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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Jesus names what life does not consist of, and in doing so he gets to something near and dear to our hearts as Americans—our possessions.
These treasures show us that, no matter how well we think we know this poem, there’s always more layers to uncover.
We are saved by God's grace, apart from our work – so why does obtaining God's wisdom require such work?
Death can make us feel like tourists or strangers traveling across the landscape of someone else’s life.
Believers are reminded—and the preacher is to remind them—baptism marks the forgiveness of sins, the end of legal demands, justification and regeneration, and the ultimate triumph over rulers and powers.
The following is an excerpt from “Crucifying Religion” written by Donavon Riley (1517 Publishing, 2019).
What follows is a little crash course in how to read Calvin with respect, for our benefit, and with an eye to how we keep Reformation giants at a proper historical arms distance.
We can’t all afford to travel the world, but the more we read from outside our own context, the bigger we see the world.
Original sin produces violent fruit.
When we brag about what Jesus does for us, we win the battle.
The Holy Spirit keeps us in faith and pours us out into the world so others may also hear and believe.
We might assume that all ways are equal to raising a child in wisdom, but they are not.