In Part Five of his Small Catechism, Martin Luther (1483-1546) teaches us about the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Luther repeats some of the same concepts he taught in Part Four on the Sacrament of Baptism. He asks of each, ‘what benefits do we receive,’ and in both he replies, ‘the forgiveness of […]
180) Martin Luther on Holy Communion Read More »
From a blog entitled Why Millennials are Leaving the Church by Rachel Held Evans. To see the full article and more by Rachel Evans, go to http://www.rachelheldevans.com …The assumption among Christian leaders, and evangelical leaders in particular, is that the key to drawing twenty-somethings back to church is simply to make a few
176) Give These Young Folks What They Want Read More »
Published on the Joe McKeever website on August 27, 2013 (adapted). Dr. McKeever is the Director of Missions (retired) for the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans. “Pastor, the minute you decide church must always be exciting is the moment you begin turning the worship services into pep rallies. After that, it all
164) Getting Excited About Church (?) Read More »
Written by the wife of a Lutheran pastor at: www.iamtotallythatmom.blogspot.ca Dear Parents with young children in church, You are doing something really, really important. I know it’s not easy. I see you with your arms overflowing, and I know you came to church already tired. Parenting is tiring. Really tiring. I watch you bounce and
157) For Parents With Young Children in Church Read More »
Painting above: “My Friend” by Helen Thomas Robson ****************** Good things as well as bad, you know, are caught by a kind of infection. If you want to get warm you must stand near the fire: if you want to be wet you must get into the water. If you want joy, power, peace, eternal
153) Just a Closer Walk Read More »
Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” Jesus tells us in this verse that he knows who his sheep are; he knows who belongs to him. But how about you? Do you know if you are one of those sheep? Do you know if you
141) Hearing the Voice of Jesus Read More »
This story went viral a while back, and though it is not true, it can challenge us to consider how welcoming we are of outsiders visiting our congregations. Pastor Jeremiah Steepek let his beard grow for a few days, dressed shabbily like a homeless person, and then went to the 10,000 member church
108) A Welcoming Congregation? Read More »
“We have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place… –II Peter 1:19 There is a world of difference between the strict, monastic life of Thomas a Kempis, a monk in the
83) Pay Attention (part two) Read More »
“We have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place… –II Peter 1:19 If someone believes in God at all, it would be only logical for that person to wonder what it is God
82) Pay Attention (part one) Read More »
From C. S. Lewis in Mere Christianity: Faith, in the sense in which I am here using the word, is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods. For moods will change, whatever view your reason takes. I know that by experience. Now
3) Faith in Training Read More »
