Found on PropterChristum.blogspot.ca:   Christian Doctrine is a body.  The Lutheran dogmaticians called it a body of doctrine (corpus doctrinae).  This body of doctrine is made up of articles of doctrine, or articles of faith.  For Luther, as well as the Lutheran theologians that followed him, the chief and central article of all Divine Doctrine was the article of justification, or simply faith in Christ.  He writes in his Smalcald Articles (II, 1, 5; Trig): Of this article nothing can be yielded or surrendered [nor can anything be granted or permitted contrary to the same], even though heaven and earth, and   More…

The below is found on the Book of Concord Website. The “Sources and Context” tab on the sidebar of the Book of Concord website has this document as well as many others that help put the Book of Concord into the context of the times. A printable copy of the 95 theses can be found here. A previous article on it from 2010 can be found here.     Editor’s Introduction: The Ninety-Five Theses, composed originally in Latin, were posted by Martin Luther on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, on October 31, 1517. The Castle Church   More…

Below is a set of theses from the late Dr. Marquart, posted here in honor of the Reformation. Originally written for class and perhaps a conference, they speak of what exactly Sola Scriptura means and what it means for the church. Blessed Festival of the Reformation! Verbum domini manet in aeternum. The two focal points of the Reformation conflict were the Gospel’s core content (justification) and the Gospel’s authority (Scripture alone—sola scriptura). “Sola scriptura” means to assert the sole authority of Christ over His church, to the exclusion of all other powers and authorities. IESOUS KYRIOS (Jesus is Lord, I   More…

When Martin Luther started the Reformation in 1517, what did he imagine that the church would look like when he was done? What was the goal toward which he was taking those who were willing to follow his lead? Was he simply reacting against things he thought were wrong? Or did he have a new vision of what the church could and should be? Our Gospel lesson expresses what Martin Luther had in mind when he attacked the Pope and the doctrines of the Catholic church. Jesus said in John 8:31, “If you abide in my Word, you are truly   More…

Jesus warned His disciples in Matthew 16, “How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”  In addition to this, in Galatians 5:9-10 St. Paul warned the faithful of  the circumcision party saying, “A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you   More…

If you want to include your own mission newsletter for our Steadfast in Missions articles, click here to contact us and get us on your distribution list. BJS recommends that churches support one or more missionaries. My own church helps to support three missionaries in different parts of the world. The Malay People Singapore is a fascinating blend of cultures, traditions, and people. One of the three main peoplegroups in Singapore are the Malay. People of this ethnic heritage can be found throughout the Malay peninsula (Malaysia) and the nearby islands, including parts of Indonesia (like Sumatra). We look forward   More…

Here is a guest article by Peter Slayton of Ad Crucem. Peter’s passion is helping people discover and develop their God-given gifts so that they consistently confess Christ to a world that desperately needs the Good News. He loves theology, technology, music and social media. He is a member at Bethany Lutheran Church in Naperville, Illinois.   Did you know you can find Steadfast Lutherans just about anywhere? Even in Scandinavian pietistic circles!! I’m excited to announce the launch of a new confessional Lutheran online community called Ad Crucem (latin for “To the Cross”). As our “About” page says: Ad   More…

nota bene: This sermon was preached on October 28 for the High Plains circuit Reformation festival, at King of Glory Lutheran Church in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. The sermon is based upon the gospel reading from St. Matthew, chapter 11. Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of   More…

The latest issue of the “Lutheran Clarion” is online and is worth reading and downloading for your files. Click here to obtain your free copy. In this issue, Dr. Scott Meyer, Chairman of the Board of the Concordia Historical Institute (hereafter CHI), gives a magisterial analysis of James C. Burkee’s book Power, Politics, and the Missouri Synod: A Conflict that Changed American Christianity (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2011). The title of Meyer’s article is “Theology–the Real Issue of the Preus Era.” Meyer’s headings summarize his points: “Hearsay vs. Eyewitness Evidence,” “Burkee Diatribe Against [JAO] Preus,” “The Issue of Theology,” “Behnken’s Concern   More…

Tim Schenks posted this as a comment on another article here. We thought more of our readers might want to read this, and not be buried as a comment on another post. If anyone can find the source (podcast) for this quote, it would be nice to include the podcast here as well; please contact us or reply below.   The Venerable Weedon talked about feelings in the Divine Service a few years ago on Issues, Etc. Here is a transcript: Pr. Weedon: There used to be a pastor in this city named Timothy Quill. He once told a story:   More…

This is a guest posting from Rev. Jesse Jacobsen of the ELS.  Where have you seen the words in this post’s title? If you were confirmed as a child, then you memorized them from the Small Catechism, where it cites Matthew 28:18-20 as the word and command of God concerning baptism. You may not have recognized the title right away, though, because this excerpt from that passage doesn’t mention baptism. In the full quote, Jesus says: All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in   More…

Two questions have come our way concerning holy baptism. The [Book of Concord] seems to say that infants who die un-baptized may not go to heaven. (from the Epitome, in the section “Articles that Cannot be Tolerated in the Church.”; also SD XII 11) It further suggests that the fate of said infant may turn on whether his/her parents are baptized believers themselves, which strikes me as particularly unjust. Can you clarify the LCMS position on this issue for me? (Also a link to the The second questioner asked: 1. When are we to baptize, at what age…birth – 8   More…

Found on Cyberbrethren:   Thanks to my colleague, Rev. Benjamin Mayes, for his fine translating work. This is a statement that Paul Gerhardt wrote on the occasion of his 70th birthday. It has been referred to as his “testament” for lack of a better word to describe what this is. It is quite moving and powerful. He addressed it to his son. This, once again, amply destroys the myth that Paul Gerhardt was some sort of Pietist yearning to run free of the shackles of Lutheran Orthodoxy, a very, very common myth, sadly, even among a number of Lutherans, who   More…

In the Name X of Jesus.  AMEN! Beloved in the Lord, The reformation of the church of Christ was not primarily a reformation of life, morals, good works.  Such a reformation had been attempted before, all failing, because morality has to do with the Law and the Law is powerless to change hearts.  The Reformation of the Church of Christ was not about morals but doctrine.  When Martin Luther walked to the doors of St. Mary’s church in Wittenberg Germany 1517, he sought to discuss and debate doctrine, the teaching of Christ and the Holy Church.  Doctrine is teaching.  Teaching   More…

An Offensive Pick The God Whisperers can be best summed up by their tagline “disturbing yet compelling™. Their theological discussions, when they get to them, are first rate. Their humor can be juvenile and their musical tastes questionable. They are somewhat of an acquired taste but sometimes that how it is with the good stuff. The God Whisperers (GW) recently had their 200th episode and this weeks pick is a compilation of their greatest hits from the past 100 episodes. Part 1 is GW Mayhem, the disturbing stuff. Part 2 is GW Theology, the compelling stuff.