May | 2008 | The Old Adam Lives!

Why did Christ die for us?

Posted on May 23, 2008 by theoldadam

What was the purpose of Jesus’ dying and being raised to forgive our sins? In other words, by forgiving our sins what was Jesus’ goal?

St. Paul ansewrs this question and he answers it quite directly.

Join Pastor Mark Anderson as he unpacks the scriptures surrounding this question by looking at some verses in Romans and Galatians.

It’s only about a half an hour and I believe you will really enjoy this abbreviated version of the class.

click here to listen to the Class

Did you think Pastor Mark’s class answered the appropriate questions, or did it leave things a bit fuzzy with respect to the main question at hand?

Filed under: Bible Study | 10 Comments »

Law and Gospel radio program…

Posted on May 22, 2008 by theoldadam

Good show on the radio right now (or on the net KFUO.

www.kfuo.org/LG.htm

If you miss it live on the net, you can catch it tomorrow on the archived programs.

Become as these little ones…and listen in!

Filed under: Law and Gospel | 4 Comments »

One area where the Church often finds itself with divergent opinions is the subject of ‘free will’. There is one terrific example that Pastor Mark Anderson likes to bring up whenever speaking with folks that are in the ‘free will’ camp when it comes to choosing God and that is Saint Paul’s ‘free will‘.

Do you think that this is a legimate example of how God works in bringing His people to faith, or do we have more of a roll to play with our decision for Jesus?

One might wonder then, well if God is the One who is bringing people to faith with the proclamation of His Gospel, then just exactly who is the Gospel meant for?

Do you think that this is the most efficient way for God to bring people to faith? Or is that none of our business?

Filed under: Free will | 15 Comments »

Highlights from our ‘Revelation’ bible study.

Posted on May 21, 2008 by theoldadam

Written by John on the island of Patmos, the Book of Revelation was given to John by an angel and told (in not so many words), ‘the Lord wants you to write this stuff down, John!’ So he did!

We discussed the apocalyptic style that the book is written in. We learned that the book was argued over profusely and barely made it into the Bible. Many of those that didn’t want it included said it was just too hard to understand. We looked at the guiding and corrective nature of the letters to the seven churches, and that Jesus Himself was the One who was speaking directly to the churches. Also, that when He speaks to them He is speaking directly to us, His Church of today. We talked a bit about the direct warning to the churches that were not doing as He wanted, that He would “remove the candlestand from that church”. The candlestand holding the flame that represented the Word itself…Jesus Himself.

We discussed how the Book paints a picture of terrible times to come for the world and for Christians in particular during the last days. We learned that the Greek word ‘nikao’ means ‘to conquer’ and is used all over the Book with respect to Jesus and His coming back to straighten out this mess and make things right. While there is much affliction, war, persecution and battles for dominion, the overaching theme of the Book is that Jesus will conquer, ‘nikao’. (also that is where the tennis shoe company got it’s name…’Nike’) We talked about how the Book has been a great source of comfort to Christians during the period of the two world wars in particular, and how it could once again be a great source of comfort in the coming days of tribulation for the Chruch.

We also taked a bit about how the Book of Revelation has been a source of great conjecture and of gnostic prognostications. Pastor Anderson gave us his belief that trying to figure out the details of this ‘plan of God for the end times’ isn’t helpful to the Christian and it might actually be harmful as it actually works to weaken, and not strengthen one’s faith.

We also received some great outlines of the Book of Revelation that would make it easy to access the main sections of the Book and each of it’s corresponding themes.

We left the class with increased awareness of the ‘plan of God’ to finalize the process that we call ‘history’ and to conquer the forces of evil and put into place the New Kingdom.

To sum it up:

Rough times are surely ahead, but Jesus, the Conqueror, will get us through it, one way or the other.

Do you think that we are in the end times already? Is it alright to try and figure out the details of God’s plan and pin down specifics, or should we be content to trust that whatever happens it will be the will of God? Or both?

Filed under: The Book of Revelation | 8 Comments »

“Many are Called but Few are Chosen.”

Posted on May 20, 2008 by theoldadam

In ‘The Hammer of God’ by Bo Giertz , a Sweedish pastor describes God as a man who walks down the roadway with a pointy stick picking up old rusty tin cans and putting them into his sack.

The pastor was trying to make the point to a young pastor how it is with God, that He is the one that does the choosing of us and not the other way around.

The pastor also seems to be making the point that God likes junk. He likes to pick up something that for all intents and purposes seems trashy, discarded, used up, and worthless. He then cleans it up and gives it new life and puts it to use in His service.

Does God pick up every old rusty can He comes across, or just certain ones that He chooses?

The Bible says that God chooses some. Jesus says, “many are called , but few are chosen.”

Is this hard saying, troubling to you? Comforting? Or puzzling? Or would you prefer to just not think about it?

Filed under: Difficult Bible verses | 23 Comments »

One God…Three Persons.

Posted on May 19, 2008 by theoldadam

Today being The Sunday of the Holy Trinity, there is an excellent sermon that might (well…it just might ) enlighten some of our friends that don’t believe that Jesus was, and is everything. They think He’s the number 2 guy and that the Father is the real God.

Anyway, take a listen to Pastor Anderson’s Sermon on the Trinity. If you can forward it along to maybe (by God’s grace) open someone’s ears and heart… then have at it.

Enjoy!

Filed under: The Trinity | 3 Comments »

It’s sooooo complex!

Posted on May 18, 2008 by theoldadam

As I read on many Christian blogs around the net, this Christian faith stuff is way too complicated for the average Joe and Mary on the street. How in the world would we ever figure it out if it weren’t for the plethora of books telling us everything that we need to do, think, or feel?

Are some of those books helpful? Yes, they can be.

But many of them just muck up the clear waters of a crystal clear message…’Christ died for sinners.’

“At the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.” Are you ungodly? I hope so…for then He died for you.

Personally, I have done much damage, and continue to do damage, not only in my own life but more painfully, in the lives of others. I have not loved God with my whole heart and I have not loved my neighbor as myself.

But the Lord has had mercy on me, just has he has had on you. He forgives my sin and cleanses me daily, in the waters of my baptism (which I revisit daily) and in the sacrament of the altar, and in the hearing of His beautiful promises, spoken to me by the poor words of the preacher.

“Your sins are forgive for Jesus’ sake”!

Simple.

Powerful.

Life giving.

And it’s not very complicated. Not complicated at all.

Filed under: Assurance, The Gospel | 9 Comments »

‘A Mighty Fortress is our God’

Posted on May 17, 2008 by theoldadam

A special thanks to Mr. Howard Nowlan for sending us this…

“We in the UK usually sing a slightly different version”
(the translation of Thomas Carlyle):

A Safe Stronghold, our God is still,
A trusty shield and weapon,
He’ll help us clear through all the ill,
that hath us no o’ertaken.
the ancient prince of hell,
hath risen with purpose fell,
strong mail of craft and power,
he weareth in this hour,
on earth is not his fellow

With force of arms we nothing can, full soon we were down-ridden,
but for us fights the proper Man,
whom God Himself hath bidden,
Ask ye, who is this same?
Christ Jesus is His name
The Lord Sabaoth’s Son,
He and no other one,
shall conquer in the battle

And we this world all devils o’er,
and watching to devour us,
We lay it not to heart so sore,
not they can overpower us,
And let the prince of ill,
look grim as ere he will,
he harms us not a whit,
for why? his doom is writ,
a word will quickly slay him

God’s word, for all their craft and force,
One moment will not linger,
but spite of hell shall have its course,
’tis written by His finger,
And though they take our lives,
goods, honour, children, wife,
yet is their profit small,
these things shall vanish all,
The City of God remaineth.

“Based on the theme of Psalm 46, this has to be simply one of the most comprehensive hymns (in the sense of putting life into its proper context) that’s ever been penned.”

– Howard Nowlan

Filed under: A Mighy Fortress is our God | 4 Comments »

Nothing has Changed…

Posted on May 16, 2008 by theoldadam

Written by Martin Luther at a time when the Muslim armies were literally at the gates of Vienna, this hymn tells the story of God’s action to defeat the evil one, who still to the present moment, desires to rip us away from our Lord and devour us. Pay close attention to the words, for they are as relevant today as they were 500 years ago.