Is forgiveness the same as erasing of a debt?

We wrap up our season on the first chapters of Paul's letter to the Romans, focusing on Romans 4:16-25.  Turns out that the God we've come to know in the cross of Jesus Christ is interested in something far more grand than simply canceling debts...

Why were the police called to our church cemetery?  Good question!  Listen to the podcast and find out.

This week's episode though is about neither cemeteries or police officers.  Rather, in this week's episode we examine the major social boundary in the early church - the boundary between Jews and Gentile converts.  How Paul and the early church address this says a great deal about boundaries, faith communities and the universal love of Jesus. 

The specific passage comes from Romans 4 (1:1-12, with some verses cut).

If you've ever been given a tract on the streets about Jesus, it like uses verses from Romans 3 to tell you a story that goes like this

You are a bad person

God is mad at you and wants to punish you

God loves you though and so he sent his son Jesus to take your deserved beating

You must believe this to actualize the substitution of your penalty onto Jesus

A look at why this is not what Paul's argument is about in Romans 3.

The Ponder Anew Podcast looks at the ancient words and stories of Scripture, pondering anew their meaning for today.

Is God both merciful and just?  As Paul continues to build his argument about who God is and what God has done for us, he leans heavily into the justice of God (Romans 2:3-16).  Can we have a just and merciful God?  How do we see justice and grace playing themselves out in this passage?  While this passage alone doesn't answer this question, it points us in a direction worth exploring.

Summer means a few things:  Fireflies, fireworks and fantastic photos of nature.  Lovely, right!!  In this podcast, we continue in Romans 1, considering the things of summer:  creation and independence day.  And oh yes, of course, God's revealed glory and wrath too.

We start a new season of the podcast here, looking at Paul's Letter to the Romans.  Pastor Rob explains why he was reluctant to look at this book of the Bible...but why reading "A Man Called Ove" on a long plane ride convinced him he had no choice!

What’s the Buzz? Episode 4.

For the month of May, the Ponder Anew Podcast features the children of St. Paul Lutheran in Lititz.  If even if you are not a part of this congregation, you will find the perspective of the children fascinating and inspiring!

For each episode, Deacon Emily Myallis leads the children in a conversation about how they experience different elements of worship.  For this fourth episode, the aspect of worship is "Praying."

The “What’s the Buzz” season title comes from the phrase that that Deacon Emily uses to focus the conversation: “May we BEE _____”; the phrase this week is “May we BEE filled."

What’s the Buzz? Episode 4.

For the month of May, the Ponder Anew Podcast features the children of St. Paul Lutheran in Lititz.  If even if you are not a part of this congregation, you will find the perspective of the children fascinating and inspiring!

For each episode, Deacon Emily Myallis leads the children in a conversation about how they experience different elements of worship.  For this fourth episode, the aspect of worship is "Praying."

The “What’s the Buzz” season title comes from the phrase that that Deacon Emily uses to focus the conversation: “May we BEE _____”; the phrase this week is “May we BEE filled."

What’s the Buzz? Episode 3.

For the month of May, the Ponder Anew Podcast features the children of St. Paul Lutheran in Lititz.  If even if you are not a part of this congregation, you will find the perspective of the children fascinating and inspiring!

For each episode, Deacon Emily Myallis leads the children in a conversation about how they experience different elements of worship.  For this third episode, the aspect of worship is "Sending."

The “What’s the Buzz” season title comes from the phrase that that Deacon Emily uses to focus the conversation: “May we BEE _____”; the phrase this week is “May we BEE sent."

What’s the Buzz? Episode 3.

For the month of May, the Ponder Anew Podcast features the children of St. Paul Lutheran in Lititz.  If even if you are not a part of this congregation, you will find the perspective of the children fascinating and inspiring!

For each episode, Deacon Emily Myallis leads the children in a conversation about how they experience different elements of worship.  For this third episode, the aspect of worship is "Sending."

The “What’s the Buzz” season title comes from the phrase that that Deacon Emily uses to focus the conversation: “May we BEE _____”; the phrase this week is “May we BEE sent."