This is an excerpt from the introduction of “Common Places in Christian Theology: A Curated Collection of Essays from Lutheran Quarterly,” edited by Mark Mattes (1517 Publishing, 2023).

The reformers were compelled to confess the true faith and challenge corrupt practices—this is what the Augsburg Confession is about.

It’s not the disciples’ faith that invented the resurrection but the resurrection that gave birth to the disciples’ faith.

The following is an adaptation from "Law and Gospel in Action" written by Mark Mattes (1517 Publishing, 2019).

The Gospel restores us to our true humanity, embeds us in the body of Christ, feeds us with Christ’s own body, and offers us a community.

God is used to working with colorful figures. One of the most colorful in the Bible is Balaam. Hailing from Mesopotamia, Balaam was what we might call a shaman or a soothsayer.

The following is an excerpt from Law and Gospel in Action written by Mark Mattes (1517 Publishing, 2019).

No doubt a few preachers cringe at the thought of "C and E" (Christmas and Easter) Christians showing up for Christmas Eve services...I must confess, when I preach on Christmas and Easter, I do not share this sentiment held by some of my peers.