The revchristruelsen’s Podcast

Being the Goat is Not All that It’s Cracked Up to Be

Text for discussion: Matthew 25.  

In modern terms, "G.O.A.T" stands for "Greatest of all time."  But when Christ separates the sheep from the goats in the end times, being the goat, or among the goats is not where we want it to be.  

Parables in Matthew 25 deal with watchful virgins, talents-that is large sums of money, and sheep and goats . . . . 

 

The hymn this week is Savior of the Nations Come (#332)

This is not fully a public domain hymn, so here are the credits: Stanzas 1 and 2 are both public domain.  Stanzas 4,5, and 8 are Copyright 1978 Concordia Publishing House, and stanzas 3, 6, and 7 are copyright 2006 Concordia Publishing House.  

Scoundrels and Saints Revisited

This week all the readings are for this week's lectionary, and the prayers are newly recorded,

but since we've begun a new church year, and we find ourselves in the season of Advent,

we revisit Matthew 1 as we reflect on the early life of Christ 

on this earth.

 

The hymn: Lo, He Comes on Clouds Descending 

Are You Ready for This One?

Matthew 24

There is a dilemma in Matthew 24 for the reader - is it better to be taken, or to be left when the end finally comes?  

I do my best to answer the question (with a little help) but this is not the "main act."  We want to be prepared when the end comes . . . . 

In Christ alone . . . . 

This week as we come before our Heavenly Father at Thanksgiving, I share some additional hymns to celebrate: 

Savior, Again to Thy Dear Name we Raise 
Battle Hymn of the Republic
Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven 
My Faith Looks Up to Thee 
Amazing Grace 
Holy, Holy, Holy
We Praise You O God 

May the Lord bless you this Thanksgiving and always!  

Phoning it In

Text for discussion: Matthew 23

No one wants to admit that there are times when he or she does not give the very best effort, but when that happens we call it, "going through the motions" or "phoning it in."  Many times when this happens there isn't much impetus for refreshing and helpful change.  When Jesus comes on the scene it always upturns tables and overturns the apple cart.  His words and ways always require a reassessment on our part.  It was the same with the chief priests, scribes, and Pharisees.  

Their motivation was to destroy or be destroyed.  It would be their eventual undoing.  

The Hymn:  The Day Thou Gavest 

”The Lord Said to My Lord”

Matthew 22.  

The Scriptures are a tapestry woven together from the Old to the New Testament.  

Jesus fulfills all of Scripture.  

 This week we look at how marriage runs through the entirety of Scripture and why, and we see how the reality of the Trinity is found in both the Old and New Testaments.  

Hymn of the week: Savior Again, to Thy Dear Name We Raise 

Hosanna! Lord save us!

Matthew 21.  

In this world, whether we recognize it or not, we need saving, and God sends salvation. 

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the people cried out, Hosanna, "save, I pray."  

Why were they saying this specifically to Jesus?  Did they understand what they were asking?  

This week's hymn:  For All the Saints.  (A public domain hymn).  

The Graciousness of God

Matthew 20.  

There are sometimes good people, benefactors in our lives who are generous with us and help us out; they are a blessing to us without our deserving their generosity.  How much more our God is generous with us who have faith in Him and call upon Him!  

Even in the Fallen world, God showers blessings upon us . . . . That is what the parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard is about-God's graciousness beyond our deserving.  

We close out the podcast with a celebration of the Reformation in four hymns:

1. Thy Strong Word.    -Tune: public domain.  Setting: copyright 1969, Concordia Publishing House

2.  Built on the Rock. -a public domain hym.

3.  We Praise You and Acknowledge You, O God.    -Tune: public domain, text: 1999 Stephen P Starke, admin. CPH.  

4.  A Might Fortress  (by Martin Luther). a public domain hymn.  

Can YOU pass through the eye of a needle?

Text for discussion:  Matthew 19.  

In this chapter we find three challenging situations that upend our world . . . . 

-What is the state of the divorced person before God?  

-If children are more prepared for the kingdom of heaven, where does that leave those who are well beyond childhood?

-After going through all the things that life throws at me, how can I even enter the kingdom of God?  

Are you ready to pass through the eye of the needle?  

Hymn of the day: Fight the Good Fight 

Enough Trouble for Today: Matthew 6 Revisited

This week we revisit the sermon on the mount-you may even want to review the podcasts of Matthew 5 and Matthew 7 which also deal with the sermon on the mount.  

Enough Trouble for Today
originally released, Jul 15th, 2022 by revchristruelsen
Our discussion chapter is Matthew 6.  

Have you ever felt overwhelmed with your day, especially considering the times to come?  

Have you ever gotten to a day full of anxiety, and it passed without the worst you feared?  

Jesus continues his sermon on the mount in Matthew 6.  He invites us to look to our Heavenly Father in all our Needs.

Forgiveness Unbound

Join as we discuss Matthew 18.  

The life well-lived is not what we expect; we may seek many things-among them wealth, power, prestige but God's priorities are different . . . .  To enter the kingdom of heaven, we must become like little children, and to do that, the slate must be wiped clean . . . . How is it even possible?  When Christ offers to us forgiveness unbound . . . .