Forged In Fire
Forged In Fire is the name of a current TV show. Several bladesmiths are given various hunks of steel, and each one is asked to forge and create a knife of his own design. Their…
Initial Inductees into the Hall of Faith
By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. By…
“Why don’t CLC members pray or sing at other churches?”
This question begins with an unfortunate assumption; namely, that praying or singing requires certain visible motions. Praying is more than the folding of hands and the closing of eyes. Singing is more than opening the…
Wrestling with the Psalms: 1512-1513
When Jacob feared a violent reunion with Esau, he took his struggle before God and wrestled with Him, demanding a blessing. God blessed him, but the ordeal left Jacob with a disjointed hip. Luther wrestled…
St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church Vernon, British Columbia
God invites us, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Psalm 34:8) This month’s “Slice of Life in the CLC” gives us another taste of the Lord’s goodness. Life in any congregation of…
“It’s Not Mine, It’s God’s!”
During our lives, we often meet interesting and unique people, and there are many lessons that we can learn from the lives and examples of those whom we meet. Edward is one of those people.…
Gordon P. Radtke, 1919-2017
Gordon Paul Radtke was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 10, 1919, God’s gift to Edwin Radtke and his wife Mathilda née Radke. He was baptized on July 13 of the same year. Gordon’s schooling…
Immanuel Lutheran High School Visitors’ Day
Springtime at Immanuel Lutheran High School in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, is packed with traditional events, like Arbor Day, Field Day, ILHS Banquet, and the Senior Tea, to name a few. One such event is High…
“BREAD OF LIFE” READINGS June 2017
TLH = The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941; WS = Worship Supplement 2000; LSB = Lutheran Service Book, 2006
Date Verse Reading Comments
Jun 1 TLH 225 John 6:60-71 The Spirit gives life through the Word of Christ.
Jun 2WS 739Acts 2:1-21The Spirit moves His people to prophesy—to tell the world of salvation through Jesus.
Jun 3 TLH 210 Acts 2:22-36 Jesus is truly the Son of God, the appointed Savior for all people.
Jun 5 WS 752, LSB 603; Acts 2:37-47 Baptism is for all because the promise is for all, adults and children of all ages alike.
Jun 6 TLH 234 Acts 9:1-9 Jesus rescues one of His enemies. What love and grace!
Jun 7 TLH 231 Acts 9:10-22 The Holy Spirit turned Saul’s heart so quickly that it baffled the Jews, but we rejoice at the power of God and each soul won for Christ.
True Pentecostalism
COVER STORY – PENTECOST
Pentecostalism has gained popularity in recent years. While it uses the name of one of the church festivals, Pentecostalism is not biblical. It is an idea that searches for proof of God’s power outside the means of grace. Adherents pray for gifts of speaking in tongues or divine healing based on the strength of their faith in God. While true Lutheranism is focused on the principle of Scripture alone, Pentecostalism looks for God outside of the Bible. It’s a completely misguided idea that appeals perfectly to our selfish sinful nature.
Let us instead consider Pentecost as it is revealed in Acts 2.
Many people had gathered in Jerusalem for the Feast of Weeks (Leviticus 23:15-22). The twelve apostles (Matthias had replaced Judas Iscariot) were gathered together as they heard the sound of a rushing wind. They had tongues of fire rest upon them and were “filled with the Holy Spirit,” (Acts 2:4) Who enabled them to speak in foreign languages. Clearly the Holy Spirit was poured out on the apostles and other early New Testament Christians in a special way as they spoke in tongues, healed others (Acts 3), and even raised the dead (Acts 20:8-10).
The Spirit equipped them for the task at hand. Gathered at Pentecost were the same apostles who had deserted the Son of God as He was led to the cross. Yet now, less than two months later, they boldly proclaimed the name of Jesus, no longer afraid to speak on their Savior’s behalf. These men, some of them former fishermen, found their sea legs in their new role as fishers of men. The Holy Spirit filled them with much-needed courage.