by Pr. Charles Lehmann Every time the Verba are spoken by one of the Lord’s pastors over the bread and wine, heaven comes down to earth. Angels, archangels, and all the company of heaven sing before the Lamb who was slain but is alive forevermore. The saints in heaven and on earth join together in […]
Mark 1:9-15: Jesus Faces Down the Tempter
February 26, 2012 by
The water from the Jordan River slowly trickled off our Lord’s wet hair. The hot, wilderness sand glued itself to His damp, walking feet. Behind Him, the well-known river snaked along. Before Him, the ancient serpent lay in wait. Still wet with baptismal water, Jesus boldly goes into the desert of temptation. This is when […]
Real Stewardship for Real Life
February 26, 2012 by
What is Stewardship? In the New Testament, the Greek words oikonomos (house manager) and oikonomia (house management) are the original words for the idea of “stewardship.” Stewardship involves the responsibility or work of managing a household. A steward is someone who uses what the owner has to manage his house. Oikonomia occurs nine times in […]
Ash Wednesday: Joel 2:12-19
February 22, 2012 by
We heard it at the start of today’s liturgy: Dust you are, and to dust you will return. The ashes, which give this day its name, have nothing to do with Lenten fasting. Whether you have ashes on your forehead or not, they tell no one if you have been fasting. But the ashes do […]
Mark 9:2-9: Jesus’ Transfiguration
February 19, 2012 by
The time for Jesus’ earthly miracles was fading fast. And soon, His popularity would begin to wane, as well. For now, we find ourselves at the midpoint of Mark’s Gospel, where Jesus turns His face toward the task of dying and rising. Jesus begins to teach His disciples that He will have to suffer. He […]
The Didache, Lesson 8: Tradition and Confession
February 18, 2012 by
Following Tradition 4:12 Hate hypocrisy and everything that is not pleasing to the Lord. The Didache’s warning, in its context, is that we should guard against every sin and not be inconsistent (hypocritical). Specifically, this ties in with protecting and not losing what our Lord has commanded, which the next verse states explicitly. Deuteronomy 4:2: […]
LC-MS President Harrison Testifies Before Congress
February 17, 2012 by
By Adriane Dorr LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison spoke in defense of religion and conscience before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in a Capitol Hill hearing in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Feb. 16. Expressing concern over the Jan. 20 U.S. Health and Human Services ruling regarding health-insurance plans and the recently […]
LC-MS Responds to Governmental Mandate for Religious Organizations
February 14, 2012 by
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, In response to President Obama’s announcement Friday concerning an “accommodation” to a previous mandate that health plans must cover all forms of birth control (even those that can kill the unborn), The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) remains deeply concerned. We strongly object to the use of drugs and procedures […]
The Didache, Lesson 7: The Poor, Children, and Slaves
February 13, 2012 by
Life with the poor (Continued) 4:7 Do not hesitate when you give, and do not grumble when giving, for you will know who is the good Paymaster of the reward. Matthew 5:12: “Jesus said, ‘Be full of joy and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.’” Luke 14:14: “[Jesus said,] ‘And you will […]
Mark 1:40-45: Jesus Heals a Leper
February 12, 2012 by
Medically, leprosy was, and still is, a ghastly disease. It’s a systemic, bacterial infection that infects someone’s nerves and upper-respiratory tract. It permanently damages the skin, nerves, limbs, and eyes. Until 1941, there was no cure. Even today, in some areas, leprosy is still a significant, public-health problem. Socially, leprosy isolated someone from the community. […]
