In the Divine Service, right after corporate confession and before the Absolution is declared, the pastor says, "I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you. And in the stead and by the command of my Lord, Jesus Christ, I...
The Ten Commandments command us to live a righteous life, a life in faith toward God and fervent love toward our neighbor. This command never goes away. It doesn't stop once we are baptized, nor does it's demand depart from us whenever we go to church. God demands perfect righteousness. The...
The Gospel according to St. John says, "In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:4-5). When we look at man outside of Christ, he is not pure and righteous, but sinful and dark...
The Devil doesn't want you in Church on Sunday morning. He wants you to be anywhere else besides the place in which you have absolute forgiveness of all your sins. He wants you to be in a place where your flesh is pleased, where your ego is boosted, and where your self piety is encouraged. He...
In The Acts of the Apostles, chapter 8, we hear of the account of St. Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch. This is a wonderful text that helps guide both pastors and layman alike in what the point of the ministry is all about. For St. Philip went up to the Eunuch and asked him, "Do you understand...
Maybe it would've been good for Simon if Sir Paul McCartney would've been there singing, "Can't buy me love," when Simon offered to purchase the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the Acts of the Apostles records saying, "Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the...
The Second Commandment says, "You shall not misuse the Name of the Lord your God. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not curse, swear, use satanic arts, lie, or deceive by His Name, but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks." God cares...
Luther wrote in the Large Catechism saying, "Meanwhile, since holiness has begun and is growing daily, we await the time when our flesh will be put to death, will be buried with all its uncleanness, and will come fourth gloriously and will arise to complete and perfect holiness in a new, eternal...
There is a scene in the movie, The Predator, staring Arnold Schwarzenegger, in which Arnold is running away from the alien predator. The alien does see like we do, but sees body heat and therefore it is almost impossible to hide from him. But in one scene Arnold covers himself completely...
Psalm 25 says, "Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to Your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of Your goodness, O Lord!" (Psalm 25:7). This is a simple verse that means a lot. We pray that the Lord would not remember or bring to mind our sins, but would...