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May 17, 2017
The Method of Melanchthon's Loci Communes
Locus is the Latin word for "place". Loci are places. And Loci Communes are common places where one may like to put things, either in the mind or in a book—organized, as if in a physical location, and easy to retrieve when needed.
May 16, 2017
Smalcald Articles Study: Invocation of the Saints
Luther says that the invocation of saints "destroys the knowledge of Christ." How would you say the invocation of saints does this? What is the consequence of such destruction?
May 4, 2017
Concerning Rebaptism for Christians
When we depend on ourselves, our strength, our goodness, even our faith, it will fail. In fact, when we build our house on anything but the rock it will be destroyed. Idols will all fall away.
May 1, 2017
Bible Study with Luther: Genesis 3:7-15
Rather than leaving Adam and Eve in the depravity of their alienation and hostility, God promised One Who would come and crush the serpent’s head. Jesus is the promised Seed of the Woman Who would reconcile a world of sinners back to God.
April 12, 2017
Smalcald Articles Study: The Mass
Luther understood the danger behind the Mass was not simply a smattering of errors in otherwise Christian worship, rather it was an entire system of a false theology of worship.
April 5, 2017
Bible Study with Luther: Genesis 3:1-6
In the second article of the Augsburg Confession, Lutherans confess, “It is also taught among us that since the fall of Adam all men who are born according to the course of nature are conceived and born in sin...
March 21, 2017
‘Hope and Healing: A Bible Study’ shares Christ’s comfort with victims of sexual assault and violence
In Christ, there is hope and healing for survivors of sexual assault. The perfect peace of the Gospel is vital for women who are suffering.
March 17, 2017
Smalcald Articles Study: The First and Chief Article
Ask yourself: If you were writing your final testimony about the Christian faith, what would you identify as the first and chief article? The answer to the question reveals what lies at the heart of anyone’s understanding of God and Christianity. Luther’s answer is...
March 1, 2017
Bible Study with Luther: Genesis 2
A key teaching of the Reformation is Luther’s understanding of the three estates established and instituted by God: the church, the home, and the state.
February 23, 2017
The Table of Duties in the Small Catechism
When Martin Luther prepared the text of the Small Catechism, he included a list of duties that people in various callings and stations in life have, as both a command and blessing from God.
February 13, 2017
Formula of Concord Study: Article XI
The last single-issue article of the Formula of Concord, Article XI is unique in that it was largely preemptive. While acknowledging that no major struggle had yet erupted over this article of faith...
February 6, 2017
Bible Study with Luther: Genesis 1
The Bible is dripping with verses which teach that the Triune God - the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - created all things and that this same God has redeemed us from sin, death, and hell through the blood of the incarnate Son.
January 27, 2017
Issues of Life and Death
“But the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die.’” (Genesis 3:4)
January 18, 2017
Formula of Concord Study: Article IX
Arguably the most opaque passage of the Creed is that Christ descended into hell. The passage is based on Scripture, but these scriptural passages (e.g., 1 Peter 3) lend themselves to multiple interpretations...
January 1, 2017
Bible Study with Luther: Galatians 6:1-18
Following in the footsteps of St. Paul, Luther and the Reformers sought true peace and unity in the Church through the pure proclamation of the Gospel.
December 28, 2016
Formula of Concord Study: Article VIII
Both historically- and theologically-speaking, seeing these two articles together is proper and useful. They almost serve as “A and B” of the same conversation, two sides of the same coin.