Sermons on Greco Roman world

Does Jesus Really Call Us To Set the Oppressed Free?

Does Jesus Really Call Us To Set the Oppressed Free? – Paul’s Letter to Philemon Paul’s letter to Philemon had been used throughout the times of slavery in America to justify the institution of slavery and the Fugitive Slave Law, which required that slaves who managed to escape needed to be returned to their ‘owners’ even if they had made it to a non-slaveholding state. However, in close examination we will see that it is not even clear that the…

All are one in Christ Jesus

All are one in Christ Jesus – Galatians 3:23-29 The society of the Roman Empire is an honor – shame society. That means in contrast to our capitalist society to be honorable is more important than being rich. For Roman senators it is honorable to get rich by farming. It is NOT honorable to get rich by trading. What we call entrepreneurs, people who have bread factories, produce pottery, cloth, iron products or conduct trade, no matter how much money…

Passion Sunday; Christ’s Death is an Act of Love

Passion Sunday; Christ’s Death is an Act of Love The Palm Sunday sermon is about the passion of Christ, his suffering and his dying, which resulted in his resurrection of Easter. As everything that God does, Jesus death is an act of love. Jesus descends to the dead as the Apostle’s Creed says, not to have a well-deserved day off until the resurrection, but to throw open the Gates of the underworld and to free all people from their graves…

Let’s Talk about Women Pastors

Let’s Talk about Women Pastors Considering the role of women in society, we need to keep in mind that different historical sources will produce different information for future generations. If you search for “Women Pastor” on youtube today, you will almost exclusively find voices passionately condemning such a thing. Nevertheless, here I stand, and as you know, I am not alone. Future historians though, might only be able to access those voices on youtube and conclude that pastoring women in…

Three Wise Men and a German Joke

The Magi are three wise men from the East who come to pay homage to baby Jesus. They are leader of their communities and maybe even kings. They bring presents to the Christ child, Myrrh, Frankincense and Gold. Those gifts are not just symbols of how the world is ordered, but they are also trade good on which the wealth of nations is built. They are the tools of power. And those tools of power they three kings lay bat…

A Gospel for a persecuted community

A Gospel for a persecuted community Roman Emperor Nero was one of the great lunatics on the imperial throne. Legend has it that he burned down Rome. And while he was watching the flames he sang the “sack of Troy” When rotors about him torching the capital did not subside, he needed someone to take the fall for the fire. The early church in Rome came in handy. The following persecutions claimed the lives of Peter, Paul and many martyrs.…

Heaven Is Shut Down

Heaven Is Shut Down Today as well as throughout history, churches come in all shapes, sizes and forms, some have good theology, some have crappy theology, but they have one thing in common. Like Peter they confess Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Everything else flows from that confession. But this is not to say that everything goes. Lutherans believe in heresy. There are theologies Lutherans vehemently oppose, because they exclude, they oppress and they exploit. Jesus call is…

“Little Faith” is a mixture of courage and fear!

“Little Faith” is a mixture of courage and fear! Many stories of the bible emerge from a specific historical context. To be understood one must explore the cultural reference they refer to. That is why the Bible needs to be studied and not just read, or made into an idol and worshipped. In the biblical time when God comes to the rescue of his people, when light gives way to darkness Jesus walks on water toward the disciples who struggle…

Pentecost

Pentecost The Roman world was build on one guiding principle. The gods love the rich and powerful, because they can return the favours that the gods bestow on them. For the blessings of the gods that make the rich and powerful rich and powerful they repay the goods with temples, festivals, holidays and sacrifices. It’s a very practical “good-old-boys’ arrangement. And from the rich and powerful the favour of the gods slowly trickles down; from the emperor to the senators,…

No Work – No Food?

No Work – No Food? Who doesn’t work should not eat is a popular misinterpretation of Paul’s 2nd letter to the Thessalonians to justify the own unwillingness to share the necessities of life with one’s neighbors. However, the bible could not be clearer  proclaiming the contrary. Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” John 3.11 Paul does not devise a social services policy for the city of Thessaloniki, but he…
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