The Mormons
UNDERSTANDING THE CULTS — MORMONISM In this twelve-part series we will take a brief look at some of the major cults, past and present, that have found adherents in the United States. Your pastor can…
The Mormons
Introduction to the Book of Concord
“THIS WE BELIEVE” In ongoing observation of the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation, we are presenting a brief overview of the Book of Concord. After this month’s introduction, the series will survey the three…
Luther Memorial Church Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
A SLICE OF LIFE IN THE CLC SNAPSHOTS OF CONGREGATIONS FROM AROUND THE CHURCH OF THE LUTHERAN CONFESSION The beginnings of Luther Memorial Church go back to events that took place even before its formal…
Downsizing Christmas
FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT Have you thought of downsizing? It might sound a little negative. Advertisers and even our own nature suggest to us that more is better. However, downsizing has become trendy.…
“BREAD OF LIFE” READINGS November 2018
Date Verse Reading Comments
Nov 1 TLH 383/LSB 671; Ecclesiastes 3:1-14 Human effort will ultimately come to nothing, but whatever God does will endure.
Nov 2 TLH 57 Zephaniah 3:14-20 The Lord would bring judgment on Judah, but He would restore them by sending the Messiah.
Nov 3 TLH 129/LSB 949; Acts 11:1-18 Peter learned that salvation in Christ was for all who believed, not just for a particular people
Nov 5 TLH 417 James 4:1-10 What causes arguments and quarrels? Very simply, they are clashes of wills. Learn to put your own desires away and do the Lord’s will.
Nov 6 TLH 35 Deuteronomy 3:1-11 As Moses recounted Israel’s history, he reminded them how God had even given Og, the king of Bashan, into their hands—giant that he was!
Nov 7 TLH 22 2 Chronicles 33:10-17 After being captured by the Assyrians, Manasseh finally humbled himself before the Lord. Often we must be brought low to be brought back to God.
What Is the World’s Expiration Date?
COVER STORY – END TIMES
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.”
(2 Peter 3:10)
It’s general practice, when people visit the local food market, to check the expiration date on products they are intending to purchase. By confirming that the expiration date is well out into the future, they can be reasonably certain that the milk they buy will taste good (at least for a while), the chips will be crispy, not stale, and the hamburger excellent for grilling. If they purchase an item with an expired date stamped on its label, chances are good that it will spoil soon and be unusable.
Most would agree that checking expiration dates on food products before buying them is a good idea. There’s another date that is critically important for all to be concerned about: the expiration date of the world, when the Lord will keep His promise to return in glory as Judge of all, to destroy the godless, and to take His believers home.
On what date will this happen? Though many have tried to prognosticate this, the truth is that no one knows when it will be, since the Bible doesn’t provide that information. Rather, the Bible teaches that the Last Day will come out of the blue, without warning, like a thief breaking into a house in the middle of the night. Since this is true, an important question for each person to ask is, “What shall I do to get ready for that Day so that, whenever it happens, I will be safe?”
Frequently Asked Questions about HEAVEN
DEVOTION – HEAVEN
The promise of life in glory, forever in heaven, is the Christian’s most cherished hope. We would like to know more, of course, about the wonderful place which will be our home for all eternity. Many of our questions can only be answered when we arrive, but here are some answers God has provided us now.
Can I know, for sure, that I’m going?
Most people hesitate to answer “yes, definitely” to this question, because of the sins which we commit daily. But when our trust is in Jesus’ work—His life, death, and resurrection—then His promise will certainly hold true, “Because I live, you will live also.” (John 14:19) Apart from Christ there is no hope, but WITH Him there is no doubt!
Will I be some kind of angel or spirit?
No. The Bible is very clear that what happened to Jesus is the same thing that will happen to us. He rose with His physical body (Luke 24:39), and the Bible says that we, too, will have glorified bodies in heaven: “He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11) See also Job 19:25-28 and Philippians 3:20-21.
TLH 609 “Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying”
A HYMN OF GLORY LET US SING Listen to hymn at: http://lutherantacoma.com/hymns/609.mp3 We know that trials will always be a part of every believer’s life, for the Bible tells us that “we must through many…
“Purge Me with Hyssop”
GEMS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT THE HYSSOP PLANT is mentioned twelve times in Scripture1—ten times in the Old Testament and twice in the New. The most familiar reference may be Psalm 51:7, where David writes,…
Let Us Have Grace
STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT “See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we…