Everyone Has a Part But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9 The Table of Duties from Luther’s Small Catechism lays out what pastors owe to...

A Kingdom of Priests Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.  Exodus 19:5-6 The Lord...

What’s In It for Us? For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.  2 Corinthians 4:5 Dr. Luther described sin as being essentially being man curved in on oneself, drawing from St. Augustine.  There is also a tendency...

Togetherness Takes Work Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  Ephesians 4:3 During a conversation over dinner with two missionaries and their wives, the comment was made that each couple finds out how long they can be apart before it becomes counterproductive. ...

Sisters’ Keepers Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?” Genesis 4:9 There is much on which we can reflect regarding Cain’s sins.  Jealousy, hatred and murder are all sins that Cain commits.  So is simple...

Better Together So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into...

Serving with Luther And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  Colossians 3:17 As a young pastor, a man came into meet with me because “he needed to talk.”  I was prepared for...

Singing the Faith with Luther Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  Colossians 3:16 On July 1, 1523, two Augustinian monks were burned at the stake in Brussels, more...

Praying with Luther and His Barber Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”  Luke 11:1 One of Dr. Luther’s most practical writings was a response to a request from his...

Christ’s Love Transforms Timid Hearts As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love…This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  John 15:9, 12 Before our Lord’s Passion, He not only predicted His death and resurrection, but also...