March-April 2022

In the recounting of the passion of Jesus, we are confronted with many theological questions like: “Are you the Christ?” (Matthew 26:63); “Is it I, Lord?” (vv. 22, 25); “What is truth?” (John 18:38). They came from believers and unbelievers alike. Even Jesus posed some: “Have you not read … ‘I am the God of Abraham, … of Isaac … of Jacob?’ He is … [Read more...] about To Know As I Am Known

Read Mark 16:1-8 Most often when a thing is empty, it isn’t cause for excitement. When the gas tank is empty, we’re desperate for a gas station or, worse, we’re stranded. When the pantry is empty, we’re scrambling to find food. No one throws a party for an empty bank account. It’s not that these women at the Easter tomb wanted Jesus to … [Read more...] about The Joy of Empty

Question: Romans 2:15 states: “They [Gentiles who do not have the law] demonstrate the work of the law that is written in their hearts, since their conscience also bears witness as their thoughts go back and forth, at times accusing or at times even defending them” (EHV). This passage indicates that the conscience relates to matters of God’s Law … [Read more...] about Pastor, I Have a Question – March-April, 2022

The church names, sounding so much alike, are often confused. When reduced to their popular abbreviations, ELS and ELCA, the confusion only grows. Peeling back the covers, we can see some important similarities and some even more important differences. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is the largest Lutheran church body in the … [Read more...] about The Evangelical Lutheran Synod & the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: What’s the Difference?

The phone rang at Lois Jaeger’s desk in the Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center. On the other end of the line was a local Lutheran pastor (not of our fellowship). He was trying to track down an obscure old hymn that an elderly member had requested for her funeral. The pastor thought someone at Bethany may have heard of it: “Like the Golden Sun … [Read more...] about Songs Out of Zion: Like the Golden Sun Ascending

When we share with others about our sinfulness and the need for a Savior from sin, we are sharing what the Bible teaches. Sometimes people wonder in our modern age why we should even be concerned about the Bible or its worldview. Given all the other sacred texts and religious traditions out there, why turn to or trust the Bible? It’s a question … [Read more...] about A Supernatural Mark Attesting the Scriptures!