“What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me – practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:9, ESV) The missionaries to America that we have been focusing on during this mission series have what I call a heroic faith. They have endured much more than…
If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: [5] circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; [6] as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the…
“From one man He has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed the exact times and places where they should live. God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.…” Acts…
Lutherans, and others who follow the teachings brought to light during the Reformation, will mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation on Tuesday, October 31, 2017. As they do so they face a future that is uncertain. And, strangely enough, they are just fine with that. Luther and his supporters faced death threats throughout their…
How do you make a living? I’m not talking about your job. Yes, we have to have jobs to support ourselves but isn’t living something more substantial than the way we make our money? According to Jesus in Matthew 16:25, Christians make their living by losing: “For whoever would save his life will lose it,…
Even though Psalm 23 is still a very popular reading, it has been a long time since I have written anything about it so here goes. And I still prefer the old King James Version of this classic. The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green…
A major feature of the fifth century of Lutheranism is what Harold Lindsell calls the “Battle for the Bible.” The battle for the Bible has affected all denominations, not just Lutherans. As the Bible was subjected to more and more scientific analysis, people started to question some of its accuracy and reliability. Key elements of…
They would straggle in somewhat sleepy-eyed on Tuesdays at around 7:30 a.m. Some had their assignments done, some didn’t. As they started visiting with me and with each other they would start to perk up and soon we’d be in the midst of some very stimulating conversations. We’d sing, pray, recite memory work(!), discuss what…
Jesus Walks on Water – Matthew 14:22-33 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. [23] And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, [24]…
As I pointed out last month, the third century of Lutheranism saw the rise of a new philosophical and theological movement, Rationalism. According to Rationalism, reason, logic and science were the supreme sources of truth and capable of solving all of man’s problems, leaving old-fashioned religious faith as a relic of the past. For much…
Mirror Neurons 