Burden and Blessing Podcast
Episodes
Thursday May 09, 2019
Thursday May 09, 2019
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. The Bible tells us that wisdom is something that we need to get. So what really is wisdom? While the World may have an understanding of what they consider wisdom to be, it is not the same as what the Bible declares to be wise. What then is truly wise? It is the Word of God, and it is the message of Christ crucified! If you want to be wise, then get the Word! Proverbs 19:8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good.
Tuesday Apr 30, 2019
Tuesday Apr 30, 2019
Life can be a pretty complex and abstract concept. But for believers, life is really based around who and what Jesus is. While the world may have many different ideas about what makes up a good life, the Bible is pretty clear. The goal should not be to live the fullest life possible on this earth, rather the goal should be to attain eternal life. How does one do this? There is only one way to eternal life. Jesus is that way, the truth, and THE LIFE! John 12:25 "He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
Tuesday Apr 23, 2019
Tuesday Apr 23, 2019
The word Passover comes up in all three of the Gospels connected to the events of Holy Week. Jesus gathered with His disciples on Maundy Thursday in the upper room of a house in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover for a final time before His death. It was here as they were celebrating the Passover, that Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper. But the real connection of Holy Week to the Passover is not just on Thursday night but in the events of Friday. Paul says that Jesus is our Passover, who was sacrificed for us. Jesus was the unblemished Lamb whose blood was shed to save us from death. Because of that, the Passover is not just an Old Testament celebration. It is for New Testament believers as well, as well look to the cross of Christ and see our Passover Lamb suffering death for the sins of the world.
Thursday Apr 11, 2019
Thursday Apr 11, 2019
The Lenten season is often described as one of renewal. In our word of the week we will consider the word renew and consider its relation to the season of Lent. As sinful human beings we need to be "re"newed. We are not to be conformed to the world, but transformed by the renewing of our mind. The world distracts us from the work of God. It is God's work to bring about this renewal in us through His Holy Spirit. This comes about through the power of God and working in His Word and Sacraments. During Lent, this should be our focus. Hearing His Word. Receiving His Sacrament. Through these Means of Grace we will be renewed in mind and spirit.
Monday Apr 01, 2019
Monday Apr 01, 2019
What does it mean to intercede? Well, quite simply it means to go in between, to go on the behalf of one party and plead their case before another. This is something that we sinners need when going to the Holy God. God Himself provides us such intercession. The Holy Spirit takes our prayers and improves them, and brings them to God. And, of course, Jesus Christ is our great go-between. We see this in His office as our Great High Priest. Not only does Jesus go on our behalf to God the Father, but He is also the sacrifice that makes such an intercession possible in the first place. Thanks be to God that we do have Jesus Christ the Righteous! Offered was He for greatest and for least, Himself the victim and Himself the priest!
Monday Mar 25, 2019
Monday Mar 25, 2019
What does the word "holy" mean and how is it used in the Bible? Many of us have learned that holy means "sinless" but it actually refers to things that are separated from common use or for God's purposes. There are places, things, and even activities that are called holy in the Bible. For example the tabernacle, the Sabbath, offerings, clothes of the priests, and the hill on which the temple was built. But these were "holy" or separated because God was holy. When God chose the nation of Israel they too became "holy" - separated from the other nations of the world for God's purposes. Like the people of the Old Testament, God has chosen us for His very own as well that we might be set apart for His eternal purposes through the work of Jesus. Thanks be to God!
Monday Mar 18, 2019
Monday Mar 18, 2019
What does it mean to trespass? We usually think of crossing a line or boundary into an area where we are not supposed to be. Pastor Ben Libby tackles the Biblical concept of trespass in our Word of the Week. In a spiritual context, Scripture describes us as crossing a line when we sin. In His Law or 10 Commandments God tells us where we should not go and what we should not do. When we disregard Him, that action is a trespass deserving of death. We have failed and miserably! But through Jesus our failures have been erased. He was perfect and never failed. His righteousness becomes ours through faith, and our trespasses are not imputed to us, since they have been paid by Him. Join us for the study of this important Biblical concept!
Monday Mar 11, 2019
Monday Mar 11, 2019
The word "penitence" is related to the word "repentance" and has a two fold meaning: Sorrow over our sins, and trust in Jesus for forgiveness. In some cases people only think of the first of these two parts, but miss the most important. John writes "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:8-9). King David also describes and gives us an example of true penitence. In Psalm 32 David speaks of the LORD's promise of forgiveness, but also his deep sorrow over his sins. Part of this Psalm is used in the Confession of our sins in our Worship services, and is especially fitting during our Lenten reflections.
Wednesday Mar 06, 2019
Wednesday Mar 06, 2019
As we begin the season of Lent on this Ash Wednesday, we learn about the history, meaning and symbolism in the practice of the Imposition of Ashes on Ash Wednesday. It is sad that many see this as a "Roman Catholic" practice and do not make use of it in our Lutheran churches. While this practice has been misused by some, if properly used, it is a beautiful and very meaningful practice that was used in the Ancient Church and has been used in Lutheranism even to this day. It is a clear reminder of our mortality (Law) as well as our Baptism, though which our sins were washed away (Gospel). What could be more clearly Lutheran (or Christian) than that? Lord, bless our Lenten meditations on this Ash Wednesday and throughout this Passion Season!
Monday Feb 25, 2019
Monday Feb 25, 2019
What is the Sabbath and how does it affect us in the New Testament? Pastor Tom Naumann takes us into the book of Genesis and the foundation for the Sabbath, which means "rest". God knew our need and required that His Old Testament people rest from their work, and dedicate that time to God. This rest was a picture of the ultimate rest that God would give through the death of Jesus on the cross. This day of rest was a shadow of our rest in Christ. As New Testament believers, we are not required to keep the Old Testament laws of the Sabbath, because they are fulfilled in Christ, but we do rejoice in the salvation won for us as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus every Sunday.