A SLICE OF LIFE IN THE CLC SNAPSHOTS OF CONGREGATIONS FROM AROUND THE CHURCH OF THE LUTHERAN CONFESSION “Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.” (Psalm 50:2 ESV) For years—over a quarter…
ILC Newsletter Every other month we get an update on what’s been happening at our Immanuel Lutheran High School, College and Seminary in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. It is the second week in August. A young…
Date Verse Reading Comments
Oct 2 TLH 278 Matthew 5:21-26 The Law reveals our inward sins as well as our outward ones, sins such as anger in the heart.
Oct 3 TLH 623/LSB 860; Matthew 5:27-32 The marriage relationship is to be guarded and protected at all costs.
Oct 4 TLH 279 Matthew 5:33-37 Needless swearing is a misuse of God’s holy name.
Oct 5 TLH 402 Matthew 5:38-42 When someone hurts us, our sinful nature wants revenge, but the Spirit leads us to show love “above and beyond”—even for our enemies.
COVER STORY
SOLA fideEvery year a debate rages in the baseball world: who should be admitted into the Hall of Fame? In the last few years, the debate has been particularly centered around players from the so-called “Steroid Era.” Should those who broke the rules and enhanced their performances with drugs be let in? Some voters and writers have proposed a solution: let those players into the Hall of Fame on the basis of their accomplishments, but add an asterisk to the record books to show that those accomplishments were marred by the use of performance-enhancing drugs.
As detailed in a recent issue of the Spokesman (July 2017, page 7), Hebrews 11 gives us God’s Hall of Faith. It is not meant to be a comprehensive list of the members, but a small sampling of both faithful people and actions from the Old Testament. However, Hebrews 11 seems to omit much of the important information we know about these Old Testament people. Instead of painting portraits as these people were, God presents us with His glorified saints as He now sees them.
DEVOTION
Anyone who has ever heard of the Superstition Mountains of Arizona has most likely also heard of the Lost Dutchman’s Mine. This legend, which most experts agree is based on distorted facts, is the stuff of movie plots and fantasy. Many have searched for the riches of this lost mine, some even losing their lives in the effort. However, without a clearly marked map (“X” marks the spot) the mine, with its promise of wealth, is still lost to all.
A HYMN OF GLORY LET US SING (TWENTY-Third IN A SERIES)
Although there was some congregational singing before Martin Luther’s time, there is no disagreement that during the Reformation in Germany, the laity were transformed into the “singing church.” New hymnals were published as fast as printers could set up their Gutenberg presses. New hymn texts were written at a rapid pace as the treasure of the Gospel, God’s grace in Christ Jesus, was revealed to those who had long been in darkness.
GEMS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT There was an old Lay’s commercial that challenged, “Bet you can’t eat just one.” The implied message was that their potato chips were so good that eating just one was…
STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, ‘In Isaac…
“I’M GLAD YOU ASKED!” (THIRTY-SECOND IN A SERIES) Pastors Answer Frequently-Asked Questions Grace is a word that one will hear in almost any church that claims to be Christian. Even those denominations that deny Christ’s…
The ROAD TO REFORMATION In preparing for the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation, we have presented a brief survey of the life of Martin Luther leading up to the posting of the Ninety-Five Theses.…
