Today is the commemoration of St. Johann Sebastian Bach, Kantor and 5th Evangelist (1685-1750). Bach is not only one of the most famous musicians of all time, but also and more importantly he was a faithful Lutheran who wrote beautiful music to glorify and magnify the Word of God. This is the...
The 6th Commandment says, "You shall not commit adultery. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we lead a sexually pure and decent life in what we say and do, and husband and wife love and honor each other." Luther gave this a deeper meaning in the Large Catechism when he...
Ecclesiastes says, "9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10). There is great joy in having...
Welfare programs are not an original U.S. thing. The Roman Empire had welfare programs, as did many countries in Europe starting in the 17th century. Welfare programs are ways in which the governing authority replaces fallen man because he doesn't keep the 5th commandment which says, "You shall...
In his book, A Little Book on Joy, President Harrison makes a lovely and comforting assertion in a story about how sinners should live with one another saying, "I didn't come to kill you. I came to forgive you. He wasn't on a mission of retribution. He was on a mission of...
The 4th commandment says, "Honor your Father and your Mother. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not despise or anger our parents, and other authorities, but honor them, serve and obey them, love and cherish them." This is the first and greatest commandment in the...
Dr. Martin Luther, of blessed and holy memory, writes concerning the joy of the Church saying, “Grace and peace-these two words embrace the whole of Christianity. Grace forgives sin, and peace stills the conscience. The two devils who plague us are sin and the conscience, the power of the...
In the Smalcald Articles, Dr. Martin Luther of blessed and holy memory, asserts the work of the external Word of God saying, "Accordingly, we should and must constantly maintain that God will not deal with us except through His external Word and sacrament. Whatever is attributed to the Spirit...
The Third commandment says, "Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred, and gladly hear and learn it." When is the Sabbath? Well, the Sabbath was originally the 7th day...
The Second Commandment says, "You shall not misuse the Name of the Lord your God. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not curse, swear, use satanic arts, lie, or deceive by His Name, but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks." God cares...