Text: John 9:1-41

Summary: Someone can either be blind physically or metaphorically blind. In the case of our text today, the man born blind is both physically blind and spiritually blind. Jesus demonstrates the mighty works of God is showing that he has authority to heal and restore the sight of the blind. He cures both kinds of blindness. For us this means, that Jesus can and does search us out heal our spiritual blindness just like he does to the man in this text.

Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church

In this episode we discuss the next part of the service of preparation, Confession and Absolution. We have not yet even entered into worship, because we have one last thing to address in our preparation, our sin. As Christians, we know that God knows our sin and so when we are coming into his presence in the Divine Service, we confess it. God has given us a great gift in the church in the Office of the Keys so that the pastor (or messenger of the king) can speak with the authority of Jesus to forgive your sins.

In this episode we discuss the term liturgy. It is a term that has come to mean many different things to different people; in this session, we get on the same page about it. We also begin to discuss the first part of our worship service and the Sacrament that is tied to it--the gift of Holy Baptism. 

Text: John 3:1-17

Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church

What is worship? An important question for each Christian to ask. By looking at the Scriptures and the history of the Church we will see how there are two main perspectives to Christian Worship. There is the view from below-our view-and the view from above-God's view. As Lutherans, the Word of God is the guide for the norm and practice of the Christian life; that includes our worship. So the real question is, how does our God want to be worshipped? Let's find out as we begin to look at our Lutheran Theology of Worship! This first session is a general introduction to the theology of worship we confess in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

Text: Matthew 4:1-11

Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church

Text: Matthew 17:1-9

Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church

In our final session for the New Members class, we finish up our discussion of the Divine Service. The final parts of the Service of the Sacrament and the conclusion of the Divine Service in the name of God. We also covered the questions that each new member will be asked when they make their public confession to become a member of the congregation.

In this session we finish looking through the Service of the Sacrament.

Text: Matthew 5:21-37

Pastor Adam Thompson, Ascension Lutheran Church