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Lutherans are ordinarily not a triumphalistic people, unless we’re at an event with the word “district” or “synod” in the title, so when we hear more news about how the world around us is falling to decay and degeneracy we … Continue reading
The following dialogue translation is from the August 16, 1904 issue of Der Lutheraner, the Missouri Synod’s German language predecessor to the Lutheran Witness. It is a conversation between an elder member of a fledgling congregation and his pastor. It … Continue reading
The Tenth Sunday after Trinity August 24, 2014 “What Makes for Peace” Luke 19:41-48 Click here to listen to audio of this sermon. Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over … Continue reading
Dr. Martin Luther lectured on St. Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians from late October 1516 to March 1517. In addition to his earlier teaching on Romans, his research for these lectures led to the development of his teaching on justification … Continue reading
As managers of God’s means of grace (1 Cor. 4:1), pastors have nothing of their own to give or withhold. They are not sent to collect payment from sinners, but to relieve their unmanageable burden of debt. A READING … Continue reading
Part III, Article V. Of Baptism. 1] Baptism is nothing else than the Word of God in the water, commanded by His institution, or, as Paul says, a washing in the Word; as also Augustine says: Let the Word come … Continue reading
The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod holds a synod-wide convention every three years. The convention receives reports, elects leaders, votes on proposed resolutions, worships, hears essays, receives greetings, gives recognitions, and brings people together in both formal and informal social … Continue reading
Lay Lutherans and personal evangelism have a strained relationship. First, we are tempted to think that only pastors should witness for Christ. If asked about it in a quiz, however, we are good enough test takers to know that … Continue reading
Why does Jesus tell us to “Beware of false prophets?” These “ravenous wolves,” regardless of their pious appearance and stated intent, are destructive to souls and enemies of salvation. [Rev. Kurt Hering] A READING FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD EIGHTH … Continue reading
The Eighth Sunday after Trinity July 26, 2015 “Beware of False Prophets” Matthew 7:15-23 Click here to listen to audio of this sermon. “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but … Continue reading
Whether four thousand gathered in a desolate place, or a few hundred (or even two or three) gathered around Jesus to hear Him speak, His Word provides plenty of bread to go around. [Rev. Kurt Hering] A READING … Continue reading
Do I need church? Do you need church? Some say they are Christians, but don’t need the church. They worship at home or commune with God in nature in the outdoors. They say they do not follow crowds. I am … Continue reading
Part III, Article IV. Of the Gospel. We will now return to the Gospel, which not merely in one way gives us counsel and aid against sin; for God is superabundantly rich [and liberal] in His grace [and goodness]. First, … Continue reading
The Seventh Sunday after Trinity July 14, 2013 “Food for Body and Soul” Mark 8:1-9 Click here to listen audio of this sermon. In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to … Continue reading
In this book (Jack D. Kilcrease, The Doctrine of the Atonement from Luther to Forde (Eugene, Oregon: Wipf & Stock, 2018), Dr. Kilcrease skillfully accomplishes many important feats. In a fast-moving and trim volume, Dr. Kilcrease engages the written works … Continue reading
Dear Readers of BJS, I had the opportunity to present on the state of creation and evolution in the LCMS this past spring. The videos of the presentations are now up. Presenters included a few District Presidents and also seminary … Continue reading
I had the privilege to attend the 2019 LCMS Convention as a lay voting delegate for New England District Circuit Three. During the convention we discussed and passed a resolution about 6 Day Creation. The resolution was very well crafted … Continue reading
The following translation was the lead article for the January 25, 1910 issue of Der Lutheraner, the Missouri Synod’s German predecessor to the Lutheran Witness. The author is Ludwig Fuerbringer, who served as professor at Concordia Seminary – St. Louis … Continue reading
The Sixth Sunday after Trinity July 8, 2018 “Baptism, Dying, and Rising” Romans 6:3-11 Click here to listen audio of this sermon. Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized … Continue reading
The Fifth Sunday after Trinity July 1, 2018 “Defending the Faith” 1 Peter 3:8-15 Click here to listen audio of this sermon. Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; … Continue reading
Christ calls men to go into the world to fish for men and make them part of His kingdom in the Holy Christian Church. Thus, the Church and the Office of the Holy Ministry go hand in hand and the … Continue reading
Good works and the suffering of Christ and the Christian go hand in hand, indeed they are “the firstfruits” of the Spirit of which Paul speaks. To live in Christ is to suffer for the sake of serving one’s neighbor … Continue reading
[Photo of Sahar Sadlovsky Gold and child used by permission of Sahar Sadlovsky Gold. Thank you!] The child is with her father. He holds her in his lap. He looks at the Book of Concord. She looks at the … Continue reading
Fourth Sunday after Trinity June 24, 2018 “The Glory to be Revealed in Us” Romans 8:18-23 Click here to listen to audio of this sermon. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time … Continue reading
A voting delegate to a synodical convention has a duty to vote well. To vote well, one needs to study and understand the reports, overtures, and resolutions, and then vote scripturally, confessionally, conscientiously, prayerfully, and in brotherly consultation with the … Continue reading