This ancient “tale of two mothers” concerns far more than theological semantics—it is the difference between a God who sends and a God who comes.
12/10/25
This story points us from our unlikely heroes to the even more unlikely, and joyous, good news that Jesus’ birth for us was just as unlikely and unexpected.
12/09/25
Was Jesus ambitious or unambitious? We have to say that the answer is…yes.
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06/21/24
This is an excerpt from “Confession and Absolution” by John T. Pless in Common Places in Theology: A Curated Collection of Essays from Lutheran Quarterly, edited by Mark Mattes, (1517 Publishing 2023).
06/07/24
In our catastrophes - whatever they may be, however large or small they are - we cry out for rescue, deliverance, and salvation.
06/06/24
Like Jacob, sinners approach the Heavenly Father wearing the clothes of their older brother, Jesus.
05/24/24
What we do much less of, even in Christian circles, is recognize just how pervasive sin is, such that it has thoroughly corrupted us.
05/22/24
Now that the Lord of Sabaoth has involved himself, something ends, something is born.
05/17/24
The cross not only stands as the measure of our hatred of God but also as the measure of God’s love for us.
05/16/24
It is difficult to overestimate the importance of these early Lutheran hymns – and their physical availability in hymnals – in the piety of common people living in Lutheran towns and territories.
05/14/24
The gospel is for sinners – both the tax collector and Pharisee, both in need of the Great Physician.
05/13/24
God chose Russell Brand, chose to defy his fast-escaping life and drink up all his swift-running sin in the River Thames.
05/09/24
Five promises were seemingly all those apostles, staring into the sky, had to go on. Five promises that were more than enough.
05/08/24
Elsewhere makes promises that can’t be kept, but God’s promises are secure, reliable, and certain.
05/01/24
It's easy to have courage when things go well.
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