Jacob Swenson

Fear Not, Daughter of Zion

Jesus says to us today, “Fear not.” Because Jesus rode into Jerusalem to suffer and die for us, and because He rose again from the dead for us, we need not fear – not sin, not death, nor even the devil.

Altar Guild Workshop 2019, Pt. III

Welcome back to the third and final session of this year’s altar guild workshop. So far, we have reviewed our Lutheran confession of faith when it comes to the Lord’s Supper. We have explored the idea that what we believe about something should be reflected in our actions. And, we have learned about the itemsContinue reading “Altar Guild Workshop 2019, Pt. III”

Altar Guild Workshop 2019, Pt. II

Administration of the Sacrament Welcome to session 02 of our workshop covering the Sacrament of the Altar. The focus of this workshop to remind ourselves of what the Scriptures teach and what we, as Lutherans, believe about the Lord’s Supper. It’s my opinion and, I think, the Lutheran one, that what we believe should beContinue reading “Altar Guild Workshop 2019, Pt. II”

Altar Guild Workshop 2019, Pt. I

Altar Guild Workshop 2019 – Session 01, “What is the Lord’s Supper?” An Overview of the Sixth Chief Part Our most gracious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, promised us in the Gospel that He would never leave us nor forsake us, that He would not, “leave [us] as orphans.” He made these promises with HisContinue reading “Altar Guild Workshop 2019, Pt. I”

I Am With You Always

Yesterday in New Testament class, we learned about the Ascension. Jesus ascended to the Right Hand of the Father so that He might, “fill all things,” (Eph. 4:10) and keep His promise to be with us always in His Word and Sacrament. Soon, He will return in the same way He left to take usContinue reading “I Am With You Always”

Romans 4, The Promise is Realized through Faith

“For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law bringsContinue reading “Romans 4, The Promise is Realized through Faith”

The Evangelical Character of the Office

“So that we may obtain this faith, the ministry of teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments was instituted.”[1] These few words confess clearly what we believe about the preaching office. It was established so that we may obtain this faith: that men are freely justified for Christ’s sake, through faith, when they believe thatContinue reading “The Evangelical Character of the Office”

Christology and the Care of Souls

As Lutheran pastors we do not preach signs or wisdom, we preach Christ (1 Cor. 1:23). We proclaim to the world the saving word of Him who took on flesh to bear our sin and be our savior. Justification by faith alone may be the central doctrine of our teaching, but without Christ we canContinue reading “Christology and the Care of Souls”

Bible Study – Formula of Concord II: Free Will

This is for another Bible study. I’ve borrowed this from Formula of Concord II from Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions. There are a couple paraphrases and edits on my part for clarity. II. FREE WILL 1. THE ISSUE After the fall and before receiving the Holy Spirit, what powers in spiritual matters does a person have?Continue reading “Bible Study – Formula of Concord II: Free Will”

Bible Study – Formula of Concord I: Original Sin

This is a Bible study for Sunday morning on original sin. It is taken from the Formula of Concord, Article I as translated in Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions. There is additional editing and a few paraphrases of my own. I. ORIGINAL SIN Is sin part of mankind’s very essence? No, for if it were, GodContinue reading “Bible Study – Formula of Concord I: Original Sin”