by Rev. James A. Lee II In the Small Catechism’s presentation of the Sacrament of the Altar one may be a bit surprised at the amount of attention Luther gives to the words of institution. After all, this is the section wherein that is dedicated to the discussion of the sacrament of Christ’s body and… Read More >
“From Depths of Woe I Cry to Thee”
by Rev. Dr. Mark Birkholz Martin Luther’s hymns were vitally important to the Reformation. They presented the gospel in beautiful, memorable ways that people could understand in their own language. One of Luther’s earliest compositions was “From Depths of Woe I Cry to Thee,” a paraphrase of Psalm 130 (Aus tiefer Not schrei’ ich zu… Read More >
Singing the Reformation
by Jonathan A. Swett One of the central figures of church music during the Reformation period was Martin Luther, who expressed on numerous occasions that, next to theology, he accorded music the highest praise. In contrast to other notable reformers of his day, Luther believed that music was “a gift of God to be nurtured… Read More >
Adiaphora in the Lutheran Confessions
by Rev. Mark Bestul “Adiaphora” – it’s both a loved and “loaded” term these days, isn’t it? It defends from images of strict legalism, while painting images of “every congregation for herself.” The oft-quoted remark of Luther that sinners are like a drunk peasant who falls out of one side of the saddle, then the… Read More >
Hymns of the Reformation – “From Heaven Above to Earth I Come”
by Jonathan A. Swett With the vast wealth of hymns available to enhance our celebrations of the Christmas season each year, it is difficult to discern which hymns to select and when to stop selecting! If the church musician of your congregation is anything like me, they will find a way to creatively incorporate as… Read More >