Redeeming Holy Days from Pagan Lies: Christmas and Juvenalia
Did Christianity Steal the Date of Pagan Winter Solstice Celebrations? Juvenalia is one of those Roman festivals that is claimed as a winter…
Steadfast Media Pick of the Week — Responding to Evangelical Prooftexts
Responding to Evangelical Prooftexts The idea that “God won’t give us more than we can handle” is pretty common these days. I…
Contending for Creches and Crucifixes
Nativity crèches (mangers) are popular and acceptable at Christmas time among Christians yet resistance or misunderstanding accompanies…
Great Stuff — Creches and Crucifixes
Another great article found over on LetItStet.com: Crucifixes can scare Lutherans. Even good Lutherans. The kinds of Lutherans who like to sing…
The Church in Need – A Hard Look at Giving – Guest post by Vanessa
Thanks to Vanessa for this guest post. For more by Vanessa check out her regular blog: Bible, Beer, and Babies. No one likes…
“The Great Christmas Gift Exchange” (Sermon on Isaiah 61:1-4, 10-11, by Pr. Charles Henrickson)
“The Great Christmas Gift Exchange” (Isaiah 61:1-4, 10-11) There is a game that is played at this time of year at Christmas parties…
Sermon — Pastor Tony Sikora — Mary’s Bundle of Joy
Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. AMEN! Our text for this morning’s sermon is taken from St. Luke’s gospel account the 1st chapter.
Beloved in the Lord,
Carried Along by the Word
Scripture teaches that “no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man,
Great Stuff – Reformation of Suffering
Suffering. The many explanations are pretty much a pile of rubbish. People suffer on without consolation. The explanations more or less just pile…
“Inviting Some and Keeping Back Others”: Who is Welcome to the Lord’s Table?
Christ established His Church on earth so that sinners might receive His gifts of Word and Sacrament. Put another way, the Church exists…
Christ Myth Theory [Jesus is a copy-cat]
This particular claim toward pagan sources for Christianity and Christian Holy Days goes under various names: Jesus Myth Theory, Jesus Mythicism, Mythicism, Copy-cat…
Warm up at the Lutheran Concerns Association Annual Conference
The Lutheran Concerns Association Annual Conference is right around the corner on January 19, the day before Concordia Theological Seminary’s Symposia begin in…
“Who Are You, John?” (Sermon on John 1:6-8, 19-28, by Pr. Charles Henrickson)
“Who Are You, John?” (John 1:6-8, 19-28) How would you like to be defined in terms of someone else? I mean, who you…
Did Jesus Claim to be God?
Soon we will be celebrating the season of Christmas where the Second Person of the Trinity by the working of the Holy Spirit…
Elsie Moe Went To Church
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod’s official and historical position on the Lord’s Supper is that she practices close[d] communion. The practice of close[d] communion…
It’s Party Time!
The 2015 Brothers of John the Steadfast Conference is coming up! The one pious bone in my body thinks the best thing about…
Why I joined the ACELC.
Last night I received a phone call from Rev. Dan Bremer informing me that the ACELC has accepted my associate membership to the…
Sermon — Pr. Martin Noland — The Beginning of the Gospel
Sermon Text — Mark 1:1-8 December 7, 2015 — 2nd Sunday in Advent, Series B There is always something exciting and auspicious about…
Eggnog isn’t for Unbelievers.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. That’s what the song says so it has to be true…right? I do enjoy the…
“Comfort, Comfort My People” (Sermon on Isaiah 40:1-11, by Pr. Charles Henrickson)
“Comfort, Comfort My People” (Isaiah 40:1-11) “Comfort, comfort my people.” Yes, comfort. A word so nice, they said it twice. Who did? Why,…
Steadfast Media Pick of the Week — Cross Defense
Cross Defense I haven’t paid a whole lot of attention to KFUO AM since the dark days (or the bright and giggly…
Let us Not Bear a Self-imposed Cross
“Bearing the Cross in a Lutheran Synod” was the title of a recent blog published by the ACELC. My congregation and I are…
First Sermon on the Magnificat — Let It Be To Me According To Your Word
I am doing my sermon series for midweek Advent Services on the Magnificat. The first week’s readings are 1 Samuel 1:1-20 and Luke…
Krampus: A Better Law/Gospel Paradigm Than Santa Claus
December 6th is the day the Church remembers and gives thanks to God for the life and confession of St. Nicholas, Bishop of…
Sermon — Pr. Tony Sikora — Daily Beginning Again
Sermon Text — Mark 1:1-8 December 7, 2014 – Advent II Audio: https://steadfastlutherans.org/clips/2014-12-07_09-46.m4a Grace, mercy and peace be unto you from God…
The State of the Synod: A Confessional Response
In last month’s edition of the Lutheran Witness (LW) the LCMS Leadership released their “State of the Synod.” I encourage everyone to read…