Authority

illustration

Constantine and the Move of Worldly Power with the Power of God

Author

Keywords

In AD 312, the Roman emperor Constantine became a Christian. On the night before he led his army into the massive Battle of the Milvian Bridge, he had a vision of the Christian God. They won that batt...

illustration

Pledging Allegiance to a Party

Author

Eugene Cho

Keywords

Scripture

Exodus 32:1–4, 1 Samuel 8:6–9, Daniel 6:6–10, Matthew 22:20–21, Acts 5:29, Psalm 146:3–5

Followers of Jesus should not be in bed with any of the political parties. Even if one affiliates with a particular party, may we maintain a posture to collaborate, listen, hold accountable, and engag...

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“Respecting” Religion by Making it Private

Author

Nancy Pearcey

Keywords

Scripture

Exodus 5:1–2, 1 Kings 18:21–39, Daniel 3:16–18, Matthew 5:14–16, Acts 4:19–20, Psalm 2:1–2, 10–12

Most secularists are too politically savvy to attack religion directly or to debunk it as false. So what do they do? They consign religion to the value sphere—which takes it out of the realm of true a...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Acts 5:27-32

Author

Casey Clark

Keywords

Scripture

Acts 5:27-32

Context Once Jesus ascends in Acts 1, the disciples are not immediately out on the street continuing his work. Many assumed Jesus’ mission would bring earthly power, but now they find themselves fear...

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The President Vouches for Us

Author

The Pastor's Workshop

Keywords

Scripture

John 16:33, Daniel 3:16–30, Exodus 14:13–14 , John 16:33, Romans 8:28, 31–34, Psalm 91:1–4

Max Lucado tells a true story showing that God's determination to shape His followers proves stronger than Satan's most persistent efforts to discourage them. What the enemy plans for destruc...

liturgy

Adapted from Psalm 2

Author

The Pastor's Workshop

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 2:

* This call to worship includes excerpts, but not all of Psalm 2 . Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel to...

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A Problem with the Maps

Author

Greg Gilbert

Keywords

Scripture

Proverbs 3:5–6, Jeremiah 17:9–10, Exodus 13:21–22, John 14:6, Psalm 119:105, 2 Timothy 3:16–17

ABC News ran a story about neighborhood roads that have literally become commercial thoroughfares because GPS systems are routing traffic there, rather than along larger highways. There are other prob...

liturgy

Leader: Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens!

Keywords

Adapted from Psalm 148 Leader: Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens! People: Kings of the earth and all people! Leader: Princes and all rulers of the earth. People: Young men...

liturgy

Let us pray to the Father who has given us

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Exodus 17:1-7, Isaiah 55:1-3, Micah 6:6-8 , John 4:5-26, 1 Timothy 2:1-4, Psalm 103:2-5

Pastor: Let us pray to the Father who has given us the water of eternal life in His Son. Father of glory, only the gift of Your Spirit quenches the thirst of mankind. Look in mercy on all the way...

liturgy

All these prayers we offer up into

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Deuteronomy 8:3, Proverbs 22:6, Micah 6:8 , 2 Timothy 3:16-17 , 1 Timothy 2:1-2, Psalm 34:18-19

Pastor: Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs. God of mercy, You provide us with Your Holy Word, that we might know and believe in Ch...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Deuteronomy 18:15-20

Author

Jeff Volkmer

Keywords

Scripture

Deuteronomy 18:15-20, Deuteronomy 1:5, Exodus 18:13-27, Exodus 20:18-19, Exodus 33:11, Deuteronomy 34:10, John 1:21, John 6:14, Acts 3:22-23, 1 Timothy 2:5, Luke 24:27

Context A Copy of the Law or a Second Law? Like the other books in the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible), the title of the book of Deuteronomy comes from its translation into Greek. The...

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The Ultimatum

Author

Walter Isaacson

Keywords

Famed scientist Albert Einstein once delivered an ultimatum to his first wife, Mileva Maric. True to his scientific nature, Einstein expressed his demands without any trace of kindness or empathy, ins...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Matthew 2:1-12 (Guide B)

Author

Stuart R. Strachan, Jr.

Keywords

Scripture

Matthew 2:1-12, Micah 5:2

Confusion about Epiphany The celebration of the Epiphany of our Lord can be at once both wholly familiar or somewhat confusing, especially for those who grew up in less liturgical traditions. What ca...

lectionary

Second Sunday of Easter

Author

Casey Clark

Keywords

Scripture

Acts 5:27-32

Context Once Jesus ascends in Acts 1, the disciples are not immediately out on the street continuing his work. Many assumed Jesus’ mission would bring earthly power, but now they find themselves fear...

liturgy

Let us pray to the Father who has given us the water

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

John 4:1-42, John 4:10-14

Pastor: Let us pray to the Father who has given us the water of eternal life in His Son. Father of glory, only the gift of Your Spirit quenches the thirst of mankind. Look in mercy on all the ways Y...

liturgy

God exalted Jesus at His right hand as Leader and Savior

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Acts 5:31, John 20:31, Mark 9:24, John 20:19-31

Pastor: God exalted Jesus at His right hand as Leader and Savior People: to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. Pastor: In repentant faith, we come before our Lord in confessi...

liturgy

God has placed everything under Christ’s wounded feet

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Ephesians 1:22-23, Psalm 100:1-2, Psalm 148:

Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. People: Amen. Pastor: God has placed everything under Christ’s wounded feet, People: and appointed the one wh...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Mark 6:1-13

Author

Jacob Traeger

Keywords

Scripture

Mark 6:1-13, Isaiah 11:2, 1 Peter 2:8, Mark 9:42-47, Mark 14:27-29, Mark 4:16-17, 1 Corinthians 1:23

Context As we read the opening chapters of Mark, it becomes clear that Mark is not primarily interested in telling us things about Jesus but showing Jesus to us. We see Jesus the healer, the exor...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Mark 5:21-43

Author

Charles Teixeira

Scripture

Mark 5:21-43, Mark 5:17-21, Leviticus 15:7

Intertwined Narratives Jesus’ encounters with Jairus’ daughter and the bleeding woman are sandwiched together with the intention that the two narratives would unlock and help to interpret the other....

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Mark 4:35-41 (Guide A)

Author

Charles Teixeira

Keywords

Scripture

Mark 4:35-41, Jonah 1:, Psalm 107:23-32, Matthew 8:23-27, Luke 8:22-25

Peter's Perspective? While this narrative of Jesus calming the storm occurs in Matthew (8:23-27) and Luke (8:22-25), Mark’s account in 4:35-41 is the fullest account of that day. This has led som...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Mark 2:23-3:6

Author

Gabe Fung

Keywords

Scripture

Mark 2:23-28, Mark 3:1-6, Acts 12:12, Acts 12:25, Acts 15:37-39, Colossians 4:10, 2 Timothy 4:11, Philemon 1:24, 1 Peter 5:13, Mark 1:14-15, Mark 2:1-22, Exodus 20:8-11, Deuteronomy 5:12-15, Exodus 34:21, 1 Samuel 21:1-6, Luke 11:37-54, Mark 2:1-17, Genesis 1:26-31, Genesis 2:1-2, Genesis 3:null, John 19:30

Context Authorship of Mark Mark’s account of the story of Jesus is commonly held to be the earliest of the four canonical Gospels. Early church tradition identifies the author as Mark (or John Mark)...

liturgy

Treasure in our Hearts

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Pastor: Almighty God, we give thanks for all Your goodness and bless You for the love that sustains us from day to day. People: We praise You for the gift of Your Son, our Savior, in whom ...

liturgy

Live Differently

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

1 Peter 2:13, 15-17, 1 Peter 2:24, Galatians 5:1

Pastor: Peter challenges Christians to live differently than the world around them with these instructions: Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority, People: for...

liturgy

Lord, You have authority in all places

Author

Charles Teixeira

Keywords

Scripture

Colossians 1:16-17, Isaiah 45:7-9, Job 42:2, Lamentations 3:37-39, Matthew 28:18, Romans 13:1-2, Psalm 36:6, Lamentations 3:22-23, Psalm 117:1-2, Psalm 86:15

Lord, You have authority in all places, times, and circumstances. Lord, You are good in all places, times, and circumstances. Lord, meet us here, now in all our many needs for You to move.

lectionary

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Author

Charles Teixeira

Scripture

Mark 5:21-43, Mark 5:17-21, Leviticus 15:7

Intertwined Narratives Jesus’ encounters with Jairus’ daughter and the bleeding woman are sandwiched together with the intention that the two narratives would unlock and help to interpret the other....

series

Psalm 1 | God's Law (Free Preview)

Author

Scott B. Bullock

Scripture

Psalm 1:, Matthew 5:17, Matthew 5:3-12

Ancient lens What’s the historical context? Wisdom Song It is not too far a stretch to imagine an eager young person sitting at the feet of a well-seasoned elder and receiving the words of thi...

lectionary

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

Author

Jacob Traeger

Keywords

Scripture

Mark 6:1-13, Isaiah 11:2, 1 Peter 2:8, Mark 9:42-47, Mark 14:27-29, Mark 4:16-17, 1 Corinthians 1:23

Context As we read the opening chapters of Mark, it becomes clear that Mark is not primarily interested in telling us things about Jesus but showing Jesus to us. We see Jesus the healer, the exor...

Quote

Author

Oscar Cullmann

Keywords

Scripture

2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Psalm 119:105, Proverbs 30:5, Hebrews 4:12

The books which were to form the future canon forced themselves on the Church by their intrinsic apostolic authority, as they do still, because the Kyrios Christ speaks in them.

lectionary

Second Sunday after Pentecost

Author

Gabe Fung

Keywords

Scripture

Mark 2:23-28, 3:1-6, Mark 2:23-28, Mark 3:1-6, Acts 12:12, Acts 12:25, Acts 15:37-39, Colossians 4:10, 2 Timothy 4:11, Philemon 1:24, 1 Peter 5:13, Mark 1:14-15, Mark 2:1-22, Exodus 20:8-11, Deuteronomy 5:12-15, Exodus 34:21, 1 Samuel 21:1-6, Luke 11:37-54, Mark 2:1-17, Genesis 1:26-31, Genesis 2:1-2, Genesis 3:null, John 19:30

Preaching Commentary Context Authorship of Mark Mark’s account of the story of Jesus is commonly held to be the earliest of the four canonical Gospels. Early church tradition identifies the author...

lectionary

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

Author

Jeff Volkmer

Keywords

Scripture

Deuteronomy 18:15-20, Deuteronomy 1:5, Exodus 18:13-27, Exodus 20:18-19, Exodus 33:11, Deuteronomy 34:10, John 1:21, John 6:14, Acts 3:22-23, 1 Timothy 2:5, Luke 24:27

Preaching Commentary Context A Copy of the Law or a Second Law? Like the other books in the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible), the title of the book of Deuteronomy comes from its tran...

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