Andrew the Apostle

The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?”  He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter). -John 1:35-42

The Brother of Peter (Simon) also an apostle, Andrew was a fisherman with his brother and the brothers James and John (sons of Zebedee). He was the frist disciple and originally a disciple of John the Baptizer. Tradition has it that after the resurrection he preached in Scythia (Ukraine and southern Russia). He is the patron saint of Russia. He was crucified spread Eagle in Achaia (southern Greece), where he also preached. That is why Scotland has the St. Andrew's cross.

Clement of Rome

Clement of Rome (?-99) was the first Apostolic Father of the Church. He might be who Paul mentioned in Philippians 4:3, and was the successor to Peter. He is known mostly for his writings to the new Christian churches.

Sola Fide

Martin of Tours



Saint Martin (316 - Nov 8, 397) as the bishop of Tours. His shrine in France was the most visited sop for pilgrimages on the way to Santiago de Compostela (in Spain). He is one of the most well known early church saints because his life was recorded by a contemporary (Sulpicius Severus).

Martin was born to pagan parents, but converted to Christianity early in life, against his parents wished (Christianity was legalized in 313). He joined the Roman army when he was 15. Once while on patrol, he saw a freezing beggar and cut his cloak in two with his sword to give half to the poor man. After his service, he became a disciple of Hilary of Poitiers, who was a chief proponent of Trinitariansm and opponent of Arianism. Martin continued this apposition to Arainism in his ministry.

Martin Chemnitz

Martin Chemnitz (Nov 9, 1522 – Apr 8, 1586), was the man who Compiled the Book of Concord and is known as the Last Reformer. He is also known as as "the Other Martin." A common saying is, "If Martin [Chemnitz] had not come along, Martin [Luther] would hardly have survived." Besides his compilation, which defined what it meant (and means) to be Lutheran, Chemnitz was a prolific writer of theological treatises and multiple documents about church government and oversight.

Reformation Day, Halloween, and All Saints' Day

This time of year there seems to always be confusion about what holiday/holidays we are supposed to be celebrating. Many Lutherans boycott Halloween (because they think it is a pagan holiday) and call it reformation day instead.  To clear the air, here is what is the holidays this time of year are:

All Saints Day (Also known as all hallows day) is observed on November 1 and has the purpose of celebrating, remembering, and honoring all of the saints (hallowed, or holy people) in the Church throughout history who have died. Liturgically, it begins the evening of October 31, with Vespers.

Halloween is shortened from All Hallow's Eve (or All Saints Day Eve).  Hallow is a word not used often, but it is still used sometimes. We talk about hallowed halls of an old institution, or in the Lord's Prayer, when we pray "Hallowed by Thy Name".  Therefore, Halloween just means the day before the day we celebrate all of the holy people.

Reformation Day is also celebrated on October 31 and is the commemoration of when Martin Luther nailed the 95 thesis to the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg on October 31, 1517 (almost 497 years ago), starting the reformation.

Simon (the Zealot) the Apostle

Little is recorded of him aside from his name. Tradition has it that he Joined Thaddeus (Jude/Judas/Judah son of James) in Persia (Iran) where they were both martyred. He might have been either crucified or more likely hacked to death.

Thaddaeus (Judah/Jude/Judas, son of James) the Apostle

Tradition has it that he preached in Persia, where he joined Simon the Zealot and was killed with him.

Dorcas (Tabitha), Lydia, and Phoebe

Dorcas (Tabitha in Aramaic, means gazelle)Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him,“Please come to us without delay.” So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.-Acts 9:36-42
Lydia
So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us. -Acts 16:11-15

Then Paul and Silas were imprisoned and let go after their jailer was converted. "So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed." -Acts 16:40

PhoebeI commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well. - Romans 16:1-3The word servant in verse 1 is deaconess.

James, Brother of Jesus

From the LCMS website:

"There are a number of "James" referred to in the New Testament, including one called "brother of the Lord." He is listed first among the brothers of Jesus, presumably as the oldest of them (Matt. 13:55; Mark 6:3). Most scholars think that he is the same person as the one simply referred to as James in the book of Acts (12:17; 15:13; 21:18; 1 Cor. 15:7) and in Galatians (2:9, 12). There has been some dispute regarding the relationship between Jesus and James, the natural interpretation being that James was the son of Mary and Joseph (thus a "half-brother" to Jesus). In the history of the Christian church, some believing in the perpetual virginity of Mary developed the view that Jesus and James were foster brothers, while others conjectured that they were cousins. LCMS theologians have found no difficulty with the view that Mary and Joseph themselves together had other children, including James."

Ignatius of Antioch

Ignatius of Antioch (c.35-110) was an apostolic church father. He was a student of John the Apostle and was known to talks, write, and emphasizes like John. He frequently quoted Matthew. He was martyred by being fed to wild animals (probably lions).

The Lord's Supper

Philip the Deacon/Evangelist

Philip is an evangelist who preached the Gospel to the people of Samaria and baptized the Ethiopian eunuch (see Acts 8:4-8, 26-39 below).

"Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city....

"Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:

“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.”

"And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”* And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea."

*Note that there is no condition of faith first, before the baptism.

Abraham

God made a covenant with Abraham that his son with Sarah would be their heir.  And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.(Genesis 15). However, because Abraham was 86 years old and Sarah was 76 years old and without children, Sarah did not believe, so she gave her Egyptian servant, Hagar, to Abraham to have a child with. Hagar had a son name Ishmael. However, the promise did not go through Ishmael because the covenant had already been made. God did see that Hagar and Ishmael would be greatly blessed (Genesis 16).

The Arab nations of today are the descendants of Ishmael, so both the Jews and Arabs are descendants of Abraham. That has been cited as why they struggle so much in general, and especially over the "Tomb of The Patriarchs" in Hebron, in which Abraham is buried, right to this very day.

"Then God said, "Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish My Covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him." (Genesis 17:19).

They did have their son, Isaac, when Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90 (Genesis 21:5).  When Isaac was a kid, God tested Abraham by commanding him to "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about." (Genesis 22:2). Abraham passed the test by following God's command, but God stopped it just in time, "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from Me your son, your only son." (Genesis 22:12). Abraham obeyed because he thought that God would raise Isaac from the dead to keep His promise (Hebrews 11:17-19).

Abraham had been willing to sacrifice his only son to God, just as God Himself would sacrifice His only Son. An interesting note is that Mount Moriah, is today known as the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Therefore, Isaac would have been sacrificed very near the place that Jesus Christ was Crucified. This was a foreshadowing and a type of Jesus. After Abraham died, he was buried in the "Tomb of The Patriarchs" which is the burial place of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob/Israel and Leah. (Genesis 35:28-29, 49:31).

Abraham is mentioned the most of any old testament figure in the new testament. He is mentioned as the original Jewish patriarch, the father of the chosen people of God, in Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Hebrews, James, and 1 Peter. He also mentioned as have been justified by his faith, not works in Romans, Galatians, Hebrews, James.

Jerome of Stridonium

Jerome of Stridonium (c.347–Sep 30, 420) was a church father who one of the four great Latin Fathers, and so one of the Doctors of the Church. He is best known for his translation of the Old Testament Bible into Latin, which is called the Vulgate as well as his many commentaries.

Angels

Angel from X-Men

Angels (Guard People, messengers, announcers, ministering spirits. Announced: Conception, Birth, Death, Resurrection, Ascension, and Second Coming of Christ.)

• He unleashed against them his hot anger, his wrath, indignation and hostility-a band of destroying angels. –Psalm 78:49
• [T]hen no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.  For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.  -Psalm 91: 10-12
• But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.  –Hebrews 2:9
• Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings; yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord.  -2 Peter 2:11
• I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. –Luke 15:7
• Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? -Hebrews 1:14
• Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.  -Hebrews 13:2

Seraphim (Root means “burn.”  Only mentioned once in the Bible, they are said to be Attendants and Guardians before God’s throne.)

• Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.  And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."  At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.  "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."  Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar.  With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for." -Isaiah 6:2-7

Cherubim (Only in the OT.  Carved them on walls, weaved into tapestry, made out of Gold.  They were guardians of God’s glory on earth.  It is said they are alluded to in Revelation as celestial attendants.  The word Cherub means near ones, familiars, personal servants, bodyguards, courtiers.)

• After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side (Or placed in front) of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.  -Genesis 3:24
• The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover.  –Genesis 25:20 (On the Ark of the Covenant) 
• One wing of the first cherub was five cubits long, and the other wing five cubits-ten cubits from wing tip to wing tip.  -1 Kings 6:24.  (On a temple)
• He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet.  He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind. He made darkness his canopy around him- the dark rain clouds of the sky.  Out of the brightness of his presence
• bolts of lightning blazed forth.  -2 Samuel 22: 10-13

Archangel Michael (Chief Angel)

• And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.  –Revelation 12:7
• For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. -1 Thessalonians 4:16

Gabriel (Personal Messenger who comes in the form of a man)

• [W]hile I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice.  –Daniel 9:21
• The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."  Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.   –Luke 1:28, 29

     

Others?

• I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal, and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was human, but each of them had four faces and four wings. Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze. Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four of them had faces and wings, and the wings of one touched the wings of another. Each one went straight ahead; they did not turn as they moved. Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a human being, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle. Such were their faces. They each had two wings spreading out upward, each wing touching that of the creature on either side; and each had two other wings covering its body. Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went. The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it. The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning. As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces This was the appearance and structure of the wheels: They sparkled like topaz, and all four looked alike. Each appeared to be made like a wheel intersecting a wheel. As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the creatures faced; the wheels did not change direction as the creatures went. Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes all around. - Ezekiel 1:4-18
• For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.  –Colossians 1:16
• Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.  -1 Corinthians 15:24

Do NOT Worship Them

• Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions.  –Colossians 2:18
• At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."  -Revelation 19:10

Matthew (Levi son of Alphaeus) the Apostle

And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. -Mark 2:14

Matthew was a 1st-century Galilean, the son of Alpheus. During the Roman occupation (which began in 63 BC with the conquest of Pompey), Matthew collected taxes from the Hebrew people for Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee. His tax office was located in Capernaum. Jews who became rich doing that were despised and considered traitors. wrote the Gospel of Matthew. Don't know where he preached after Jesus.

Cyprian of Carthage

Cyprian of Carthage (Thascius Caecilius Cyprianus) (c.200-Sep 14, 258) was classically trained and converted to Christianity in his middle age. He was influenced by Tertullian (who coined the terms "trinity" and "three persons with one substance") and eventually died a martyr. He was one of the Latin Church fathers and taught that there was no salvation outside of the Church.

The Lord's Supper

Stations of the Cross

The First Station: Jesus is Condemned to Die (Mark 15: 1-15, Matthew 27:23-31)	The Eighth Station: Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem (Luke 23: 27-31)
The Second Station: Jesus Carries His Cross (John 19:13-17, John 19: 5)	The Ninth Station: Jesus Falls the Third Time (Luke 22: 28-32)
The Third Station: Jesus Falls the First Time (Isaiah 53: 4-7, Matthew 11:28-30)	The Tenth Station: Jesus is Stripped (John 19: 23-24)
The Fourth Station: Jesus Meets His Mother (John 19: 25-27)	The Eleventh Station: Jesus is Nailed to the Cross (Luke 23: 33-43)
The Fifth Station: Simon Helps Jesus Carry His Cross (Mark 15: 21)	The Twelfth Station: Jesus Dies on the Cross (John 19: 28-37, Matthew 27: 50)
The Sixth Station: Veronica Wipes Jesus' Face (John 14: 9, Matthew 25:40)	The Thirteenth Station: Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross (John 19: 38-40)
The Seventh Station: Jesus Falls the Second Time (Hebrews 4:15, Isaiah 63: 9)	The Fourteenth Station: Jesus is Laid in the Tomb (Mark 15: 46-47)

Zacharias and Elizabeth (Parents of John the Baptizer)

Zachariah and Elizabeth were ‘righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord’ (Luke 1:6). Zechariah, a priest in the Jerusalem temple, was greeted by the angel Gabriel who announced that Zechariah and Elizabeth would become parents of a son. Initially Zechariah did not believe Gabriel’s announcement because of their old age. For his disbelieve, Zechariah became unable to speak. After their son was born, Elizabeth named her son John. Zechariah confirmed his wife’s choice and his ability to speak was restored. In response, he sang the Benedictus, a magnificent summary of God’s promises in the Old Testament and a prediction of John’s work as forerunner to Jesus (Luke 1:68-79). Zechariah and Elizabeth are remembered as examples of faithfulness and piety.

Gregory the Great

Gregory the Great (c.540 - 604) was a church father who was one of the Great Latin Fathers, and the last of the eight doctors of the church.  He was best known for developing the liturgy, Gregorian chants, commentaries, sermons, and is credited for the start of medieval church. Because of this, he is known as the "Father of Christian Worship".

Labor Day

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. What does the Bible have to say about our labor?

To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”
Genesis 3:17-19

This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot.
Ecclesiastes 5:18

The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.
1 Corinthians 3:8

Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”
Revelation 14:13

John the Baptizer

John was a forerunner of Christ, as we hear frequently, but why? Why did Jesus need a forerunner? Jesus himself says that John was the fulfillment of the old testament prophets (Matthew 3:4), by pointing directly to the Messiah, rather than forward to Him. Mark 1:3 explains how John was the "voice of one crying in the wilderness" prophesied in Isaiah 40:3. He was a kind of Elijah (Malachi 4:5) before Lord.

But, why and how did John prepare the way? John was like a triage diagnosis before seeing the doctor. Jesus brings medicine, but people need to know they are sick.

Also, John preaches and practices baptism, repentance, forgiveness of sins, just like in our liturgy. The whole ministry of John is essentially reproduced at beginning of service, followed by the service of the Holy Communion, just like Jesus dying and shedding his body and blood after John. At the end of John's ministry he states that he must decrease so that Jesus can increase. This is just like the Pastor's vestments, which covers him and why he stands behind a pulpit when preaching the gospel.