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.
Study & Share Insert
...#1 Consider other parables with “wicked slaves” Matthew 24:45-51 & 25:14-30. What do these slaves have in common? Selfishness? Laziness? Pride? Fear? Ruthlessness? Instrumentality? Exploitation? Reduction to potential? Hint: look for themes, parallel ideas, inversions, reversals, similarities, extensions, metaphors, actions, vocabulary, grammar, etc.
Dress for Success Romans 13:8-14
Clothes make the man, so put on Christ
Current Series: Extra-Ordinary Life
Marvel and be amazed at God’s work in plain old everyday life
Study & Share Insert
...#4 Romans 13:8, along with Proverbs 11:25, 17:18, 22:7, 26, 28:20, are favorite verses about debt with Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University (which St. Peter is hosting, starts 09.17.23). How does coveting play into the hands of debt (v9)? How does contentment guard against coveting? See Genesis 2:5-9, 15-17; Corinthians 12:10; Philippians 4:11; 1 Timothy 6:6-8; Hebrews 13:5; FPU available tinyurl.com/FPU44A310
Be an Influencer Romans 12:9-21
God’s glory is not found in clicks, but when good overcomes evil
Current Series: Extra-Ordinary Life
Marvel and be amazed at God’s work in plain old everyday life
Study & Share Insert
...#1 Compare Romans 12:9-21 (esp. vv14, 17, 18, 21) with the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). How well does St. Paul’s teaching fit with Jesus’? Hint: look for themes, parallel ideas, inversions, reversals, similarities, extensions, metaphors, actions, vocabulary, grammar, etc.
The One and the Many Romans 12:1-8
Only Christianity offers the world a truly diverse and united witness
Current Series: Extra-Ordinary Life
Marvel and be amazed at God’s work in plain old everyday life
Study & Share Insert
...#1 Romans & 1 Corinthians have many common themes including the “body of Christ” motif. Compare & contrast them. See 1 Corinthians 12:1-27. Hint: look for themes, parallel ideas, inversions, reversals, similarities, extensions, metaphors, actions, vocabulary, grammar, etc. Hint 2 one difference: Romans considers Jews & Gentiles, while 1 Corinthians considers rich & poor.
…Of His Blessing Psalm 67
With his love & power God blesses us beyond measure- & we praise him for it!
Current Series: Divine Mystery
We may not understand everything about God, but we know he is always faithful
Study & Share Insert
...#1 How does God judge the people, or what is the basis for his judgment? See Micah 6:1-8; Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 10:17-20; John 3:14-21; Romans 3:23-25, 8:31-39; 1 Peter 2:12; Revelation 20:11-15
…Of His Power Job 38:1, 4-18
A glimpse of God’s power reassures Job- and us- of his work and deliverance in everyday life
Current Series: Divine Mystery
We may not understand everything about God, but we know he is always faithful
Study & Share Insert
...#1 How does God’s response fit with Job’s earlier words? See 9:7, 16:3, 23:3-7, 33:14-17. How does God’s appearance compare to these other theophanies? See Exodus 19:16; 1 Kings 19:12; 2 Kings 2:1; Psalm 18:12-14; Zechariah 9:14; hint: check surrounding verses for context
Kingdom's Weeds Matthew 13:44-52
The King knows what’s worth it, and he’s not afraid to spend for it
Current Series: Whose Kingdom Is It?
How God gathers his people in
Study & Share Insert
...#2 What does Philippians 2:5-11 add to vv44-46? How could the baptized Body of Christ be a treasure or pearl? See Psalm 8:4-8, 103:1-5; Matthew 6:25-33, 10:31; John 3:16-17; Romans 5:6-11; Revelation 21:2; Small Catechism: Creed, article 2, available bookofconcord.org
Kingdom's Weeds Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
Certain methods of weed control harm the good crop, too; better go easy
Current Series: Whose Kingdom Is It?
How God gathers his people in
Study & Share Insert
...#5 We grant that church on earth will always have bad people, false believers, & the like mixed in (not to mention people who act foolishly). How does this reality make your own holiness & godliness even more important for the sake of your neighbors? See 1 Timothy 6:17-19; Hebrews 13:16; James 4:17; 1 Peter 3:13-17; Apology (defense) of the Augsburg Confession: VII-VIII, availablebookofconcord.org
Kingdom's Seeds Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
You just never know where you’ll find good soil, so the King wants to plant far and wide
Current Series: Whose Kingdom Is It?
How God gathers his people in
Study & Share Insert
...#3 What is unsettling & uncomfortable about this parable? See Matthew 3:10, 7:19, 23:1-39, 25: 31-46; John 5:24, 37-47, 8:31-47
