Burden and Blessing Podcast

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.

Bible Study - The Sermons of the Book of Acts

In our Bible Study this week Pastors Nathanael Mayhew and Rob Sauers take us through a study of some of the sermons found in the book of Acts. The book of Acts contains twenty sermons or parts of sermons. These sermons provide us with examples of some of the emphases of those first messages. Those early discourses had a distinct Law/Gospel message and emphasis on Jesus’ resurrection much like our sermons do today. In our study, we’ll look at just a few of these sermons and observe how these first preachers were inspired to speak.

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. 

Bible Study - Acts

In our Bible Study, Pastors Nathanael Mayhew and Rob Sauers take us through a study of the book of Acts. This is certainly an appropriate book to study during the Easter season as it is the account of the aftermath of Jesus' resurrection. In fact, many churches replace the Old Testament reading with a reading from the book of Acts during Easter. This book is part two of Luke's Gospel in which he demonstrates how the Word of the Lord spread beginning "in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8). The book is often referred to as the Acts of the Apostles, but as we'll see in our study, it would be better to call this book the Acts of the Holy Spirit as He really is the central figure. We pray that this study will be a blessing to you.

Word of the Week: Four Loves

Pastor Mark Tiefel discusses the word love and how it is used and described in the New Testament. Love is a common word, but one that is often difficult to define. In the Greek language used to record the New Testament Scripture, there are four different words for love, three of which are used in the New Testament. The word agape is the most important and common word which describes the love God has for us. It is a committment kind of love based on something that is not deserved. The word phileo describes a friendship kind of love. The third is storge, which is a love of respect or admiration which you might have for a teasher or role model (0nly used 3 times in the N.T.). The final word eros is a romantic kind of love and is not used in the New Testament, but it is descriptive of another aspect of love. In God's gift of marriage we have the ability to express all four of these kinds of love, and each type of love is important to the marriage relationship. Listen to find out how.

Movie Review: The Riot and the Dance

This week, Pastor John Hein joins Pastor Nathanael Mayhew to discuss the movie "The Riot and the Dance" which was shown in theaters on March 19th and will be shown again on April 19th. This will be a one time showing in select theaters across the country. This movie is narrataed by Dr. Gordon Wilson and produced by his nephew Nate Wilson, both of New St. Andrew's College in Moscow, Idaho. This is a documentary style film which highlights the wonders of God's creation as well as the chaos of creation as a result of the Fall into sin. It contains animals from Dr. Wilson's backyard and throughout the Pacific Northwest as well as a few animals from more exotic locations. The cinematography is excellent as well as the content, and it gives God the glory. At the end it contains some interviews which include an appearance by Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis. Listen to learn more about the positives and negatives of this film and information which will help you decide if you and your family should see it. Learn more and get tickets at www.riotandthedance.com.

Word of the Week: Life

Pastor Sam Rodebaugh discusses the word "Life" - an appropriate word to consider following our Easter celebrations. He points out the importance of life and many of the questions raised in our society about life. When does life begin? Who has the right to take life? Life is viewed in a selfish way, and it is easy to see how life has been devalued in many ways in our world. But God is different. He values all life, every life. Jesus gives up His own life in order to save us from death and give us life. Our lives have been purchased back by the blood of Jesus. Knowing this, we gain a different perspective on life. The resurrection of Jesus and the salvation He has secured moves us to value our own lives, and to use them to God's glory. But it also moves us to value the lives of all people because they too are loved by the Savior.   

Bible Study - Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12

In our Bible Study on this Good Friday, Pastors Nathanael Mayhew and Rob Sauers take us through a study of a passage we often read this time of year - Isaiah 52:13 - Isaiah 53:12. This section of Scripture describes, in amazing detail 700 years before the events occurred, just what our Savior's suffering would be like. As we work through this passage, we're going to ask and answer a number of questions: Who is this talking about? What is being described? Why did these events have to happen? How does it all come together, and how does this all apply to us? We pray that our study will aid you as you meditate upon what our Savior suffered for us so many years ago on that first Good Friday and that you will be ever more assured that what He did on this day, He did for you to pay for every single one of your sins!

Word of the Week: Calvary

In our Word of the Week for Holy Week, Pastor Nathanael Mayhew takes us into the word Calvary. Most people are familiar with this word as the name of the place where Jesus was crucified on what has become known as Good Friday. The Hebrew name for the place of the crucifixion was Golgotha which meant "the place of the skull." This Hebrew term was translated into Greek ("kranium") by the New Testament writers since many of their original readers may not have known Hebrew or the geography of Jerusalem. The term Calvary is the Latin translation for "skull" which was used by Jerome in his Latin translation of the Bible. The name Calvary is interestingly not found in most modern English translations. It was retained from the Latin Vulgate in the Authorized Version (KJV) and then again in the NKJV. It is only found in Luke 23:33 in those translations. While we do not know where the site of Calvary is today, we do learn a few things about it from Scripture. It was near but outside Jerusalem and most likely within eyesight of a main road going in and out of Jerusalem (John 19:20; Hebrews 13:12). There was also a garden nearby where Joseph of Arimethea and Nicodemus burried Jesus after His death (John 19:41-42). While we do not know for certian the location of the crucifixion, we do know what happened there: Jesus "was cricified, died, and was buried" as we still confess in The Apostolic Creed. Thanks be to Jesus who suffered death and the agony of hell at Calvary to reconcile us to God and open the door of heaven to sinners! 

Review - Hymn 153 - Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted

As we prepare our hearts for Holy Week, Pastors Rob Sauers and Nathanael Mayhew takes us through a study of the Lenten hymn "Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted." This hymn takes us to the cross and urges us to see what our Savior Jesus does there for us. The hymn is based primarily on Isaiah 53:3-6, though it is full of other Scriptural references and allusions. In the first two stanzas we are confronted with the physical suffering Jesus endured on the cross, but also the more agonizing spiritual suffering as He is forsaken by all, even God the Father so that God's justice can be satisfied. In the final two stanzas, we consider the seriousness of our sin that caused Jesus' suffering and death, but also the glorious Gospel message that because of what Jesus did, we have a firm foundation on which to base our faith and a hope that can never be taken away. We pray that this study will help you in your preparations for Holy Week.