The Turk at the Door: Luther, Islam, and the Fate of Christendom in the 16th Century
By Adam Francisco
06/19/26
12mins

The Turk at the Door: Luther, Islam, and the Fate of Christendom in the 16th Century

It is within this charged atmosphere that Luther’s writings take on their full significance. His responses to the Turkish threat were not merely reactions to military events; they were rooted in a deep theological reflection on the nature of God’s rule over the world, the responsibilities of Christian rulers, and the role of the Church in times of crisis.
AI Can't Save You
Erick Sorensen
Erick Sorensen
06/17/26

AI Can't Save You

Your God is not artificially intelligent, but the source of all intelligence (including yours).
No One Builds Alone: Why the Future of Lutheranism Must Be Built Together
Russ Lackey
Russ Lackey |
Mark Mattes
Mark Mattes
06/15/26

No One Builds Alone: Why the Future of Lutheranism Must Be Built Together

The church is not renewed when one pastor tries to do the work of the whole body. The church is renewed when Christ’s body begins to act like a body again.

All Articles

Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
04/14/20

Does God Need Skin in the Game?

Jesus wouldn't allow religious people to determine his identity, define his mission, or put him in a safe, predictable religious box.
John T. Pless
John T. Pless
04/13/20

Proclaiming First Peter (Part 1)

In this season of a global pandemic, Peter’s little letter is especially potent as he writes to sustain the hope born of Christ’s resurrection in scattered believers whose lives were marked by suffering.
Kyle G. Jones
Kyle G. Jones
04/09/20

Let’s Go to Dark Gethsemane

So let’s go to dark Gethsemane. For there we see that even in his greatest moment of weakness, Jesus is our only source of strength. He drinks the cup of wrath so we can drink the cup of grace.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
04/07/20

Struggling to Die and Live

Instead of remaining silent when we wonder if someone is struggling with suicidal thoughts, and rather than judging for ourselves whether or not suicide is an unforgivable sin, let's lean on God's Word.
Delwyn Campbell
Delwyn Campbell
04/03/20

No Means...What?

The parable of the two sons whom their father sent to work in the vineyard is not a well-known parable--or one about which we hear many sermons. What does it mean? And what does it tell us about life in the church? In this article, Del Campbell explores this parable for us.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
03/31/20

There's Only One Way to Be A Christian

Even though we are tempted to add our personal opinions to the meaning of Jesus' life and death, to increase the meaning of His sacrifice, there's only one thing that makes Christians "Christian." Christ crucified for us for the forgiveness of sin.
Bruce Hillman
Bruce Hillman
03/27/20

No, People are Not Totally Evil

The view of Total Depravity as it is usually understood by outsiders (and even many insiders), is often misunderstood. Despite appearances to the contrary, Total Depravity does not mean totally evil.
Ken Sundet Jones
Ken Sundet Jones
03/26/20

Temptation’s Green Pastures: The Sixth Petition of the Lord’s Prayer

The gospel promise is that God in Christ knows exactly what your temptations are and still bids you find protection from them in him.
Kyle G. Jones
Kyle G. Jones
03/23/20

Cutting Hair and Saying Prayers: Luther on When, How, and What to Prayer

When Luther's barber, Peter Beskendorf, asked him how to pray, Luther wrote him an open letter that has become a classic expression of the "when, how, and what" of prayer. It is as instructive today as when it was first penned it in 1535.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
03/23/20

Three Hebrew Handholds in a Spinning Crisis

Long ago, the people of Israel began to sing words of encouragement to each other in times of distress. In their songs, the psalms, are three Hebrew words that provide stability for us. They are more than just words—each one encapsulates the way of God with his people. They serve as helpful handholds in times of stress and upheaval. The words are these: רָפָה (be still), קָוָה (wait), and שָׁמַר (watch).
Jacob Corzine
Jacob Corzine
03/20/20

Pandemic Preaching

The people should find their lives in your sermon, and no one’s life is unaffected by the coronavirus right now. It is the very fact that I can make such a blanket statement, free of all caveats, which makes it so necessary for us to preach on it.
Kathy Morales
Kathy Morales
03/18/20

Peace For Weak Hearts

Jesus does not give as the world gives. With Jesus, everything is guaranteed and has been finished from the start.
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