There is indeed a responsibility for the church to share the gospel in the world, but never at the expense of the church’s charity and mercy for those neighbors who are nearby.
The only hope for idol-addicted sinners who are utterly incapable of decluttering their souls is Jesus, the one at the heart of the gospel, and the only one who stands before the Father with an undivided heart.
More than a friend, Amsdorf was also an important figure in the work of religious reform, providing counsel to Luther on key occasions, shepherding the churches, and defending the faith until his death.

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He comes to fill our old, stony heart with the new wine of his forgiveness.
Blood is the thing. In the Scriptures, sin must be covered or "atoned for" as it's called, by blood.
At the Passover, when Jesus said, "Take, eat, this is my body... take, drink, this is the New Testament in my blood, which is given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins," he wasn't inventing a "new" thing.
Have you ever invited someone over to your house? Most of us have either invited someone into our homes for supper.
Christmas wrecks all attempts to penetrate God's hiddenness and seek him out in Heaven. He comes to us clothed in our humanity.
But when we trust Jesus, then we close our eyes to it all and say, “Heavenly Father, I’m your child.
We expect that if it is God’s word, it must have fallen out of the sky on golden plates.
The miracle of Pentecost is not obvious; it is the miracle of faith created through the preaching of the word of the cross.
Well, it is springtime! Just as you can always expect flowers to begin blooming, the days getting a little longer and everyone’s mood getting a little brighter, there’s something else you can always expect this time of the year.
The disciples and Christ have just finished their last meal together. The disciples, of course, didn't know this, but Jesus did.
There is something about high art forms that touches the soul.
It is the icon of the resurrection, for if anyone eats of this bread, he shall live into eternity, for this bread is the flesh of Christ for the life of the world.