Trinity Lutheran Church Bible Study Cedar Rapids

12/18/2017

How did the church end up so far off course? And why do Christians keep on sinning?

Those questions and more are answered in Part 2 Session 1 in A Man Named Martin. Click the link below.

As a follow-up Bible study to 2015s A Man Named Martin-Part 1: The Man, this three-session Bible study takes a close look at the widespread teachings of the late Medieval Church that were superfluous to the Bible or not scripturally grounded. Among them were purgatory, penance, celibacy, prayers for...

11/28/2017

Love the video series and love the discussion! We watched Part 1: The Man Named Martin, Session 4. Join us next week Sunday at 10:30 am at Trinity Lutheran Church Cedar Rapids.

Luther’s Theology of the Cross
"Luther warned that the Roman Catholic Church was practicing a “theology of glory,” claiming we can know God through creation as well as through special revelation as in the Bible. Thus if someone attained glory or power, they claimed it was proof of God’s favor."

• What grandiose promises have you heard from pastors and TV evangelists who embrace a theology of glory?

In A Man Named Martin - Part 1: The Man viewers encounter a 15th-century religious reformer from Germany who broke ranks with the Catholic Church. This Bible study is the first of a three-part series devoted to Martin Luther -- a monk whose Spirit-inspired grasp of God's justification of sinners thr...

11/20/2017

Another great discussion! We had 2 Trinity Lutheran School graduates joining us today as experts, thank you for your knowledge and insight! If you didn't get to attend our Sunday 10:30 am class you can watch the "A Man Named Martin" session 3 video below to stay up to date.

It's amazing how a church studying the Bible can go from repentance to penance to purgatory to indulgence to salvation through good works.

"We are saved by God’s grace not our merits, and that we are saved through Holy Spirit-given faith—and not our good works."

“Scripture alone, grace alone, faith alone.”

In this five-session Bible study, Luthers life and times are examined through the lens of history, religion and theology. Expanding on commentary from Rev. Gregory Seltz, Speaker for The Lutheran Hour, numerous scholars add their expertise and perspective to render an illuminating portrait of the li...

11/19/2017

Here's a great devotion for those that are just sick and tired!

See you in class today at 10:30 am for another episode of "A MAN NAMED LUTHER" (you're supposed to say it in a loud deep voice).

Sick and Tired

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: The salvation story of Jesus Christ reaches around the world. So that the readers of our Daily Devotion may see the power of the Savior on a global scale, we have asked the volunteers of our international ministry centers to write our Sunday devotions. We pray th...

11/13/2017

We covered session 2 of "A Man Named Luther Part 1". You can watch it by clicking the image below.

We learned Martin Luther did not see himself as perfect in any way and that is what drived him to confess his sins and eventually study the Bible in more detail.

We had another great class, thanks to so many attending!

In A Man Named Martin - Part 1: The Man viewers encounter a 15th-century religious reformer from Germany who broke ranks with the Catholic Church. This Bible study…

10/24/2017

This week we started into the video series "A Man Named Martin". We watched session 1 and then had a discussion.

"Like, all of us Martin Luther was molded by the world into which he was born. As he grew he found strict discipline and fear wherever he turned - at home, at school, and in church."

We found it fascinating that some of the hardships felt in Martin Luther's time are still felt today! Sickness, Plagues, No Medicine ... Harrison filled us in on what it is like in Liberia.

We won't be meeting next week due to a potluck, of all things, we are Lutheran! Trinity Lutheran Church and School is celebrating the 500 year anniversary of Reformation.

A link to today's video is below.

In this five-session Bible study, Luthers life and times are examined through the lens of history, religion and theology. Expanding on commentary from Rev. Gregory Seltz, Speaker for The Lutheran Hour, numerous scholars add their expertise and perspective to render an illuminating portrait of the li...

10/10/2017

The great commission, let people know about the bridge.

The Way, the Bridge

The old Kosciuszko Bridge is no more. Seventy-eight years ago, New York officials proudly opened the Kosciuszko Bridge, which connected Brooklyn and Queens. When they did so, they heralded the opening of a new era of travel when quick-and-easy passage would take place between those two great borough...

10/08/2017

We concluded our study of Mere Christianity today. At the end of the book C.S. Lewis brings out some personal thoughts that are not only controversial, but wrong. We discussed how his perspective at the time was as a young Christian still learning the Bible.

In our class we did not define Christianity by being good. We are Christian, because of our knowledge that Christ died for our sins and through him alone we are going to heaven.

A summary of our reading in our church service today stated:
We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort, though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have ...
I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. ...
I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. ...
I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
For a full reading follow the link below:
Philippians 3:3‭-‬14 NLT
http://bible.com/116/php.3.3-14.NLT

10/01/2017

We are discussing Chapter 10 of Mere Christianity titled Nice People or New Men.

We are sinners and will remain sinners. If we die sinning we go to heaven, only because we believe in our forgiveness through Christ.

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:9 NLT
http://bible.com/116/rom.10.9.NLT

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
John 14:6 NLT
http://bible.com/116/jhn.14.6.NLT

CS Lewis says becoming a Christian should be seen by others through improved, more Christ like, behaviors. However, he adds everyone is different in where their faith is at: those who are brand new with a very colored past and others that have slowly come to faith over a long time.

09/24/2017

Our discussion of "Discussing Mere Christianity" continued on page 97.

Studying theology and Christian doctrine is helpful, but sometimes detracting from our faith. We all agreed the circle of thoughts we have in our studies goes from strength to weakness, which is troubling at times.

There is no perfect model our map in theology to explain the Trinity. However, God has revealed what we need to know.

Some people feel God should be more than a person like us. That God is somehow "beyond personality". Lewis points out others go on to think God is impersonable.

We will be reading Book 4 chapter 9 & 10 for next week.

09/17/2017

We are on page 93 of "Discussing Mere Christianity" - God In Three Persons

Lewis admits, "In a way I quite understand why some people are put off by Theology" Lewis agrees that theology is always going to be less real than the God it tells us about, just as a map of the Atlantic Ocean is going to be less real than standing on the beach and looking out over the sea. "Doctrines are not God, they are only a kind of map. "

Lewis writes we need both the experience of God and the map of theology.

Lewis says Imagination is the organ of meaning.

The Bible is the truth, theology explains key doctrines from the Bible and models of both are like a map to help us understand. Lewis uses the model of the squares make a cube, but are still squares, to help us understand the Trinity.

You can start reading Book 4 chapters 9 & 10 of "Mere Christianity" we will start discussing it shortly.

09/10/2017

We moved into session 7 of "Discussing Mere Christianity" - God In Three Persons

We watched the video and will be discussing Book 4, Chapter 1 & 2 of Mere Christianity next week.