Of all the Gentiles, the Magi would have been some of the most unlikely converts and worshipers. Yet even so, they came and worshiped the Savior.…
Web-Exclusive Articles
The Lutheran Witness — Interpreting the contemporary world from a Lutheran Christian perspective.
The miracle truce of Christmas
On Christmas Eve 1914, World War I had been raging for months and 800,000 men had already been wounded or killed. Then something truly remarkable happ…
The Christmas squid
Its body is a rectangle of Styrofoam. Out of one end, a toothpick protrudes; out of the other spring several red and green pipe cleaners.…
He was a good man
“He was a good man.” It’s a common refrain at funerals. But what are we really saying with these words? What does it mean to call a man &#…
Advent is not a drag
Advent isn’t a drag. It’s a time when believers show the world that there’s oil in our flasks and that our faith isn’t pointless.…
What is the most Lutheran sport?
Tennis? Running? Golf? What is the quintessential Lutheran sport? The answer might surprise you … but then again, it might not.…
The wonderful impossibility of giving thanks
It’s wonderfully impossible to thank the Lord fully and completely for all his benefits. But by God’s grace, we thank, praise, serve and obey him.…
On suffering
In the midst of suffering and pain, we find our hope where Peter did: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life …” (John 6:68).…
Under lock and key? Look and see!
By His death and resurrection, Jesus locked up sin, death and Satan forever — and unlocked paradise for all who would believe.…
The joy of weeping at All Saints
There is more weeping on All Saints Day than at almost any other time of the church year, yet we weep together in joy and hope.…
Reading old books on Reformation Day
Luther himself was well aware that he stood on the shoulders of giants. This Reformation, why not dust off a really old book and make a new friend?…
The thief of joy
It happens every Sunday morning at every congregation: As soon as sinners gather, they start to compare themselves to each other.…
Going for gold in grumbling
How often do we go for gold in grumbling? How hard is it for us to let someone else be more wretched than we are?…
Are you an eye, a little toe or a spleen?
The Lord put His Church together so that each member is an important part of the Body. We are incomplete when even one of our members is missing from …
Of handshakes and holograms
“You’re going to be out of a job soon, Pastor Bob,” I said to our pastor in the handshake line the other Sunday. “Not you personally. But preach…
‘Now’ is a good time to pray
Every “now” of our lives is a good time to pray. Whether we are content or troubled, each day is a good day to pray to the Lord.…