The Basics

This summer, many churches that follow a traditional church year lectionary are exploring the basics of the Christian faith by going through small sections of the book of Romans as the Epistle (second) lesson for each Sunday.

Unlike so many of St. Paul’s other correspondence to congregations or people, his letter to the Romans was not written to solve any particular problems within the congregation or to settle a theological debate. Rather, chapter by chapter, verse by verse, St. Paul clearly lays out Law and Gospel. He asks the question various ways, “How has humanity broken its relationship with God?” Then he answers his own question by demonstrating how Christ has restored that relationship through His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection.

To paraphrase the great St. Augustine: The Bible is living water that is shallow enough for the smallest child to wade into it, but it is also deep enough for the greatest theologian to drown in it. That is most certainly true about the book of Romans.

Martin Luther had this wonderful insight on Romans: “In this epistle we thus find most abundantly the things that a Christian ought to know, namely, what is law, gospel, sin, punishment, grace, faith, righteousness, Christ, God, good works, love, hope, and the cross; and also how we are to conduct ourselves toward everyone, be he righteous or sinner, strong or weak, friend or foe – and even toward our own selves. Moreover, this is all ably supported with Scripture and proved by St. Paul’s own example and that of the prophets, so that one could not wish for anything more. Therefore, it appears that he wanted in this one epistle to sum up briefly the whole Christian and evangelical doctrine and to prepare an introduction to the entire Old Testament. For, without doubt, whoever has this epistle well in his heart, has with him the light and power of the Old Testament. Therefore, let every Christian be familiar with it and exercise himself in its continually To this end may God give his grace. Amen. (AD: 35:365, 380)

Romans takes us back to the basics of Christianity and yet presents us with deep concepts to wrestle with. Paul gives us some great biblical concepts for us to dive into: atonement, righteousness, reconciliation, etc. What do these Christian concepts mean in our relationships with other people? More importantly, what do these words say about our relationship with a holy and just God?

Each week, in our Bread for Beggars posts and in many pulpits, we will examine a different word that highlights our relationship with God. I will share pieces of art in history that visualize the particular word we are studying that day. We will also enjoy the privilege of seeing artwork created specifically by Corissa Nelson.

Corissa is a freelance artist, illustrator, and graphic designer. Along with being a mom, she is also the wife of Pastor Marques Nelson, who serves at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. You can purchase her unique artwork for bulletin covers, sanctuary screens, etc. at Corrissa Nelson Art.

God’s Word will give us the comfort, strength, and hope that we need … one word at a time.

Pentecost 2 Atonement

Pentecost 3 Righteousness

Pentecost 4 Reconciliation

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Pentecost 6 Buried (Baptism)

Pentecost 7 Battling (Sin)

Pentecost 8 Longing (Eschatology)

Pentecost 9 Praying (Prayer)

Pentecost 10 Chosen (Predestination)

Pentecost 11 Inseparable (Providence)

Pentecost 12 Roots (Old Testament Church)

Pentecost 13 Grafted (New Testament Church)

Pentecost 14 Awe (Worship)

Pentecost 15 Sacrifice (Body ministry)

Pentecost 16 Love (A citizen of two kingdoms)

Pentecost 17 Freedom (Christian Freedom)