Martin Luther was born on November 10, 1483. His birth went unnoticed by the world. But by the time he died in 1546, Martin Luther had become the most well-known person in Europe. The Reformation he ignited brought about profound changes in the church and in society. But how would the church be different if…
The appointed Gospel reading for All Saints Day is Matthew 5:1-12, a passage that is often referred to as “The Beatitudes”: [1] Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. [2] And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: [3] “Blessed are the…
Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. [7] And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who…
Luke 15:2: “And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” These words of the scribes and Pharisees are really all that is needed to be said before celebrations of the Lord’s Supper. Whenever we celebrate the Lord’s Supper it should be clear to all that those who…
One of Martin Luther’s greatest theological insights was that believers in Christ are not perfect saints all the time, rather we are simultaneously saints and sinners. We are 100 percent perfect and sinless through faith in Jesus as our Savior but the sinful nature that has been ours since conception in our mothers’ wombs still…
A sermon for All Saints Day, 2021 It has become common today in difficult situations to use the word “trapped.” When people face physical disabilities and limitations they say things like,“I feel trapped in my body.” When people are in a job they don’t like they might say, “I feel trapped in my job or…
“When I look at myself I cannot see how I can be saved. When I look at Jesus I cannot see how I can be lost.” Those words come from Martin Luther, the father of the Reformation. When we honestly look at ourselves how can we possibly see that we could be saved? Sins pile…
At the imperial diet in the city of Worms, Germany in 1521, Martin Luther spoke very boldly in defending his beliefs and teachings. He refused to back down from demands to take back what he had written. But when it comes to contentment perhaps Luther was even more bold. See if you agree. Luther’s motto…
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23, ESV) Sunday, April 18, 2021, was the 500th anniversary of Luther’s stand before the imperial Diet in the town of Worms, Germany where he told Emperor Charles V: “Unless I am convinced by the testimony of…
500 years ago, on April 18, 2021, Martin Luther spoke the following words at the Diet of Worms: “Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust either in the pope or in councils alone, since it is well known that they have often erred…
Mirror Neurons 