The Three Uses of the Law (Luther)

 Here's a great Reformation treatment on the purposes (or uses) of God's law. "What purposes does the Law then serve?"First, the Law helps to control violent outbursts of sin and keeps order in the world (a curb).Second, the Law accuses us and shows us our sin (a mirror).Third, the Law teaches us Christians what we…

A Preacher Who Does Not Preach God’s Word (Luther)

In a Christmas Day sermon in 1521 Martin Luther preached on the advent story in Luke 2. Luther touched on many points in this sermon, including the message of the angels and the reality that Christ is the fulfillment of so many Old Testaments promises and prophecies. At one point when Luther was talking about…

Suffering…as a Christian (Luther)

Many of us have read the words of 1 Peter 4:15-16 more than a few times: "If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you…

The Disastrous Work of Spoiling Your Children (Luther)

Christian parents should, of course, lovingly teach their children the truths of the Christian faith. Christian parents should also do their best to model the Christian faith well, by God's grace. We need teach our kids theological truths and truths about morality and ethics - even ethics like working with our hands, being self-sufficient, and…

Praise-Seeking Pastors [or Shaggy Donkey Ears] (Luther)

I probably don't have to explain the celebrity pastor ethos that is a major problem in Christianity today. In fact, some pastors want to be famous and well-known. Social media has made this problem worse. Anyway, in the "Preface to the Wittenberg Edition of Luther's German Writings", Martin Luther had some cutting things to say…