Solus Christus: Christ Alone
Luther said, “The cross alone is our theology.” Another way to say this is Solus Christus, or “Christ alone” saves us.
“Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice” – Hymn Feature
In 1523 Martin Luther wrote his first hymn for congregational use, “Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice” (LSB 556). It appears as the first hymn in the first published collection of Lutheran hymns, Etlich Cristlich lider of 1523/24.
Hymns Are Devotions
Our hymnal is a treasury of devotions. Although we mainly think of hymns in the context of corporate worship, they are also perfectly suited for devotional use in the home.
“We All Believe in One True God” – Hymn Feature
As the basis for “We All Believe in One True God,” Martin Luther used the first two lines of a single-stanza German medieval hymn first found with Latin and German words in 1417 and expanded it to three stanzas—individually paraphrasing each of the three articles of the creed.
Sola Scriptura: Scripture Alone
Don’t be afraid to read the Bible. God has set forth His Law and His Gospel in the plainest terms.
Sola Fide: Faith Alone
Faith is only as good as its object. This is the danger of misunderstanding Sola Fide.
Sola Gratia: Grace Alone
The heart of the Lutheran Church’s beliefs is the doctrine of justification, the teaching of how we are declared righteous in God’s sight.
Luther’s Morning Prayer – A Model for the Christian’s Daily Life
I thank you, my Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You.
Why Luther’s Hymns Sound the Way They Do
A composer can never escape his own style, and this is true even of amateur composers such as Martin Luther. Embracing the musical arts in both his schooling and his cloistered life, Luther became a proficient instrumentalist on the lute and the transverse flute.
“From Depths of Woe I Cry to Thee” – Hymn Feature
One of Luther’s earliest compositions was “From Depths of Woe I Cry to Thee,” a paraphrase of Psalm 130 (Aus tiefer Not schrei’ ich zu dir, LSB 607). He wrote this hymn in 1523, around the time that he was revising the Latin Mass.
Bible Stewardship Principles
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod recommends using these Bible Stewardship Principles in guiding education and appeal efforts in Synod congregations, entities, agencies and auxiliaries.
“From Heaven Above to Earth I Come” – Hymn Feature
While it may be difficult to finalize and stop selecting hymns for your season, perhaps a place to start is with Martin Luther’s Christmas gem, “From Heaven Above to Earth I Come” (LSB 358).
‘Eternal Treasures: Teaching Your Child at Home’
Authors Cheryl Swope and Rachel Whiting address home education in the context of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
‘Dona Gratis Donata: Essays in Honor of Norman Nagel on the Occasion of His Ninetieth Birthday’
Through Nagel, his students learned of Christ and the innumerable gifts He gives. This book of scholarly essays allows others to learn from the professor as well.
‘My Night of Living Homeless’
In “My Night of Living Homeless,” the Rev. Steve Schave, the LCMS director of Urban & Inner-City Mission, narrates his firsthand experience of living among a group of inner-city homeless people in Cincinnati.