Commonplaces - St. John's, Louisville IL: Recent Episodes
Stephen Rutherford
Topics of interest to today's Christians, through the lens of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions. This is the weekly topical study presented at St. John's Lutheran Church, Louisville IL
An overview of the vocation of wife, specifically reflecting on the various Scriptural admonitions that wives are to be 'subject' to their husbands.
This Episode gives a brief overview of the doctrine of vocation, and briefly explores Luther's understanding of the three estates of Church, Household, and Political Order
In this episode, we give an overview of some common ways Christians confuse Law and Gospel, so as to help clarify the proper way of relating and applying the two.
In this episode, we finish discussing how the law functions on hearers, and begin exploring what the Gospel is, and it's stark differences from the Law
In this episode, we examine what the Law is; the three kinds of Laws in the Scripture - Moral, Ceremonial, and Political - as well as the three uses of the Law - Curb, Mirror, and Guide.
In this final episode, we examine the possible ways the devil and the demons work to lead us away from Christ - temptation, use of natural forces, masquerades as gods or ghosts, and possession.
In this episode, we look at whether we have guardian angels, whether people become angels when they die, and start to look at the origin and nature of the devil.
In this episode, we focus on questions like - what do angels look like? Where do we get our ideas about their appearance? What kinds of angels are there? Who is Gabriel and Michael? What does God send angels to do?
A look at what Scriptures have to say about angels and demons. In this lesson, we look at specifically what the words 'Angel' and 'Demon' refer to in the Scripture, and what kinds of beings angels and demons are.
In this, we look at how and why becoming 'good' and 'obedient' to God is not an automatic process for the believer, but requires constant self-discipline formed around God's Word and Sacraments.
This episode explores the questions 'What do good/loving people act like?' and 'Can a nonbeliever be good/loving?'
First in an overview of what makes a person good, and how doing good relates to being a Christian
A stand-alone episode on capital punishment - whether Scripture allows for it, and how we deal with what Scripture says.
A look at temptations to neglect of others that often accompany gambling, as well as an articulation of why we cannot straightforwardly condemn all gambling as sinful.
This episode explores what a local congregation is, it's relationship to the Body of Christ, and the need for individuals to share the Word and Sacraments with a local congregaiton
This lesson gives an overview of what the Church is, and begins to dive into how the Church as the Body of Christ relates to the Local Congregation
By applying the Scriptural commands to worship and the promise of God to bless us through worship, we examine what the Scripture teaches about the spiritual state of 'Churchless Christians'
This short series explores the rising sense that participation in church is not important for life as a Christian. This episode explores this issue from a pastoral angle, recommending approaching specific individuals who hold this sense by helping them engage with specific commands and promises of Scripture.
This session explores whether and how Christians and church bodies can engage in political issues. It largely follows Robert Benne and the CTCR document "Render Unto Caesar"
An overview of the Lutheran Confessional position on the rights of the Church over against the State, and the duties the Church owes to the State
We begin digging into what the Lutheran Confessions teach about secular and spiritual authority - their distinction, and their relationship
A deeper look at the source, goal, means, and scope of spiritual authority according to the Scriptures
A deeper look at the source, purpose, means, and scope of secular authority, according to Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2
An overview of biblical principles about the nature and relationship of spiritual and secular authority