Instruction for those new to the Lutheran tradition or who want a refresher on the basics of the Christian faith. Offered annually in the weeks leading up to Lent.

2025 Class One, Part 2 deals with a brief history of Christianity--from the Birth of Jesus through the Reformation.

Instruction for those new to the Lutheran tradition or who want a refresher on the basics of the Christian faith. Offered annually in the weeks leading up to Lent.

2025 Class One, Part 1 deals with a brief history of Christianity--from Creation to the Birth of Jesus.

Grace and peace to you in Christ. Today, we explored the profound religiousness and piety evident in the lives of biblical figures such as Elkanah, Hannah, Joseph, Mary, Simeon, and Anna, who all demonstrated deep devotion through their adherence to scriptural mandates, participation in liturgical practices, and personal sacrifices. This theme of devout religious practice continues robustly into the New Testament and the early Christian church, emphasizing not a rejection of religion, but a fulfillment and continuation of devout practices in new, spiritually enriched forms. We discussed the modern tension between being "spiritual but not religious" and how this contrasts sharply with the scriptural depiction of faith, which includes communal and liturgical expressions alongside personal belief. Jesus himself modeled this integration of faith and practice, participating fully in religious life, emphasizing that true religion involves acts of mercy, piety, and devotion. Thus, we are called not to abandon religious practices but to embrace and deepen them as expressions of our faith and pathways to divine communion, reflecting the heavenly worship we hope to join.

Pastor Rhode warns of the dangers of spiritual individualism, particularly the "Jesus and me" mindset, which isolates faith from the church community and pastoral authority. He critiques this self-centered approach, linking it to broader cultural narcissism and disordered love. Instead, the sermon upholds St. Paul's teaching that the church is a God-ordained, communal body with appointed shepherds (pastors) who guide the flock. True Christian faith is outwardly directed--toward God, the church, and fellow believers--rather than being self-curved inward. We are called to return to the church's historical and biblical structure, rejecting individualism in favor of the communal life of faith.

In Jesus' first miracle at the wedding in Cana, He turns water into wine. The central theme is how Jesus' presence brings unexpected joy, transformation, and abundance. Where Christ is, sorrow is turned into blessing, sin into forgiveness, and lack into divine provision.

Mary's role is an example of persistent faith, urging the servants to trust Jesus, even when His response seems delayed. Pastor draws a parallel between the miracle at Cana and the ultimate purpose of Christ's coming--His sacrifice on the cross. Just as He turned water into wine, He later turns wine into His blood, offering salvation to humanity.

The abundance of wine points us to God's lavish grace, showing that His gifts are not just sufficient but overflowing. This miracle prefigures the final transformation believers will undergo--being made into the likeness of God, moving from sinners to saints.

Ultimately, this is a message of hope. Though the process of transformation may seem slow, God is always at work. At the right time, He will bring ultimate joy, just as He saved the best wine for last. Likewise, He is saving the best for His people, revealing His glory fully in eternity.

Life's overwhelming challenges are likened to drowning in relentless waves, reflecting the human experience of sin, despair, and the chaos of a fallen world. Biblical imagery often portrays water as both life-giving and perilous, symbolizing spiritual struggles and God's presence. The story of Jonah illustrates human rebellion, repentance, and divine rescue, foreshadowing Christ's redemptive work.

Jesus' baptism signifies His descent into the depths of sin and death on humanity's behalf, fulfilling righteousness and opening heaven to believers. His immersion in the Jordan foreshadows His journey through death to resurrection. Just as Jonah was saved by a great fish, Christ becomes the ultimate Savior, descending into death to raise us to new life. Through baptism, believers are united with Christ in His death and resurrection, assured of salvation and the open path to eternal life with God.

Jesus Christ is King! His universal kingship stands in contrast to the limited reign of earthly rulers like Herod and politicians today. Pastor Rhode highlights that Christ's kingdom is public and all-encompassing, shaping every aspect of life, including politics, rather than being restricted to personal or private spheres. Rooted in His sacrifice on the cross, Christ's reign redeems humanity from sin and death. Believers are called to worship Him as King, offering their lives in faith and receiving forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Within the Church, they find peace, joy, and the honor of partaking in His eternal kingdom under His sovereign rule.

Trinitarian theology is evident in both the Old and New Testaments, revealing the unity and distinction within the Holy Trinity--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Drawing from Isaiah's prophecy, Pastor Rhode highlights the Spirit resting upon Christ, fulfilled at Jesus' baptism, where the Father, Son, and Spirit are distinctly present, marking the beginning of Christ's public ministry as the Anointed One.

Simeon and Anna serve as models of faith and devotion, recognizing Jesus as the salvation of God, given freely and received by faith. Simeon's prophecy reveals Jesus as a divisive figure, with humanity split into those who accept Him, or reject Him. Listeners are challenged to fully commit to Christ, drawing strength from these examples of devotion and zeal for God.

In Holy Communion, believers experience the same divine gift Simeon held, uniting them with Christ and the life of the Trinity, affirming forgiveness, salvation, and eternal joy in God's presence.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. No one has ever seen God the Father--not Adam in the garden, not Abraham by the terebinth trees, not Moses on Mount Sinai. Every encounter humanity has had with God throughout history has been with the Son, Jesus Christ. He is the visible expression of the invisible God, the One who makes the Father known.

Jesus is the answer to all our questions about God: What is He like? What are His intentions toward us? In Jesus, the answer is clear. God's Word to us is not judgment or condemnation but salvation and life. The name Jesus itself means Savior, and He embodies the Father's will to forgive our sins and bring life to the dead.

The light of Jesus overcomes all darkness, within us and around us. His life conquers death--spiritual and physical--and transforms even the grave into the gateway to eternal life. Jesus is so fully life that death itself is stripped of its power, reduced to a means of drawing us closer to Him.

From the manger to the cross, from His baptism to His resurrection, Jesus is the Word of God made flesh. He preaches, heals, suffers, dies, and rises to fulfill the Father's will, and now reigns at the Father's side. Wherever believers gather in His name, He is there, offering the life and light that only He can give.

This Christmas Day, amid whatever darkness or sorrow may cling to us, the Father's Word to us remains the same: Jesus. Jesus is our life, our light, and our eternal hope. In Him, we see the Father's heart and are invited into His everlasting love.

The angels sang joyfully at the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came to earth to bring peace, forgiveness, and salvation to humanity. They joined in a heavenly chorus to celebrate the profound significance of God becoming man, the humble birth of Jesus, and the peace and goodwill He offers to the world.

God's love and forgiveness are freely given to all, regardless of their circumstances, and He patiently transforms believers into the likeness of His Son. The angels' proclamation, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men," encapsulates the heart of the Gospel: through Jesus, God has pursued humanity even in our darkest moments, offering peace that surpasses understanding and the opportunity for all to become His children.

God delights in forgiving sins and welcoming sinners into His family through faith in Christ, no matter how unworthy they may feel. This message of hope and redemption continues to shine as a testament to God's boundless mercy and grace.