A Bundle of Myrrh

Sermon on Islam and America

Preached March 15, 2015 for Lent 4B

The Islamic government known as ISIS beheaded 21 Christians recently.  They have killed over 200 people, including Americans.  This shocks us because it seems like we are past violence and inflexible convictions.  We have been sold the lie that we can all just get along—that peace is our right.  But truth and error cannot coexist.

Our problem is that we do not see anything worth fighting or dying for.  We do not understand truth, the way these Muslims do.  They are willing to die for their false religion.  But we who have the true religion can barely be inconvenienced to come to church or give a few percent of our income.  Do we see any truth as worth dying for?  Our nation is completely secularized.  Uncompromising religion is hard for us to comprehend.

(more…)

Commentary on St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians in 37 sessions of about 25 minutes of audio each by Pastor Philip Hale.

This study was recorded in 15 hours of audio for KNNA 95.7 The Cross, which is associated with Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Lincoln, Nebraska

Play in browser or save link to download the MP3.

01 – Gal. 1:1-2

02 – Gal. 1:3-6

03 – Gal. 1:6-7

04 – Gal. 1:7-10

05 – Gal. 1:10-13

06 – Gal. 1:14-16

07 – Gal. 1:16-2:2

08 – Gal. 2:2-4

09 -Gal. 2:4-10

10 – Gal. 2:10-12

11 – Gal. 2:12-15

12 – Gal. 2:15-17

13 – Gal. 2:17-19

14 – Gal. 2:19-3:1

15 – Gal. 3:1-2

16 – Gal. 3:2-5

17 – Gal. 3:5-7

18 – Gal. 3:8-10

19 – Gal. 3:10-12

20 – Gal. 3:12-14

21 – Gal. 3:15-19

22 – Gal. 3:19-22

23 – Gal. 3:23-26

24 – Gal. 3:26-28

25 – Gal. 3:28-4:4

26 – Gal. 4:4-8

27 – Gal. 4:9-11

28 – Gal. 4:12-17

29 – Gal. 4:18-25

30 – Gal. 4:25-5:1

31 – Gal. 5:2-7

32 – Gal. 5:7-12

33 – Gal. 5:13-18

34 – Gal. 5:19-24

35 – Gal. 5:25-6:5

36 – Gal. 6:5-12

37 – Gal. 6:12-18

Theological Papers

by Pastor Philip Hale

Marriage in a Godless Culture – Nebraska Lutherans for Confessional Study – June 25, 2015

Link to audio

The Logic, Ideology, and Ascendancy of Child Prevention – Nebraska Lutherans for Confessional Study – Nov. 13, 2014

Link to audio

Marriage Presentation –  West Point, NE Circuit  – October 26, 2014

A Retiring Society: Retirement in Worldly, Historical, and Biblical Perspective with Special Reference to Ministers and the Divine Call – July 2014

The Correlation of Christ, Faith, Scripture, and Justification: A Doctrinal Investigation Based on the Distinction between Fundamental and Non-Fundamental Articles of Faith – Nebraska Lutherans for Confessional Study – March 27, 2014

Numbering the Decalogue, Images, and Iconoclasm: A Historical and Theological Survey – Nebraska Lutherans for Confessional Study – July 25, 2013

A Doctrinal Approach to Worship: The Traditional Lutheran View – ACELC Free Conference, Austin, TX – April, 2013

Luther’s Teaching on Worship and Ceremonies: The Twin Errors of Liturgical Legalism and Disorderly Deprecation – 2012

Insurance in Light of the Gospel – Nebraska Lutherans for Confessional Study – December 13, 2012

An Interpretation of Luther’s The Bondage of the Will – Nebraska Lutherans for Confessional Study – March 22, 2012

A Close Reading of John 6: Is it Sacramental and Why Does it Matter? – Nebraska Lutherans for Confessional Study – June 23, 2011

Eating and Drinking Damnation to Oneself: The Place of I Cor. 11:27-29 in the Lord’s Supper – Nebraska Lutherans for Confessional Study – February 17, 2011

Absolution – Nebraska Lutherans for Confessional Study, Lincoln – October 22, 2009

A Description and Critique of Narrative Criticism: The Relation of Biblical Interpretation, History, and Theology – A research paper submitted to partially fulfill the requirements of a Masters of Divinity degree. Submitted: February 23, 2007

The Heresies of Science – August 2002