    Allitt-2010
    Alon 1996
    Amos
    Aristotle
    Audet 1996
    Augustine
    Bakker 1993
    Bammel 1996
    Baptism Of Christ
    Baptism-of-the-lord-b
    Bauckham 2006
    Belonging
    Ben-Amos 1999
    Betz 1996
    Biesenthal 1893
    Boehme-2010
    Braaten 2007
    Bruce1988
    Bruce-1988
    Bryennios
    Butler 1960
    Canonicity
    Capon1998
    Capon-1998
    Carson-1991
    Carson-moo-2005
    Catholicism
    Christmas-1b
    Christmas-1c
    Christmas Dawn
    Christmas-day
    Christmas Eve
    Christmas Midnight
    Chronicles
    Circumcision And Naming Of Christ
    Colossians
    Confession Of Peter
    Confessions
    Connolly 1932
    Connolly 1933
    Connolly 1934
    Constanza-2013
    Culley 1986
    Daniel
    DeHalleux 1996
    Deuteronomy
    Didache
    Diversity
    Dix 1933
    Dix2005
    Dix-2005
    Doane 1994
    Draper
    Draper 1989
    Draper 1995
    Draper 1996
    Easter 2
    Easter-2a
    Easter2b
    Easter-2c
    Easter 3
    Easter-3a
    Easter-3b
    Easter-3c
    Easter 4
    Easter-4a
    Easter-4b
    Easter-4c
    Easter 5
    Easter-5a
    Easter-5b
    Easter 6
    Easter-6a
    Easter-6b
    Easter-6c
    Easter 7
    Easter-7a
    Easter-7b
    Easter-7c
    Easter-b
    Easter Day
    Easter-sunday-a
    Easter-sunday-c
    Ecclesiastes
    Eleutheria-2014
    Elman 1999
    Ephesians
    Epiphany
    Epiphany-1c
    Epiphany-2-a
    Epiphany-2c
    Epiphany-3-a
    Epiphany-3b
    Epiphany-3c
    Epiphany-4-a
    Epiphany-4b
    Epiphany-4c
    Epiphany-5-a
    Epiphany-5b
    Epiphany-5c
    Epiphany-6-a
    Epiphany-6c
    Epiphany-7-a
    Epiphany-c
    Epistle Of Barnabas
    Esther
    Eucharist
    Eve Of The Circumcision Of Christ
    Exodus
    Exodus-20
    Ezekiel
    Ezra
    Fagerberg1988
    Fagerberg-1988
    Farrell 1987
    Flew-2007
    Flusser 1996
    Forde-2007
    Fraade 1999
    France-2007
    Galatians
    Genesis
    Gibbs 2006
    Glover 1958
    Gonzalez-2010
    Grosvener & Schaff 1885
    Grosvenor 1884
    Habakkuk
    Haggai
    Harnack 1884
    Hebrews
    Henderson 1992
    Henderson-1992
    History
    Hoffman 1986
    Holy Innocents
    Hosea
    Hutchens-2013
    Hymes 1994
    Infertility
    Isaiah
    James
    Jeffreys 1986
    Jeremiah
    Jerome
    Job
    Joel
    John
    Jonah
    Joshua
    Jude
    Judges
    Jungmann 1959
    Justin-martyr
    Kelber 1987
    Kelber 1995
    Kevil
    Kings
    Kleinig-2013
    Koch-2010
    Kolb2000
    Kolb-2000
    Kolbarand2008
    Kolb-arand-2008
    Kurekchomycz2009
    Lamentations
    Last Sunday Of The Church Year
    Last-sunday-of-the-church-year-a
    Last-sunday-of-the-church-year-b
    Last Sunday Of The Church Year C
    Lectionary
    Lent 1
    Lent-1-a
    Lent-1b
    Lent-1c
    Lent 2
    Lent-2-a
    Lent-2b
    Lent-2c
    Lent 3
    Lent-3-a
    Lent-3b
    Lent-3c
    Lent 4
    Lent-4-a
    Lent-4b
    Lent-4c
    Lent 5
    Lent-5-a
    Lent-5b
    Lent-5c
    Lessing2014
    Lessing-2014
    Leviticus
    Lincoln 1885
    Long-2009
    Lord 1986
    Lord 1987
    Luke
    Luther
    Maas-2014
    Malachi
    Mark
    Marty-2016
    Martyrs
    Mason 1998
    Matthew
    Matthias
    Mazza 1996
    Mcknight-2014
    Micah
    Milavec-2003
    Milavec-2012
    Mitch-2010
    Molina & Evers 1998
    Montenyohl 1993
    Morris-1992
    Motyer-1993
    Mueller 2006
    Music
    Nahum
    Nehemiah
    Newsletter
    Newtestament
    New Testament
    Niditch 1995
    Niederwimmer 1996
    Numbers
    Obadiah
    Oldtestament
    Old Testament
    Olsen 1986
    Ong 1987
    Ong 1988
    Ong 1995
    Orality
    Ordination
    Orphan-hosting
    Osborne-2002
    Osborne-2013
    Ozment1980
    Ozment-1980
    Palm-sunday-a
    Palm-sunday-c
    Parks 1986
    Passionb
    Pearce 1993
    Pentateuch
    Pentecost-10a
    Pentecost-10b
    Pentecost-10c
    Pentecost-11a
    Pentecost-11b
    Pentecost-11c
    Pentecost-12a
    Pentecost-12b
    Pentecost-12c
    Pentecost-13a
    Pentecost-13b
    Pentecost13c
    Pentecost-13c
    Pentecost-14a
    Pentecost-14b
    Pentecost-14c
    Pentecost-15
    Pentecost-15a
    Pentecost-15b
    Pentecost-15c
    Pentecost-16
    Pentecost-16a
    Pentecost-16b
    Pentecost 16C
    Pentecost-17a
    Pentecost-17b
    Pentecost 17C
    Pentecost-18a
    Pentecost-18b
    Pentecost 18 C
    Pentecost-19a
    Pentecost-19b
    Pentecost 19 C
    Pentecost-1a
    Pentecost-20a
    Pentecost-20b
    Pentecost 20 C
    Pentecost-21a
    Pentecost-21b
    Pentecost 21 C
    Pentecost-22a
    Pentecost-22b
    Pentecost 22 C
    Pentecost-23a
    Pentecost-23b
    Pentecost 23 C
    Pentecost-24a
    Pentecost-24b
    Pentecost-24-c
    Pentecost-25b
    Pentecost-25-c
    Pentecost-26b
    Pentecost-26-c
    Pentecost-2a
    Pentecost-2b
    Pentecost-2c
    Pentecost-3a
    Pentecost-3b
    Pentecost-3c
    Pentecost-4a
    Pentecost-4b
    Pentecost-4c
    Pentecost-5a
    Pentecost-5b
    Pentecost-5c
    Pentecost-6a
    Pentecost-6b
    Pentecost-6c
    Pentecost-7a
    Pentecost-7b
    Pentecost-7c
    Pentecost-8a
    Pentecost-8b
    Pentecost-8c
    Pentecost-9a
    Pentecost-9b
    Pentecost-9c
    Pentecost-b
    Pentecost-c
    Pentecost Sunday
    Peterson2010
    Peterson-2010
    Philemon
    Philippians
    Philosophy
    Pieper1924
    Pieper-1924
    Piper 1947
    Preaching
    Proper-19c
    Proper-20c
    Proper 21C
    Proper 22C
    Proper 23C
    Proper 24C
    Proper 25C
    Proper 26C
    Proper 27C
    Proper 28C
    Prophets
    Proverbs
    Psalm
    Quinquagesima
    Quintilian
    Receptivity
    Reformation
    Revelation
    Rhetoric
    Romans
    Rordorf 1996
    Rosenberg 1986
    Rosenberg 1987
    Rosenfeld-levene-2012
    Rueger-2016
    Russo 1994
    Ruth
    Sailhamer1992
    Sailhamer-1992
    Sale 1996
    Samuel
    Scaer2004
    Scaer-2004
    Schaff 1888
    Schaff 2014
    Schaff-2014
    Schollgen
    Seeliger 1996
    Septuagesima
    Sermon
    Sexagesima
    Smith-2009
    Sommerville-2006
    Songofsongs
    St. Andrew
    Stark 1997
    St. John
    St. Stephen
    St. Thomas
    Sunday Of The Passion
    Taylor 1888
    Teaching
    Telfer 1939
    Thielman-2010
    Timothy
    Titus
    Transfiguration
    Transfiguration-a
    Transfigurationb
    Transfiguration-c
    Trinity 1
    Trinity 10
    Trinity 11
    Trinity 12
    Trinity 13
    Trinity 14
    Trinity 15
    Trinity 16
    Trinity 17
    Trinity 18
    Trinity 19
    Trinity 2
    Trinity 20
    Trinity 21
    Trinity 22
    Trinity 23
    Trinity 3
    Trinity 4
    Trinity 5
    Trinity 6
    Trinity 7
    Trinity 8
    Trinity 9
    Trinity-a
    Trinity-b
    Trinity-c
    Trinity Sunday
    Tuckett
    Ty 19
    Van-de-sandt-2010
    Van-de-sandt-2011
    Veith1993
    Veith-1993
    Veith-sutton-2017
    Vikis-Freibergs 1997
    Voobus 1969
    Warfield 1886
    Wasson & Toelken 1998
    Weston-2009
    Wilson2011
    Wilson-2011
    Wilson20113470b5cf10
    Ysebaert-2002
    Zechariah
    Zephaniah

Proudly powered by Weebly