“For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.” (Hebrews… Read More »Being Inside or Outside of the “In-Crowds” Read More

SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST How often hasn’t it been said, “Well, at least it’s not the end of the world!”? This statement is generally made to console someone going through difficult times. The kind of comfort it’s trying to convey is that the situation could be far worse—even worse than what the troubled person… Read More »Looking Forward to Christ’s Return on the Last Day of this World Read More

Martin Luther is a church father who is highly regarded by Lutheran Christians as well as by individuals in other Christian denominations. He has received such a special standing in our eyes because of the Lord’s blessed use of Luther in bringing important truths of God’s Word to the light of day. For example, there… Read More »Martin Luther And Church Fathers Read More

STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, ‘In Isaac your seed shall be called,’ concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which… Read More »The Height of Faith and Love Read More

Annually, when October 31 rolls around, Lutherans who are mindful of their religious heritage give thought to the reformation movement which took place in Germany during the 1500’s. Their remembrance of this significant event is that of a thankful appreciation for the Lord causing the glorious light of the gospel message to once again shine… Read More »LESSONS FROM PAST REFORMATIONS Read More

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!  For His mercy endures forever!” is a familiar prayer expressing our thankfulness to God for the food with which He has blessed us and reminding us to give thanks to God. Such reminders are always in place because, quite frankly, we don’t always remember to return… Read More »“Oh,Give Thanks to the Lord…!” Read More

The many teachings of God from Genesis to Revelation are precious to believing Christians because they form an unshakeable foundation upon which to firmly establish redeemed lives with God and to possess the certain hope of eternal life in heaven. Since God’s teachings are interconnected, we do not want to give up any of them… Read More »Christ’s Bodily Resurrection – A Foundational Christian Truth Read More

A SLICE OF LIFE IN THE CLC SNAPSHOTS OF CONGREGATIONS FROM AROUND THE CHURCH OF THE LUTHERAN CONFESSION Zion Lutheran Church is numbered among the oldest congregations in the Church of the Lutheran Confession. Its early beginnings reach back to 1917, when a handful of families gathered for worship in Union Township, southeast of Ipswich.… Read More »Zion Lutheran Church Ipswich, South Dakota Read More

Meditations On Jesus’s Sermon On The Mount Matthew chapters Five through Seven “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means… Read More »Jesus, the Great Fulfiller Read More

STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT Women received their dead raised to life again. And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the… Read More »Triumphant Faith in the Face of Persecution Read More

First of a 2 part Series An essay titled “What place does the church (small “c”) have in a Christian’s faith-life?” was presented to a CLC Pastoral Conference at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Cheyenne, Wyoming, in September, 2013. This is a first of two parts from that essay (abbreviated by the editor). During Israel’s wilderness journeys children… Read More »“Blessings in the Family of God” Read More

Sex sells, is sold, and enslaves human hearts. Businesses use sexual messages and imagery in their advertisements to sell their products. Human bodies are sold for sex in the age-old trade of prostitution. With the proliferation of pornography, especially on the internet, countless victims are enticed and ensnared. Satan, the chief enemy of our souls,… Read More »Rahab — A Reformed Prostitute Read More

“But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your ‘Yes,’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No,’ lest you fall into judgment.” (James 5:12) The saying “truth is in short supply” is as true today as in the past. Children of the world… Read More »Your Word Should Be Sufficient Read More

(II Kings 22-23; II Chronicles 34-35)  D own through the centuries, rulers of nations have had either a positive or negative influence on the subjects they govern. During the period of the Divided Kingdom in Israel, there were more ungodly kings that “did evil in the sight of the Lord” than God-fearing kings. Following the… Read More »Josiah, The Boy-King Read More

STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by… Read More »Wisdom from Above Read More

Having seen His star in the East, certain Magi came to pay special homage to an infant King in the little town of Bethlehem. There are important questions concerning this King that need to be properly answered in order for people the world over to be blessed by His reign: what kind of a king… Read More »A Universal King Of Lasting Peace Read More

Heritage, inheritance, and legacy are all terms that speak of one generation of people handing down to the next generation something very special that is worth preserving. What that special something is depends on a person’s value sytem. To some, a heritage worth passing on to each succeeding generation may be a family name, an… Read More »Our Great Heritage Read More

During the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., there have been numerous questions asked about this great tragedy. Of all the many questions posed, perhaps the most significant one is: Why would God permit such an evil, horrendous… Read More »A Call To National Repentance Read More

A meditation presented by Chaplain Pastor Mark Gullerud to the West Central District Delegate Conference of the CLC, Grace Lutheran Church, Valentine, Nebraska (May 24, 2011) “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same… Read More »A Christian Support System Read More

“Our Savior Jesus Christ . . . has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Tim. 1:10). “Forever with the Lord!” Amen! so let it be. Life from the dead is in that word, ‘Tis immortality. (TLH 616:1) The glorious fate of Christian immortality, that is, the eternal life… Read More »THE BLESSED HOPE OF BLISSFUL IMMORTALITY Read More