March 11, 2020Christ Lutheran Church A Pastoral Letter Regarding Coronavirus Grace mercy and peace to you from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen! Beloved Children in Christ: It is the Lutheran faith that God, "defends us from all danger, and guards and protects us from all evil." (Small Catechism 1st Art.) In the Lutheran Litany (LSB p. 288) we pray ...

In this brief post I call your attention to what Lutheran had to say in his preface to the Small Catechism. I fear that in America we have returned to worse than Luther's day. People (even many Christians and more than a few Lutherans) are wholly ignorant of the most basic Christian doctrines, prayers, commandments and so on. This is why no matter how far we advance in t...

"To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you." (Jude 1:1-2) Teaching on Christian giving must always be reviewed and renewed. Like all other things we forget; and so hear the word of the Lord. The first thing that we should learn today is that Christian giving is an act of Christian worship...

O God, you see that of ourselves we have no strength. By your mighty power defend us from all adversities that may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts that may assault and hurt the soul....

What is Scripture? Until we answer that question we will not properly understand it's message. I submit this simple proposition: The Bible is not a text book, but a worship book. For the last 300 years Scripture has been treated as if it were a text book that can only be comprehended only by historical and literary dissection and analysis. But Scripture is not a text b...

When a person has believed in Christ he has made a huge leap of faith! He has broken the iron fetters of mere earthly and human powers. Those who have not so believed are still bound by the strictest of limitations. And so Scripture says, "It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.(presum...

In the famous hymn "A Mighty Fortress" that Lutherans love so dearly Luther writes this of the devil: "The old evil foe, now means deadly woe; deep guile and great might; are his dread arms in fight. On earth is not his equal." This picture shows in art what Luther pens in song. Namely that ourfirst parents, with all the marvelous powers that their Creator bestowed up...

Receiving ashes on the forehead is a sign of repentance and faith in Christ. They are administered to the words, "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." (Genesis 3:19) The imposition of ashes is an ancient tradition of the church. In the Old Testament God's people rubbed ashes on their bodies, and wore clothing made of sackcloth as a sign of their repe...

The gospel for Epiphany 6 is Matthew 5:21-37. In this post I will comment on the section regarding adultery and divorce since I don't cover it in tomorrow's sermon; but is in need of comment. Jesus says:"You have heard it said "You shall not commit adultery." But I say toyou that any man that lays lustful eyes on a woman has alreadycommitted adultery with her in his heart...

What is the pastor's job? The answer is simple but few people seem to know it. In common Lutheran lingo the pastor is Called to "preach the Word and administer the Sacraments". While not untrue it is like saying that the organist's job is to push buttons. The organist's job is not simply to push buttons, or even to read music (though he does these things). But his job is ...