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Smalcald Articles– Part III, Article IV. Of the Gospel.
Part III, Article IV. Of the Gospel. We will now return to the Gospel, which not merely in one way gives us counsel and aid against sin; for God is superabundantly rich [and liberal] in His grace [and goodness]. First, through the spoken Word by which the forgiveness of sins is preached [He commands to be preached] in the whole world; which is the peculiar office of the Gospel. Secondly, through Baptism. Thirdly, through the holy Sacrament of the Altar. Fourthly, through the power of the keys, and also through the mutual conversation and consolation of brethren, Matt. 18:20: Where two or three are gathered together, etc. Source.
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Smalcald Articles– Of the False Repentance of the Papists
Of the False Repentance of the Papists. 10] It was impossible that they should teach correctly concerning repentance, since they did not [rightly] know the real sins [the real sin]. For, as has been shown above, they do not believe aright concerning original sin, but say that the natural powers of man have remained [entirely] unimpaired and incorrupt; that reason can teach aright, and the will can in accordance therewith do aright [perform those things which are taught]; that God certainly bestows His grace when a man does as much as is in him, according to his free will. 11] It had to follow thence [from this dogma] that they…
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The Images in My Mind
By Anonymous (Editor’s note– because of the incredibly personal and sensitive nature of this post, I’m going to be watching comments closely. Please be loving with our sister.) Pornography harms women. It devalues them and transforms them into tools for man’s desire and lust. It strips women of their dignity and teaches men to manipulate, control, and then throw away, rather than love, protect, and care for them. This is all true, but this only scratches the surface of the harm pornography inflicts upon women. We seem to be blind to those women who bear the pain and scars — not from being offended by the material or from enduring…
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Children’s Book for Divine Service Review
By Bethany Kilcrease As my daughter’s first baptismal birthday was approaching earlier this month, I decided to find a gift by perusing the Concordia Publishing House website. The new book Whisper, Whisper: Learning about Church by Mary Moerbe caught my eye. My now nearly 13-month old daughter is a human dynamo. We like to say she is “enthusiastic about life.” Getting her to remain sort of silent and relatively still in the pew entails so much physical exertion that I generally break into a sweat and figure I can skip the gym later. Obviously I’m on the look out for age-appropriate books to introduce her to the Divine Service and…
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Pity, Pittance, and Pie
By Debra-Lynn Swearingen She died as she had lived. Alone. She had been long forgotten by her church and went largely unnoticed by her neighbors. Her illness had rendered her a social misfit. She didn’t communicate well and when she did speak, everyone could tell she was afflicted. Her medication had made her tongue thick, her hands shake, and her body rock back-and-forth. As involuntary as all of it was, one couldn’t help but wish she would stop. At one point, it was it was thought she would benefit from training in simple life functions; making purchases, counting money, and remembering walking paths through town. But her grasp of all that…
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Birth Fears
By Holly Scheer Having a new baby is exciting. Announcing to friends, to family, to the congregation, that a new little person will be joining the family is a joy. With this joy there can be fear, though. Fear of the unknown for the first time mother, fears of the somewhat known for the mother who has been there, done that, especially if things were really hard. This fear isn’t a new one, sister. Childbirth through history has been a dangerous undertaking for women– and their babies. In some parts of the world, it still is. You aren’t alone in this, either. God has promised to never forsake and leave…
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The Sisters of Katie Luther
This blog kicked off on February 20, 2015. In that time the Facebook page has grown over 1,000 likes, we’ve had some tough discussions and disagreements, and a whole lot of coming together to grow as Lutherans. Thank you. Thank you to everyone who has contributed, commented (even comments that disagree), and shared our posts. To everyone who writes and shares their thoughts and hopes, their struggles and encouragement. Thank you for helping us grow as Lutherans. Sisters (and you brothers who pop in), I’m so happy that although most of us will never meet face to face, the Internet has allowed us to find community and a place to…
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Smalcald Articles– Part III Article III. Of Repentance
Part III, Article III. Of Repentance. 1] This office [of the Law] the New Testament retains and urges, as St. Paul, Rom. 1:18 does, saying: The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. Again, Rom 3:19: All the world is guilty before God. No man is righteous before Him. And Christ says, John 16:8: The Holy Ghost will reprove the world of sin. 2] This, then, is the thunderbolt of God by which He strikes in a heap [hurls to the ground] both manifest sinners and false saints [hypocrites], and suffers no one to be in the right [declares no one righteous], but…
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Smalcald Articles– Part III, Article II. Of the Law
Part III, Article II. Of the Law 1] Here we hold that the Law was given by God, first, to restrain sin by threats and the dread of punishment, and by the promise and offer of grace and benefit. But all this miscarried on account of the wickedness which sin has wrought in man. 2] For thereby a part [some] were rendered worse, those, namely, who are hostile to [hate] the Law, because it forbids what they like to do, and enjoins what they do not like to do. Therefore, wherever they can escape [if they were not restrained by] punishment, they [would] do more against the Law than before.…
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Wedding Bloopers
By Amanda Markel Let me tell you a funny story about my wedding. In the months and weeks leading up to the big day, my almost-husband and I worked diligently with our pastor on the service. Of course, we were using the standard wedding rite from the hymnal, but there were gaps to be filled in with Bible readings, hymns, and instrumental music. The pastor had suggestions, but we had to choose the final details. And, after reading through many Bible readings and hymns, and listening to lots of music, we had all the decisions made, and were ready to have the bulletins printed. I can’t tell you how…
