Posted in March 2025

The Goal – Monday

preparing for The Fifth Sunday in Lent

Series: Lectio Concordia

What is your life goal?

The Small Catechism – part 113

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Isaiah 44:6

When we say that we believe in God, we mean the Lord God named by God’s Redeemer in Matthew 28:19. Jesus gave the “name” of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The Small Catechism – part 112

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Mark 9:24

The English word “creed” comes from the Latin credo, which means, “I believe.” A creed is a statement of what one gives credence to, finds credible.

The Fourth Sunday in Lent

Series: Lectio Concordia

Being reconciled to God means being reconciled to your neighbor too

Being Reconciled to God – Saturday

preparing for The Fourth Sunday in Lent

Series: Lectio Concordia

What is the law of faith?

The Small Catechism – part 111

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Romans 7:24–25

We are saved from sin and death through faith in Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, sin is not a thing of the past; it is a present reality. Though we pray, “thy will be done,” and we know, even have memorized, the commandments, we cannot keep them.

Being Reconciled to God – Friday

preparing for The Fourth Sunday in Lent

Series: Lectio Concordia

You’re getting nowhere with those good works.

The Small Catechism – part 110

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: 1 Timothy 4:8

Pointing toward my stomach, the doctor said that I needed to lose my little friend. I asked, “What, about 20 pounds.” She dryly replied, “More like 30 to 40.”

The Small Catechism – part 109

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Philippians 3:12–14

This may not be that hard to imagine. Think of the family dinner table with parents and children gathered for the evening meal. Now picture the children glued to their phones.

Being Reconciled to God – Thursday

preparing for The Fourth Sunday in Lent

Series: Lectio Concordia

Are you questioning my jollity?

Collection for Hope Valley Church

WNC Disaster Relief

The Outreach Committee will again collect supplies for Valley Hope Church storeroom in Swannanoa, NC. We will collect items at the Cruise-In on Saturday, April 26th. There will be a truck or trailer near the Outreach Tent at the picnic shelter to put your donations in. ONLY the following items will be accepted: • White rice, black ...

The Small Catechism – part 108

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Exodus 20:5b-6

Verse five from the Word today can be a troubling verse, especially if you read the NIV. In that version, it reads: “punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me.”

Being Reconciled to God – Wednesday

preparing for The Fourth Sunday in Lent

Series: Lectio Concordia

This the only way God is reconciled.

Being Reconciled to God – Tuesday

preparing for The Fourth Sunday in Lent

Series: Lectio Concordia

Are you clothed in religion or in Christ?

The Small Catechism – part 107

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Proverbs 20:9

It does not matter how hard you try to be good; you are a sinner. You were born in sin, and as long as you are in this body, you will be a sinner; and you will sin.

The Small Catechism – part 106

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Luke 10:25–28

When the law crushes us with its demands, as it did the lawyer in today’s Scripture, what are we to do but plead for mercy? Just when we imagine that we might have become experts in religion...

Being Reconciled to God – Monday

preparing for The Fourth Sunday in Lent

Series: Lectio Concordia

Working toward transgression? You need a reconciled God.

The Small Catechism – part 105

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: 1 John 3:23

All the Commandments are rooted in the First, or as it quickly came to be understood: the greatest or most important commandment.

The Small Catechism – part 104

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Deuteronomy 4:24

God’s jealousy over us is ready to ignite. The word for fire in the Latin Vulgate is ignis, from which we get our English word “ignite.”

The Small Catechism – part 103

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Psalm 37:4

As you find more and more joyful satisfaction, even sheer delight, in God’s company, you will find your heart desiring godly things.

The Small Catechism – part 102

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Leviticus 19:2

We should fear and love God so that we do not make plans to steal anything or anyone that belongs to our neighbors. Indeed, we should so fear and love God that we do not even consider such a thing.

The Small Catechism – part 101

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Romans 13:9–10

The Ninth Commandment deals with craving your neighbor’s goods, those inanimate possessions of your neighbor. The Tenth Commandment speaks about lusting after living things that are your neighbor’s, whether family or not — indeed, human or not.

The Small Catechism – part 100

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Galatians 5:13

The example of Christ instructs us to serve one another. Because of his love, alive within us through the Holy Spirit, we look for opportunities to care for our neighbors, instead of seeking a chance to steal their property.

The Small Catechism – part 99

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Philippians 2:3–4

If we trust God, we are able to be interested in more than ourselves. God will take care of us, so we are freed up to take care of others.

The Small Catechism – part 98

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: 1 Timothy 6:6–8

The fear and love of God ought to constrain us from taking the property of others. The trust of God should make us content with what we have.

The Small Catechism – part 97

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: 1 Peter 4:8

There may be little worse than carrying a grudge. It lessens the life of the person holding the grudge, as well as the one for whom the grudge is held.

The Small Catechism – part 96

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Zechariah 8:16–17

We should fear God in such a way that we do not use violence to enforce his will. That is God’s prerogative. Christians are not to avenge themselves.

The Small Catechism – part 95

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: 1 Peter 4:8–9

How long would you expect people to stay at a party where the host walks around complaining about the party guests? When entertaining, one is considerate of the guests, shows interest in their lives, and even their opinions.

The Small Catechism – part 94

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 13:4–7

What if God did not think the best of us? We would be hopeless. If each time he looked at us, he thought of us as irredeemable, each time he heard us, he considered us deplorable...

The Small Catechism – part 93

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Ephesians 4:25

In the strictest sense, we should not lie to or about our Christian brothers and sisters. No honorable reason denies this charity to all others.

The Small Catechism – part 92

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: 1 Timothy 6:6

Are you content with God? Do you trust him? Do you fear him, love him? For the one who is content with God, there is no need of anything more, no need to steal from another.

The Small Catechism – part 91

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Matthew 5:42

We must read the Bible with the eyes of faith, instead of allowing feelings to interpret Scripture. Too often, passages like today’s verse leave us with a sense of guilt.

The Small Catechism – part 90

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: 2 Thessalonians 3:10

Everyone plays a part. If that part is neglected it diminishes the whole. The rest must pick up the slack, and carry the burden of feeling as though they must take care of those who refuse labor.

The Small Catechism – part 89

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Jeremiah 22:13

Our Scripture reference today was originally written about Jehoiakim, king of Judah from 609 to 598 BC. He made his citizens build his palace but did not pay them.

The Small Catechism – part 88

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Ephesians 4:28

Again, the keeping of the commandments begins with the fear and love of God. Nevertheless, we cannot perfectly keep this Sixth Commandment any more than we can perfectly love God.

The Small Catechism – part 87

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Song of Solomon 2:1, 4b

The force of the Sixth Commandment may be understood in one version of the ring vows: “with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you.”

The Small Catechism – part 86

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 6:18

Paul urges the Corinthians to flee from sexual sin. This would include fornication and adultery, to name a few. One flees something by running away.

The Small Catechism – part 85

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Colossians 3:1–3

Paul teaches us to disregard the false teachers in our lives, those who would hold any religious thing, any material or earthly thing, over our heads.

The Small Catechism – part 84

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Colossians 2:11–13

We tend to consider the Sixth Commandment only in terms of sex. Yet, unfaithfulness to one’s spouse—whether human or divine—begins in the heart.

The Small Catechism – part 83

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Romans 13:11–14

We tend to consider the Sixth Commandment only in terms of sex. Yet, unfaithfulness to one’s spouse—whether human or divine—begins in the heart.