Word of the Week

Word of the Week - Marriage

In our Word of the Week, Pastor Mark Tiefel takes us through a study of marriage. Marriage is under attack from many angles in our society today. As Christians, we can get caught up in talking about all of the sins against marriage that we sometimes forget about all of the blessings. As a result, there is a growing trend of people who no longer want to pursue marriage. Our study will remind us of all of the blessings that God intends for us to enjoy in marriage. We pray that this study will help you to see how the Lord intends to bless us through marriage.

Word of the Week - Resolution

In this week's Word of the Week, Pastor Mark Tiefel takes us through a study of the word "resolution." This is a word that is commonly used as we begin a new year. The word itself has two main meanings: to make a decision about something or to bring something to completion. We see both of these concepts at the beginning of a new year as we look at the things we want to accomplish or change. As we think about the resolutions we want to make in 2018, we will be encouraged through this study not to lose sight of the resolutions that God has made for us through our Savior Jesus. We pray that knowing what Jesus has done for you will give you a joyful outlook as you look ahead to the new year. 

Word of the Week - Date of Christmas

In our Word of the Week this week, Pastor Mark Tiefel takes us through a study of the date of Christmas. We are so used to celebrating Christmas on December 25th that we may not even think twice about whether or not this was the actual date of the Savior's birth. And since our calendar is based on the birth of Jesus, we may assume that Jesus was born exactly 2017 years ago. However, there are many who believe that Jesus was born neither on December 25th nor in the year 0. So when was the Savior born? This study will take us through some of the different theories concerning the year and date of Jesus' birth. We will also consider whether or not one has to know the exact date and year of Jesus' birth in order to properly celebrate Christmas. May the Lord bless our study.

Word of the Week: Nativity

Pastor Sam Rodebaugh takes us into the Christmas word "Nativity" and explains some details and misconceptions of the birth of our Savior. In spite of the pictures that we see or the songs that are sung about the first Christmas, many of those images are not factual. What do you think of when you hear the word nativity? What images do you associate with it? The nativity or birth of Jesus is all about the birth of a Savior for all people. We celebrate the truth proclaimed by the Old Testament prophets which describe how the King of Creation was born in very humble circumstances, and He willingly did this out of His great love for you!

Word of the Week - Pagan Holiday

During the Month of December, our Word of the Week will focus on different words associated with Christmas. This week, Pastor Rob Sauers considers whether or not Christmas is a "Pagan Holiday." You will occasionally run into Christians who don't like to celebrate Christmas because they believe the celebration is pagan in origin. We will briefly consider whether or not that claim is true and whether or not that matters at all to our celebration of the Savior's birth. We pray that this study will help you consider how to respond if you are ever questioned about your celebration of Christmas. 

Word of the Week: ORTHODOX / HETERODOX

This week Pastor Nathanael Mayhew considers two related words: Orthodox and Heterodox. Simply put, Orthodox means "straight teaching" and Heterodox means "other teaching." These words have been used to descibe "correct" and "false" teaching in theology for centuries. While you won’t find either of these words in the Bible, you will find other words that mean the same thing. Instead of straight doctrine, we will find the phrase “good doctrine” or “sound doctrine”. Adhering to sound teaching or that which is “orthodox” is an essential criterion for the pastoral ministry (See Titus 1:7-8, and 1 Timothy 4:6). In contrast to “orthodox” teaching the prophets of the Old Testament, the apostles of the New Testament and even Jesus Himself warns of the danger of “heterodox” teaching. The apostle Peter warns: “there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction” (2 Peter 2:1). Notice the result of heterodox teaching - it is destructive! Jesus describes the heterodox teaching of the Pharisees as “leaven” which spreads (see Matthew 16:12), and Paul uses leaven (Galatians 5:9) and cancer (2 Timothy 2:17) as an example of how false teaching infiltrates and spreads. Some think that doctrine doesn’t really matter. God says otherwise. He says there is straight teaching (orthodox) and other teaching (heterodox), and it does make a difference. God has called us to: “Test all things; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Thank God that He has revealed what is orthodox through His prophets and apostles and also through His Son, so that we might know the truth. 

Word of the Week - Contentment

In our Word of the Week, Pastor Rob Sauers takes us through a study of contentment. Contentment seems to be one of those things a lot of people search for, but never find. Can we ever find true contentment? If so, where is that contentment to be found? Our study seeks to answer these questions by looking at both the places where people look for contentment and what the Scriptures have to say about the subject. We pray that this study will be a blessing to you.

Word of the Week - Petition

In our Word of the Week this week, Pastor Rob Sauers takes us through the word "petition." When we hear that word, we might think first of a formal written request signed by many people, appealing to authority in respect of a cause. In a petition, we are pleading to one in authority to do something we would like to see done.
The Bible speaks of petitions in the formal setting of the court. We have the example of Esther making her petitions known to King Ahasuerus. In the New Testament, the Jews petitioned Festus to execute the Apostle Paul. 
The Bible also uses "petition" in the sense of prayer. When we think of petitions in this context, we probably most often think of the seven petitions of the Lord's Prayer. In this prayer, Jesus gives us a wonderful example of how we should bring our petitions before the Lord. 
And we can do so with confidence. Though we are not worthy that God should answer any of our petitions, yet we have the promise from our gracious God, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7). Surely, God will answer our prayers according to His will out of His grace and His love for us. 
And so, we can do what Paul encourages in Philippians 4:6 - "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."
May God bless our study.

Word of the Week: Courage

In our Word of the Week we cap off a week of Reformation celebrations with the word Courage. Courage is a word that comes quickly to mind when we think of Martin Luther standing before church and emperor and saying: "Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise." But he was not the only one. Throughout the history of His Church the LORD has constantely raised up leaders to encourage, direct and instuct His people through the teaching of His Word. The LORD called Joshua to be strong and courageous as he led the people of Israel into the promised land. The same was true in the New Testament era. Paul writes: "Most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear" (Philipians 1:14). This is what God's reformers throughout history have done. From Joshua, Jeremiah and Paul, to men like Peter Waldo, John Wycliffe and John Huss who preceeded Luther by a century or more. What caused these men to be courageous? It was God who was at work in them through His Spirit, and bringing them to the truth. Like Peter may we too along with Joshua, Paul, Wycliffe, and Luther, corageously proclaim: "We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:20). 

Word of the Week: Means of Grace

In our Reformation Word of the Week today, Pastor Nathanael Mayhew takes us into the phrase "Means of Grace." This phrase is not found in Scripture but is descriptive of a truth that is taught in Scripture. God has chosen to impart His grace to sinful mankind through means or particular "tools." The tools that God has chosen to use to bring us to Himself and give us His grace are the Gospel in Word and Sacrament. God uses three particular tools to accomplish this work: His Word which is truth (John 17:17), and through which faith is imparted (Romans 10:17). The Sacrament of Baptism which washes our sins away (Acts 22:!6) and offers forgiveness of sin (Acts 2:38-30). And the Sacrment of the Lord's Supper which Jesus instituted and through which He still today imparts forgiveness (Matthew 26:28). God has chosen to use these means to give us His grace, and so these should be of the most importance in our lives, knowing that God is working through them for us. Thanks be to God for these gifts and means of bestowing His grace!