The forest for the trees

August 20, 2024

Dear Friends,

Let me introduce our coming Bible Studies beginning this fall! The big focus this year will be the Old Testament. One of the things we have learned as we’ve worked through Revelation on Sunday mornings is just how much the Old Testament is in the background. It’s in the background to what John sees as heaven is opened to him, and it is in the background as Jesus ministers, suffers, dies, rises, and ascends. And that makes it super important. So we should get to know it better!

One of the daunting things about the Old Testament is its size. In my Bible, it’s 1056 pages long. Maybe you could manage a novel that’s so long, but the Old Testament is a little trickier. Although it’s one continuous history, there are all different kinds of writing in it: narrative, prophecy, legal code, poetry, wisdom, apocalyptic visions. And much of it is very unfamiliar because of the distance between us and the times of the Bible both in miles and in years. And so sitting down and reading it through can be challenging.

My hope in our studies this year is that we’ll all come away with a stronger understanding of the big picture. How do all the pieces fit together? The books, the characters, the dates, the events. How can we keep sight of the forest and not lose it for the trees?

With a stronger understanding of the big picture, we should be able to pick up the Old Testament and start reading anywhere and know how it fits in, and that should help us as we listen to Old Testament lessons on Sunday morning, as we read our Bibles at home, and as we contemplate the Old Testament background to the life and ministry of Jesus in the New Testament and in the church today.

I’m looking forward to it! Come along for all of it — Sunday mornings after church and Wednesday evenings at 6pm. You can never have too much Bible!

The whole schedule for our Wednesday evenings is below!

God bless and keep you,

Pr. Buchs

Wednesday Evenings at Concordia2024-2025

Family NightWhen: 2nd Wednesday of the Month (6-7pm with Pizza starting at 5:30pm!) What: This year’s Family Nights will focus on important people in the Old Testament.  Who: All ages are welcome, but instruction will be focused towards elementary-age kids.

A Closer Look at the Old TestamentWhen: Wednesdays (6-7pm), except when there’s Family Night  What: This 22-week Bible Study will take a deeper look at some of the texts of the Old Testament as we work on gaining a good understanding of the big picture. How do all the stories from the time before Jesus fit together to prepare us for his coming? Who: This class is for all ages and all levels of experience with the Bible and is meant to be attended as a family.

COMING EVENTS: Wednesday, August 21 9:30 am – Chapel10:00 am – Bible Study 7:00 pm – Vespers

Sunday, August 25 9:00 am – Divine Service 10:30 am – Bible Study

Saturday, September 21 4:30 – 6:30 pm – Pork Chop Dinner