This is the October Bible study for our LWML (Lutheran Women’s Missionary League), which focuses on the challenges that exist for the Lutheran Church today. ———- On September 10, 2011, LC-MS President, Matt Harrison, spoke to the Lutheran Church of Nigeria on this topic: “Lutheranism: Challenges, Problems, and Opportunities.” President Harrison listed five areas of […]
The Lord’s Supper: Christ’s Life-Giving Gift, “Often” Received
September 21, 2011 by
This is our pastor’s newsletter article for October, 2011. The picture is also of our pastor praying the Proper Preface, which is part of the liturgy for the Sacrament of the Supper. Recently during Sunday School, someone asked this question: “Why don’t we have communion every Sunday since that’s been the Church’s practice from the […]
What are we to do as a congregation?
August 23, 2011 by
What are We to Do? By Pr. Rich Futrell Every Christian congregation has a worship service (if not, it’s not a “church”). Usually, there’s also some Bible study. Congregations also have, as part of their congregational lives, funerals, weddings, confirmations, and so on. But beyond that, what should we do as a congregation? Apart from […]
Sola Scriptura in All Its Glory!
August 22, 2011 by
This is an article I wrote for the September 1st, 2011 edition of the Stone County Gazette. ——— “Sola Scriptura” literally says “scripture alone.” It’s a shortened statement Martin Luther used during the Reformation. But as with all sound bites, we lose much when a sound bite replaces the truth it originally promoted. Today, Sola […]
Why the Lutheran Church is a Liturgical Church
July 1, 2011 by
In our discussions with the Roman Catholic Church in the 1500s, we made this statement about who we are as Lutherans: “The Mass is held among us and celebrated with the highest reverence” (AC 24, 1). The “Mass” is a Divine Service with the Lord’s Supper. What we were saying is that our worship services […]
Tobit Who?
June 21, 2011 by
Many of you know I’m an enthusiast of hymns. Here’s an old hymn that you’ve probably never heard of, which isn’t in Lutheran Service Book. The hymn is O Starker Gott, Herre Zebaoth, which would be “Almighty God, Father, Lord of Armies.” This hymn is intriguing. It has 35 stanzas! But that’s all right, because […]
Walking by Faith and Not by Sight in Christian Caregiving
June 16, 2011 by
As Christians, God calls each of us to “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). This means our orientation in life comes from God and His revelation to us, Scripture–even if they happen to contradict our experiences. Of course, we naturally want to do whatever works. This is the business model (diagram to […]
The Cruciform Life in Christian Caregiving (Part 2)
June 8, 2011 by
Although the reality of having Christ within us is real because of being baptized into Him, we are still called to “imitate” Him. This is because we are both sinner and saint. Our sinful natures force us to be reminded of who we are and to live out our true identity in Christ. Even so, […]
The Cruciform Life in Christian Caregiving (Part 1)
June 7, 2011 by
The “cruciform life” is a life shaped by the cross of Christ. It is a life based on who we are in Christ Jesus—and Christ Jesus in us! It is a sacrificial servanthood that is breathed out and lived out in real time, not simply imitated from afar. This is the Christ for you becoming […]
Faith and Works from Clement of Rome
June 3, 2011 by
The Greek word for “justify,” dikiao, has a couple of meanings. It can mean “declare and make righteousness” but also “show to be righteous.” In Romans 3:28, Paul used “justify” to mean “declare and make righteous.” In James 2:24, James used “justify” to mean “show to be righteous.” Romans 3:28 reads, “For we maintain that […]
