Recent posts

LCMS Specialized Pastoral Ministry – August 2017 newsletter

The LCMS Specialized Pastoral Ministry newsletter for August 2017 shares information about the SPM educational event on Sept. 19-21 and the new Electronic-Extended CPE program.

Table Talk: Signs

Have you ever asked God for a sign? You’re not alone. Not only have illustrious figures from the Bible asked for a sign, but I’m sure that millions of Americans have asked for a peculiar manifestation of the Divine Will, whether they are dreams, occurrences, or feelings.

How The Formula of Concord Came to Be

The Formula of Concord has two parts, the Epitome and the Solid Declaration. Together, these comprise the final document of the Book of Concord (1580), or the Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Two settings of Luther’s Divine Service premiere at LCMS Worship Institute

Two new musical arrangements of Divine Service, Setting Five (Luther’s Divine Service) premiered at the 2017 Institute on Liturgy, Preaching, and Church Music held July 25-28 at Concordia University, Chicago, in River Forest, Ill.

Bible Study with Luther: Genesis 9

The connection between the salvation given to the human race in the flood and the eternal salvation distributed in holy baptism cannot be overlooked. St. Peter writes...

Taking Spiritual Vitals

This presentation will provide parish nurses with an overview of spiritual assessments as well as some simple-to-use guidelines for holistic care.

2017 Institute on Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music resources

Presented by LCMS Worship, the Institute was held under the theme “The Just Live by Faith: Make it Plain in Sermon, Service, Song.”

Robert Barnes: A Lutheran Martyr in England

July 30 is the commemoration of Robert Barnes, Confessor and Martyr. But his name might not be well known, even among those who study the Lutheran Reformation in Germany.

Lutheran Spotlight: Johann Sebastian Bach

Bach’s connection and admiration of Luther stems from his childhood; in particular, his early education. Born in 1685 in Eisenach in Thuringia, Bach spent three years at the Latin school that Luther had attended two centuries prior.

LCMS Stewardship Ministry – July 2017 newsletter

LCMS Stewardship Ministry discusses the connection between freedom and stewardship. God has in Christ set His children free from the burden of sin so they can be the faithful stewards of the freedom that is given in the Gospel.

Celebrate the Reformation by Reading the Bible

Luther and others came to believe that the only thing in this world that is fully trustworthy and infallible is the Bible. It is, of course, subject to abuse, misinterpretation, and misapplication by fallen men, but it is clear and simple enough that Christians can understand it. Everyone then should be urged to read it and everyone who does so in faith will be blessed.

Christ’s Presence in the Sacrament

The presence of Christ’s body and blood in the sacrament of the altar was a matter of great debate in the early sixteenth century. Particularly in the 1520’s this question was fiercely debated among different Reformers.

Lutherans and the Early Church Fathers

A common misconception is that the Lutheran Church was only started in the 1500s. The Lutheran Reformation did not sweep away their predecessors into the dustbin of history! Instead they returned to the pure doctrine that the Church had taught from the time of Christ.

Synod demographic studies offer insight despite critiques

In this blog post, I hope to offer some clarifications that will further the efforts of interested readers, as they make plans for the future of their ministries in the challenging cultural landscape of 21st-century America.

Lutherans in Lithuania

In Lithuania, when it comes to tracing political history, border lines, or even the establishment of a church founded by Lutheran “heretics”, nothing is ever simple to keep in order. The details are complex...