More than just a day, a festival, or a historical remembrance, Reformation is an ongoing movement in the church of Jesus Christ, of which Lutherans are especially committed and enthusiastic proponents. Reformation has always been—and needs always to...

Jesus invites His disciples to follow His example of love. The apostle Paul invites the same imitation, further declaring that those who do will be examples to still others. Imitation is following the strong leadership of a faith-filled person who...

We are gathered each week around the feast of God’s Word. That Word—the presence of Christ—brings peace and wholeness to this and every community that trusts the promises of God in Jesus. We are gathered in this place and then sent to do God’s work in...

“I am the Vine; you are the branches,” Jesus told the crowd gathered around the temple in the days before his death and resurrection. (Behind him, a golden vine was painted above the entrance to the Holy of Holies.) So much is packed into those words!...

Holding firmly to the Word of life, the people of God shine like stars in a world darkened by sin. Unlike stars, our light is the reflected kind, sourced from Jesus, the very light of the world. He is present among us, forgiving, claiming and...

God calls us by His Grace to enjoy every day as we trust Him and live our lives in service to others. In our sermon text today St. Paul focuses on God’s grace to enable him to rejoice even in the midst of unpleasant circumstances, unreasonable people...

Since the fourth century, Christians around the world have marked September 14 as Holy Cross Day, celebrating the triumph of the cross of Christ over sin, death, and Satan. Again and again in his letters to the churches (which are providing the texts...

James Madison, the principal author of the First Amendment to the U. S. Constitution credits Martin Luther for leading the way (in his “doctrine of the two kingdoms”) in providing a distinction between the civil and ecclesiastical realms. From that...

The Kingdom of God is always different than the kingdoms of the world. As Paul proclaims, “Overcome evil with good,” we are encouraged to set aside worldly power and put love into action. We rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to work in us, that we...

The second of three Scripture readings most weeks is from one of the Epistles—New Testament letters, often written by St. Paul to the churches he had established or visited on his first century travels. These letters celebrate the resurrection of...