On Unionism
Unionism is the practice of participating in fellowship with those with whom there is not unity in Christian doctrine. It is a false…
Author: Pastor Johannes Nieminen
Pastor Johannes (John) Nieminen serves St Andrew's Lutheran Church in the Atlantic provinces of Canada, with Divine Service held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Middleton, Nova Scotia, Charlottetown, PE, and other locations on occasion. He attended Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in St Catharines, Ontario, graduating with a Master of Divinity degree in 2014. He is married to Lydia and they have been blessed with three children: Ethan, Summerlee, and Jacob.
A Pastor’s Skills for Ministry
When I filled out my Pastor Self-Evaluation Form some years ago, I was struck by some questions, including one which asks: What do…
Before You Relocate
A question pastors often get asked is, “I am moving to __________. What is a good church for me to attend there?” This…
Is the LCMS Becoming a Feminist Synod?
No. The LCMS is not becoming a feminist synod. It already is. The LCMS has long abandoned the order of creation. We followed…
Do Not be Angry with God
If you are angry with God, your anger is misplaced. It doesn’t matter what you are suffering, God is right and you are…
A Communion Statement is Not Yet Closed Communion
Congregations should have communion statements that summarize their position on closed communion. The statement can be in bulletins, on communion cards, and read…
Something New
The Athenians said to Paul, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? For you bring some strange things…
How Should Lutherans Consider the Roman Church?
In the face of continual revelations of sodomy and pedophilia perpetrated by Roman clergy, abuse cover-ups, and the enabling of repeated abuse by…
Do Congregations Matter?
Congregations open and close. Demographics shift. Towns shrink. People move away. Do congregations matter? God’s Word matters. People matter. It matters that people…
Strength vs. Faith in Tragedy
When terror or tragedy strikes, it is common these days to claim strength in the midst of weakness and helplessness. For example, after…
Another Reason to Sing Good Hymns
Not that you needed another reason to sing good hymns, but here it is anyway: It is well known that music assists in…
AC XII: The Often Forgotten Article
In all the discussions surrounding the Third Use of the Law and antinomian leaning tendencies, we would do well to not forget about…
Optimism for the Church
The other day, a fellow pastor called me an optimist who believes he can change the world because I was fighting for a…
Ecclesiastical Supervisors as the Devil’s Accomplices
It is just another normal day as yet another pastor is thrown out by the congregation God has called him to serve. Is…
Democratic Church Discipline?
The Church is not a democracy. The Church has a King, Jesus Christ her head and Lord. In North American Lutheranism, we seem…
A House Divided
Confessional Lutheran pastors cause strife and conflict everywhere they go. They cause trouble in their parishes by calling sinners to repentance and excluding…
The Life of Christian Holy People
You have perhaps read or heard someone say that the life of a Christian looks exactly the same as the life of an…
Don’t Fret the Numbers
We live in a world obsessed with numbers. We count everything. The year just rolled over from 2016 to 2017, as we count…
Learning from Eli
Eli was derelict in his duties as high priest. He did not keep his sons in check. Working as priests under Eli’s supervision,…
Praying Intentionally
We have both the command from God to pray, and the promise that He will hear us. Sometimes it is easy to pray….
God’s Forgetful Forgiveness
3Sometimes we struggle to forgive. When someone sins against us, we can have trouble forgiving. Especially when we have been really badly hurt,…
The Lutheran Confessions – Why Do We Still Bother?
We have Moses and the Prophets, isn’t that enough? If Holy Scripture is God’s infallible Word and the only source and norm of…
The Comfort of Election for the Mission of the Church
The doctrine of election or predestination is of great comfort to Christians. This doctrine tells us that our salvation is in God’s hands….
The Hill on Which to Die
Are you willing to die on that hill? This is a question that often gets asked when pastors face bad doctrine and practice…
Sermon – Father, Forgive Them
Sermon for Palm Sunday/Sunday of the Passion based on Luke 23:1-56 Dear sinners for whom Jesus died: Grace, mercy, and peace to you…