Recent posts

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...

Smalcald Articles Study: The Papacy

Luther states that the papacy demands obedience to itself (to the pope) and to whatever is said from that office of pope, even to the point of tying salvation to that obedience. What is the true Gospel?

Saints’ Days in the Lutheran Tradition

Most people know that St. Valentine’s Day is on February 14 and St. Patrick’s Day is on March 17.  But do you know what the date is for St. Matthew’s Day?  Or St. Joseph’s Day?

The Marriage Booklet in the Catechism

The culture increasingly maintains that marriage is man’s institution. Thus marriage can be defined according to the shifting winds of popular opinion, and ultimately government mandate. This is to rob marriage of any real objective meaning.

Bible Study with Luther: Genesis 6-8

Because we believe that this world will end and our Lord Jesus Christ “will come again to judge the living and the dead,” the world scoffs at and is hostile to what we preach. As we hold fast to the Word of God, let us consider how...

LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces – Third Quarter 2017 newsletter

This issue of So Help Me God from the LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces discusses the very real tension between being in the military and being believers in Jesus Christ.

‘Free to be Faithful’ – Summer 2017 newsletter

Read about the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Trinity Lutheran Church (LCMS) of Columbia, Mo. v. Comer and its implications for religious liberty.

Joy in a Beleaguered Church

The LCMS might be shrinking and North American culture might be becoming more hostile toward Christianity, but hand-wringing is not a Christian ceremony. The Lord calls us to hopefulness and joy.