Burden and Blessing Podcast

Hymn Review: Holy, Holy, Holy, LORD God Almighty

As we look ahead to Trinity Sunday this weekend Pastor Rob Sauers joins Nathanael Mayhew to dig into the Trinity hymn, Holy, Holy, Holy, LORD God Almighty (Hymn 246 in The Lutheran Hymnal). Learn about the background of the hymnwriter, and the Scriptural foundation for the hymn itself and how it describes the nature of the One and only true God, from His power to His mercy as well as our response to this truth.

Word of the Week: Trinity

As we look ahead to Trinity Sunday this coming weekend, we consider the word Trinity. This is a very familiar word among Christians. So familiar that many are surprised to learn that the word Trinity is actually not found anywhere in the Bible. It comes from the Latin and has been used by the church to describe the Biblical Doctrine of who God is: One God in Three persons. While the Bible never uses the word "Trinity" is is clear in showing that there is only one God (Deuteronomy 6:4), but this One God is three persons (Matthew 28:19, 1 Peter 1:2), and that the Father is God (2 John 1:9), the Son is God (Ephesians 5:5), and the Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4). This is the doctrine of the Trinity, and is clearly presented in the Bible.

World Religions: Masonic Lodge

Lodges have been an important part of our history in the United States. Many of the founding fathers of our country were Masons, as are many famous people today. But what does the Masonic Lodge have to do with religion? Is it a religion itself, and if so, in what way? What are the beliefs of Masons? We will be looking at these questions in our continuing study of world religions in our podcast today. Join us to learn more about the Masonic Lodge (and other related lodges) and how they compare to Christianity.

Word of the Week - Pentecost

In anticipation of our celebration of Pentecost this coming Sunday, Pastor Rob Sauers takes us through a study of the word Pentecost. Typically, when we think about Pentecost, we think about the events of Acts 2, but Pentecost actually was an Old Testament festival. Referred to as the Feast of Harvest or the Feast of Weeks, this was one of the three main pilgrim festivals of the Old Testament. The festival gains new meaning in Acts 2 as the Holy Spirit comes and through His word brings 3,000 people to faith. Our celebration of this day focuses on the coming of the Holy Spirit who has brought us to faith and continues to strengthen our faith through Word and Sacrament. 

Bible Study: Titus

What does a 2000 year old letter to a young pastor working on an island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea have to say to us today? A great deal! Paul wrote to Titus in order to encourage him and direct him in his work of organizing the church of Crete, but this short letter also lays out beautifully a summary of Christian doctrine which serves us still today. He describes the work of Jesus as true God, the Savior of all, the atonement for sin, the Trinity, the work of the Holy Spirit, Justification and Sanctification and much more. This letter continues to instruct and encourage us still today!

Word of the Week: Ascend

As we prepared to commemorate the ascension of Jesus into heaven, 40 days after His resurrection, we consider the word "ascend" today. Did you know that Jesus predicted His ascension, just as He did His death and resurrection? Did you know that His ascension into heaven was foretold in the Old Testament, just as His death and resurrection were? The ascension of Jesus was a very important part of His work as our Savior, which is why we confess it every week in the words of the ancient and historic creeds of the church. Join us to learn more about the meaning and purpose of Christ's ascension into heaven this week!

World Religions: Shintoism

Pastors Ben Libby and Nathanael Mayhew look into the religion of Shintoism in our ongoing series on World Religions. Shintoism is a religion that originated in Japan but has changed much in over the years of its existence. It has been influenced by other religions like Buddhism and Hinduism. Since the Second World War, Shintoism has become more a cultural experience and drifted from strict religious devotion. While it is less religious than it once was, it still has dangerous concepts which lead people to emptiness and offers no hope for the sinner. Join us to learn more about the dangers of this Eastern religion.  

Word of the Week: Paraclete

In our Word of the Week today we consider a Greek word which Jesus used to describe the Holy Spirit: Paraclete. This word is used four times by Jesus in the upper room on the night before His death to picture the work of the Holy Spirit, whom He promised to send to them. It is often translated "Comforter" or "Helper" in our English translations, but it means "the one who is called to our side" showing what He does for us in bringing us to faith in Jesus. This is a beautiful description of the third person of the God head and very fitting during this season of Easter and as we look ahead to Pentecost.

Bible Study: 2 Timothy

Join Pastors Ben Libby and Nathanael Mayhew as they dig into the last letter written by the Apostle Paul. This very personal letter written to his companion and fellow co-worker is personal as Paul reflects on his impending death in prison. Paul also highlights the importance of the Word of God and the Christian's responsibility to hold fast to that Word and the preach it faithfully and accurately for the sake of others. While it is one of the pastoral letters it also offers important lessons and encouragement for every Christian. 

Bible Study: Malachi

Malachi is probably most familiar for being the last book of the Old Testament in our English Bibles... But this final prophet of the Old Testament played a very important role in the lives of God's Old Testament people as he prepared them for the coming of the Savior. His message, like that of all of God's true prophets was one of Law and Gospel, revealing the problem of our sin, and the salvation won by God through the "Sun of Righteousness." And there is much for us to learn from this message as well!