Items of interest from various sources of religious news and opinion, in print and on the web. Research Supports “The Success Sequence” For Young People. In a column for The Deseret News, University of Virginia sociology professor Brad Wilcox cites numerous studies that confirm what he calls “the success sequence.” “This three-pronged sequence encourages young… Read More »Month Archive Read More
Year/Month: 2024/02
Today’s tough economy prompts the question; “What is a worthwhile investment?” Here’s a simple answer to that question: children. From the beginnings of the CLC, Christian education has always been a priority investment. God’s grace and steadfast love can be recounted in story after story in the history of our synod’s efforts to start and… Read More »Month Archive Read More
“BREAD OF LIFE” READINGS February 2024 TLH = The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941; WS = Worship Supplement 2000; LSB = Lutheran Service Book, 2006 Date Hymns Reading Comments February 1 TLH 390/LSB 560 1 Corinthians 2 Our faith rests only on Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The Holy Spirit gives us wisdom to receive the truth… Read More »Month Archive Read More
Updates from congregations around the Church of the Lutheran Confession If you were to use two words to describe Ascension Lutheran Church since its last update, they would be “resilient” and “blessed.” The people of Ascension endured an almost two-year long vacancy starting in November 2021. During that time, they were occasionally served by faithful… Read More »Month Archive Read More
In this series, those involved with CLC foreign missions profile one aspect of our overseas endeavors. On November 19, 2023, a graduation ceremony was held at Wittenberg Lutheran Theological Seminary in Arusha, Tanzania. Four men received their diplomas for completing the one-year course in Evangelism. One student, Philippo Molel, will return to his home in… Read More »Month Archive Read More
The Christian is called to be a soldier of Jesus Christ here on the earth. As soldiers are mustered out of the army one by one and sent home when their tour of duty is over, so we Christians are one by one mustered out of Christ’s army here on earth and taken home to… Read More »Month Archive Read More
(Please read Luke 14:15-23) Jesus, for whom a day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years, a day, has little tolerance for smug religious claptrap (think of His “whitewashed sepulchers” speech against the Pharisees, Matthew 23). So when He was at a dinner hosted by influential Pharisees, one where He had already called… Read More »Month Archive Read More
“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance.” (Psalm 42:5) News can come from the radio, a phone app, or a doctor’s report. How do we react when it’s troubling? The psalmist was… Read More »Month Archive Read More
“There is also an antitype which now saves us—Baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject… Read More »Month Archive Read More
Ever wonder why we Lutherans use the form of worship we do? In this series we examine the depth and meaning of the various elements of our Lutheran worship service. Martin Luther did not ordinarily get involved in telling congregations how to conduct their worship services. He recognized correctly that we have a significant amount… Read More »Month Archive Read More
Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-13 all relate the strange case of Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness, which occurred at the start of His public ministry. Jesus had been led into this barren land by the Holy Spirit for this express purpose. In regard to Jesus’ Godhead, this would be a futile attempt on… Read More »Month Archive Read More
“From then on, Jesus began telling His disciples what would happen to Him. He said, ‘I must go to Jerusalem. There the nation’s leaders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the Law of Moses will make me suffer terribly. I will be killed, but three days later I will rise to life.'” (Matthew 16:21… Read More »Month Archive Read More