Lutheran Reflections

The reading for this episode is Matthew 11:25-30, where Jesus tells us, "my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." We draw insights from Saint Augustine as we discuss how these verses give us comfort in an age where many are weighed down by the heavy burdens of sin and the cares of the world.

The reading for this week is Matthew 10:34-39, where Jesus says, "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword." How do we reconcile this with the many verses in the Bible that associate Jesus with peace? In what sense does Jesus "set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law"? We turn to John Chrysostom's commentary on Matthew for insight.

In this episode, we look at Romans 6:12-23 where Paul tells us, "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions." In what sense does sin often have dominion over us? If Christians must still obey the law, how is it that Paul says, "you are not under law but under grace"? We conclude with insights from Phillip Melanchthon on how the law is abrogated in terms of justification, but not obedience.

The focus of this episode is the epistle reading for the 4th Sunday after Pentecost, which is Romans 5:6-15. How is Adam a "type of the one who was to come?" If Christ's death atoned for the sins of the whole world, why are some people still not saved?

Rev. Aaron Astley joins us as we look at the epistle reading for the second Sunday after Pentecost, Romans 4:13-25. We focus most of our discussion on verse 15, which says "For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression." What law is Paul referring to here? Isn't the law binding for all people of all time? What role does conscience play in this discussion?

In this final episode of our three part series on Jesus's High Priestly Prayer, we focus on what it means for Christians to be "one as Christ and the Father are one." What is the basis for this Christian unity? Is it a common confession of faith, the elimination of denominations, or something else?

We continue our series on John 17, this week looking at verses 6-19, where Jesus prays for his disciples.

In this episode, we begin a three part series centered around John 17:1-26. Why does Jesus pray if he is God? What is the purpose of prayer for us? This and more in tonight's discussion.

In this episode, we discuss Acts 17:16-31 where Paul dialogues with the Stoics and Epicureans. What are these two ancient philosophies, and how do they compare to Christianity?

This week we look at 1 Peter 2:4-10 as we discuss what it means to be a royal priesthood. What is the priesthood of all believers, and what are the implications for the pastoral office?