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

Matthew 4:1-11 - Lectionary for Lent 1

2/27/2020

0 Comments

 
2/27/20
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 historic one-year lectionary.

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (v. 4b, ESV). This is how Jesus endured the temptation of Satan. When he was assaulted by the devil, he responded with God’s Word. But which Word of God is this? Satan responds with quotations from Scripture, yet he is tempting Jesus to disobedience and destruction! How are normal humans like you and I supposed to deal with this temptation and with the Scripture?

I was recently having a conversation with a friend who was critical of an emotionalistic movement in Christianity. He said it was wrong, and that the corrective was that we had to hear the Scripture and understand what the Holy Spirit is saying to us. That’s a nice attempt, but it is also precisely what the people within that emotionalistic movement would say they did. Others will try to take long standing Christian tradition as the guide. That’s what people in my theological camp are alleged to do blindly. A solid tradition is a great guide. But not all traditions are solid and biblical. We can find examples of just about every erroneous understanding of Scripture prior to the year 400. 

We live by every word that comes from the mouth of God. We’re going to understand God’s Word in ways that are both historically demonstrated to be sound and that can be held in concert with all the rest of Scripture. In the time of the Lutheran Reformation, the idea was promoted that “Scripture interprets Scripture.” Specifically, the passages of Scripture which are easily understood, which speak clearly, and which have always been recognized as authoritative Scripture (i.e., not Hebrews, James, 2 Peter, 2 or 3 John, Jude, or Revelation) will be used to guide the interpretation of other passages of Scripture. In general, we want to be very cautious about a brand new understanding of a passage that nobody has ever found before. We also want to be very hesitant to make a difficult passage of Scripture guide our interpretation of a more clear passage. 

Jesus, the living Word of God, speaking the written Word of God, stands up to the temptations of Satan himself. He finally tells Satan to get lost, which Satan does. May the Lord give us all the readiness to handle God’s Word so clearly.

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

Hebrews 4:14-16 - Lectionary for Lent 1

2/26/2020

0 Comments

 
2/26/20
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 historic one-year lectionary.

The job of a priest is to make offerings on behalf of God’s people. If we think carefully about the different offerings specified in the Old Testament, the worshiper doesn’t actually make the offering. He turns the offering over to the priest, who makes the offering on his behalf. God appointed the priesthood for that specific purpose, to demonstrate something. We can’t make adequate offering for ourselves. The only person who does make offering for himself is the high priest, and he is helped by others. We approach God in thanksgiving or in petition for forgiveness only with help.

The New Testament describes Jesus as our high priest. He is the one who makes perfect sacrifice on our behalf, by giving himself, both perfect man and perfect God. He has dealt with all the weaknesses that we have, but has done it without sin. Because he is truly human he is able to die as a human. Because he is unmarked by sin he is able to be the substitute for humans who have sin. We approach God through Jesus, God the Son.

The author of Hebrews points out that this news should give us great peace and comfort. We are able to approach God’s seat of mercy without fear, without shame, without any sort of doubt. He is able to cleanse us and, through Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf, has done so. Our righteousness is nothing that we have in ourselves. Just as the preist in the Old Testament makes the offering to take away our sin, so Jesus makes the offering to take our sin from us and bear it himself. 

What need to we have? They have all been met in Christ’s perfect sacrifice. Let us then rejoice and trust in God who has had mercy upon us.

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 32 - Lectionary for Lent 1

2/25/2020

0 Comments

 
2/25/20
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 historic one-year lectionary.

In Psalm 32:6 we find an exhortation, that everyone who is godly should pray to God when He can be found. This is a novel idea to many. In our fallen nature we want to be able to tell God what to do, where to do it, and how to go about it. We want to pray to God wherever, whenever, and however we feel like it, demanding tht He should do our bidding.

This is not historic Christianity. We don’t have the option of telling God what to do. Rather, we look to God’s Word and promise. Where has He said He would be? What does He say He will do? Does He have a particular time or season in which we can expect Him to work? These are difficult questions. But if we understand them rightly we will find our prayers empowered and our faith encouraged.

Where is God found? We are told that the Lord is present for forgiveness when we pray, when we assemble around His Word, when we receive communion, and when we are engaged in forgiving one another. We should have no doubt about this. Do you want to find God? Go to a church service where they are reading Scripture, praying, and really receiving communion as an instrument of God’s forgiveness and grace.

What does God promise? Blessing, forgiveness of sins, wisdom, and also that we will receive trials and tribulations in this world. He promises resurrection in the last day. He makes many promises to all who ask. We should have no doubt about those promises. Probably chief among them is that He will be with his people and never forsake them, as they are receiving baptism and teaching to walk in righteousness. We can rest on God’s promises, without doubting. Let’s allow God to tell what He has promised, rather than trying to make it up ourselves.

Does God have a particular time to work? Yes. He works among His people when they call on His name. Do we want help from the Lord? We call on Him, rather than waiting to see if He does anything. He has already done all that is necessary for our salvation. Now we get to bring our needs before Him, asking Him to intervene in this world. He has promised to do so. Call on the Lord. He is there.

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 Samuel 17:40-51 - Lectionary for Lent 1

2/24/2020

0 Comments

 
2/24/20
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 historic one-year lectionary.

In 1 Samuel 17 when David is face to face with Goliath the Philistine, there is an even greater battle in progress. We may think that a young shepherd and a giant warrior would be enough of a battle. However, by God’s providence, there is something much bigger happening. And, oddly enough, it’s a battle that we can see repeated many times in many places, on any given day.

Goliath is very strong. He is able to operate in all the ways that our world sees as forceful. He is big, strong, and presumably experienced in warfare. If there is an enemy, he is able to wipe the enemy out. He is the not-so-secret weapon of the Philistine army. He is not used to having opposition, at least not any sort of serious opposition. He is certainly not used to being threatened by someone who uses nontraditional weapons. It looks a little like a SWAT team being approached by a little old lady carrying a frying pan. Really? Who are you trying to kid?

Goliath not only considers David’s presence insulting, but he also considers the idea that David would be God’s representative to be an insult. So he piles insults onto not only David, but also David’s God. Why would he think of coming against someone like Goliath armed with sticks, as you might use to break up a dog fight? Couldn’t the people of Israel come up with a real warrior? Maybe they don’t have a real God.

The powers of this world have the same attitude. Christians speak of prayer, of faith in God, of Christ’s triumph over death through his own death and resurrection. Yet our world can’t understand this. It doesn’t seem to be a show of power. What’s prayer going to do in the face of injustice, famine, and war? What’s faith in God going to do when you are dealing with a dread disease that will kill you? What does Jesus’ resurrection have to do with the horrors of genocide? He didn’t seem to stop that, did he?

What was David’s response? What is the response of a Christian today? We don’t come to this battle with mere earthly power. We come with the power of the God of all. He is the one who can create and sustain all things by his word of power. He is the one who understands all of the consequences of every earthly action, and can keep those consequences orderly. He is the one who raises people and nations to prominence and then diminishes them again according to his perfect will in his perfect time. And he is the one who can raise the dead, whether they die of natural causes in their beds at a ripe old age or they die of disease, famine, or warfare. He’s the God of life. Why would you threaten my life? You should rather be concerned that our God will take your life so as to preserve countless others.

Our world will not understand this attitude. They may find it hostile, offensive, and even dangerous. They will mock and scorn it. But it is exactly the same attitude David brought to the fight with Goliath. What happened to Goliath? God happened to Goliath. He guided David’s hands and his words. God’s purpose was accomplished, in that instance, rescuing his people from a battle with the Philistines. What is God’s purpose this day in our encounters? We may not know. But God will still work through His word, dealing with all the affairs of this world. We come with the Word of God.

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
    Ash Wednesday
    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
    Draper 2000
    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
    Guardian Of Jesus
    Habakkuk
    Haggai
    Harnack 1884
    Hebrews
    Henderson 1992
    Henderson-1992
    History
    Hoffman 1986
    Holy Innocents
    Hosea
    Hutchens-2013
    Hymes 1994
    Infertility
    Isaiah
    Jaffee 1999
    James
    Jeffreys 1986
    Jeremiah
    Jerome
    Job
    Joel
    John
    Jonah
    Joseph
    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
    MacCoull 1999
    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
    Neufeld 1999
    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
    Presentation Of Our Lord
    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
    Saenger 1999
    Sailhamer1992
    Sailhamer-1992
    Sale 1996
    Samuel
    Scaer2004
    Scaer-2004
    Schaff 1886
    Schaff 1888
    Schaff 2014
    Schaff-2014
    Schollgen
    Seeliger 1996
    Septuagesima
    Sermon
    Sexagesima
    Smith-2009
    Sommerville-2006
    Songofsongs
    St. Andrew
    Stark 1997
    St. John
    St. Matthias
    St. Paul
    St. Stephen
    St. Thomas
    St. Titus
    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 2002
    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