This is Pastor Jared's weekly sermon info and his weekly Study and Share devotional Bible study. Unless otherwise noted all sermons and studies are copyright Jared Stillions 2020-2023. The devotional Bible studies may be reproduced & shared for personal, non-sale use, provided this copyright notice is included. The studies are formatted two to a page to make sharing it easier. Weekly posts go live at 9:00 AM on Sundays.
You can find his sermon podcast on the sermon-cast page. Check back each Sunday for new content. The podcast will soon be listed with major services. Why not put them on the same page? Due to limitations of our website builder.
By the way, here's the Lutheran Confessions, The Book of Concord, online and in the public domain. These writings, including Luther's Small & Large Catechisms are frequently referenced in these devotional studies. The Confessions are the historic doctrinal standard of the Lutheran Church and a faithful exposition of the Bible. You could say they are squared, leveled, and plumb by and to the Bible itself.
Empowered for Mission Acts Acts 1:12-26
Let us repent of our sin, give thanks for the Holy Spirit, & boldly proclaim the Good News!
Current Series: Forged by the Spirit
Resurrection Power Births a Church
Study & Share Insert
...#1 Review the Apostles’ Creed in the Small & Large Catechisms to understand who the Holy Spirit is & what he does. Do you notice anything unreasonable or unintelligible about him or his work? Is he pure emotion or energy? See John 15:26-27, 16:12-15; SC, LC availablebookofconcord.org
Raising Up xxLeadersxx Followers Acts Acts 1:12-26
I guess you just had to be there.
Current Series: Forged by the Spirit
Resurrection Power Births a Church
Study & Share Insert
...#2 Theologians speak of different modes of Jesus’ real presence: historical (his annunciation to his ascension); sacramental (i.e. Holy Communion); & mystical (baptized Body of Christ). How does his Ascension help explain each one? Hints: Where did his resurrected historical body go? Is “the right hand of the Father” an actual physical place limited to the laws our universe of time & space? See Formula of Concord: Epitome VIII, available bookofconcord.org
A Day in the Life Acts Acts 2:42-47
How do we actually live day-to-day with fellow believers in everyday life?
Current Series: Forged by the Spirit
Resurrection Power Births a Church
Study & Share Insert
...#2 Consider Luke 24:44-48, (49-52), 53. How does the Acts reading demonstrate what Jesus tells them? Consider also Luke’s “great songs” (1:46-55, 67-79, 2:29-32); how are they coming true in Acts? How are they still coming true today in your congregation?
Witness unto Death Acts Acts 6:1-9, 7:2a, 51-60
God who sent us His Son to show us the way through death to new life
Current Series: Forged by the Spirit
Resurrection Power Births a Church
Study & Share Insert
...#1 Consider 2:42-47, 4:32-35; what is on the cusp of happening? (See also 1 Tim 5:3-16.) What does St. John add (1 John 4:20)? How about St. Paul (1 Corinthians 11:17-22; Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:11)? How does focusing on the Word bring harmony & heal division? See John 8:31
Mission Never Stops Acts 5:29-42
God uses the world’s persecution to make every church stronger
Current Series: Forged by the Spirit
Resurrection Power Births a Church
Study & Share Insert
...#1 What does Jesus have to say about his followers & suffering? See Matthew 10:16-22, 24:9-14; Mark 13:9-13; Luke 6:22-23, 21:12-17; John 15:18-25; Revelation 2:1--3:22
Co-Mission-ed John 20:19-31
Jesus send us, equipped with the Holy Spirit, to spread the gospel wherever we are.
Current Series: Forged by the Spirit
Resurrection Power Births a Church
Study & Share Insert
...#4 The resurrection of the (actual, physical, human) body is an essential belief of Christianity. However, it’s impossible for us to truly know what those resurrected bodies freed from the corruptions of sin, death, & evil, will be like. (IOW we have to wait & see.) How does St. Paul show that our bodies are already being renewed? See Romans 6:4-22, esp. v13, 12:1; Colossians 3:5-10; 1 Peter 4:2-3, 7-11
Our Lord's Resurrection Matthew 28:1-10
Tell everyone you know about salvation through His death & resurrection
Current Series: Forged by the Spirit
Resurrection Power Births a Church
Study & Share Insert
...#1 Review the “Passion Predictions” referenced in v6: Matthew 16:21-28, 17:22-23, 20:17-19, 26:1-2 (see also 1 Corinthians 15:3-4). How do they shed light on the following Old Testament passages which model/prophesy/suggest the Messiah’s resurrection? Genesis 3:15, 22:1-18 (cf. Hebrews 11:17-19); Psalm 2:7 (cf. Acts 13:33), 16:1-11 (cf. Acts 2:25-28, 13:35-37), 22:1-31 esp. vv14-15, 25-27, 40:1-3, 110:1; Job 14:4, 19:25-26; Isaiah 53:8-10; Hosea 6:2; Zechariah 12:10; Jonah 1:17 (cf. Matthew 12:40)
Redemptive Suffering
Isaiah 50:4-9a
The Body of Christ bears his life-giving cross together with one another.
Current Series: Death & Resurrection
Daily dying and rising
Study & Share Insert
...#1 Read the other “servant songs” from Isaiah. The context is the Babylonian Exile (500s BC); what do you think is going on with this servant? See Isaiah 42:1-4, 49:1-6, 52:13-53:12; see also 61:1-3; John 12:37-41. Hint: use a study Bible, Wikipedia, & a Bible commentary, if you have one
Wind Blown John 3:1-17
Just as we never know where the wind comes from or goes, so the Spirit works in our lives to direct us in unexpected ways.
Current Series: Death & Resurrection
Daily dying and rising
Study & Share Insert
...#God the Holy Spirit is a person, not an emotion or feeling or force (cf. John 14:25–26; 15:26–27; 16:7–15; Acts 5:1-5; 1 Corinthians 2:10, 6:19, 12:4-7; Ephesians 4:30; 2 Peter 1:21). How does this realization help you connect with others who think (erroneously) a song or an experience or even empathy is the Holy Spirit?
