475th Anniversary of the SMALCALD ARTICLES
“…The Word of God shall establish articles of faith and no one else, not even an angel.” (Luther, SA, Part II, Art. II)
4.Of Sin and the Law
As Dr. Martin Luther moves into the third part of his confession, he undertakes a discussion of articles “which we may discuss with learned and reasonable people, or among ourselves.”
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
2 Timothy 4:17-22
17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
“…The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me” (John 10:25)
Jesus Heals the Man with an Unclean Spirit
23 Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!
It doesn’t take long to get acquainted with Michael Buck, and decades aren’t long enough to cover the territory. Prof. Buck has fascinating stories to tell of his early years in Austin, Minnesota, followed by military service…
Religion is often used as a prop by politicians during election times.
Recently we read in the public press, “President Obama and his family headed out to church this morning for the third time in a month, the latest sign that the president may be using religion to boost his image as the campaign heats up.”
Lest we be accused of discrimination, let us acknowledge that the current president is not the only one who finds the public show of religion convenient to his ends.
Citizens on Earth Ever since Adam and Eve’s fall into sin in the Garden of Eden, every human with the exception of Jesus has been conceived and born in sin. Original sin is our ascribed…
Do you remember what it was like in grade school when it was time for a fire drill? “Line up, quickly and quietly,” the teacher would say. “No talking in line.” Out you go with…
The Pentecost devotions remind us of the crucial role of God the Holy Spirit in our individual Christian lives. The same Spirit is wonderfully active in our wider work as a synod, as explained in the following words in the Board of Missions report to the June Convention.
If I were to ask you what the greatest miracle of Pentecost is, what comes to mind? The sound coming from heaven as of a rushing, mighty wind? Probably not so much. The tongues appearing to be fire that sat upon each of the disciples on that Pentecost morning? It’s likely more of us think of that miraculous sign since it happened only on that special Day. Many may think of how the apostles (whose mother-tongue was Aramaic)
When I was around twelve years old, I was walking home on a dusty Dakota road because the family tractor had quit on me. A neighbor stopped to give me a ride. Not much later he started gesticulating and speaking gibberish. I crowded the door, ready to bail out if necessary. Then suddenly he stopped the unusual actions and noises. Looking at me, he smiled and told me not to be afraid. He explained that he had been grabbed by the Spirit and was just speaking in tongues!
