By Jeff Thormodson The seven verses just preceding our text describe a cultural milieu that seriously doubts the existence of God or a literal judgment day. This first century attitude fits the current context where “[many] see no tangible evidence of the Lord’s second coming and thus doubt its reality. As a result, they see no need for ..
By David A. Johnson The church journeys into Advent, anticipating renewal in the vital proclamation of Jesus’s incarnation—embodied grace in the embryo of a woman’s womb. The church becomes that vessel of incarnate grace where we are saturated in baptismal living waters that have claimed, redeemed, and forgiven us. The Church remains an eternal community gathered around the table of ..
Prof. Joel Elowsky will present on “Where Eagles Soar: Reading the Gospel of John with the Early Church Fathers.”
On November 5 of this year, Rev. Glen Zweck, longtime tutor at Westfield House in Cambridge, fell asleep in Christ Jesus. Tutor Zweck was a beloved teacher at the ELCE (Evangelical Lutheran Church of England) theological studies house from 1978 to 2007. Through his long tenure he left an indelible mark on the many Lutheran seminarians and students ..
By Timothy Dost God Protects and Heals His Flock When faced with the fall of Jerusalem, Ezekiel describes the judgment on those shepherds responsible and the reasons for the fall. In our passage he declares that God will provide new shepherds who will care for the flock and will tend to them properly. In the intervening verses, he ..
Another Reformation Day has come and gone. Each year the day gives us occasion to reflect on the significance of the upheavals of the Sixteenth Century—upheavals that changed the religious, social, and cultural landscape of the West, especially the western church. What was at stake? What was it all about? Was it worth it? .. ..
By Andrew Bartelt With the end of the church year near and coming quickly, Zephaniah deepens the darkness of the “great and terrible day of Yahweh.” The pericope includes the famous Dies Irae passage of the ancient hymn by that name (TLH 607). But this is only chapter 1, which is focused against Judah (1:4). Zephaniah 2 continues ..
Funding will support special program to explore significance of science in pastoral ministry
Reflecting on ISIL, theology, and a lecture by Timothy Furnish
By Rick Marrs The words of the first writing prophet, Amos, come to us only five times in the three-year lectionary, and only once during the Series A year in this pericope. It is paired with important New Testament eschatological readings of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 (a frequent funeral sermon text) and Matthew 25:1–13 (the parable of the Ten Virgins) which ..
Travis Scholl, editor of our own Concordia Journal, has recently published a new book that takes us on the winding path of Mark’s Gospel. Travis’ rediscovery of the ancient labyrinth one Lenten season led him to reflect on the pilgrimage of faith, especially as one follows Him whose path leads to the cross. A devotion, a spiritual auto-biography, an ..
Welcome to the next chapter in sexual ethics
By Erik Herrmann The celebration of saints has a checkered history in the church: raucous festivals around martyrs’ graves, prayers to saints to escape various kinds of sufferings, fantastical stories of their lives, and even trust in their merits. The reformers in the sixteenth century were concerned about these abuses and how such focus on the saints could supplant preaching ..
Dr. Furnish will speak on “Fighting for the End of the (Christian) World: The Eschatology of ISIS/ISIL and Other Modern Muslim Groups in Light of Islamic History and Doctrines.” It will be live streamed at http://www.csl.edu/live/
By Bruce Hartung Like the beginning of a great meal, Revelation 14:6–7 goes well with the psalm for this Sunday (Psalm 46) for the celebration of the Reformation. They are excellent companions because both express unshaking vision to see the presence and activity of God, even in the midst of great trial and calamity, even in the midst ..
Nineteen students, and one professor, walk where Jesus walked