Seventy-eight years ago, in the early summer of 1941, St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church had its first worship service, conducted by Pastor Reinhardt Schierenbeck of Sanborn, Minnesota. On June 27 of 1941, St. Paul’s was incorporated and its constitution adopted. At the time of organization, St. Paul’s membership consisted of fourteen charter members with their… St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church Austin, Minnesota Read More

DEVOTION – THE BLESSINGS OF LABOR “Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage. As… Labor Day Thanksgiving Read More

DEVOTION – MOTHER’S DAY “Husbands, likewise, dwell with them [your wives] with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of  life, that your prayers may not be hindered.” (1 Peter 3:7) Mother’s Day is a big and special day across America. If you’re thinking… Honoring the Christian Wife and Mother Read More

DEVOTION – PRO-LIFE Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from… The Lord’s Mysteries of Life Read More

DEVOTION – BACK TO SCHOOL “But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them.”  (2 Timothy 3:14) “Back to school” often means back to a more disciplined routine. “Back to school” means getting back to careful study. For many parents, it means… Time to get Back to the Book (of Holy Scripture) Read More

DEVOTION – GRADUATION “Do all things without complaining and disputing,  that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,  holding fast the word of life.” (Phil. 2:14-16) Formal education is a time of preparation.… Graduating to the Real World Read More

DEVOTION – EPIPHANY The account of the coming of the Wise Men stands out as one of the highlights of the Christmas and Epiphany seasons. That account should be especially important to us, the believers of the Gentile nations. We look to the Wise Men as the first of the Gentiles to know and worship… The Wisdom of the Wise Men Read More

“For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). We live in a world where we… Alive to Righteousness Read More

DEVOTION – CONFIRMATION “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who… Making Promises You Can’t Keep! Read More

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him” (Matthew 2:1-2). This… We Have Come to Worship Him Read More

“He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it” (Titus 1:9 NIV). The Apostle Paul wrote these words to Titus to give him direction for appointing elders within congregations. These are words that are applicable to… Luther’s Catechism — A Treasure of the Reformation Read More

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God,… The Gift of the Public Ministry Read More

“. . . just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).  EASTER is indeed a joyful time of the year as we celebrate the anniversary of our Savior’s resurrection. He who died for us rose again and lives… To Rise from Sin Read More

DEVOTION – New Year “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a… God’s Will for Your New Year Read More

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9) Fighting poverty has been at the forefront of American politics for longer than I have been alive. Every few years a new… Celebrating the Jesus Antipoverty Program Read More

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”  (Matthew 7:15) “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.”   (1 Timothy 4:16) Jesus emphasized doctrine in His ministry. He went… What Is a ‘Confessional’ Lutheran? Read More

When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes,… The Blind See and the Mute Speak! Read More

THE RITE OF CONFIRMATION “…that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ.” (Ephesians 4:14-15) “For… A Rite of Passage into Spiritual Maturity Read More

“…The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me.” (John 10:25) On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other… Stilling the Storm (in our lives also) Read More

The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; the glory of the Lord shall be… The Voice Read More