Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Reflections
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Reflections
Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 8:1-22; Acts 21:15-36
He even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place. (Acts 21:28)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The early days of the Church were lived in the shadow of the temple. It wasn't immediately apparent that we shouldn't keep going there. The Jerusalem church went to the temple daily in the days after Pentecost. It was truly a house of prayer for all people. The rhythm of Sabbath Saturday and the Lord's Resurrection Day of Sunday was kept. Paul could find no reason why everyone shouldn't be going to the temple. The dividing wall of hostility had been broken down in Christ! (Ephesians 2:14) There was no longer any distinction between Jew and Gentile, slave or free, male or female. All are one in Christ!
It is an amazing thing that there aren't different Sacraments for different people. The water of Baptism is poured onto every head, whether rich or poor, man or woman. All are brought to Christ. The words of forgiveness spoken to sinners do not change based on who has confessed and what their place in life might be. You don't get extra forgiveness if you give more money to the church. All are forgiven in Christ. The Holy Supper is not given with better bread and wine to those who have more money. All are rich at the Lord's altar!
Paul actually believed all of these things, and brought a man from Ephesus into the temple. He escorted a Gentile into a place where he was forbidden, and ended up facing a long journey, trial, imprisonment, and eventually death, for believing in the reconciling work of Jesus Christ. Yet even then in his sufferings, Paul continued to proclaim the great works of Christ. Friends, we cannot lose, for Christ has given us the victory. There is nothing to fear. Not even death will hold us down. All things work for your good. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
In Christ now meet both east and west; In Him meet south and north. All Christian souls are one in Him Throughout the whole wide earth.("In Christ There Is No East or West" LSB 653, st.5)
Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor René Castillero
View all episodes
By Higher Things®Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 8:1-22; Acts 21:15-36
He even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place. (Acts 21:28)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The early days of the Church were lived in the shadow of the temple. It wasn't immediately apparent that we shouldn't keep going there. The Jerusalem church went to the temple daily in the days after Pentecost. It was truly a house of prayer for all people. The rhythm of Sabbath Saturday and the Lord's Resurrection Day of Sunday was kept. Paul could find no reason why everyone shouldn't be going to the temple. The dividing wall of hostility had been broken down in Christ! (Ephesians 2:14) There was no longer any distinction between Jew and Gentile, slave or free, male or female. All are one in Christ!
It is an amazing thing that there aren't different Sacraments for different people. The water of Baptism is poured onto every head, whether rich or poor, man or woman. All are brought to Christ. The words of forgiveness spoken to sinners do not change based on who has confessed and what their place in life might be. You don't get extra forgiveness if you give more money to the church. All are forgiven in Christ. The Holy Supper is not given with better bread and wine to those who have more money. All are rich at the Lord's altar!
Paul actually believed all of these things, and brought a man from Ephesus into the temple. He escorted a Gentile into a place where he was forbidden, and ended up facing a long journey, trial, imprisonment, and eventually death, for believing in the reconciling work of Jesus Christ. Yet even then in his sufferings, Paul continued to proclaim the great works of Christ. Friends, we cannot lose, for Christ has given us the victory. There is nothing to fear. Not even death will hold us down. All things work for your good. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
In Christ now meet both east and west; In Him meet south and north. All Christian souls are one in Him Throughout the whole wide earth.("In Christ There Is No East or West" LSB 653, st.5)
Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor René Castillero