Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Ephesians 2:19-21
You will find the church wherever two or more are gathered in the name of Jesus, that is, with faith in him, teaching the gospel, and administering the sacraments.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Matthew 13:47-50
Many kinds of people are drawn to the Church, but not all are members of the Church. Some have an outward appearance of of belonging, yet that does not make them true members of the spiritual kingdom of Christ.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: John 18:33-37
Jesus was clear on this matter when he was brought before Pilate. His kingdom is not of this world. It is not temporal but instead, spiritual.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 John 3:2-7
As worshipers come forward for Holy Communion, many pause at the baptismal font, place their fingers in the water, and make the sign of the cross on their forehead.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Galatians 3:24-29
All those who by nature were born Jews, or Abraham’s seed, were given the law so that they might be an example to the nations of how God would have people live.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
The Body of Christ is not an organization that merely goes through the motions of ceremonies. The Church has gifts in the heart, namely, the Holy Spirit and faith.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Proverbs 12:5-7
The “house of the righteous,” the church, is infiltrated by the wicked. Sometimes, they seem petty, though they are aggravating and ungodly.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Ephesians 5:25–27
When we perceive the threat to the Church—a threat that exists both from within and without—we can be led to despair of her continued existence.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Philippians 2:12-16a
We believe in the Church. This is the congregation of those who believe in Christ. They are spread throughout the ages—past, present, and future.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Titus 3:4-7
So we must be careful to confess that sinful people, such as ourselves, become righteous and holy only through the grace of God.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Ephesians 1:15-23
We deplore the condition of some church bodies, that they have abandoned the Word of God for culturally correct beliefs. Yet, we should not complain overly much.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Matthew 26:26-28
Some people attend church because they were raised to do so. They give no thought to faith; it is simply the right thing to do.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Matthew 22:9–14
Nearly 40 years ago, a half dozen people from a local cult attended my church, trying to get people to follow their false god.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 Timothy 1:15-19a
Jesus did not come into the world to teach sinners how to save themselves. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: John 10:25-28
Declaring that a Christian’s deeds are required for justification and salvation both denies Christ and leaves the believer in despair
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: John 20:19-23
The disciples were in hiding, very likely imagining that they were next, that the authorities would come for them too. They had crucified the Lord; what would they do to his followers?
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Matthew 16:15-19
Surely, it is thought, there must be something we must do. This is the seed of religion and heresy, for faith knows that we can do nothing.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Galatians 4:9-11
It is human nature to imagine that we can buy our way out of problems. The person caught speeding, therefore, pays the court to keep the offense off the books so that insurance rates will not increase
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 2 Timothy 2:8–13
Let us continue to keep Christ at the center of all things. The promised Messiah, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin from the lineage of kings, suffered, was crucified and buried for our sins.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 John 4:7-10
The ability to love God is not something that we are born with or that we can develop on our own with this fallen nature of ours. In order to love God, one must first be born again.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Mark 7:6-8
Jesus rebuked the Pharisees because they valued their own traditions more than God’s commandments. We must be careful to evaluate those things that we believe and do.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Ephesians 3:8-12
It is easy for us to confuse the plain sense of things. Sometimes we need someone to come in to our midst and cut to the chase. What is the point that underlies everything we do?
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Ephesians 6:13-17
Lift up the shield of faith in Christ every time the devil attacks. Do not trust your thinking and your doing. Trust Christ, who is your shield.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 Peter 1:3-9
Justification, righteousness, and salvation are not only received by faith, these things are preserved for us to the end of time.
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Matthew 7:21-23
If we go to church, feed the hungry, and buy coats and mittens for the poor, but have no faith in the God who calls us to do such things, do those good works save?
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