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In Adult Bible Class we will study Romans 3 & 4. Having laid out the universal condemnation of all humanity under the law of God, Paul deals with what God did through His Son Jesus to save mankind.

Psalm 119:97 says, “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.” This Sunday we will sing the law as we sing Martin Luther’s hymn on the ten commandments, we will hear the law as the commandments are read to us from Exodus 20, and we will consider the law as we listen to Jesus’ preaching on the commandments in Matthew 5 as he spoke to the people in the Sermon on the Mount. We pray that God would increase in us true religion that is centered on Christ and what He has done for us and that He would graft into our hearts a love and fear of His name!

We will study Romans chapter 3. Paul moves from the problem—universal human unrighteousness and condemnation under the law—to the solution—the righteousness of Jesus Christ who fulfilled the law of God, and whose righteousness is given by God the Father as a free gift to those who have faith in His Son.

The disciples were fishing all night. Jesus asked them to cast their nets in the daytime, something that seemed foolish. The catch, nevertheless, was large. Jesus wishes us to follow His commands. He will provide for us out of the storehouses of His riches and bring us to the safe havens of His loving provision. Jesus invitation goes out, “Leave behind your life and way of thinking, and come and follow Me!”

Six months before Christmas, we gather to take up the story of Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth. After receiving the exciting message from the angel Gabriel that she would become the mother of the promised Messiah, Mary hastily came into the threshold of Elizabeth’s home and spoke to her about what God had accomplished in her womb. Upon hearing the news, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb (the prophet John the Baptist) leaped for joy. Elizabeth was immediately filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking and praising God for the blessings that He was showering down upon Mary and her and the human race through the birth of Mary’s son. On this day where we celebrate the visit of the Virgin Mary to Elizabeth, we rejoice that as they held each other in their arms, in both of their wombs was the promised redemption that was to be brought to all people.

In Bible Class we will take up Romans chapter 2. After condemning the pagan world for their idolatry (chapter 1), Paul turns the tables on the Jews. They too have broken God’s law. In passing judgment on another, they condemn themselves. Paul continues in these chapters to flesh out the problem of our human condition that extends to both Jew, Gentile, and barbarian.

This Sunday we will remember the day in 1530 (June 25) when the Reformers stood before Emperor Charles V in Augsburg (modern day Germany) and presented their statement of faith, the Augsburg Confession. We will remember their courageous testimony, even as we pledge ourselves to the truths of Holy Scripture that these confessions speak.

Jesus invites us to the feast of wisdom. It is a different feast than the world offers. The invitation to dine at the banquet that bestows life and understanding rings out even to you. “Come, for all things are now ready.”

We will begin a new study on the book of Romans.

Holy Trinity Sunday ends the festival or first half of the church year. Having celebrated Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost, the church rejoices in one last grand round of celebration to the Holy Trinity, true God, the Father who created and made us, the Son who redeems us, and the Spirit who makes us a home in the Holy Christian Church and will raise up our bodies on the last day. Join us as we speak the Athanasian Creed and as we sing many hymns in praise to the Holy Trinity.

We will conclude our study of the book of Acts by reading chapter 2 and the Day of Pentecost.

On the Sunday after the Ascension, our Lord promises the Holy Spirit, that His holy apostles will be His chosen witnesses to the ends of the world, and that they will be persecuted for the faith. We pray for God’s Holy Spirit that we may witness to His saving acts, and be strengthened to endure persecution for the love of Jesus’ name against those who hate us.

Ascension is always celebrated 40 days after Easter, as that is how long Jesus was with His disciples after His resurrection. Christians in former times celebrated the Ascension with great gusto, taking part in celebrations and services in the open air, on a hill, or in the countryside. In this feast we celebrate the first time that flesh and blood sits at the right hand of God. The Jesus who left heaven in humility returns to heaven in great glory. The Ascension does not mean that the Lord has left us, but that the way in which we experience Him has changed. While we no longer SEE Him, He is STILL WITH US IN HIS BODILY PRESENCE, even as His Word is preached and as the Sacraments are administered (Matthew 18:20, 28:20). Though it always falls on a Thursday, and is sometimes overlooked because of it, next to Easter and Christmas, the Ascension of Our Lord is the third highest festival of the church year. Come join us as we celebrate Jesus’ ascent to God’s right hand that He might rule all things for the sake of His Church until all enemies are put under His feet!

We will study Acts chapter 2, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.

Prayer is the topic of our gathering this week. Jesus teaches us of our access with the Father through Him. While we have tribulation in the world, we have joy through our communion with our Heavenly Father who hears our prayers.

In this Bible Class we cover the first section on the Book of Acts, 1:1-11.

Jesus prepares His disciples for His departure by using the phrase, “a little while.” Rather than using a specific unit of time, the phrase encourages the disciples to realize that the wait, though seemingly long, will be over shortly. Our Lord does not tell us the seasons and times of His return. The three sad days where He remained dead, remind us that though we suffer, grieve, and mourn in this life, our weeping will turn to great rejoicing. By His death and resurrection we share in His victory. Our hopes will soon be realized, and when they are, no one will be able to take our joy away from us.