Give to Caesar and to God
As Christians, our first allegiance is to God, but we also owe the government obedience, honor, and respect. A few weeks before last fall’s election, a homemade sign on a…
As Christians, our first allegiance is to God, but we also owe the government obedience, honor, and respect. A few weeks before last fall’s election, a homemade sign on a…
The Christian church year is the story of what God has done for us. It is our story to repeat and remember. At the Passover table when generations of Jewish…
“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions. . . . But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he…
I saw a sign that read, “You were created to make a difference.” What is your opinion of that message? What does making a difference mean? God did create us…
Memorizing brings an opportunity to witness and comfort. “Have you seen my keys?” “Mom, where did my Avenger guys go?” Most of the time I can easily answer the questions…
When all the social and relationship issues of our nation came to a head in the summer of 2020, citizens in our nation and members of our synod had mixed…
Science as a servant Early one morning, the team gathered on the open plain. Staring at the tower in the distance, they waited. All of their intense, combined efforts over…
Man’s best friend leads to a new friend, a new church, and a renewed faith in Christ. On a routine visit to the dog park with her German shepherd, Cheryle…
The Bible is God’s revelation. It’s not speculation. God’s revelation focuses on one person—Jesus Christ. Many have asked why an itinerant preacher two thousand years ago is important to us…
1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” God has given each of us “vocations” (literally, “callings”).…
For a prisoner walking out into the light after a long jail sentence, freedom can be overwhelming. He can go anywhere he wants, but he has nowhere to go: no…
I have seen many calls for 2020 to end so that we can start fresh in 2021. Yet let’s be honest. By the time January 1, 2021, ends, we’ll already…
A teacher remembers an encouraging message that helped guide her decision to continue studying for the ministry. It’s a tedious job, but one I knew needed to be done. So…
A Ukrainian mother chooses life during dire circumstances. Recently, with much joy, Elizabeth Huida, the daughter of Oleksandr and Khrystyna Huida, was baptized at St. John and James Lutheran Church…
It’s a long road to become a pastor. For Jordan Massiah, it’s 12 years of schooling in three different states over an international border from his hometown of Toronto, Ontario,…
Forward in Christ’s newest Bible study author is James Borgwardt. Borgwardt serves at Redeemer, Fond du Lac, Wis., where he’s been for nine years. Prior to Fond du Lac, he…
To help WELS members get a taste of the new hymns that will be included in Christian Worship: Hymnal, the WELS Hymnal Project has released Christian Worship: Hymn Preview. This…
Featuring: Let the Bird Fly! Hosts: Wade Johnston and Mike Berg Description: “A podcast about living freely in a world given back to us. When we see the world for…
Christ Alone, Dardenne Prairie, Mo., wanted to replace its annual Trunk or Treat with a contact-free option in October 2020. Christ Alone’s members still wanted to interact and connect with…
Synodical Council Six new members joined the WELS Synodical Council: Mr. Pete Aisbet (Southeastern Wisconsin District lay representative), Mr. Jake Lemke (Western Wisconsin District lay representative), Mr. Chip Woods (Nebraska…
Go and TELL In 2018 WELS World Missions’ Multi-Language Productions had a vision to reach the world with the gospel in a new way. Its vision was to equip people…
Full Accessories of God: The Spirit’s Makeover for Women by DeLyn Wagenknecht is a concise Bible study that takes a fresh, contemporary look at the full armor of God found…
We have reached the season of parenting at our house when kids are being shuttled to activities after school, when a shared electronic calendar becomes a necessity to manage the…
I have a friend who is caught in a sin. I care about her, so I try to talk to her about it, but she just says, “The Bible says…
Following God’s voice is better than following all the voices of the world. Whom are you following? Fifteen years ago, the answer to this question would be drastically different than what…
Since 2015, the Academia Cristo website, academiacristo.com, has been providing Bible classes, worship services, training for church planters, and other tools for Spanish speakers to study God’s Word. The program…
“At our final outdoor worship service at Carbon Valley Lutheran we could see the smoke coming across the sky, and by the end of worship we had ash and burnt…
From business success to health to basic activities that give us joy and fulfillment, the events of the past year have—even temporarily—robbed us of what we think makes life worth…
Did you know that more than 104 million Americans listened to podcasts in the last month?* This growing number of people are consuming content from more than 1.5 million shows…
“Don’t ever downplay what God can do through his Word. It’s dynamite, pure dynamite.” When asked about lessons he has learned in his ministry, Mark Cares, founder of Truth in…
“When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife” (Matthew 1:24). Joseph has become one of my…
Lives battling anger and addiction are met by God’s grace. “She’s always taking on another project,” Jim says with a smile. Brandee and Jim Cranfield had spent the morning moving…
When will he ever come? God’s people wait for Jesus. Wait. It may just be the biggest little word in the Bible describing real faith. A farmer must wait for…
Judge seems to be a dirty word in our culture. However, the word judge simply means to “form an opinion or conclusion about” something. The Bible says, “Speaking the truth…
A startling medical diagnosis brings a family closer to God. Chronic pain. Constant exhaustion. Medications. Physical therapy. Surgery after surgery. This is the reality for 16-year-old Bailey Seal, member at…
“COVID-19 pandemic, an ‘unprecedented wake-up call’ for all inhabitants of Mother Earth.” “Unprecedented damage by COVID-19 requires an unprecedented policy response.” “Unprecedented!” The word screams at me from the headlines…
The words of the young woman in confirmation class kind of hit me by surprise: “Heaven just seems like it is going to be so boring!” I have to admit: I…
What different descriptions we have for God’s Word! It is “a lamp for my feet” (Psalm 119:105), the only sure light in a sin-darkened world. It is “fire” and “hammer”…
The day of judgment brings an end to all the world’s evil and trouble. December is upon us. We’ve journeyed through a whirlwind of a year filled with tumult, uncertainty,…
Birthday parties for family members are most often special events—the candles, the cake, the presents, and then the pictures. Years later we trot out the pictures to remember the young…
The lights, the flames, and the bright Christmas displays are only dim reminders of the great glory of Christmas. Christmas is a time of glory. Consider the glory the apostle…
For better or worse, Christmas is filled with traditions. Some of these traditions help celebrate Jesus’ birth—the Christmas Eve candlelight service or the children’s Christmas service, for example. Others may…
We all have favorite hymns to sing. They become our familiar friends as we worship and our companions when we experience joy, sorrow, doubts, or trouble. Their familiar melodies and…
“Where are your former mercies, O Lord, which you swore to David in your faithfulness? . . . Remember the scorn with which . . . they have scorned the steps…
While weighing the responsibilities that children bring, a father looks to the church for direction. During his growing years, Brad Harris had some ties to different religions but never attended…
I always hear that I should be reading my Bible. I pray every night. Do I really need to read the Bible to have a relationship with God? The natural…
We listen to God’s voice through his Word, that is, the Bible. Imagine you live in a world exactly like our own but with one exception: The Bible does not…