Obituary Readings: Job 19:23-27; 1 Corinthians 15:50-57; John 11:17-35 Sermon ..read more

University Lutheran Church at Purdue University June 27, 2024 What God Has Joined Together ..read more

“Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” Romans 12:17-18. The Apostle, Paul, wrote these words to the Christians in the heart of the Roman Empire. Rome was the Washington D.C. of its day—the place of unprincipled power and backstabbing. Against the backdrop of this brutal regime, Paul teaches how a Christian should behave. More than that, he teaches how all people ..read more

 “Religionless Christianity” is a phrase that has been around for as long as I can remember. But it is usually misunderstood. Too often it is hip lingo for tossing historic Christianity under the bus or for sneering at Christians who take worship, Bible, and Sacraments seriously. But none of these captures its true meaning. Last week, Eric Metaxas released his latest book, “Religionless Christianity: God’s Answer to Evil.” It is a sequel to “Letter to the American Church” (2022) which was itself inspired by Metaxas’ biography, “Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy“ (2010). The phrase ..read more

Crosses are everywhere you look. You see them not only on and in church buildings. You see them at hospitals, in cemeteries, on bumper stickers, tattoos, billboards, and jewelry. Crosses are so ubiquitous that we hardly even notice them. But a visitor from ancient Rome would be aghast. In pre-Christian Rome, references to crucifixion were vulgarities of the highest order. The cross was not referenced in polite company. Among the most disgusting insults a foul-mouthed Roman could hurl was, “go get yourself crucified.” Against this backdrop, St. Paul, the apostle to the gentiles and first miss ..read more

In recent months, Romans 13 has received a great deal of attention. While this chapter is too great to cover completely, let’s walk through a few of its most important teachings.   Paul begins, “Let every soul be subject unto the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whosoever resists the authority, resists the ordinance of God. and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.” (Romans 13:1-2). We should notice, first, that Paul puts submission to authority as the first priority. It is th ..read more

July 30, 1921 - January 4, 2024 717 Eternal Father, Strong to Save (original stanzas) Psalm 23 Matthew 13:44-46 Luke 2:22-38 361 O Little Town of Bethlehem Sermon: Pearls, Pigeons, and Prowling Cats  878 Abide with Me ..read more

Last week’s release of the “Twitter Files” is only the latest exposure of the countless lies that darken out world. Similar revelations have shaken our confidence in media, government, education, and medicine. Each individual falsehood undermines our confidence in the next claim that we hear. It is confusing and troubling. Many have come to doubt that we can know the truth at all. That is a tragedy on two fronts—the personal, and the divine. Any loss of confidence in the words we hear from other people makes meaningful relationships impossible. Lies isolate us and make us feel totally alone ..read more

For Her Pastors and Congregations God created man as male and female and instituted marriage as the lifelong conjugal union of one man and one woman. By this design for mankind God continues to create the fruit of children, gives companionship in marriage and family, and provides help against lustful desires. God gave marriage to be the fountainhead of goods that He intends for all children and adults, for all communities, and for all churches. These truths about marriage are not private religious opinions. The Biblical teachings on marriage are taught by nature itself. They have no particular ..read more

    Nathanael, son of Talmai (i.e. Bar-tholomew), is the sixth person that we come to know in the Gospel according to St. John. When we first meet him, he is sitting under a fig tree. Philip sought him out, there, and beckoned him to “come and see” a new arrival from Nazareth (John 1:46). Jesus had just been baptized by John in the Jordan river. Instead of returning to His home in Nazareth, He moved to Capernaum, a town on the north shore of the sea of Galilee. Philip had encountered Jesus and was convinced that he had met “Him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrot ..read more