Class #7 : The beginning(1:1-5) of St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians is a preview of his entire epistle. He brings up his apostolic call, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Gospel message promising the blessings of the atonement, and the Father’s will that we believe the Gospel message.
Overheads: Galatians Overheads Class 7
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Class #6 : The beginning of a letter includes the writer, the recipient, and words of greeting. In Galatians, St. Paul gives a lengthy defense of his apostolic call, a bare bones description of the recipients, and an extended greeting/blessing. In this class, we learn about (1) the resurrection as short hand for the gospel, (2) the importance of keeping the Father with the Son, and (3) how the Christian faith can be summed up with the words “grace and peace.”
Overheads: Galatians Overheads for Class 6
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Class #5 : The divine call (see podcast parts 3 and 4) places a man into the office of the ministry. The Lutheran Confessions refer to the office of the ministry in Augsburg Confession, Article 5. Article 5 is not a generic functional view of the Gospel and the sacraments, but a concrete reference to the Pastoral Office. Later on article 14 clearly teaches that only those with a regular call should publicly exercise the duties of the office of the ministry.
Those who license men (lay ministers or licensed lay deacons) to perform the duties of the office have a different theology from the Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions. Just as St. Paul magnifies his office, so today’s pastors and people need the assurance that God has called a man into the office of the ministry and intends to use him to create and strengthen faith in Jesus Christ.
Overheads: Galatians Overheads for class 5
Includes web address for video(1:13 to 6:15) I showed to the class.
Augsburg Confession Quotes
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Class #4: A call is not determined to be divine because of some inner emotional experience or heartfelt desire of the person. The call is divine because it comes from God–either directly (immediately from God as it did in the case of prophets and apostles, including St. Paul), or indirectly (mediately from God, by means of the congregation, Acts 20:28, to whom God has given the command to place a man into the pastoral office, 2 Tim. 2:2). For New Testament churches, the divine call (1) comes from the congregation (2) for Word and Sacrament and (3) is not time limited (not licensed).
In Galatians 1:1, St. Paul explains that he did not have a non-divine call (humanly determined), nor did he have a divine call which was mediately given through a congregation, as do today’s pastors. St. Paul was an apostle through an immediate divine call from God!
Handout: Galatians Overheads class 3
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Class #3: In Galatians 1:1, St. Paul is holding up his divine apostolic call, saying, “Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father…).” In order to better understand the reason that St. Paul would magnify his call, we are taking an excursus through the Scriptural doctrine of the Divine Call, this week and next week. All Christians (as members of the priesthood of believers) have a general call to proclaim the Gospel (Rom 10:9) and speak the Word of God in their vocation(Col 3:16). Nevertheless, in order to perform the public ministry of Word and Sacrament in the church, a divine call into the Office of the ministry is required(Rom 10:15, Heb 5:4). In this lesson, we begin to define and illustrate the divine call into the Office of the Ministry.
Handout: Galatians Overheads class 3
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Class #2: St. Paul’s greeting to the Galatians begins with (1) an abrupt defense of his divine apostolic call, followed by (2) a bare bones reference to the recipients, and (3) an extended blessing. The origin of St. Paul’s apostleship is not from (apo) men, meaning that the source of his call is human and not divine. Furthermore, St. Paul’s apostleship is not a mediate divine call by means (dia) of a Christian congregation, but is an immediate divine call directly from God (Acts 9). St. Paul was called by (dia) the risen Christ and the source of his Gospel is God Himself.
Handout: Galatians Bible Study class 1 and Galatians Overhead Class 2
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This is the wedding sermon for Benjamin and Christina Henson at Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL) on June 11, 2016.
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Introduction to Galatians: After taking the summer off, it’s time to return to podcasting our Adult Bible Class. This class introduces the author, recipients, time and themes of the book of Galatians. A cursory look is given toward the Judaizers and the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15).
PDF Handout: Galatians Bible Study class 1
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Solomon teaches that success lies only in the hands of God. We are given to do our work in the present, but we cannot control the future. He tells us that we should receive a quiet and peaceful heart and commit everything to God. Some fools respond by saying, “Then let us do no work.” When Solomon teaches us to reject our counsels and anxieties, but to do the work, then fools either fall into despair or become prideful. When their plans are thwarted they despair. When their plans succeed they become presumptuous.
Similarly, the Gospel teaches an alien righteousness earned by the merit of Jesus Christ and freely received by faith. The fool responds, “Then let us not do any good works. If faith is sufficient, let us sin.” When we teach about the fruits of faith and true good works, the fool trusts in them for salvation.
Solomon attempts to teach about the meaningful life of the Christian, who gives thanks for the gift of salvation. He is not concerned about the future, but is content with his present vocation. The grace of God provides an abundance of gifts, including daily provisions and satisfaction in the work of his daily vocation(Eccl 2:24-25).
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When Solomon says that man’s labor under the sun is meaningless, he is not speaking about the work of our vocation, which God has given man to do. Solomon is speaking about man’s toil and striving apart from God (or even against God’s will). Everything which God has made is good. It is the misuse of God’s gifts in accordance with our sinful desires that is meaningless. Not only will we fail to accomplish what God has not willed, but we will afflict ourselves with trouble. In Matthew 6:19-34, Jesus teaches His disciples to seek first Christ’s kingdom. With salvation secured through the merit of Christ, we know that God is working out everything for our good. This gift of God makes us content and at peace, without care and anxiety for the future, which is in God’s hands. Solomon teaches us to remain and find enjoyment in the Word and work of God.
Overheads: Overheads Lesson 2 May 15 2016
Handouts: The Three Books of Solomon, Luther’s Prefaces to the Book of Ecclesiastes
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