Throughout the Old Testament—and especially in the Books of 1 and 2 Kings—God works through prophets to call Israel and her kings back to Him and rebuke their unbelief. The following excerpts from The Lutheran Bible Companion feature one of these instances: the encounters of Ahab and Elijah.
During my time in full-time church ministry, both as a director of Christian education and now as a pastor, I’ve thought a lot about confirmation—and I’d guess most church workers have...
Christ gives His true body and blood for the forgiveness of sins, the strengthening of faith, and the uniting of His people around the altar in the gift of Holy Communion. The music...
Talking with children about death is never easy. As parents and caregivers, we may feel unsure of what to say or how much to share—especially when our own hearts are heavy. Yet as...
“I promise” is an everyday expression. People use it to make a special commitment to another person: “I promise to mow the grass tomorrow,” “I promise I will remember our anniversary next...
Anyone who has taken piano lessons or played a sport or learned a new language knows the importance of practice. A dedicated piano student plays every day at home. A language learner uses...
Teaching the Christian faith is central to the life of the church and takes many forms within congregations and schools. While parents play the primary role in shaping faith—especially...
Kevin Hildebrand’s collection of organ preludes on American hymn tunes is a timely publication in 2026 as the United States celebrates its semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of its...
The final moments of one’s life are tender, requiring pastoral care marked by compassion, prayer, and the promises of Christ. The “Commendation of the Dying” offers Scripture‑rooted words...
“Children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward” (Psalm 127:3), says the psalmist—they are beloved by God, as we also know from the Gospel accounts of Jesus saying...
In this letter, Peter sends greetings to his readers from her “who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen” (1Pt 5:13). This no doubt refers to a church (the Greek word for church is...
“You might be a control freak.” These words were spoken to me years ago during a summer internship as a hospital chaplain. As part of the internship program, my cohort had to write...
When my wife and I were expecting our first child, we knew that we wanted a daily routine with our family that included a time of prayer. We understood our responsibility God was...
Following the season of Easter is the Day of Pentecost, celebrating the narrative recorded in Acts 2 of the Holy Spirit descending onto followers of Christ and allowing them to speak in...
Following the season of Easter is the Day of Pentecost, celebrating the narrative recorded in Acts 2 of the Holy Spirit descending onto followers of Christ and allowing them to speak in...
Like most parents, when I pick up my son from preschool, I ask, “What did you learn today?” His answers vary from a shrug to telling me something weird one of his classmates did that day...
Often, listening to music is a passive activity. Parents absentmindedly turn on music playlists while cleaning, or drivers may flip to the local music station while on their commute. In...
A typical family in ancient Rome was strikingly similar to a typical family in our time. Families often didn’t have more than three children. A whole family would have fit nicely in a...
Accent the Offertory with grace and joy using Offertory Mosaics, the latest addition to the long-standing Mosaics series by Jacob B. Weber. Six organ preludes provide fresh settings, with...
As a pastor, within the space of the same year, I once conducted the wedding of a young couple as well as the funeral of their stillborn child. I was called to minister to them with God’s...
The little children in our schools and ministries are so very precious to God. He calls them by name just as He calls us. It is a blessing to be a part of God’s family and share the Good...
