The 18 essays in this volume offer a cross-section of Preus's research and commentary on the doctrine of justification and on the Lutheran Confessions and their application in the life of the church today. Also included in this volume are 4 reflections on the life and ministry of Robert Preus provided by David P. Scaer, John Stephenson, Kurt Marquart and Daniel Preus.Preface and introduction written by Klemet I. Preus, Robert's son.
How can your organization adapt its governance model to become a competitive advantage and add real, measurable value to your mission?We are living in an environment that is experiencing an accelerated rate of change. The world in which we operate is increasingly uncertain, complex, and competitive. The governance model you are currently using may not be best suited for the future. The time has come for your leadership team to collectively work together to implement an evolving, adaptive model of governance that is tailored to the current situation of your unique organization. This intentional focus will add value to your mission and bottom line as you adapt your organization to a myriad of changes, both external and internal.In The CEO and the Board, follow Dr. Kurt Senske through different facets of how your nonprofit can make effective changes and work through questions to craft an intentional relationship between the board and the CEO for organizational success.
Every congregation needs to determine how it will organize to best proclaim the Gospel, administer the Sacraments, and care for its members. While organizational details are never the main thing, if the mission and ministry of the Church is to advance, leaders need to give attention to organizational matters.Rev. Dr. David J. Peter, a professor of practical theology at Concordia Seminary St. Louis, draws upon more than 20 years in the parish, experiencing the realities of pastoral ministry and insights from students, practicing pastors, and others about the realities of administration and leadership in congregations.Dr. Peter identifies the theological and practical reasons for organizing staff, lay officers, and congregational volunteers. He presents three dominant models for organizing churches-The Working Board, The Managing Board, and The Governing Board-and carefully examines the advantages and disadvantages of each.Pastors, professional staff workers, congregational officers, church council members, board members, and students preparing for parish ministry, will gain insights and best practices for more effective leadership of their churches.
For churches - like people - looks can be deceiving.It may be easy to be enticed by what's on the surface, by churches that may be wrongly focused on worldly things apart from Scripture.In this highly anticipated follow-up to his first book (Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up?; CPH, 2017), author Matthew Richard presents the story of a fictionalized family searching for a new congregation, a new place for the family to worship. At each of seven churches, they find something they like, but come away feeling that something is missing.Readers will learn how to identify those falsehoods, and how to identify how the real Church presents Christ and His gifts of Word and Sacrament.
Can ordinary lives be extraordinary? Martha Van Buskirk passionately shares how, even without flashy titles, accolades, or roles, we can serve God in our families, neighborhoods, and communities - right here, right now.Because of God's extraordinary grace and purpose for our lives, our loving, Spirit-led acts do make a difference. Readers will see how their everyday actions, no matter how small, have purpose, are important to God, and can make an extraordinary impact in the lives of others.
Come, Follow Me: A Year of Devotions on the Life of Jesus is a 52-week devotional that works through the life and work of Jesus Christ as presented in the New Testament. Each week, readers will focus on one event in Jesus' life. Each week is divided into six days of study, leaving one day for weekly worship: Day 1 explores the historical context of the passage;Day 2 uncovers the overall message of the passage;Day 3 looks at what the passage reveals about Jesus and His Mission;Day 4 brings together related or interepreting Bible passages to show that Jesus' life and work are the heart of the Old and New Testaments;Day 5 explores the challenge parts of the passage;Day 6 discusses how the pass applies to us today.Contributing writers: Amy Bird, Rev. Ted Doering, Rev. Alfonso Espinosa, Deanconess Naomi E. Guerra, Hannah Hansen, Chad Janetzke, Rev. Andrew Jones, Rev. Gabe Kasper, Rehema Kavugha, Rev. Dr. Christopher Kennedy, Rev. Ethan Luhman, Rev. Daniel Paavola, and Rev. Wayne Palmer.
Con la publicación de este sobresaliente comentario del Dr. Rodolfo Blank sobre la primera epístola del apóstol Pedro, los estudiantes de la Biblia adquieren otra valiosa herramienta para adentrarse más en el mensaje bíblico, entender más a fondo las enseñanzas centrales del cristianismo, y relacionar la fe cristiana con los desafíos y sufrimientos de la vida cotidiana. Sólo disponible en español.With the publication of this outstanding commentary by Dr. Rodolfo Blank on the first epistle of the apostle Peter, students of the Bible acquire another valuable tool to delve deeper into the biblical message, understand more deeply the central teachings of Christianity, and relate the Christian faith with the challenges and sufferings of everyday life. Only available in Spanish.
This expansive resource provides the pastor with a wealth of materials in his work of caring for souls in times of sickness and distress. Includes resources for more than 60 topics, divided under eight categories:¿ At the time of birth¿ Ministering to the sick¿ At the time of death¿ Times of spiritual distress¿ Home and family¿ Vocation¿ Times of celebration¿ Miscellaneous situationsFor each topic, resources include: brief theological commentary to guide the pastor, psalm verses, Bible readings, additional psalm and reading suggestions, prayers, hymn stanzas, and other hymn suggestions.Also includes 18 services and rites from the LSB Agenda, collects of the day and readings, other prayers, selected hymns and liturgical texts in German and Spanish, preparation for confession, guidelines for pastoral examination of catechumens, and extensive indexes.
What is the meaning and purpose of human life? Founded on Biblical revelation and in the context of the Church's confession, Day 7 makes the case that God created humans both to work and to practice true leisure. Along with exploring the challenge of human work, the classic understanding of leisure as contemplation and festival celebration is presented and embraced. Drawing on the insights of Martin Luther, these apparently contradictory conceptions of human purpose are brought together in the idea of the receptive life, which, it is argued, is the right way to keep sabbath.
Without the meaning behind sacred symbolism, its beauty quickly fades. A Complete Guide to Christian Symbols provides a wealth of Christian symbolism in one place, in one artistic style, in one format. It briefly explains each symbol, offering a bit of historical use and practical advice on their use. Sacred art follows a parallel path with sacred music. Both point us to the Word of God by emphasizing Scripture or illustrating it or repeating it. Christian symbolism takes things another step by condensing narratives and ideas into concise visuals. By pondering them, it is possible to accent the richness of Scripture from a simple design. Readers will appreciate this guidebook of symbolism when confronted with unfamiliar sanctuaries, denominations, or sacred art.
A collection of essays on various aspects of the life, thought, and ministry of Hermann Sasse, a theologian at the university in Erlangen. Essays contributed by numerous Sasse scholars, many of whom knew Dr. Sasse personally.These essays are from the 1995 Lutheran Life Lectures at Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary, St Catharines, Ontario, Canada.
"These can seem like hopeless times. To faithful Christians, life can feel like everything is against them. But precisely in these hopeless times, Christians hear an other-worldly comfort in the eternal promise of Jesus: "Take courage; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). In these brief chapters Matthew C. Harrison offers words of encouragement that have sustained him throughout these hopeless times: Take courage. Jesus, who has overcome the world, is for you, for your good. In Him is courage"--
Drawn from the Scriptures, the Apostles' Creed is a statement of what Christians believe. Simple, concise, and familiar, the Creed expresses what Christians know and believe from God's Word and is the foundation on which Christians build their understanding. Yet when you speak the Creed, do you think about what you are confessing? This Bible study examines the three articles of the Creed and how this ancient summary of the Christian faith articulates Christians' beliefs. Each lesson considers a portion of the Creed and its biblical foundations, then digs deeper into the meaning of the words to help readers connect the text to everyday thoughts and actions. Designed for small groups, each session includes discussion questions, prayer time, and a suggested hymn. Supplementing the sessions are topical essays that help readers put the Creed and its significance into perspective.
"When reading the Bible, it can be overwhelming to sort through all the details, such as unfamiliar names, places, and words. Ten Questions to Ask Every Time You Read the Bible provides a simple set of questions that will take readers through a biblical account, teaching them to analyze unfamiliar stories, discern Law and Gospel, and understand God's plan of salvation. Each of the 10 questions is expounded upon in its own chapter. Each chapter unpacks why each question is important and what it can teach us, and then puts that question to a particular biblical text or two in order to demonstrate the question's usefulness. The book concludes with some practice example texts for readers to practice"--
"Who is Jesus? What did Jesus do? Where is Jesus present? When is Jesus coming back? Why did Jesus do all of this? These are the main questions of Christianity and Lutheranism, because Jesus is the center and heart of our faith. But Lutherans speak about Jesus Christ in a distinct way. This book answers those questions, addressing Christ's real presence, substitutionary atonement, and the ever-present Christocentricity found in Luther's Small Catechism and throughout the Lutheran Confessions. The divine person and saving work of Jesus drive every sentence of this book, giving readers (college age and up) answers to questions about Christ's person, work, and presence in their lives"--
Jesus doesn't always tell you what you want to hear. But He always tells you what you need to hear, and even the hard words are a gift given to you in love.In Jesus Said What?, author Christopher Kennedy tackles some of Jesus' words that people may struggle to understand. It may seem easier to avoid some of Jesus' tough sayings, but instead of shying away from these passages, Kennedy urges readers to look to Scripture to understand Scripture.As the Ten Commandments are connected with the words of Jesus, Kennedy demonstrates the Law, but reminds Christians to stay firmly focused on the forgiveness and grace that comes through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He brings clarity to fifteen of Jesus' most difficult teachings, on topics such as money, family relationships, and consequences for sin. Each chapter explores one teaching of Jesus by looking at His full treatment of the topic, parallel passages throughout the Bible, and the biblical context to help readers come to a faithful and faith-enriching understanding of Jesus' words.
"Using Scripture and historical writings, Christa Petzold outlines basic doctrines to help readers see the Church through Jesus' eyes and take comfort in His gift of the Church"--
These are only a few of the women mentioned in God's Word. In it's pages we learn of their weaknesses and their strengths, their trials and their triumphs. Above all, we see God in His abundant grace forgiving, sustaining, and inspiring His beloved daughters for service in His name.In this four-session, small-group Bible study series, participants will look at the lives of only the most familiar women in God's Word. From Eve, the first woman, to those women who helped Jesus' apostles, participants will see God's grace in action as He calls and leads these women in their daily lives. Through their God-given faith and their faith-filled deeds, you will be inspired by these great women of the Bible.Session 1: Jochebed and MiriamSession 2: DeborahSession 3: RuthSession 4: Hannah
Concordia Hebrew Reader: Ruth featuresThe Hebrew text from Biblia Hebraica StuttgartensiaA literal translation that indicates Hebrew line breaksReferences to more than 20 advance reference tools Nearly 100 exegetical studiesA full works cited list
A 26-lesson study guide on Luther's Small Catechism. Sections cover the Law and Gospel, Apostles's Creed, the Lord¿s Prayer, the sacraments, Martin Luther, The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and more. Lessons provide hymns, prayers, proof texts and a review.
In short, concise chapters, author Richard Eyer guides readers through the process of making ethical decisions from a Law/Gospel perspective. Eyer's easy-to-read style helps readers focus on the issues that confront people in this modern, high-tech age, including reproductive technology and end-of-life issues. In the course of the discussion, Eyer presents biblical and Gospel insights into living as God's holy people, redeemed in Christ.
This one-year curriculum follows the 1991 edition of Luther's Small Catechism with Explanation and can be augmented with the junior high minicourse, Charting the Course.The Teacher Guide provides easy-to teach lessons and reproducible test questions with answers. 40 sessions.
Charges of forgery, heresy, legalism, and immorality turn on the question of whether Martin Luther taught a third use of the Law for the Christian life. For the past sixty years, well-meaning scholars believed they settled the question-with dire consequences.Friends of the Law sets forth a completely new body of evidence that shows how little Luther's teaching was understood. This new book looks at the doctrine of the Law and invites a new consensus that could change the way Christians view the Reformation and even their daily walk with God.Containsdata tablestranslations of passages not available in Englishappendicesbibliography on Law and Gospel
This book is a historical study of Africian American Christians who choose to stay within white denominations. Four key objectives are covered, first to propose an alternative framework for the study of black Lutheranism, second this book will trace the development of black Lutheranism beginning with the middle of the 17th century, third it examine the development of black Lutheranism in the larger social context in which it occurred, and finally identifies the strategies Lutherans have used in working with black people.
This unique volume offers a handbook for busy pastor, student or interested layperson to better understand the use of Christian art and the history of its use in Lutheranism since the time of the Reformation. The author states in the introduction to the book: "The Lutheran Church was never an enemy of the art, neither the fine arts nor industrialized arts. . . . The Lutheran Church, to confess its faith did not hesitate to enlist the aid of pure and beautiful art forms, not only in the harmonies of poetry and music, but also in archictecture, sculpture, painting, bronze work, wood-carving, and embroidery." This book concerns itself chiefly with church architecture, but necessarily also discusses the place of the fine arts in the construction and use of spaces consecrated to the worship of the One True God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, where God's people are gathered to receive His gifts of grace and mercy through His Holy Word and the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar.
Though perhaps the most common practice of all those who claim to be religious, prayer is often misunderstood, used incorrectly, or avoided for fear of doing it wrong, or unbelief that praying has any purpose or result. This little book walks through the reader through an examination of common beliefs about prayer, what the Bible teaches us about prayer, and how we can, and should, pray in a manner that is faithful to God's Word and based on God's Word and promises associated with prayer.
Day by day, minute by minute, those who are struggling with the hurt of divorce need help grasping the reality of a healing God who is still in their lives, still for them. Constant emotional, physical, and mental struggles are a daily occurrence. This book points those in need of comfort, support and encouragement to the source of light and hope in any situation....the Lord Himself.
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