Word of the Week

Word of the Week: Redeemer

In our Word of the Week series on the names of Jesus we consider the name: Redeemer. This name for Jesus is rooted in the Old Testament and what was known as the "Kinsman Redeemer" outlined in Leviticus 25 and described in the book of Ruth. A Redeemer was one who was related and would buy back the property of one who had lost it all due to poverty. What a beautiful picture of what Jesus has done for us! He has redeemed us by His precious blood (1 Peter 1:18-19) from every lawless deed (Titus 2:13-14) and from the curse of the Law (Galatians 3:13). All of this Jesus has done as our Redeemer. The Old Testament also describes Jesus as ever living Redeemer. Job says: I know that my Redeemer lives (Job 19:23). What comfort this sweet sentence gives! (TLH 200:1) 

Word of the Week: Messiah/Christ

In our ongoing series of the Names of Jesus our Word of the Week is Messiah / Christ. These two words are a title more than a name. The word Messiah is from a Hebrew word which means Anointed One, and its Greek equivalent is Christos or Christ. The word points out one who was special or chosen by God for a special purpose. There were three positions that were anointed by God: Prophets, Priests, and Kings. For example, God sent Elijah to anoint Elisha as His prophet. God had Moses anoint Aaron as High Priest. And God sent Samuel to anoint David as King. But the Old Testament foretold another Anointed One who would be Prophet, Priest and King. This anointed one would be the Savior, the Christ. This is none other than Jesus of Nazareth. Peter confessed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the Living God. In John 20:31 John says that we are to come to know that "Jesus is the Christ" that we "may have life in His name." The resurrection points to Jesus as the one and only Messiah Who came to deliver us from sin. What a beautiful summary of who Jesus is and what He has done for sinners!  

Word of the Week - Savior

We are beginning a new series for our Word of the Week. Over the next couple of months, we are going to be focusing in on the various names and titles of Jesus. This week, Pastor Ben Libby takes us through a study of "Savior." A savior is someone who saves either from physical or spiritual enemies. The Judges in the Old Testament were saviors that God would appoint to deliver the people of Israel from their enemies. Later, the kings would fill that role. But these saviors were only types that pointed to the one, true Savior, Jesus Christ. The name Jesus means "Jehovah is salvation" or "Jehovah saves." While the judges and kings saved the people from physical enemies, Jesus came to save people from their sins. 

Word of the Week: Real Presence

Pastor Tom Naumann digs into the Biblical definition of the "Real Presence" in our Word of the Week. The Real Presence is the term that is used to describe the Biblical view of the Lord's Supper which teaches that Christ gives His very body with the bread of Holy Communion and His very blook with the wine distributed in Holy Communion. In contrast to this Biblical teaching, other churches teach views like Transubstantiation (Roman Catholic Church) which teaches that the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ and cease being bread and wine and the view of Representation (Reformed churches) which says that the bread and wine ONLY represent Christ's body and blood. Based on Jesus' clear words in the Gospels and the Apostle Paul's clear teaching in 1 Corinthians 11, we can be sure of the teaching of the Real Presence in the Lord's Supper which is given to us for the forgiveness of our sins!

Word of the Week: Atheist / Agnostic

In this week's Word of the Week, Pastor Mark Tiefel discusses the terms "atheist" and "agnostic" - two terms that describe a growing group of people in our culture today. One of the fastst growing groups are what are refered to as religious "NONE'S" - those who say that they have no religious affiliation. But the Bible makes it very clear that God exists and that He has described Himself very clearly. So much so that those who reject the existence of God and those who say that He cannot be known are in error. It is foolish to reject the existence of God! God has clearly revealed Himself in His creation, so that they have no exuse to reject Him (Romans 1). God has written His laws on our hearts (Romans 2). This God has sent His Son into the world to save it from sin and death (John 3:17-18). When we reject this truth we bear the full judgment of our sin from a just and holy God. Jesus came to take that judgment upon Himself so that we might be saved through faith in Him.   

Word of the Week: Covet

In our Word of the Week, Pastor Sam Rodebaugh defines and describes the word "covet" and the Biblical concept behind it. We may be familiar with the word covet from the commandments which tell us we should not covet. But many people don't feel that coveting is wrong because it doesn't affect other people. "Since it doesn't hurt anyone else, who is to say that it is wrong?" people ask or think. Coveting is a sinful desire that leads us to want and get something that God has not given to us. Coveting often leads us into other sins which are done to or against our neighbor. We have all failed in this regard, coveting the abilities or possessions of others around us. Is this an impossible command? While we have failed Jesus did not. He did not seek His own good or advancement, but our good and salvation. Through His suffering and death our debt of sin including covetousness has been paid and forgiveness is ours. Thanks be to Jesus Who has saved us from the sin of coveting and all sins we have committed!   

Word of the Week: Ascend

Pastor Mark Tiefel defines the word "ascend" as we celebrate the Ascension of Jesus on this day. He reminds us that Jesus ascended into heaven as True Man to the right hand of the Father. He discusses the meaning of the phrase "right hand" and what the ascension of Jesus really means for us. 

Word of the Week: Conversion

Pastor Nathanael Mayhew discusses the word "conversion" this week. The word is an important theological term which is defined as the act of turning an unbeliever into a believer. It comes from Greek and Hebrew words which literally mean to "turn around." These words are usually used to describe a physical turning around as seen in Matthew 9:22 when Jesus "turns around" to see the woman who had touched him. We would visualize a complete 180 degree turn. A person who was going one way turns around and goes back the way they had come. With this in mind, the word is also used in a spiritual sense. A sinner who is headed into sin and on their way to hell, is "turned around" or "converted" by the work of God. Peter says "Repent therefore and be converted (literally "turned around")..." This is the work of God, who turns us from sin and death, to righteousness and life through faith. The LORD uses His word to accomplsh this: "The Law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul." Thanks be to God for His work of Conversion in our lives!

Word of the Week - Environmentalism

In our Word of the Week, Pastor Mark Tiefel takes a look at the word environmentalism. This is a very popular topic in our society and is especially on the minds of many with the recent celebration of Earth Day on April 22. We know from the Bible that God has given mankind dominion over creation (Genesis 1-2), but does that mean that we can simply use that dominion however we want? Our study will help to answer this question by looking at the important role creation plays not just in Genesis, but in the entire Bible. Understanding this will help us to remember that it is God's creation, and so, we want to give glory to God in how we care for all that He has given us.

Word of the Week - Image of God

In our Word of the Week, Pastor Rob Sauers takes us through a study of the Image of God. According to the Sydow version of Luther’s Small Catechism, the Image of God is defined as being like God in righteousness, holiness, and perfect knowledge. Adam and Eve were created in the Image of God, but what happened after the Fall? Our study looks at Adam and Eve's creation, how the Image of God was lost in the Fall, and how Christ has restored the Image of God to us.