by Rev. Christopher Maronde As the sixteenth century dawned, there were essentially three answers given to the question: who rules the Church? The first answer given was the most obvious to those who have even a passing acquaintance with the history of the Reformation: the pope. Martin Luther was baptized and ordained into a Church where the… Read More >
Formula of Concord Study: Article V
by Rev. Aaron Moldenhauer Near the beginning of The Proper Distinction between Law and Gospel, C. F. W. Walther compiles a list of differences between law and gospel. One point of difference is that the law’s promises are conditional, while the promises of the gospel are unconditional.[1] How tempting and easy it is to confuse… Read More >
“Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice” (A Text and Tune Hymn Analysis)
by Mr. Jonathan A. Swett In 1523 Martin Luther wrote his first hymn for congregational use, “Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice” (LSB 556). It appears as the first hymn in the first published collection of Lutheran hymns, Etlich Cristlich lider of 1523/24—known as the “Achtliederbuch” because it contained eight hymns—four of which were written… Read More >
Why Mercy?
by Dcs. Betsy Karkan “Why mercy?” It is a question which every person has asked in one form or another since the beginning of time. “Who is this God and why is He merciful to a sinner like me?” “Who is this child of God and why have they done this merciful thing for me?”… Read More >
Confession and Absolution – Setting Free the Conscience
by Rev. Michael Schuermann One of the chief concerns of the Lutheran Reformers was to protect the conscience of each believer from being harmed by the burdens of works-righteousness or other sorts of legalism. They recognized that because of sin, man’s burdened conscience was driving him to seek relief in some way. God provided true… Read More >
Formula of Concord Study: Article IV
by Rev. Mark C. Bestul One might think the question “Are good works necessary?” is a pretty straight forward question. But, without clearly defining the terms “good works” and “necessary”… well, that leaves just the “are” to be straight forward! The Lutherans of the Reformation era found that answering this question about good works wasn’t so… Read More >
Bible Study with Luther: Galatians 4:21-31
by Rev. Paul Doellinger The propensity of the sinner is to trust in the visible works of the Law; to place our confidence in our own deeds, rather than the saving act of Jesus’ death and resurrection. The Law gives us something to follow and do. If we keep it, we feel secure and accomplished…. Read More >
Lutheran Preaching
by Rev. Dr. Mark Birkholz The Reformation was not just a movement among the cultural and religious elite. Ordinary people of Germany and beyond were captivated by the gospel, newly presented to them by Luther and the Reformers. The laity were engaged by the gospel in many different ways, through newly composed German hymns, the… Read More >
Worship and the Reformation: God’s Word Exercising Its Power Publicly
by Rev. A. Brian Flamme Luther writes in the Large Catechism, “Places, times, persons, and the entire outward order of worship have therefore been instituted and appointed in order that God’s Word may exert its power publicly.”[i] A modern reader who insists that he’s “spiritual but not religious” might be surprised that Luther would recommend… Read More >
Formula of Concord Study: Article III
by Rev. Jason Lane In this study of Article III of the Formula of Concord (FC) concerning the righteousness of faith or the righteousness of God, we will see how the Lutheran Confessions address and faithfully refute old and new efforts to refashion the doctrine of justification as some change within us. The doctrine of… Read More >