Walther

LCMS President on unity in doctrine and life (third of three)

July 13, 2010

In the previous quotations, C.F.W. Walther, the first LCMS president, spoke about the dangers of disunity and the blessing of unity. In today’s quotation, Walther speaks about the Devil’s strategy: to sow disunity in the church: Satan knows all too well what kind of power the Church exercises when it is unity. It then not [...]

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LCMS President on unity in doctrine and life (second of three)

July 12, 2010

In the quotation I posted yesterday, C.F.W. Walther (the first LCMS president) talked about the disastrous effects of disunity. Here he speaks about the blessings of unity in the Church: Christian unity always produces a blessing. If the Church is one in doctrine and life, in faith and love, it shares its gifts and knowledge. [...]

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LCMS President on unity in doctrine and life (first of three)

July 11, 2010

The first LCMS President, that is: C.F.W. Walther. Timely as we head into the 2010 Synodical Convention: If Christians do not cultivate unity in doctrine and in life among themselves, they are misled by their flesh and blood, standing by peacefully as divisions arise and discord grows day by day. God did not give His [...]

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The detour of God's Word

January 6, 2010

C.F.W. Walther on the Epiphany (which we celebrate this day): Even more wonderful than the circumstances of this account [of the Wise Men searching for the newborn King] is the fact that God chose to lead the Wise Men to Bethlehem, not exclusively by the star, but also via a detour. The Jewish king, with [...]

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The Circumcision and Name of Jesus

January 1, 2010

As we review the year coming to a close – how have we used it? “Is there one commandment we have not transgressed? Is there one day in which we have not sinned?” Is there one gift for which we have been perfectly thankful and used as God intended? “Is there one rescue from trouble [...]

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Oculi sermon – Luke 11.14-28

March 21, 2009

In the political realm, there is a term many of you have probably heard: RINO’s – Republicans in Name Only. Faithful Lutherans sometimes refer to  church bodies that have given up on Lutheran doctrine as LINO: Lutheran in Name Only. Today’s Gospel demands that we answer this question: What kind of a Christian are you? [...]

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Holy Innocents, Martyrs

December 29, 2008

Note: In an ordinary year, I would have likely observed the First Sunday after Christmas on the day this sermon was preached, 12/28/08. However, I will be away from Immanuel next Sunday and over the Epiphany holiday, consequently we are transferring Epiphany to the preceding Sunday, thus missing the readings for Christmas II, which also [...]

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Mystery in the little martyrs of Bethlehem

December 27, 2008

I’m struggling writing my sermon for tomorrow, Holy Innocents (Mt. 2.13-18), because I simply don’t know what to make of those little children who were killed. My mind keeps going to the still-born baby I buried a couple of years ago, the time I visited the hospital to pray with a woman about to have [...]

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Merry Christmas!

December 24, 2008

I pray that you all have a wonderful, joyous celebration of our Lord’s birth. Here are some thoughts on the meaning of Christmas from C.F.W. Walther: What happened [in Bethlehem] did not apply solely to the residents of Bethlehem, but to all whose nature the Son of God assumed, everyone who is called human and [...]

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Post-Palin/Biden Debate Diversions

October 3, 2008

Mark Hemingway, in Socialism in the Treasury Chest, observes that if you think the bailout is a good idea, “you may well be an idiot.” R.R. Reno is no idiot, even if he does support the bailout. He’s wrong, but nevertheless has some good things to say about greed over at First Things. Matthew Harrison [...]

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