Salem Lutheran Church: A Faith Odyssey (Page 3)

Nobody is a Nobody

Romans 12:4-5 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Dear Friends in Christ, I came across an interesting article recently that…

We’re in This Together

Acts 2:32, 42-47 The Believers Share Their Possessions 32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. The Fellowship of the Believers 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and…

Finding Purpose in Pain

2 Corinthians 1:3-11 Praise to the God of All Comfort 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.…

The Causes and Cures of Discouragement, Part 2

Nehemiah 4:10-14 10 Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.” 11 Also our enemies said, “Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to…

The Causes and Cures of Discouragement, Part 1

Nehemiah 4:1-3, 10-11 Opposition to the Rebuilding 1 When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, 2 and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer…

Understanding the Bible

2 Timothy 3:14-17 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All…

The 7 Wonders of the Word

Psalm 119:89 89 Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Dear Friends in Christ, Five centimeters doesn’t seem like much, does it?  Though I’ve never quite gotten on the bandwagon known as the metric system, those of you who have will know that 5 centimeters is just shy of 2 inches. …

The Bible: Ridiculous or Believable?

2 Peter 1:21 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. Dear Friends in Christ, While I was working on this sermon I discovered something that I didn’t know before and I suspect that most of…

Is the Bible Believable?

Matthew 12:38-40 38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” 39 He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was…

The Greatest Book Ever Written

Psalm 119:105 105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Dear Friends in Christ, The crew of the HMS Bounty had had enough.  Goaded on by the cruelty of Captain Bligh, they took over the ship and they put him and his followers in a small boat and gave…