Episode 33 – Teaching kids how money works
How do we help our kids develop a God-pleasing view of “stuff”? How can we help them learn to manage the financial resources that God gives them? Linda Buxa shares…
Question and answer: Equipping Christian Witnesses: Part 3
In celebration of its 25th anniversary in 2020, Martin Luther College (MLC), with the approval of the Conference of Presidents, has begun a two-year capital campaign called “Equipping Christian Witnesses.”…
A thought: Partners
Partners I admit that sometimes when I read the epistles of the New Testament, I easily skip over the first couple of verses. In those verses, Paul, who wrote most…
Meet the editorial staff: Greg Lyon
Ever ask yourself, “Who are these people who write for Forward in Christ?” Through this series, you can find out. “I am incredibly fascinated by people and how their experiences—positive…
Meet the editorial staff: David Scharf
Ever ask yourself, “Who are these people who write for Forward in Christ?” Through this series, you can find out. David Scharf, professor at Martin Luther College (MLC), New Ulm,…
Parent conversations: Dealing with stress
From day-to-day stressors like homework and whom to sit next to at lunch to larger stressors like changing schools or facing a family medical issue, our children are not immune…
Bible study: God wants me in heaven
David Scharf There are many versions of the phrase “God wants me to be happy.” “God wants me to be rich.” “God wouldn’t want me to rush into marriage, so…
Q&A: Doesn’t God want me to be happy?
If God wants what is best for me, wouldn’t he want me to be happy? Clarifying the question Many people think, “God just wants me to be happy.” In one…
Devotion: Resolutions of faith
“For this very reason, after applying every effort, add moral excellence to your faith. To moral excellence, add knowledge. To knowledge, add self-control. To self-control, add patient endurance. To patient…
Confessions of faith: Hartman
A knock on the door starts a lifelong journey of faith. Julie K. Wietzke It was a night Mark Hartman says he will never forget. It was summer 1981 in…
God loves the doubters
A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be…
Teen Talk: Walking on a tightrope
Life’s challenges seem difficult, but God is there to help. Natalie Zirbel Growing up, I lived on a farm. My siblings and I loved living on the farm, and there…
Focus on what is ahead
Mark G. Schroeder People who are near-sighted can see clearly what is right in front of their eyes. But when objects are farther away, they get blurry and out of…
All I want for Christmas
Glenn L. Schwanke Age 7: “All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth, my two front teeth, see my two front teeth.” Age 9: “I want an official…
Heirs of heaven
John A. Braun What does God see and know about us humans? We often think that he has forgotten us, but God sees all that we have done, all that…
Confessions of faith: Fleck
A long journey ends with faith in Jesus and a desire to serve him. Amanda M. Klemp At age 66, Daryl Fleck is retired and lives in New Ulm, Minnesota.…
Bible Study: The incarnation of our Lord
Paul E. Zell For many congregations, the Gospel of the Day is the keynote for each worship service. The Gospel for Christmas Day is John 1:1-4. Based on that reading,…
Heart to heart: Parent conversations: Nurture a proper view of stuff?
How can we nurture a proper view of “stuff”? Every year as Christmas rolls around, I can’t help but take stock of all the “stuff” my family has. This year…
Light for our path: God hates us?
My friend believes that God hates us. He argues that God hates sin, and we are sinful; therefore, God hates us to the core of our being. I pointed out…
For the Lord’s glory – Part 2
The new hymnal will be filled with hymns that will encourage a new generation to sing the gospel. Aaron L. Christie The end of the year is a prime time to survey the…
Hope
John A. Braun The presence of Thanksgiving at the end of every November helps us to pause and count our blessings. That exercise will be repeated this year as we…
Walk by the Spirit: Part 7
Christians have dual citizenship. We are children of God and part of his kingdom, yet we still call this world home. John A. Braun We got off the plane and…
God’s gifts, our giving: Part 3
Is my giving any of Jesus’ business? Aaron L. Christie When my great-aunt passed away several years ago, the family was surprised by the presence of a 70-year-old man at…
A gospel-filled life: Part 10
Putting it all together Jeffrey D. Enderle Getting there. That’s the tricky part. Sitting in your aunt’s cozy home with delicious smells wafting past the expanded table, that’s the good…
Going home
We long for the comfort and peace that a home provides. Samantha J. Huebner Doesn’t it feel like you just started college a week ago? You moved into a new…
Light for our path: What kind of comfort
What kind of comfort can you give someone when a loved one commits suicide, who was supposedly a believer? James F. Pope Your question addresses a very tragic situation. It…
Confessions of faith: Kalbach
A man shares how Jesus changed his life forever. Steven H. Prahl I first met Dave and Connie Kalbach when they walked in the doors for our Christmas Eve service.…
Looking for perfection
Mark G. Schroeder How would you describe the perfect congregation? Would the perfect congregation be one in which every sermon is clear, interesting, practical, and holds your attention for 20…
Grieving in hope
Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have…
Accept the challenge
Earle D. Treptow The title of the CNN online article caught my attention: “The God of love had a really bad week.” In the article, Diana Butler Bass expresses profound…
The Book of Revelation: Part 12
Comfort in the midst of conflict: Revelation 21 and 22 Timothy J. Westendorf It’s been 1,900 years since John recorded the words of Jesus in Revelation 22: “I am coming soon!” (vv. 7,12,20). Soon? Really?…
Personal reformation
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with…
Get busy living
Andrew Schroer In the 1997 movie The Shawshank Redemption, Tim Robbins played Andy Dufresne, a quiet banker wrongfully accused and convicted of killing his wife. After 20 years in Shawshank Prison, Dufresne had enough. In one of the most…
The Book of Revelation: Part 11
Comfort in the midst of conflict:Revelation 21 to 22:5 Timothy J. Westendorf Blessed with milk and honey. A sight that refreshes. Full of unknown joy. Radiant in glory. Bliss beyond compare. Jubilant with song.…
Bringing Back Some Memories
Mark G. Schroeder Twelve years ago, I was first given the privilege of serving as your synod president. And now, after serving three terms, you have given me that privilege again. I thought it would be…
For the Lord’s glory – Part 1
The new WELS hymnal is moving into production. Michael D. Schultz Something has been going on in Israel. It was no small thing. A noble cause King David established a huge endowment fund…
Confessions of faith: Bush
The message of Jesus finally starts to grow after years of neglect. John A. Braun “My family was not religious. We rarely, if ever, attended church,” Richard Bush remembers. Sundays meant something other than going to church. Yet Richard’s…
The Avengers and two lions
John A. Braun Captain America; Thor; Iron Man; and of course, Thanos. Along with a host of other comic book heroes, they have helped Marvel create one of the most successful and lucrative series of films. This…
Walk by the Spirit: Part 6
God warns us about being drunk and encourages us to practice self-control. John A. Braun Some say the Bible is ancient, out of touch, and old-fashioned, but they have not read Paul’s two lists in Galatians. Read the section again (Galatians…
Teen Talk: Jesus is our home
No matter how we feel about our home on this earth, we have an eternal home in heaven waiting for us. Lydia Buxa When I was younger, my dad was…
Ambassadors: Help them see Jesus : Part 12
Providing a witnessing support system Mark J. Cares After a day of witnessing, we heard comments like these: “My favorite part of the week was the nightly debrief. Not only did we hear some…
God’s gifts, our giving: Part 2
With what shall I come before the Lord? Aaron L. Christie Regardless of one’s political persuasion—or lack thereof—it seems that the American economy is booming. Unemployment is at a lifetime low. The stock market has had…
A gospel-filled life: Part 9
Devotional development Jeffrey D. Enderle A slight sadness seeps into my psyche every autumn. For some reason, I can’t help looking ahead and grieving the loss of the magnificent scenery and pleasant…
Heart to heart: Parent conversations: How involved should parents be in a child’s homework?
I dread my daughter’s homework more than she does. From the time she was little, it’s always been a struggle. She seems to sail through school with a great attitude, but…
Light for our path: What does a submissive wife in a Christian marriage look like?
What does a submissive wife in a Christian marriage look like? James F. Pope While Scripture provides the definitive answer, I also will be passing along excerpts—in quotation marks—from wives who gave me real-world insights. These wives had ties to courses…
Lavished love for loneliness
The absence of familiar things often means feeling alone, but God’s love in Jesus remains sure and certain. Jonathan P. Bilitz Would it surprise you to learn that the fastest…
Ambassadors: Help them see Jesus : Part 11
Knowing when to say when Jonathan P. Bilitz One day about two years ago, the desk phone in my office rang. When I answered, I wasn’t prepared for the conversation that…
Ambassadors: How I shared Jesus stories
We asked, and you shared! Here are more stories from you, our readers, on how you let your faith shine in your daily lives. Witnessing through the written word I had the blessings of…
The Lord, our shield
Glenn L. Schwanke August 15–17, 1969. Woodstock. Over a half million people flocked to Max Yasgur’s 600-acre dairy farm in upstate New York. There they rocked to Joan Baez; the…
A gospel-filled life: Part 8
Cross-centered life and thought Jeffrey D. Enderle Her first restaurant job was nothing like cooking at home. Personal safety videos. Rigorous sanitation rules. Strict food handling standards. Weeks into the job, she had no chance…