Just one more year. If it doesn’t bear fruit in a year, well then cut it down and replace it. But maybe this tree can be salvaged. After all, if this is a mature tree, just a little work might induce fruit. The gardener suggests that if he were to dig around the tree and put down some manure, it might come right back. Besides, if you plant a new tree it will take time before it’s ready to bear fruit. The owner relents and gives the gardener time to tend to the tree in the hope that fruit can be experienced!
This is a repentance story. This is a grace filled message. It is the story of a second chance. Judgment is still in the picture, but so is mercy and grace. Mercy without accountability is a bit worthless in the long run. So, maybe certain
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The goal of repentance is not the end, rather as Matin Luther says in the small catechism, repentance means a new self should arise to serve him. Gospel writer Luke when he talks about repentance he is not talking about the guilt, fear, sorrow, self hatred, he is talking about joy, confidence, new relationships, fresh starts to become God’s instruments of redeeming love.
Wherever you are on this Lenten journey and whatever you may be hearing in these texts, God wants us to be fruitful. He wants us to accept the invitation for a free banquet. God affirms to make us witnesses, leaders, commanders and followers so that he is glorified through our actions.
When and where God has invited us to a closer walk? Does this invitation to eat, drink without cost appeal to us?
How can we renew our relationship with him?
Please give me one more year? We really didn’t know what happened to the fig tree in the parable, but what do we want to do different if we are given one more year to bear fruit?
Are we willing to share our gifts? Are we ready to witness, to serve, to love, to forgive, to accept, to grow, and to multiply? If our answer is yes, what are we waiting for? Le us return to the Lord our God, for he is gracious and merciful , slow to anger, and abounding in love.
May the peace of the Lord be with
Being forgiven [for one’s sins] is a monumental theme and topic throughout the Bible. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9). This excerpt from
An effective piece of writing is one in which the audience takes a stance on the side that the author intended them to. Both Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail” and Jonathan Edwards’ “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” are considered effective pieces that target two different audiences, in different eras, in attempt to reach different effects. Martin Luther King Jr. and Jonathan Edwards alike attempted to write effective pieces to convince their readers of their personal stance on the appropriate topic. It is evident that one piece must be considered more effective than the other.
Martin Luther's "The Freedom of a Christian" discusses an in-depth look into the Christian faith, God's work in each individual. Refusing to believe in the established doctrine, Luther wrote this reforming treatise in response to Pope Leo's criticisms and to further explain the theological and ideological core of his thinking. Nevertheless, Luther centered his ideas around the concept that the joys and freedoms of a Christian were that in faith; humans, as sinners, should not look at ourselves, but instead at God's goodness. He goes on to elaborate that through the justification by faith, humans grasp the meaning of a whole Christian life. Throughout "The Freedom of a Christian", Luther expands on the threefold power of faith: faith frees
Effectiveness is the reason for most argument pieces. Edwards argues in “Sinners in the hands of an Angry God” that everyone must be completely devoted to God or else God will send them to hell. Martin Luther King’s piece “Letter from Birmingham Jail” he is responding to the clergymen’s criticism. Both “Letter from Birmingham Jail” by King and “Sinners in The Hands of an Angry God” by Jonathan Edwards persuade their intended audience on their subject and believe what they believe; one is more effective than the other.
We are in a season where God wants us to run forth with all we have as a unit ,to go and set the captives free, to heal the sick, to raise the dead. But it can only happen if we Arise..
Specifically, in this story, there are two types of trees mentioned, a Chinaberry tree and a pear tree. The Chinaberry tree resembles the dark side of nature, as nature continues to act as a mystery. When falling upon Mr. Larkin and his car, the Chinaberry tree is described as “tilting, dark and slow, like a cloud” (Welty 109). When watching this happen, Mrs. Larkin says to herself “You can’t be hurt,” as she feels that her love is strong enough to save her husband, but unfortunately, life does not work that way (Welty 109). By trying to protect her husband with these words, shows the theme of death and grief in the story. The problem Mrs. Larkin has throughout the story is being unable to understand why death happens and cannot seem to accept the loss of her husband. It’s important to take from this that humans cannot make sense of nature or sometimes of the events that occur throughout their lives, but as individuals, you can control your own actions, concluding, that there is no rational explanation for the tragedy in Mrs. Larkin’s life. Nature simply provides a point of departure for clarifying Welty’s concerns (Carson
Martin Luther started the Protestant Reformation when he nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany on October 31, 1517. It contained a series of 95 complaints that the once monk had with the church. He was steadfast in his efforts to get the church to change. Even refusing to repeal his complaints when threatened with excommunication.
Due to the immense corruption throughout the catholic church, countless people demanded change. Many historians argue that the reformation’s first big break, was when Martin Luther posted The Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences on the front doors of the Wittenberg Castle Church on October 31, 1517 as an act of defiance. It wasn’t until 1521 when Luther formally presented the 95 theses to Charles V in a church meeting also known as a “diet”. Soon after, Charles V declares Martin Luther an outlaw, and he is excommunicated under the pope’s orders. The Roman Catholic Church felt threatened by Luther’s reform plans because his beliefs went against the church's authorities.
“Beasts of England, beasts of Ireland, Beasts of every land and clime, Hearken to my joyful tidings of the golden future time…rings shall vanish from our noses and the harness from our back, bit and spur shall rust forever, cruel whips no more shall crack (Orwell, 5).” The analogy of the Russian Revolution, Animal Farm by George Orwell tells the story of how a group of animals kick Farmer Jones off of his farm and take over. At first, it seems to be going well, until Napoleon the pig starts taking the lead. Overall, He makes a horrible leader. For a person to qualify as a good leader, they have to be kind, understanding, gentle, truthful, and willing to work hard, or else, no one will want to be around them.
It is a popular belief that the tree symbolizes a “faithless Israel” and that the Jesus cursing the tree was an “acted-out parable” (Rhodes). “The Old Testament often uses the fig tree as a symbol of national Israel” (Day).
There were no longer those two boys who used to visit the tree. The tree died with their friendship.
When we receive Christ we turn to God from self (repentance) and trust Christ to come into our lives to forgive our sins and make us what He wants us to be. God’s forgiveness implies that our sins deserve judgment, but in His love God has shown us grace, giving us freedom from sin and reconciliation in our relationship with God. If we accept this gift of Jesus who died in our place and bore the punishment of our sin, we receive a new life free from the judgment and rule of sin. Nothing we can do ourselves can take away our own sin or its consequences. We simply and only must believe what God says and receive new life in Him as a gift by trusting
Martin Luther's Teachings were obviously against the church. As a devoted catholic, I believe he is found guilty for his crimes. But the one thing i have a problem understanding is the fact that after hearing his teaching i believe his teachings are better than the churches. Not to mention the death penalty is unnecessary for such crimes.
The earliest most famous Protestant reformer, Martin Luther went to the school of Erfurt to study law in 1501, but he quickly became more interested in theology. Luther was exposed to recent humanist writings and read extensively in classical Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. In 1505, he enrolled in an Augustinian monastery. He spent a decade educating and preaching and visited Rome. The Reformation was a religious uprising in Europe in the 16th century, prompted by dissatisfaction with the set Roman Catholic Church, which directed to the formulation of the Protestant branch of Christianity.
That is all that He asks of us, and it is He who gives us the power to do so. Even our desire for an improved life comes from Christ. We need not trust ourselves, for we can do nothing of ourselves. Though our outward appearance may show refinement, we have no power within to change our inner desires, our selfishness. All the hosts of heaven are enlisted to battle together with Christ in the working of your salvation. What more could we ask? "Every good and perfect gift is from above" (James 1:17). Christ alone is our true success. His love for you surpassed death, and He promises you a crown of life if you will only accept it.