“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 When St. Paul encourages those with...

“Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.” ⁠ —2 Corinthians 4:1 Since the fall into sin, work has been marred by frustration and futility. At times, even those who serve in congregations and schools have been disappointed by the lack of apparent fruits from their labor....

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ...If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.—1 Corinthians 12:12, 26The church at Corinth was a church divided against...

“For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints. I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of...

“And [Jesus] said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’” —Luke 10:2 There are many contributing factors that lead someone to consider church vocations. One sainted Lutheran school teacher once told me...

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” —Galatians 5:1, 13 The movie, “Saving Private Ryan” is an intense and...

“And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”—Mark 4:38-29In 1959, Frank Sinatra released what was generally regarded as his most...

“So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.” —1 Corinthians 3:21-23The unity that we share...

“O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.” —Psalm 71:17-18A few weeks ago, I sat with...

“Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” —John 13:5The Gospels are a unique genre of literature in the Scriptures. They include both Jesus’ words and actions and ultimately His saving action on...