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LCMS Resources
November 29, 2019
CTCR paper - ‘The Child as a Gift of God’
This paper examines the many subtle ways that American culture rejects life as a fundamental gift of God and instead sees “having a baby” as a human accomplishment.
February 14, 2019
CTCR report - ‘An Inexpressible Treasure’
The Theology and Practice of Holy Baptism” serve as a great witness for those who have struggled with various aspects of this biblical teaching.
November 27, 2018
CTCR Bible study — 'Immigrants Among Us: A Lutheran Framework for Addressing Immigration Issues'
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) has prepared a Bible study titled “Immigrants Among Us: A Lutheran Framework for Addressing Immigration Issues” to complement a 2012 CTCR report of the same name.
November 19, 2018
CTCR report — 'The Royal Priesthood: Identity and Mission'
The royal priesthood is all believers whom God has made a kingdom and priests by working faith in Christ in them by the Holy Spirit. Individuals are priests through their Baptism, and as such offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, pray for this world and confess the faith in their daily lives.
July 20, 2018
CTCR report - 'Confession and Absolution'
Requested by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in convention, the Commission on Theology and Church Relations adopted a report on “Confession and Absolution” to address these matters.
March 14, 2018
CTCR report - 'Women and Military Service: A Lutheran Perspective'
The LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations adopted a report on “Women and Military Service: A Lutheran Perspective” to address the issue of women serving in the military, particularly in combat roles.
March 1, 2018
CTCR Bible studies on Justification
To help individuals and congregations commemorate the Reformation, the LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) developed prepared Bible studies on the doctrine of justification.
December 14, 2017
Smalcald Article Study: Baptism
For this topic, there is really only one question to be considered: What is the importance of this sentence: “Baptism is nothing other than God’s Word in the water, commanded by His institution”?
December 2, 2017
Bible Study with Luther: Genesis 17:15-27
In his lectures on Genesis, Luther marvelously describes the nature of faith and believing. Abraham was justified by faith (Rom. 4:1-6). He believed the extraordinary promises of the Lord and the Lord counted it to him as righteousness (Gen. 15:6). The same is true for you.
November 22, 2017
Bible Study: It’s Still All About Jesus
This one-session Bible study helps participants see the whole Reformation as a quest for pure Gospel (“Christ saves”) preaching. Download and distribute for Sunday morning Bible class or a home study!
November 22, 2017
Reformation-themed Bible Studies
The LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations presents a monthly series of Reformation-themed Bible studies to encourage “in-depth examination and study of the ecumenical creeds and Lutheran Confessions.”
November 14, 2017
Smalcald Article Study: The Gospel
The heart of the Scriptures, the heart of Luther’s preaching and teaching, and the heart of Lutheran theology, is the Gospel. This time we read Part III, Article 4 of the Smalcald Articles, which brings us back to this heart.
November 7, 2017
Comfort in the Righteousness of God
In his 1545 preface Luther noted how he once hated “the righteousness of God,” of which Paul spoke in Romans 1:17...
November 3, 2017
Bible Study with Luther: Genesis 17:1-14
The hallmark of the Reformation is justification by faith alone. Luther emphasized this Reformation truth in his lectures on Genesis, particularly regarding the covenant of circumcision.
October 15, 2017
Smalcald Article Study: Repentance
While we often think of repentance being poorly understood because of Papist emphasis on man’s efforts, the Reformers (and we still to this day) also recognized that many are burdened in conscience by the notion that Christians shouldn’t need to repent.
October 7, 2017
The Large and Small Catechisms of Dr. Luther
The Large and Small Catechisms of Dr. Luther were born of pastoral necessity. In 1528, Luther and his colleagues visited the congregations in Saxony to assess their spiritual health. Luther was horrified.