by Rev. Mark Bestul As recorded in Luke 11, the disciples ask Jesus to teach them how to pray, and he does not respond with comments about posture or attitude or sentiment, but with specific words that serve as a foundation on which all Christian prayer is built. When Luther taught Master Peter the Barber… Read More >
Bible Study with Luther: Galatians 3:1-9
by Rev. Jesse Burns In the explanation of the Third Article of the Creed we are taught to confess that “the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian… Read More >
Catechism Study: The Splendor of the First Commandment
by Rev. Stephen Preus Martin Luther remarks regarding the First Commandment: “[W]here the heart is rightly set toward God and this commandment is observed, all the other commandments follow.” [1] Thus, when it comes to knowing the Ten Commandments rightly, one must know the First above all. Again, Luther: “So the First Commandment is to… Read More >
Bible Study With Luther: Galatians 2:1-10
by Rev. Jesse Burns At the end of the Holy Communion, the Church prays, “we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another…”[1] Christians live out their daily vocations in faith toward God and in love toward the neighbor…. Read More >
Bible Study with Luther: Galatians 1:6-20
by Rev. Paul Doellinger In his great work The Bondage of the Will, Luther writes, “A man must delight in assertions or he will be no Christian. And by assertion…I mean a constant, adhering, affirming, confessing, maintaining, and an invincible preserving…Nothing is better known or more common among Christians than assertions. Take away assertions and… Read More >
Catechism Reflection – The Second Article
by Rev. Mark Bestul If you were asked what the heart of the Christian faith is – what the heart of the Reformation was – what would you say? “Jesus Christ, crucified and risen for sinners”? Sounds about right. So, what if you were asked what is the heart of the Small Catechism, the basic… Read More >
Bible Study with Luther: Galatians 1:1-5
by Rev. Jesse Burns Martin Luther once said: “The Epistle to the Galatians is my epistle, to which I have wedded myself. It is my Catherine Von Bora.”[1] There is excellent reason why Luther would make such a statement! This epistle so clearly proclaims the Gospel message that sinners are saved, not by works of… Read More >