Book Review: “Beauty and Catechesis” by Rev. Gaven M. Mize
Rev. Gaven Mize’s new book, Beauty and Catechesis, is a wonderful gift to the Church. Published by Grail Quest Books, Beauty and Catechesis…
Author: Pastor Eric Andersen
Pastor Andersen serves Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Summit, IL and Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hodgkins, IL.
He is also the Associate Editor of Brothers of John the Steadfast, Bible Study editor for Around the Word, and teaches at Wittenberg Academy. You can read his sermons here.
Election 2016: The Political Incarnation of American Values
Every day, the level of political discourse in our country seems to hit a new low. As much as Secretary Clinton likes to…
A Requiem for Marriage
While the world was celebrating the Supreme Court’s 2015 ruling to legalize gay marriage, conservative Christian blogs everywhere were filled with obituaries. And…
Lutheran Church or 7-Eleven? A Sermon for the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity
In today’s Holy Gospel (Mark 7:31-37), our Lord shows us how profoundly our hearing affects us. Before he’d heard God’s Word, the man…
Commemorating the Saints
Satan’s always working to confuse our theology. If he can’t knock us off the horse on one side, he’ll try to knock us…
Why Go to Worship When You Can Go to Wrigley?
A few weeks ago, a friend invited me to go with him to a Cubs game. Now, despite the fact that baseball is…
Pastor, Can We Sing Patriotic Songs in Church?
A friend of mine recently had a parishioner ask him if they could sing patriotic songs in the Divine Service this Fourth of…
Catechetical Aesthetics with Pastor Mize (Part 2)
This is part 2 of a 3-part series on what the things we see in church can teach us. For part 1, click…
Voter Apathy Still #1 Problem. Does anyone care?
There is a highly motivated and well-organized campaign underway to elect a new president and change the direction of Synod. With voter registration being significantly…
Catechetical Aesthetics with Pastor Mize (Part 1)
Pastor Gaven Mize of Augustana Lutheran Church in Hickory, NC has begun producing a series of really great videos about the significance of what we…
The Secret to Church Growth
On one occasion after Jesus finished teaching in the synagogue, a number of his disciples were offended at His teaching and said, “This…
Why Parents “Can’t” Bring Their Kids to Church
One of the biggest challenges congregations face when it comes to catechizing their children is the demanding schedule of sports and extra curricular activities. It’s…
Satan, the World’s First Feminist
Adam did battle with Satan in the Garden Paradise and lost. It was a no-contest, really. By the time round two came around,…
Catching Waves with Christ!
At first I thought this was a video of somebody mocking Christianity. If only that were the case. As it turns out, we…
Preaching, God’s Laxative for Your Heart
Before next Sunday, we will once again celebrate that most significant of events in human history, the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ….
On Fire for Christ!
Sometimes the Lutheran Church is accused of not being very missional. We’re solid when it comes to doctrine—justification by grace through faith alone—but…
Why You Should Think of Your Pastor as a Priest
In keeping with the theology of the Old Testament, some Christian churches (including many Lutheran ones)[i] have retained the custom of referring to clergy…
The Gospel According to Elsa
Jesus never said, “Let go and let God”, He said, “Repent and believe in the Gospel.” There’s a big difference. Both “let go…
The Importance of Going through the Motions
Any musician will tell you there’s nothing particularly exciting about practicing scales. It can be one of the most boring and rote aspects of a…
New Revelation Bible Study, from Around the Word
Revelation is perhaps one of the most popular, yet least understood books in the entire Bible. In an effort to correct that, Around the…
Living Catechisms
Despite all of the emphasis Scripture puts on life together, it’s really common for Christians to see faith individualistically. Of course you can’t…
…But We Will Devote Ourselves to Prayer and the Ministry of the Word
There’s a ton of confusion in the Church today surrounding the pastoral office. Do we really even need pastors? What is he supposed to…
You Aren’t a Christian if…
…you despise preaching and the Sacrament. In other words, Christians go to church. Those who leave the fellowship of the Church are not…
Bible Study on Marriage & Homosexuality
As the world gets further and further away from God’s design for marriage and human sexuality, the more important it becomes for Christians…
American Idolatry
Though the First Amendment has established what is commonly referred to as the separation of church & state, the state nevertheless promotes its own…