Looking for something to do this weekend?

Well, are you? If so, LSF's got you covered!

FRIDAY, 9/28 ~ Join us for MOVIE NIGHT @ USC this Friday starting at 6:00pm in the Student Center (at Luther Memorial Chapel, entrance located on Shorewood Blvd). Vicar Askins will be showing off his culinary skills as he prepares cannelloni for dinner...mmmm, yum! Movie(s) to follow. If you have a favorite movie to share, bring it! All movies are subject to Vicar's discretion.

SATURDAY, 9/29 ~ Put on your spikes and warm up your bat and glove for a game of SOFTBALL @ LAKE PARK. Game time is 2:00pm with a good old-fashioned cookout to follow. Lake Park is located on Milwaukee's East Side at Lake Dr and Newberry Blvd. To get to the softball diamond, turn left from Newberry Blvd past the Lake Park Bistro sign and follow the dead end road. Diamond is on your left. If you don't have a bat or glove, Rachel has a couple extra to share. Come and bring a friend!

SUNDAY, 9/30 ~ Come and receive the gifts Christ freely gives in the DIVINE SERVICE at 9:00am at Luther Memorial Chapel. Vicar Askins will be continuing a BIBLE STUDY on the theology of the cross in the life of a Christian on a college campus, following the Divine Service. Come and bring a friend!

To get the most up-to-date updates on events and activities, join our facebook group, Lutheran Student Fellowship @ UW-Milwaukee.

Week of 9/24 to 9/30

Greetings in the Lord Jesus Christ!

Events for the upcoming week:
Table Talk - Monday 9 / 24 at 8:30 room 147
Table Talk - Wednesday 9 / 26 at 12:00 pm room 181

A free meal will accompany each of the Table Talks. Discussions will focus on the modern quest for spirituality and what spirituality in this era entails.

Movie Night - 9 / 28 - Movie night - Vicar is cooking Cannelloni - please register on facebook so he can have an accurate count. Please bring movies for watching also. Subject to the Vicar's discretion.

Divine Service - Sunday 9 / 30 at 9:00am

The Lord's Blessings on you week.

Week of 9/17 to 9/23

Greetings!

This Week there was an LSF meeting on the 17th. For the meeting minutes, please shoot an email off to the LSF email address. uwm_lsf@yahoo.com

We will also be camping at Kohler - Andrae this weekend from Friday 9 - 21 to Sunday 9 - 23. We will be coming back for the Divine Service on Sunday, but Bible Class will be back at Kohler Andrae for those who weren't able to be there for the whole weekend.

I also said I would post possible options for Bible Study as well as possible dates. Please check the LSF facebook group for these options. They should be up by Monday afternoon. As far as a book of the Bible for study, I am thinking either Ezekiel or Matthew, times are TBA.

The Lord's Blessings on your week.

Notes from Sunday's Bible Study

For those who missed today's study, or, a summarization for those who were there...

THE THEOLOGY OF THE CROSS

The texts:
Luke 3:21-4:13; Mark 1:9-13; Matthew 3:13-4:17

To fulfill all righteousness
Why was it necessary for Christ to be baptized? Christ said it was necessary to fulfill all righteousness. He was baptized a) to be like us in every way, b) that our sins, in Baptism, might be transferred to Him. Hence in this baptism, all sins are given to Him, fulfilling all righteousness. See Luther’s Flood Prayer in LSB pp. 268-269.

My Beloved Son
What is the importance of Jesus being declared God’s Beloved Son? In each of the temptations following, Satan tempts Jesus to doubt that God made this declaration regarding Jesus. Secondly, in other passages, such as the sacrifice of Isaac and Hebrews 12:3-11, demonstrate that it is the beloved son who endures the cross and suffering, and Christ is He who hung on the cross for our redemption.

Jesus and Israel / Adam
Numerous parallels between Jesus and Israel, as well as Jesus and Adam, exist in the Baptismal accounts. For instance, Jesus fasted in the wilderness 40 days and nights, Israel was in exile in the wilderness 40 years. Jesus fasted and was hungry, Israel complained in the wilderness constantly because of their hunger. Luke emphasizes the connection between Jesus and Adam. Hence, Luke places his genealogy between the Baptism and the temptation. Both Adam and Jesus are called the son of God. The first temptation involves eating, a temptation Adam failed in the Garden of Eden, but Christ overcame in the wilderness. See also Romans 5:12-21 for more on the parallels between Christ and Adam.

What does it matter that these parallels exist? They matter because Jesus is fulfilling all that was written about Him in the Law and Prophets (Old Testament). They matter because they demonstrate that where humanity was defeated by Satan, Christ by the Word of God overcomes.

The First Temptation
What is the first temptation about? a) If Jesus did turn the stones into bread, He would be taking up powers He willingly laid aside in order to redeem humanity. b) A temptation to doubt the Word of God at Jesus’ baptism, for Satan asks, “If you are the Son of God.” c) A temptation to doubt God’s testing of Jesus through temptation.

A crucial distinction: In class, I forgot to make the distinction between testing and tempting. God tempts no one, as we say in the meaning to the 6th petition. God however does test and discipline His children. Since Jesus was not a sinner and therefore not in need of discipline, God must have been testing Jesus. It was the Father’s will for Jesus to be tested. So also for His children through Baptism, that we be tested as is seen in the reading from Hebrews 12:3-11. This is ultimately a source of comfort and hope for us His children.

[In Deut. 8:1-6 we get some more of the background for the quote Jesus uses. ...]

The Second Temptation
Satan abuses the Scriptures in this temptation. Satan does know God’s Word. He knows God’s Word and by twisting God’s Word tempts Christians to doubt what God has said. Note again that Satan asks Jesus, “If you are the Son of God.” He tempts Jesus to doubt the proclamation of God as Jesus’ Baptism. In this way he also tempts us to doubt the gifts given to us, among which is adoption as God’s children, through Baptism.

Satan misinterprets the Psalm, tempting Jesus to interpret Psalm 91 as a theologian of glory might. In other words, Satan tempts Jesus to think, “Because I’m God’s Son, nothing bad should happen to me.” Christ uses the quotation against Satan, for Christ realizes that in the weakness and death on the cross, God brings the salvation promised in Psalm 91, a salvation that brings eternal life in the shelter of the Almighty.

The Third Temptation
Satan tempts Jesus to a) take what Satan has not right to give. In the same way Satan tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, to take what Satan had no right to give. b) This temptation is also an implicit denial of the Word of God spoken at Jesus’ Baptism. Satan says, “All this I will give you.” In truth, all of it already belongs to Jesus, for Jesus is both God and Man. He is the second person of the Trinity. c) Finally all worship belongs to God alone, and no created being is worthy of worship.

In the end, one can see all three temptations are temptations to a) doubt the Word of God spoken over His children at their Baptism, b) have other gods rather than the one saving redeeming God, who is revealed in Christ Jesus, c) temptations for Jesus to take up His divine power He willingly laid aside during His humiliation in order that He might redeem humanity.

Jesus, Just an Example?
Does Christ’s example overcoming of these temptations give us just a good example of how to overcome temptation or do they serve another purpose too? Jesus is a good example. Quoting Scripture back to Satan is how Jesus overcomes Him and so we also should follow His example as best we are able. Ultimately we are incapable of such a feat. We cannot know enough Scripture to always turn aside every temptation Satan throws our way. We cannot overcome every temptation. Thus Jesus is more than just a good example. He is the one who stands where sinners stood, in the waters of Baptism, and now conquers every temptation thrown at Him. He is the conqueror and vanquisher of Satan. This is why the temptations are included for our learning.

What Does This Have to Do with the Theology of the Cross?
The Bible class for today may have seemed like a wild adventure off the topic of the theology of the cross. The theology of the cross is intimately tied to Baptism and subsequently to the suffering born under the cross, which includes temptations, testing, discipline and more. Baptism places the Christian in opposition to the Satan, the world and the sinful flesh. Baptism is entry gate in the difficult life of the Christian. It also demonstrates that Christ, the Son of God, still underwent the trials and temptations we face today. He is like us in every way, except without sin. This then is a source of comfort for us, that in the weakness of suffering found under the cross, God works in us to accomplish His purpose. Our claim to victory: the name placed upon us at Baptism, “Father, Son and Holy Ghost,” thereby making us heirs unto eternal life.

Week 9/10 - 9/16

9/12 - Table in Student Union 11 am - 2 pm. Please feel free to stop in

9/13 - Table in Student Union 11 am - 2 pm.

9/15 - Softball in Lake Park from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm.

9/16 - Divine Service and Bible Class

In Bible Class, we will be discussing how and why Baptism signals the entry of the New Man into the life of suffering, the life of the Christian. The texts for discussion will center around Christ's Baptism in the Gospels (Mat. 3:13 - 4:11; Mark 1:9-13; Luke 3:21-22, 4:1-13). Romans 6:1-18 will also be discussed time permitting.

Please also come with your calendars so that after Bible Class we can discuss times for Table Talk, a Bible Study time on Campus, and the camping trips, times and dates as well as who needs to bring what.

Thanks, Vicar