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Lutheran Spokesman

“BREAD OF LIFE” READINGS OCTOBER 2020

TLH = The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941; WS = Worship Supplement 2000; LSB = Lutheran Service Book, 2006

Date Hymns Reading Comments
Oct 1 TLH 450 1 Kings 9:1-9 The Lord answered Solomon’s prayer at the temple dedication, reaffirming His faithfulness toward those who put their trust in Him.
Oct 2 TLH 567 1 Kings 10:1-13 The Lord had promised wisdom and wealth to Solomon, and He delivered on both. Even the Queen of Sheba was astonished to see all that Solomon had.
Oct 3 TLH 446 (LSB 663) 1 Kings 11:1-13 The foreign women Solomon married were a bad spiritual influence on him and he began to build shrines to their false gods. The decline and loss of His kingdom was now coming.
Oct 5 TLH 448 Revelation 3:14-22 The congregation here was wealthy and comfortable and it had led to an attitude of indifference toward Christ. They were “neither cold nor hot” but only lukewarm.Read More »“BREAD OF LIFE” READINGS OCTOBER 2020

Luther’s Catechism

COVER STORY – THE CATECHISM

“From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
(2 Timothy 3:15)

There is nothing in all the world more important than knowing the Holy Scriptures, for there is nothing else in all the world that can make you wise for salvation. Nothing! Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) That’s why Jesus says that listening to Him is the “one thing needed” (Luke 10:42). However, knowing the Holy Scriptures does not just happen automatically; it must be taught. Therefore, there is nothing more important than for parents to teach their children to know the Bible.
Timothy’s mother, Lois, and his grandmother Eunice understood that. They taught Timothy to know the Holy Scriptures. As a result, he had known them from his childhood. Read More »Luther’s Catechism

The Flesh and Bones of a Confessional Church

DEVOTION—CONFESSIONALISM

“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
(John 8:31-32)

What is more important to the human body, the flesh or the bones? It’s an absurd question, really. Take away either and life would be impossible. The bones provide the necessary framework for whatever the body does; they support everything else so that the body can function as intended. The flesh, of course, is the living, breathing part of the body that makes us who we are. Organs, muscles, circulation and nerves make perception, motion, emotion, and interaction possible. Read More »The Flesh and Bones of a Confessional Church

Elisha’s Bears vs. Judah’s Lion

GEMS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

Most people seem fascinated by contests, whether they be athletic games, car races, or spelling bees.
TV programming has brought us fight-to-the-death encounters between mongooses and cobras, alligators and Burmese pythons. They once even showed a fight between a bear and bull. The poor bull didn’t last long. Holy Scripture also references many animals, including bears and lions. Who would win in a contest between these two opponents?
In one corner are Elisha’s bears. As the prophet was traveling up from Jericho to Bethel (2 Kings 2:23-25), he was met by a gang of young men. They mocked Elisha saying, “Go on up, baldy!” Their mockery was not based on Elisha’s uphill walk, but rather was a reference to Elijah’s recent ascension. Thus, they were challenging God’s prophet to follow suit, as if the ascension were a joke.Read More »Elisha’s Bears vs. Judah’s Lion