Blog Posts
-
Digging Deeper into Scripture: Isaiah 5:1–7
With the onset of autumn comes the end of summer work at our house. One of our summer projects each year is growing tomatoes. We make every effort to create the ideal growing environment...
-
3 Prayers for Pastor Appreciation Month
Did you know that October is Pastor Appreciation Month? Pastors do so much beyond what we see on Sunday mornings— they visit the sick and dying, provide counseling, and are leaders for...
-
Teaching the Catechism: Confession
What is Confession? Confession has two parts. First, that we confess our sins, and second, that we receive absolution, that is, forgiveness from the pastor as from God Himself, not...
-
Heroes: October 2023 Everyday Faith Calendar
I have no idea what or who my seventeen-month-old daughter will dress up as for our upcoming Halloween events. These days, it’s a big responsibility to make sure that your family costumes...
-
Habakkuk: An Overview
Why does God allow bad things to happen to those who love Him? Habakkuk cries out to God and asks Him why He continuously allows the righteous to be persecuted by the wicked. In this book,...
-
How Does God Apply Grace to Our Lives?
Our world is a sinful, broken mess. Yet God uses people and things around us to deliver His grace. Is it weird that God uses lowly parts of His creation for His perfect purposes? Christian...
-
Teaching about the Church Year in Sunday School
As adults in the faith, most of us have a solid understanding of how worship looks throughout the year. We grow accustomed—maybe even desensitized—to the changes around us. Sometimes the...
-
So You Want to Be a Pastor’s Wife?—Part 3
A few months back, I wrote a post about how you can support your pastor’s wife. In it, I mentioned that because the role of the pastor’s wife comes with so many challenging aspects, there...
-
Digging Deeper into Scripture: Matthew 18:15–20
During nearly thirty years of professional church work, I have often wondered which sin is most damaging to the local congregation. In my experience, it is not disregard for worship and...
-
Fruit of the Spirit: Patience Trusts
The famous marshmallow tests were first conducted in the 1970s at Stanford University. Researchers presented preschool-aged children with a marshmallow and a choice: eat one marshmallow...
-
Teaching the Faith to Young People
Youth are not just the church’s future—they’re also the church’s now. As a leader, volunteer, or church worker, your job is to remind youth that they’re loved by Jesus and their...
-
The One Thing: September 2023 Everyday Faith Calendar
“Don’t you see how hard I’m working?” “I feel like my work goes unappreciated.” “It seems like no matter what I do, it’s never enough. There’s always one more thing.”
-
Overview: The Books of History
The following has been adapted from the Lutheran Bible Companion. To understand the Books of History, it is imperative to understand what came before them. The Books of the Law and the...
-
Vespers and Evening Hymns
The historic church used to partake in a set of daily services called the Daily Office. This kept people connected to God and in community with His Word throughout their working lives....
-
Best Family Devotionals
Whether you are winding down at bedtime, embarking on a road trip, or seeking reassurance during a hard time, it’s important to spend time with God as a family. Check out the following...
-
Teaching the Catechism: Holy Baptism II, Third and Fourth Parts
Continue learning how to teach Holy Baptism with the Third and Fourth Parts on Baptism in Luther’s Small Catechism
-
Music of the Month: My Lord, What a Morning
David von Kampen has set this anthem for End Times or Advent for SATB choir and piano. It begins with unison choir on the first refrain and moves to SATB in the first verse. The piece...
-
Digging Deeper into Scripture: Matthew 14:22–33
Telling nice people things they don’t want to hear is an unavoidable part of being a faithful pastor. On one occasion, a pleasant couple from the neighborhood came to my office. The...
-
Top 5 Egypt Facts to Help You Understand the Life of Joseph
Historical context is everything. To gain a richer understanding of these biblical events, we need to be familiar with the time the people lived. Today we read about ancient Egyptian...
-
How to Talk to Kids about God’s Design for Men and Women
Our children face numerous challenges today, such as topics of conversation happening before they are ready to hear them, pressures regarding their identity, and more. When it comes to...
-
Loading More...