Category Archives: Bible Study

Bible Study on the Liturgy on September 2 2018

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Once a year, I explain the order of the Divine Service which is used in the Lutheran Church.  According to the Book of Concord,  “1] Falsely are our churches accused of abolishing the Mass; for the Mass is retained among 2] us, and celebrated with the highest reverence. Nearly all the usual ceremonies are also preserved, save that the parts sung in Latin are interspersed here and there with German hymns, which have been added 3] to teach the people. For ceremonies are needed to this end alone that the unlearned 4] be taught [what they need to know of Christ]”  (AC XXIV, The Mass).

This study walks through the parts of the Divine Service and explains their purpose and use.

Handout 1:  Aid-to-understanding-the-order-of-worship-in-the-Lutheran-Church.pdf
Handout 2:  Liturgy-Study-for-Sep-2-2018.pdf

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Theology Summary Bible Class Pt. 16: Attributes and States

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After a brief overview of the personal union of Christ and the communication of attributes, this study began with a test which asked the person to determine which genus applied to specific Bible passages on the handout.  Although some Bible passages clearly demonstrated only one genus, more often than not, two or even three applied.  This should not be surprising.

1 John 1:7 states, “The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.”  This passage teaches from the first genus that the blood of the human nature is the blood of the person Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  According to the second genus, the blood of the Christ possesses the the divine power to cleanse from sins.  And, finally, according to the third genus. the one saving activity of the Christ includes both natures working together conjointly.

The last part of this study examined the state of Christ’s humiliation and the state of Christ’s exaltation according to Philippians 2:6-11.  In the state of humiliation, Jesus Christ did not always and fully make use of His divine attributes.  He allowed Himself to suffer and die to take away our sins.  In the state of exaltation, Jesus fully exercises His divine majesty.

Handout 1 :  Communication-of-Attributes-August-26-2018.pdf
Handout 2A:  Comm-of-Attributes-Application-WITHOUT-ANSWERS-b.pdf
Handout 2B:  Comm-of-Attributes-Application-PAGE-1-ANSWERS.pdf

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Theology Summary Bible Study, Part 15: Communication of Attributes

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The Christ, our promised Redeemer, has both a divine nature and a human nature united in one person.  This union of two natures in the one Christ is called the personal union.  We must speak in a way so that the difference between the natures is maintained, but we must not divide the personal union nor allow one nature to hinder the presence of the other nature.

The Idiomaticum Genus – Christ has two distinct natures, human and divine, each of which has its own essential attributes, functions, and activities.  The attributes, functions, and activities of either may be ascribed to the entire Person.

The Maiestaticum Genus – When the Son of God assumed the human nature, He imparted and communicated to it divine majesty, glory, and attributes.  However, the human nature does not impart its attributes to the Divine nature so as to limit or diminish it in any way.

The Apotelesmaticum Genus – Whatever the Savior did and still does to save sinful mankind may not be ascribed to either of His natures exclusively, but must be ascribed to both natures conjointly.

[Note: Due to technical difficulties, the audio of this Bible study was not recorded.]

Handout 1: Communication-of-Attributes-August-26-2018.pdf

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Theology Summary Bible Study Pt. 14: The Human Nature and the Personal Union

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This study continues with the testimonies to Christ’s Divine nature by looking at the Scriptural accounts which speak of Jesus as “the Son of God” and describe Him as “(only) begotten.”   The heavenly Father bears witness that Jesus is His Son in Psalm 2:7 and in the words of our baptism(Mt 28:19).  When Jesus’ enemies bore witness that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God(Jn 5:18), they knew what that term meant-“…But (He) also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God” (Jn 5:18).  The word, “begotten” (Jn 1:14, 3:16, and 5:26) bears witness to the divine nature, as well.

The Scriptural testimonies to the human nature of Christ declare that He is “flesh and blood” and “like His brethren” (Hebrews 2:14-17 and 4:15).  It speaks of “the days of His (Jesus’) flesh” in which He suffered(Heb 5:7-10). There are also certain names which show forth the human nature of the Christ.  Some of those names are: “Son of Man” (Dan 7:13, Mat 1:1), “seed” or “offspring” (Gen 3:15, Fen 22:18, Gen 28:14, and 2 Sam 7;12), and “firstborn” (Mt 1:25, Col 1:15,18, and Rom 8:29) and others.

The Christ, our promised Redeemer has both a divine nature and a human nature united in one person.  This union of two natures in the one Christ is called the personal union.

Handout 1:  The-Christ-August-26-2018.pdf

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State of Confession

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This first document is a summary of all the documents, audio files, etc.
Our State of Confession Against Six Points
The Six Points (Post 2004 Convention)

The following are in timeline Order:
SID Phoenix Committee at Rend Lake, IL (January 28-29, 2003)
Phoenix Committee at Rend Lake Jan 28 2003

LCMS 2004 Convention
2004_lcms_convention_report

Four Newsletter Articles on State of Confession (August, September, October and November 2004)
Newsletter Articles on State of Confession

Contemporary Worship Bible Studies (Dec 2004 and Jan 2005)
Study One

Study Two

Study Three

State of Confession Bible Study (January 9, 2005)

Trinity’s Lay Elder’s Presentation at Greater Egypt Circuit Forum (Feb 13, 2005)

Lutherans United (March 2005)

Lutherans United March 2005d

Herrin Lay Elders at Greater Egypt Circuit 3 & 4 (June 5, 2005)
1. Brian and Tony Presentation at Circuit #3 and #4 on June

2. District President Herb Muller Response Presentation

3. Questions and Answers at Circuit #3 and #4 on June 2005

CTCR Dissent Paper (September 18, 2005)
CTCR dissent paper

Update on State of Confession (November 13, 2005)

  1. Timeline for Nov 13 2005
  2. Handouts – Crisis in the LCMS
  3. Handouts 2 Crisis in the LCMS

Southern Illinois District Convention (February 23-25, 2006)
SID Convention 2006 Wrap Up Synod Talk 1

AELLP (May 2006)
Henson Presentation at AELLP

AELP April 2006 b

Question and Answer at AELLP

Synod Talk #1 (October 22, 2006)

  1. SID Convention 2006 Wrap Up Synod Talk 1
  2. Synod Talk 1 Handouts

Synod Talk #2 (November 26, 2006)

  1. Synod Talk #2
  2. Synod Talk 2 Handouts

Synod Talk #3: 2007 Convention Preparation (January 28, 2007)

  1. Synod Talk #3
  2. Synod Talk 3 Handouts 1
  3. Eldona Tri-fold
  4. The Lutheran Herald August 2006
  5. Eldona Niles and Malone

Wallace Schultz (April 1, 2007)
The_LCMS_ITS_PAST_AND%20FUTURE_Revised_4_3

Lutheran Church–MIssouri Synod Convention 2007 (July 15-19, 2007)

  1. Overtures Letter 1 31 2007
  2. Lay Ministry Overture 1
  3. Unionsim Syncretism Overture 2
  4. Structure Overture 3
  5. Structure Overture 4
  6. Structure Overture 5
  7. Structure Overture 6
  8. Women Overture 7
  9. Closed Communion 8
  10. Contemporary Worship Overture 9
  11. State of Confession Overture 10
  12. Overtures Letter 6 25 2007
  13. Letter Jun 27_2007
  14. X8 11 02 and X2 01 05A

Synod Talk #4: Post 2007 LCMS Convention Update (July 22, 2007)

  1. July 2007 Newsletter 4 pages
  2. Synod Talk 4 handouts
  3. Presuppositions of the LCMS 2007 Convention g
  4. Final Report on Six Points of Dissent 2007d
  5. Evaluation of 2007 Synodical Convention

Leaving the LCMS (August 19-20, 2007)

  1. Letter to leave Synod
  2. Henson Letter to leave Synod
  3. Harroun Letter to leave Synod

Free Conference in Oregon, “Called to Confess”  (April/May? 2008)
Part 1

Part 2

Free Conference January 28-29, 2009
Paper: Satis Iam – Enough Already!

Refuting Objective Justification

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The Norwegian Narrative

The above paper was presented in 2014 as an evaluation of H. A. Preus’ Doctrine of Objective Justification.

————-

The first video (On November 9, 2014) in the Refuting Objective Justification Series.

This is the PDF of the overheads and handouts for the class:  Documents for Class 1 Nov 9 2014p

 

The second video:

Documents for Class 2 Nov 16 2014p

The third video:

Documents for Class 3 Nov 23 2014p

The fourth video:

Documents for Class 4 Nov 30 2014p

The fifth video:

Documents for Class 5 Dec 7 2014p

The sixth video:

Documents for Class 6 Dec 14 2014p

The seventh video:

Documents for Class 7 Dec 21 2014p

The eighth video:

Documents for Class 8 Dec 28 2014p

 

The ninth video:

Documents for Class 9 Jan 4 2015

The tenth video:

Documents for Class 10 Jan 11 2015p

The eleventh video:

Documents for Class 11 Jan 18 2015p

The twelfth video:

Documents for Class 12 Jan 25 2015p

The thirteenth video:

Documents for Class 13 Feb 1 2015p

The fourteenth video:

Documents for Class 14 Feb 8 2015p

The fifteenth video:

Documents for Class 15 Feb 15 2015p

The sixteenth video:

Documents for Class 16 Feb 22 2015p

The seventeenth video:

Documents for Class 17 Mar 1 2015p

The eighteenth (and last) video:

Documents for Class 18 Mar 2 2015p

Unedited #1

 

Unedited #2

 

Unedited #3

 

Theology Summary Bible Study, Pt. 13: The Divine Christ

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In this study, St. John (1:1-3) uses “Word” (Logos) to describe the Second Person of the Trinity. The Word describes the Christ before creation, and thus, it is a reference to His divine nature. It is not until verse 14, that we hear of Christ’s incarnation saying “the Word became flesh.”

Continually, we are forced to  hold our reason captive. The Word is described as “with God” indicating a distinction, and then with the words “was God” indicating no distinction. In Colossians 1:15-16, the Christ is “the image of the invisible God,” which is quite contradictory to human reason. Furthermore, the Christ is described as “the brightness of His glory” and  “the exact image of His person”(Hebrews 1:1-3). Those who wish to know the Father must look to the Christ.  Jesus said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).

Handout: The Christ Aug 12 2018

[Note: Picture of Divine Savior Lutheran Church, Niwot, CO]

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The Flood Bible Study

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The world-wide flood and the saving of Noah and his family in an ark is an historical event (Gen 6-9).  The Lord was grieved at the general wickedness of man.  This widespread corruption  is seen in the actions of Cain’s descendants (Gen. 4:17-24).  In contrast, the descendants of Seth (Gen 4:25-5:32) give us a description of the church and her righteous-by-faith members.  Like Noah, those who trust in God for salvation through the promise of the Savior are declared righteous and find favor with God.

Our Lord Jesus Christ warns us that that the destruction worked by the flood is a sign to warn us of God’s judgment upon unbelievers at the return of the Son of Man (Mt 24:36-39).  Until that day comes, we see the Divine long-suffering and kindness of God in showing mercy(Isaiah 54:7-10), and inviting to salvation.  Our Triune God is continuing to send out preachers to direct us, Noah’s descendants, to the water of Holy Baptism, which saves by uniting us with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 3:18-22).  Thus the account of the ark also comforts believers that “the Lord knows how to deliver  the godly out of temptations” (2 Peter 2:4-10).  The ark is a sign of God’s promised means of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Handout: Noah-and-Flood-Aug-5-2018.pdf

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Creation/Evolution Bible Study

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The Bible is not a science book, nor is it designed with the purpose of presenting to us scientific principles, nevertheless, where the Bible speaks of creation it always tells the truth. The Triune God created the world in six normal days as described by Genesis, chapter one.  Both theistic evolution and atheistic evolution deny the inerrancy of the Holy Scriptures and the truth of the doctrines it presents. Even more importantly, evolution negates the need for Christ’s atonement for sin.

Handout: Creation-Evolution-July-29-2018.pdf
Answers to the Line of the Promise Handout: Answers-Line-of-Promise-July-29-2018.pdf

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Theology Summary Bible Class, Pt.12: Helpful Observations

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Class #12:  This week we  examined a host of Bible passages which bear witness to our one God and three persons.  Applying the rules we learned concerning the internal and external works of  the Trinity, we went through some useful and helpful observations that can help us in clearly speaking about the Holy Trinity–so that we neither confound the persons, nor divide the substance.

Handout: opera ad extra and opera ad intra July 15
Handout 2: Trinity and Unity Heresies July 15 (yellow sheet)
[Picture: Pr. Henson in front of Christ Lutheran Church (Richmond, MO)

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