Understanding the divine call
The Bible teaches that every Christian is a member of the priesthood of all believers. That means that every believer has direct access to God in prayer through faith, can…
What is there to be afraid of?
One of my seminary professors once recounted something from his childhood that he had never forgotten. He said, “When I was 12 years old in confirmation class, my pastor said,…
Hold on to what you have
Like nearly all Christian denominations in the United States, our Wisconsin Synod has experienced a consistent annual decline in membership over the past three decades. The synod’s largest membership was…
Striving to provide called workers
One of the four priorities outlined in the synod’s “Christ through us” long-range strategic plan is “Calling.” For our synod to carry out its mission faithfully, we need an adequate…
His compassions never fail
The prophet Jeremiah was witnessing God’s judgment for his people’s sin and rebellion. Even though God had sent prophet after prophet to deliver messages calling on the people of Judah…
God’s perfect gift
Some people are hard to buy for. They never ask for anything, never express their wishes out loud, and never seem to need anything. You might find yourself asking, “What…
A confessional Lutheran synod
As Christians, we confess our faith when we state publicly what we believe. Early Christians confessed their faith boldly in the face of fierce opposition and even persecution. After Jesus’…
Ministry recruitment counselors begin their work
When asked how they first considered becoming a pastor, teacher, or staff minister, many called workers point to someone who noticed their gifts and gently encouraged them to consider ministry.…
So much more
October is the time for us to recall how God worked through Martin Luther to restore the truth and beauty of the gospel at a time when it had become…