St Stephen Lutheran, Liberty, Missouri
It’s very common for churches to drape the cross in their sanctuaries with white cloth during the Easter season. It reminds us that when the women arrived at the tomb that first Easter morning the only thing they found were Jesus’ burial cloths. The angel told them that Jesus was not there because he had…
Were You There?
Matthew 27:55-56 tells us that there were a group of women watching Jesus’ crucifixion from a distance: “There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the…
What Determines Where
Most of us have can remember times when we have lost things and had to go looking for them. When you are looking for something, the thing you are looking for determines where you look. If you are looking for sunshine and warm weather, you look south. If you are seeking snow and cold Minnesota…
The Gospel of John Bible Study, Part Twenty Three
Christ is risen, He is risen indeed, Alleluia! This study of the first part of John, chapter twenty, focuses on Jesus’ initial resurrection appearances. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his…
Easter Sunday, 2020
Jesus said, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly I say to you unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies it remains only a single seed but if it dies it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, but the…
Doors of the Bible, Part Eight, The Locked Doors
John 20:19–23, 26 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” [20] When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his…
When Church Buildings Burn
The recent disasters involving church buildings around the world have drawn attention to the Christian faith but not for the right reasons. Several weeks ago three historically Black churches in a small area of Louisiana were set on fire. Police have arrested a suspect who they believe is responsible for all three fires. Then the…
A Simple Explanation of Life and Death
I like Bible verses that say a lot in just a few words. 2 Corinthians 5:15 is one of those verses: “And he died for all that those who live, might no longer live for themselves but for him who, for their sakes, died and rose again.” This point of this verse is simple: Jesus…
What’s Your Favorite Resurrection Appearance?
In honor of this week’s celebration of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, I have compiled a list of my five favorite resurrection appearances. As one scholar points out, if Jesus’ resurrection was something that his disciples made up, they would have scripted the stories better, making themselves appear in a much better light.…
Mirror Neurons 