This year, the 500th anniversary year of the Lutheran Reformation (1517), the commemoration of the Presentation of the Augsburg Confession (1530), June 25, falls on a Sunday. Here is a hymn I wrote that is appropriate for the occasion (or … Continue reading
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 Christian doctrine, what need do we have for the Lutheran Confessions? If Scripture is the ultimate authority, … Continue reading
Join me Tuesday, April 5, 2:00-3:00 p.m. (Central), as I host “Concord Matters” on KFUO, AM 850 in St. Louis, and streaming online worldwide at kfuo.org. My guests will be Matt Harrison, president of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and Leopoldo … Continue reading
One of BJS’ goals is to encourage more laity to be familiar with and/or read the Book of Concord. One way we can all do this is when we refer to something out of the BoC, add a link to … Continue reading
The Confessions quiz has been updated with a new quiz handler. Click here to take the quiz This is an impressive handler and we need to resurrect the development of quizes; if you have questions or ideas on questions please … Continue reading
UPDATE, MONDAY, DEC. 16 . . . I just received this word from on high: The show that was snowed out on Saturday–with host Craig Donofrio and guests Steve Cholak and Ellie Corrow, picking up at paragraph 7 of the … Continue reading
Another installationi of the Weird and Wacky History of Confirmation that was originally posted over on Pr. Surburg’s blog: In the previous post in this series, The weird and wacky history of Confirmation:When there was not Confirmation in Rome it was … Continue reading
When I was in the ELCA, as a pastor in Hudson County, NJ, our urban coalition of Lutheran parishes (Hudson Evangelical Lutheran Parish or HELP) had weekly Bible studies. Usually three of us more confessionally minded pastors would go afterwards … Continue reading
I’ve attempted to read through the 95 theses several times, and never gotten past #20 without my eyes blurring and having to start just skimming them. I think the reason is because of the archaic and verbose language. A pastor … Continue reading
I thought the following was good to re-post today; it’s from a year ago. 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 … Continue reading
One of our goals at Brothers of John the Steadfast is the encouragement for the laity of our church to be reading the Lutheran Confessions. We do this by encouraging the formation of reading groups around the country, as well … Continue reading
Here is the second installment in my series on the history of Confirmation. It looks at the practice in Rome up to 800 AD – a time when Confirmation did not exist in Rome, buy which laid the groundwork for … Continue reading
Pastor Surburg has started a series looking at the history of Confirmation in the church; the first part was posted on is blog here and duplicated below: In the popular imagination today, there are few things that are more … Continue reading
Here are some quotes when considering AC XIV: XIV Of Ecclesiastical Order they teach that no one should publicly teach in the Church or administer the Sacraments unless he be regularly called. “…it is with those who are … Continue reading
One of the goals of Brothers of John the Steadfast is to encourage laity in reading and studying the Book of Concord. The easiest to understand version of this is the Readers Edition produced by CPH in 2006. This is … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
“A Lonely Monk, Now Long Ago” (Psalm 119:46) A Lonely Monk, Now Long Ago A lonely monk, now long ago, Nailed truth upon a door; The echoes of that hammer blow Rang out to many more. And when he spoke … Continue reading
Greetings in Christ Jesus! Prior to 1530 the Western Church was simply known as the church catholic as there were no denominations prior to this date. Either you were a Christian and a member of the church catholic, or you … Continue reading