If some were to teach doctrines contradicting an article of faith clearly grounded in Scripture and believed throughout the world by all Christendom, such as the articles we teach children in the Creed – for example, if anyone were to teach that Christ is not God, but a mere man and like other prophets, as [...]
On Easter evening Jesus told the group of His followers assembled in a room behind locked doors: “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. Then [...]
What does Christ do when He, though Lord of the Law, freely subjects Himself to circumcision? Paul says in galatians 5:3: “I testify to you that every one who allows himself to be circumcised is obliged to keep the whole law” [Luther Bibel]. Accordingly, the circumcision of Christ has the important significance for us that [...]
At my first congregation, one of the responsibilities that I was given was to create a vibrant and discipleship-oriented small group ministry. As this was not part of my seminary training, I (along with two other congregation members) went for a week long professionally led training course to become equipped in small group ministry. Small [...]
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” — Psalm 91:1 The Hebrew reads: “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Lord.” I ask you, for God’s sake, why does he add “in the [...]
Luther also discovers this kind of performative word in the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, as well as in the Christmas story (“To you is born this day a Savior!”), the Easter story, and many other biblical passages. As we have said before, he regards these sentences as promises (promissiones). They are the [...]
Would to God that we could gradually train our hearts to believe that the preacher’s words are God’s Word and that the man addressing us is a scholar and a king. . . . If someone announced: “I know of a place in the world where God speaks and anyone can hear God there”; if [...]
From LCMS President Matthew Harrison: We need to preach more about the Gospel!” a well meaning pastor admonished his brothers at a pastoral conference. As he continued his speech, a little old man shuffled up to the microphone. It’s hard to believe that this old pastor, barely over five feet tall, had been among the [...]
…how great would our first parent’s happiness have been if he had kept the Word of God carefully in sight and had eaten of all the other trees except the one from which he had been forbidden to eat! But he wanted to search out why God had forbidden him to enjoy the fruits from [...]
