The Vicarious Atonement
"The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:6) When I was young, I saw a choir program that featured a woodcut by Reformation-era artist Albrecht Dürer. The stark black-and-white panel…
The Vicarious Atonement
The Right Tool For The Job
“ Thesis XXIII–In the nineteenth place, the Word of God is not rightly divided when an attempt is made by means of the demands or the threats or the promise of the Law to induce…
Everlasting Meaning Is Found Only in Jesus
“Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2) In the first two chapters of Ecclesiastes, Solomon relates how he examined the best that life had to offer, especially if one has unlimited resources. His conclusion?…
God’s Amazing Redemption Center
“And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible…
The Kyrie
In many of our churches, the customary order of worship includes a section known as the Kyrie (pronounced KEER- ee-eh ). In The Lutheran Hymnal, it can be found on page 7 (also pages 17,…
The Last Chapter
Armageddon. I Am Legend. The Day After Tomorrow. Wall-E. The apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic genre of film has performed very well for Hollywood over the past several decades, and it’s no wonder! Imaginations run rampant when considering what…
Hit the Jackpot This Thanksgiving!
That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:7) If you were suddenly incredibly rich, what would you do…
Announcements
Southeast Pastoral Conference Gift of God Lutheran Church, Fairfax, Virginia September 27-29, 2022 Agenda: Our Youth and Future—Professor Daniel Schierenbeck “The Gospel”—Pastor Matthew Hanel Homiletics—Pastor Samuel Naumann “Pornography, Desertion and Divorce” “Pastoral Refreshment”—Pastor David Pfeiffer…
Seen in Passing
Items of interest from various sources of religious news and opinion, in print and on the web. Jim Harbaugh’s Courage and Compassion on Abortion. In the midst of a contentious public debate on abortion in…
We’re the “For” Church
What do others say about your church? Do you hear, “Oh, you’re the church that’s against abortion. Your church is against same-sex marriage. You’re against praying with other Christians”? Sometimes the perception is that we…