May « 2009 « St. Mark's Lutheran

A Man who fell among robbers

By Parson Brown, on 3:43 pm%

Luke 10:25-37

The text is (or should be) well known. It is the Good Samaritan. One of the roles of parables is to get us thinking about the relationship between God, the kingdom and us. We have heard this parable over and over and know that it is a moral tale. Go and do . . . → Read More: A Man who fell among robbers

What form of Christian Worship? – discussion in the comments & American Idol

By Parson Brown, on 2:40 pm%

I’ve been having a good back and forth in the comments with “orthodox protestant” – part of it over the role of music in worship. Dennis and I for the 4th Sunday’s (last Sunday didn’t count becuase it was Memorial Day which overrides other elements) have been searching though “modern” music. By modern we . . . → Read More: What form of Christian Worship? – discussion in the comments & American Idol

The edge of the cliff

By Parson Brown, on 11:57 am%

Text: Hebrews 6:1-12

Hebrews is not a book for the lighthearted or the new Christian. Its argument is the centrality and sufficiency of Jesus Christ and it assumes a large background of knowledge about the OT and How God interacted with his people. The ultimate purpose as I’ve read it is to argue apathetic or . . . → Read More: The edge of the cliff

Christian Worship – What is its purpose? What is its form?

By Parson Brown, on 7:38 pm%

“Orthodox Protestant” in the comments has asked a few great questions. (You can see more of them on the comments toolbar.) The most recent was this.

So,,,is the purpose of worship for the people of God to assemble corporately to hear the gospel preached, confess our sins and partake of the sacraments? Or . . . → Read More: Christian Worship – What is its purpose? What is its form?

Sermon – Memorial Day – Two Kingdoms

By Parson Brown, on 5:47 pm%

Full Text

This is a sermon that I am probably too proud of. I have the feeling that is was a pastor’s sermon – that I was communicating with myself, but not too many others. But even with that, I still like it and here is why – it offers something for the head, the . . . → Read More: Sermon – Memorial Day – Two Kingdoms

Mother’s Day Sermon

By Parson Brown, on 5:23 pm%

Full Text

Catching up from a new baby and a week of . . . → Read More: Mother’s Day Sermon

Back from Vacation to meet the “Living Creatures”

By Parson Brown, on 2:20 pm%

Text: Ezekiel 1:1-4, Ezekiel 1:24-28

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I read the Scriptures and just fundamentally go, “huh?!?! What the Heck do I do with that?” It is not just the OT either, but some scenes in the NT like this one – Luke 22:36-38. No other gospel writer records the . . . → Read More: Back from Vacation to meet the “Living Creatures”

The Value of Sunday School Teachers

By Parson Brown, on 2:48 pm%

Filling Sunday School Teacher rolls is always the toughest. (A great big thank you goes out to Nancy C., Ethel Louise K. and my wife Ellen this year, along with Jay and Judy for sub’ing)

This link goes to a . . . → Read More: The Value of Sunday School Teachers

Biblical Inerrency

By Parson Brown, on 3:19 pm%

John Bayer asks in the comments –
“…Also, Raymond Brown is criticized by tradionalists for denying Biblical inerrancy. Is this criticism unfounded? What is the Lutheran view and particularly what is Parson Brown’s position on Biblical inerrancy…”

To the first question, the criticism is not unfounded. Raymond Brown absolutely would deny a tradionalist statement of . . . → Read More: Biblical Inerrency

All of Gaul is divided into three parts….

By Parson Brown, on 11:53 am%

Text: Colossians 1:15-23

The title is an uber-geek joke. Julius Ceasar’s Gallic Wars began with that phrase, and ever since it has been fashionable to divide things into three parts. Faith, Hope and Charity. Past, Present and Future. The three point sermon/speach. Three branches of civil government. Body, mind and spirit. . . . → Read More: All of Gaul is divided into three parts….

St. Mark's Lutheran