Jesus, Our Brother— Made Perfect Through Sufferings
“For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both…
The Finger of God
But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven. But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every…
GOD’S OBSCURE SAINTS
(Last of Nine in a Series) As this edifying series of chapel talks concludes, we once again heartily thank Prof. emeritus Paul R. Koch for sharing them with us from his archives while he served…
The PERFECT Present
Fellow Worshippers of God’s Perfect Christmas Gift— The cover of a recent Sunday newsmagazine said, “There’s still time to find the perfect present for Christmas.” And then it was said, “Check inside for last minute…
THANK YOU!
Dear brethren: With Jacob at the brook Jabbok I say: “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac…I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all…
The ELCA and Bankrupt Lutheranism
By Pastor Paul Fleischer, July 1989
An acquaintance regularly passes along to us The Lutheran, the magazine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). We peruse its contents, since we are not unconcerned about what is being said (written) and done in “mainstream” Lutheranism.
The contents of the magazine are indicative to us of how far from traditional (biblical) Lutheranism the ELCA has fallen. The profile of Lutheranism painted in practically every issue is more and more unrecognizable to us as deserving of the Lutheran name.
From the Field
Missionary David Koenig gives behind the scenes looks at happenings in our overseas mission endeavors.
The following report arrived under the date of October 2, 2014. Let us all be praying with the hymnwriter* of “Spread, Oh, Spread, Thou Mighty Word” (at the end of article) — Editor
Grebenhain, Germany, Free Conference.
This month yet again we commemorate what God did through the Lutheran Reformation. What better way to
‘Going All In’ with Thanksgiving
‘To the max,’ ‘pedal to the metal,’ and ‘nothing in reserve’
are several more slang terms that express a total commitment
to a cause or undertaking.
If one were to poll Americans as to what that means for them in connection with their Thanksgiving Day activities, no doubt many would answer they were ‘going all in’ with a day of football or ‘leaving nothing behind’ on the dinner table.
King David would have been amazed, if not shocked, for he put high value on actually giving thanks. Many are the psalm verses where he gives praise and thanksgiving to God for His wonderful works and words.
But there is one incident in David’s life when he especially ‘gave it all he had.’ It is recorded in the second book of Samuel (chapter 6), with a parallel account in 1 Chronicles 16.
Reason to Give Thanks Every Day!
Thanksgiving Day is not an appointed church holiday but a national celebration. Nevertheless, the church celebrates it for good reason. Surely, when we consider the blessings from our Heavenly Father from whom comes every good and perfect gift, we have reason to say every day: “Praise the Lord. Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever” (Psalm 106:1).
“But really?!”
Yes, there is much happening in this nation that prompts the question. As Christians we are not unaffected by the economic, political, moral, and cultural deterioration. Christians too suffer personal afflictions. On top of all, we are appalled at the terrorism that has the nations of the world on edge.
The Beginning or the End?
THE END TIMES
The end times seem to hold a great fascination for many, and our Lord Jesus has much to say about this Scriptural matter.
He tells us, “…When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8) In so speaking our Lord teaches us that faith will grow scarce, very rare in the last days. In another place Jesus reminds us that “the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Timothy 4:3).