(…continued) Martin Luther worked through his disappointment with the church by simply continuing to focus on God’s Word. He looked past all the abuses of the church, going deeper to find what was central to the Christian faith. He did not accept the church’s claim to have authority over God’s Word, and […]
3414) A Disappointed Monk (3/3) Read More »
Above: Martin Luther monument, Dresden, Germany ————- (…continued) Did Martin Luther find peace with God by becoming a monk? Not at all. Luther was an intense man, giving himself completely to his studies. What he saw in the church’s teaching and in his own reading of the Bible was an angry and
3413) A Disappointed Monk (2/3) Read More »
John 3:16-17– (Jesus said), “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” *************************************** On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther
3412) A Disappointed Monk (1/3) Read More »
(…continued) The story then goes on to say God established in our midst a ‘Kingdom’, the Church, and gave to the Church the Holy Spirit. And He gave to the Church the Word and Sacraments. Again, in some strange and unaccountable way, the Holy Spirit working through these means, would recruit from out
3346) God’s Big Story (2/2) Read More »
Alvin Rogness (1906-1992) was a Lutheran pastor, author, and seminary president. In his sermons and books he would often retell the ‘big’ story of the Bible, summarizing the whole story of God and His world in a single narrative. The following reading is a blend of several of those narratives. —————————– Colossians 1:21-23a — Once
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Above Painting: For He Had Great Possessions, 1894, George Frederic Watts (British, 1817–1904) ————————————- As Jesus was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one
3277) Good News / Bad News (2/2) Read More »
A certain ruler asked Jesus, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your
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By Randy Alcorn, from his book The Grace and Truth Paradox and posted November 10, 2025 on his website at: http://www.epm.org ********************************* Many evangelical Christians are speaking grace without truth, while others are speaking truth without grace. But Scripture tells us this about Jesus: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
3061) Grace AND Truth Read More »
(…continued) It is not for me to judge Harvey or Walter. But I tell their stories to help you understand this for your own life. First of all, you must not take for granted God’s grace like Harvey. Secondly, you need not be filled with anxiety like Walter. As always, the Bible will be
2951) Can it Be That Easy? (3/3) Read More »
(…continued) Can it be that easy? The Christians in Rome thought so. The Apostle Paul faced that same question. So, after five chapters of going on and on about grace, in chapter six verse one Paul says: “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may
2950) Can it Be That Easy? (2/3) Read More »
