WELS Total Mashup

Filled With Fruit – December 11, 2021

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 07:00:45 GMT

Be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:11

Filled With Fruit

Daily Devotion – December 11, 2021

Devotion based on Philippians 1:11
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20211211dev.mp3
See series: Devotions

When I was in college, one of my roommates liked to eat at an all-you-can-eat buffet. One night he took that all-you-can-eat part as a challenge. He loaded up on mashed potatoes and gravy to the point of being so uncomfortable that someone else had driven home.

God tells us to stuff ourselves, but not with food for our stomachs nor with all kinds of things to satisfy our heart’s desires. We are to be filled with the fruit of righteousness.

Righteousness is the reason for which Jesus, the Son of God, was born and lived here on earth. For us to live with God forever, we need to be absolutely perfect. God requires us to be righteous. But none of us, no matter how good we try to be, can live up to God’s perfect standard. That’s why the birth of Jesus that we celebrate at Christmas is so important. In love for you, Jesus took on our human nature and lived a perfect, sinless life. The peace that Christmas brings us is the assurance that our relationship with God is restored. By grace, God credits us with the perfection of Jesus! We are righteous in God’s eyes through Jesus.

God’s Word says, “Be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ.” Fill your life with words and actions that demonstrate how thankful you are to Jesus for all he has done for you. Just like those thank-you notes that will soon be written for the Christmas gifts you receive, your life is a living thank-you to the Savior for the greatest gift you could ever receive. Demonstrate your love for Jesus with many acts of kindness and generosity towards people and with words overflowing with care and encouragement for others.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit so that this day I am filled with fruits of righteousness that bring glory to your name. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Filled With Fruit – December 11, 2021

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 07:00:45 GMT

Be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:11

Filled With Fruit

Daily Devotion – December 11, 2021

Devotion based on Philippians 1:11
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20211211dev.mp3
See series: Devotions

God tells us to stuff ourselves, but not with food for our stomachs nor with all kinds of things to satisfy our heart’s desires. We are to be filled with the fruit of righteousness.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit so that this day I am filled with fruits of righteousness that bring glory to your name. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Luke 1:31

Sarah Proeber — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 07:00:31 GMT

You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.

Through My Bible Yr 1 – December 11

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 07:00:26 GMT

Through My Bible Yr 1 – December 11

Isaiah 1 (NIV84)

LISTEN HERE

Through My Bible – December 11

Bible reading based on Isaiah 1 (NIV84)
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/through-my-bible/01-1211db.mp3
See series: Through My Bible

Isaiah 1

¹The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

A Rebellious Nation

² Hear, O heavens! Listen, O earth!
For the LORD has spoken:
“I reared children and brought them up,
but they have rebelled against me.

³ The ox knows his master,
the donkey his owner’s manger,
but Israel does not know,
my people do not understand.”

⁴ Ah, sinful nation,
a people loaded with guilt,
a brood of evildoers,
children given to corruption!
They have forsaken the LORD;
they have spurned the Holy One of Israel
and turned their backs on him.

⁵ Why should you be beaten anymore?
Why do you persist in rebellion?
Your whole head is injured,
your whole heart afflicted.

⁶ From the sole of your foot to the top of your head
there is no soundness—
only wounds and welts
and open sores,
not cleansed or bandaged
or soothed with oil.

⁷ Your country is desolate,
your cities burned with fire;
your fields are being stripped by foreigners
right before you,
laid waste as when overthrown by strangers.

⁸ The Daughter of Zion is left
like a shelter in a vineyard,
like a hut in a field of melons,
like a city under siege.

⁹ Unless the LORD Almighty
had left us some survivors,
we would have become like Sodom,
we would have been like Gomorrah.

¹⁰ Hear the word of the LORD,
you rulers of Sodom;
listen to the law of our God,
you people of Gomorrah!

¹¹ “The multitude of your sacrifices—
what are they to me?” says the LORD.
“I have more than enough of burnt offerings,
of rams and the fat of fattened animals;
I have no pleasure
in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.

¹² When you come to appear before me,
who has asked this of you,
this trampling of my courts?

¹³ Stop bringing meaningless offerings!
Your incense is detestable to me.
New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—
I cannot bear your evil assemblies.

¹⁴ Your New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts
my soul hates.
They have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.

¹⁵ When you spread out your hands in prayer,
I will hide my eyes from you;
even if you offer many prayers,
I will not listen.
Your hands are full of blood;

¹⁶ wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds
out of my sight!
Stop doing wrong,

¹⁷ learn to do right!
Seek justice,
encourage the oppressed. ^[a]
Defend the cause of the fatherless,
plead the case of the widow.

¹⁸ “Come now, let us reason together,”
says the LORD.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.

¹⁹ If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the best from the land;

²⁰ but if you resist and rebel,
you will be devoured by the sword.”
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

²¹ See how the faithful city
has become a harlot!
She once was full of justice;
righteousness used to dwell in her—
but now murderers!

²² Your silver has become dross,
your choice wine is diluted with water.

²³ Your rulers are rebels,
companions of thieves;
they all love bribes
and chase after gifts.
They do not defend the cause of the fatherless;
the widow’s case does not come before them.

²⁴ Therefore the Lord, the LORD Almighty,
the Mighty One of Israel, declares:
“Ah, I will get relief from my foes
and avenge myself on my enemies.

²⁵ I will turn my hand against you;
I will thoroughly purge away your dross
and remove all your impurities.

²⁶ I will restore your judges as in days of old,
your counselors as at the beginning.
Afterward you will be called
the City of Righteousness,
the Faithful City.”

²⁷ Zion will be redeemed with justice,
her penitent ones with righteousness.

²⁸ But rebels and sinners will both be broken,
and those who forsake the LORD will perish.

²⁹ “You will be ashamed because of the sacred oaks
in which you have delighted;
you will be disgraced because of the gardens
that you have chosen.

³⁰ You will be like an oak with fading leaves,
like a garden without water.

³¹ The mighty man will become tinder
and his work a spark;
both will burn together,
with no one to quench the fire.”

Footnotes:

Isaiah 1:17 Or / rebuke the oppressor

Through My Bible Yr 1 – December 10

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 07:00:59 GMT

Through My Bible Yr 1 – December 10

John 21:15-25 (NIV84)

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Through My Bible – December 10

Bible reading based on John 21:15-25 (NIV84)
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/through-my-bible/01-1210db.mp3
See series: Through My Bible

Jesus Reinstates Peter

¹⁵When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

¹⁶Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

¹⁷The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

¹⁸Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” ¹⁹Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

²⁰Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) ²¹When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

²²Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” ²³Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

²⁴This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.

²⁵Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

In With the New – December 10, 2021

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 07:00:49 GMT

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:9-11

In With the New

Daily Devotion – December 10, 2021

Devotion based on Philippians 1:9-11
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20211210dev.mp3
See series: Devotions

Some educators have said that the key to adult learning is “unlearning.” All too often, learning a new skill is made more difficult later in life because of one’s previous experience. Then it becomes necessary to first unlearn earlier habits and practices in order to make room for the new.

When the Lord calls us sinners to repentance, he demands that we turn away from the sinful attitudes and behaviors that had separated us from him. His law shows us the disastrous end of our disobedience and convinces us that the path we were on only leads to death. The Lord’s goal is not our eternal humiliation but that in humble faith, we might turn to him and live. He points us to Christ Jesus, his Son, whose sacrifice canceled our debt and whose righteousness is credited as our own.

Where once there was nothing but barren, unfertile ground, now a bountiful garden grows. Our hearts have been nourished by the love of God, in Christ. They have been watered by his promises of free forgiveness, and a new and holy life has begun in us as a result. The Holy Spirit continues to cultivate these new attitudes through the Word so that they might produce “the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”

Prayer:
Lord, you have come to me with your Word to bring me to repentance. Turn my heart away from sin and everything that would turn me away from you. Replace my selfish habits with new attitudes of selflessness, love, and compassion for others. Let Christ’s love for all inspire me to live for him and others, so that my whole life may bring glory to your name. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

In With the New – December 10, 2021

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 07:00:49 GMT

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:9-11

In With the New

Daily Devotion – December 10, 2021

Devotion based on Philippians 1:9-11
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20211210dev.mp3
See series: Devotions

Prayer:
Lord, you have come to me with your Word to bring me to repentance. Turn my heart away from sin and everything that would turn me away from you. Replace my selfish habits with new attitudes of selflessness, love, and compassion for others. Let Christ’s love for all inspire me to live for him and others, so that my whole life may bring glory to your name. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Mark 13:37

Sarah Proeber — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 07:00:06 GMT

“What I say to you, I say to everyone: “Watch!””

Where there is no boom

Mara Rugen — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 21:46:16 GMT

“There is no boom,” said a Lutheran pastor recently in East Asia. We were talking about the challenges of mission work in East Asia. Between culture, religions, hostile governments, pestilence, warfare, and centuries of tradition that are all deeply ingrained and intertwined into the lives and minds of the people, there are no quick and easy approaches to teaching God’s word and making new disciples. There are no flashy shortcuts that lead to “booms” or surges in new believers. If you are looking for “the boom” in Asia, you will probably be disappointed. The Word doesn’t return empty. That is still true. But in Asia it takes so much time, so much effort, so much pouring into relationships. It takes so much patient teaching, teaching, and more teaching. Seeds are scattered abundantly, but by the time the birds, weeds, and scorching sun have had their way, not many remain to take root. And sometimes years of faithful labor and precious harvest can be scattered to the winds in an instant.

The town after shelling

In Myanmar, for example, a Lutheran pastor and his congregation have faithfully taught God’s word, shared the gospel, and discipled believers for years. Over the course of about three decades, they have gathered and shepherded about 300 souls. Longing for fellowship with other confessional Lutheran’s and hungering for God’s word, they reached out to a WELS pastor in the U.S. and have been greatly encouraged through his teaching and encouragement. They managed to stay in touch and continue to be in the word together through the pandemic, and the Myanmar church leaders still found ways to connect with their people and strengthen them with gospel (even though they could not gather in person). And then came the boom – the boom of war. Civil war erupted in Myanmar earlier this year. As battles spread across the country, the army shelled the town where many of the church’s members lived. As the town burned, the army shot civilians as they fled. Many of the church’s members fled across the border to India, to other towns in Myanmar, and even into the jungle to hide. The town went up in smoke. The flock was scattered and was mostly unaccounted for. In terms of numbers and an organized church, it looked like their harvest went up in smoke too.

The baptism of two people

In this environment, there is simply no “boom” of flashy programs and fast numbers. There is only the faithful plowing and re-plowing, sowing and re-sowing of God’s word, seeking and re-seeking the lost. Within a few weeks of the shelling, church leaders and the WELS pastor started connecting again online. God’s word continued to be taught, and the gospel (and this pastor’s encouragement) continued to strengthen their weary souls. And soon after that, these Burmese shepherds of souls in this shell-shocked area of Myanmar began to seek out and find what members they could. They managed to find and reconnect with a few families, worship with them in their homes, comfort them with the gospel, share the means of grace, and even baptize. In our correspondence, there was no complaining about lost ground, only rejoicing over souls saved and sins forgiven. There is no flashy evangelism “boom” here. But there is another kind of power at work. It’s the gospel, God’s power of salvation. This power is often a still small voice amongst the cacophony of the world’s booming and bellowing, but it is still God’s power to save. The only program in town right now (in Myanmar) is simply being with people in the worst of times and bringing the good news of Jesus into their lives. These tireless shepherds know this is the only thing that can cut through darkness and gloom and truly refresh downtrodden souls. And it is this same gospel that motivates, strengthens, and refreshes the souls of these weary shepherds of souls. Remaining in the word has kept them strong. But God also helped them through a WELS pastor on the other side of the world who found the time to be with them in their worst of times and bring the good news of Jesus into their lives. No boom. Just the gospel, God’s power, in a still small voice and in an unassuming way – yet still a mighty power to save and strengthen.

In this article, I’m not criticizing the big efforts that sometimes do lead to big harvests or “booms.” We pray for and long for those too. But I am thankful for the quiet and unflashy ways the gospel is having big impacts in ways that are easy to miss. I am also thankful for the army of unassuming shepherds (on both sides of the ocean) as they quietly walk together to equip, encourage, and minister through myriad difficulties and disappointments.

Written by Stephen Wiesenauer, Asia One Team leader.

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Comments

comments

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 21:30:02 GMT

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 21:26:23 GMT

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 21:11:03 GMT

Light for our path: Were Joseph and Mary engaged or married when Joseph learned of Mary’s pregnancy?

James F. Pope — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 16:26:59 GMT

Were Joseph and Mary engaged or married when Joseph learned of Mary’s pregnancy?

Your question illustrates the need to bridge the culture gap of marriage customs and laws that existed in biblical days.

A marriage established by commitment

In our society today, we are familiar with relationships that progress from friendship to dating to engagement to marriage. Because we are used to this sequence of events, we might think that people in biblical times followed the same pattern. That was not the case.

“Betrothal,” as the term appears in some Bible translations, was not the engagement of our day and age. Betrothal in biblical days was the time when the bride and groom, or their representatives, signed papers to commit themselves to each other and to establish the beginning of their marriage. From that point on, the man and woman were legally married, but they did not have the right to live together as husband and wife or have sexual relations with one another. They lived separately for a time until the wedding celebration took place. Then, the man and woman lived together as husband and wife. Jesus’ parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) illustrates the interval of time between the beginning of a marriage and the wedding celebration.

When Joseph learned that Mary was pregnant (Matthew 1:18,19), the couple was between the time when they had established their marriage and before any wedding celebration was going to take place. They were legally married. Only death or divorce (Deuteronomy 22:22-29) could break the bond they had established, and divorce was on Joseph’s mind.

A marriage rooted in love

Joseph is the forgotten man in the account of Jesus’ birth. In the Bible, Mary receives appropriate attention as the one whom God graciously chose to be the one to give birth to the Son of God (Luke 1:30-33). But what about Joseph?

We first come across Joseph in the family tree of Jesus’ human ancestry found in Matthew 1:16. We learn that Joseph came from royal lineage, but we know little else about him. We are aware of what Joseph was thinking when he realized Mary was pregnant: “Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly” (Matthew 1:19).

Mary’s miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit put Joseph in a challenging situation. Without knowing about the Holy Spirit’s work in Mary, Joseph could only conclude that Mary had been unfaithful to him. If Joseph had wanted to press the issue, the results could have been disastrous for Mary and the unborn child in her womb, the Messiah (Deuteronomy 22:23,24). Love for God and love for Mary led Joseph to pursue a different course of action—a divorce that was intended to shelter Mary from public shame.

God thwarted that plan by directing an angel to inform Joseph in a dream that Mary’s pregnancy was the result of the Holy Spirit’s work. We see Joseph’s love for God in his next waking moments: “When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife” (Matthew 1:24). The last words of that verse demonstrate that Joseph and Mary were legally married at this time.

Joseph was a man who displayed the kind of love that reflected the love of his foster son and Savior: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25). Joseph and Mary’s marriage was established by commitment and rooted in love.

Submit your questions to forwardinchrist.net/submit.

Author: James F. Pope
Volume 105, Number 12
Issue: December 2018

Through My Bible Yr 1 – December 9

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 07:00:25 GMT

Through My Bible Yr 1 – December 9

John 21:1-14 (NIV84)

LISTEN HERE

Through My Bible – December 9

Bible reading based on John 21:1-14 (NIV84)
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/through-my-bible/01-1209db.mp3
See series: Through My Bible

John 21

Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish

¹Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias.^[a] It happened this way: ²Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. ³“I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

⁴Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

⁵He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
“No,” they answered.

⁶He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

⁷Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. ⁸The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.^[b] ⁹When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

¹⁰Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”

¹¹Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. ¹²Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. ¹³Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. ¹⁴This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Footnotes:

John 21:1 That is, Sea of Galilee
John 21:8 Greek about two hundred cubits (about 90 meters)

Seeing It Through to the End – December 9, 2021

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 07:00:15 GMT

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:3-6

Seeing It Through to the End

Daily Devotion – December 9, 2021

Devotion based on Philippians 1:3-6
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20211209dev.mp3
See series: Devotions

Pastor Ron was blessed to serve all 46 years of his ministry in one congregation. He had walked alongside at least two generations of believers during the various stages of their lives. For several members of the church, Pastor Ron was the only pastor they had had from their baptism to their burial. As sad as those funerals were, they also gave the pastor a source of joy. Another soul bought by the blood of Christ had been led safely to their heavenly home.

It doesn’t always happen that a Christian is served by the same pastor their entire lives. More often, the Lord provides a series of spiritual shepherds to accompany you through the ups and downs of your walk with Christ. The most important thing, of course, is to recognize that it is God himself who is guiding you through his messengers. He is the one who called you to repentance and worked the miracle of faith in your heart through baptism. He is the one who blew on the sputtering embers of your faith and caused it to grow as you learned about him in Sunday School and catechism classes. He is the one who continues to send people into your life to bring you back to him when you start to stray. And God is also the one who will give you the strength to remain in that humble yet confident faith until the end.

Prayer:
Lord God, I thank you for all the pastors, teachers, and others you have sent into my life to bring me to faith and to keep me close to you. Above all, I thank you for sending your Son, Jesus. He saw my salvation through to completion, coming to this world as a servant, dying on the cross as my substitute, and rising to life as my Savior. I trust that you will keep me close to him in faith until the day that I see him with my own eyes. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Seeing It Through to the End – December 9, 2021

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 07:00:15 GMT

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:3-6

Seeing It Through to the End

Daily Devotion – December 9, 2021

Devotion based on Philippians 1:3-6
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20211209dev.mp3
See series: Devotions

Prayer:
Lord God, I thank you for all the pastors, teachers, and others you have sent into my life to bring me to faith and to keep me close to you. Above all, I thank you for sending your Son, Jesus. He saw my salvation through to completion, coming to this world as a servant, dying on the cross as my substitute, and rising to life as my Savior. I trust that you will keep me close to him in faith until the day that I see him with my own eyes. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Mark 13:33

Sarah Proeber — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 07:00:03 GMT

Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 13:24:00 GMT

Through My Bible Yr 1 – December 8

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 07:00:58 GMT

Through My Bible Yr 1 – December 8

John 20:11-31 (NIV84)

LISTEN HERE

Through My Bible – December 8

Bible reading based on John 20:11-31 (NIV84)
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/through-my-bible/01-1208db.mp3
See series: Through My Bible

¹¹but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb ¹²and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

¹³They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” ¹⁴At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

¹⁵“Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

¹⁶Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).

¹⁷Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”

¹⁸Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

¹⁹On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁰After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

²¹Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” ²²And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Jesus Appears to Thomas

²⁴Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. ²⁵So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”

²⁶A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁷Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

²⁸Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

²⁹Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

³⁰Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. ³¹But these are written that you may^[a] believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Footnotes:

John 19:39 Greek a hundred litrai (about 34 kilograms)

Isaiah 40:3

Sarah Proeber — Wed, 08 Dec 2021 07:00:45 GMT

A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

Preparing the Way – December 8, 2021

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 07:00:30 GMT

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene—during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”
Luke 3:1-6

Preparing the Way

Daily Devotion – December 8, 2021

Devotion based on Luke 3:1-6
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20211208dev.mp3
See series: Devotions

Today’s Bible passage begins with a list of some powerful individuals: emperors, governors, kings, and high priests. The author wanted to pinpoint for us the time in history when the ministry of John the Baptist started. The incidents in the life of Jesus that Luke would go on to describe were verifiable historical events. But as influential as these rulers were in their day, someone far more important was about to arrive on the scene.

When VIPs travel, they want to ensure that everything is ready for their arrival in advance. Messengers and assistants are sent ahead to make necessary arrangements, looking to maximize the impact of the dignitary’s visit. If this is true in the case of mortal men, how much more appropriate this preparation was when the Son of God himself was due to arrive!

In truth, nothing we can do would ever be enough to prepare to meet this King of kings, Jesus Christ. We cannot successfully rid our hearts of hatred, greed, and the mountain of other sinful attitudes that are repugnant to the holy God. But God himself prepares us to receive him. He works the change of repentance in our hearts through the preaching of his law and gospel. Do you want to be ready to celebrate Christmas this year? Plant yourself at the feet of those who prepare his way through clear gospel preaching.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for sending messengers to prepare my heart for your coming. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Preparing the Way – December 8, 2021

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 07:00:30 GMT

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene—during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”
Luke 3:1-6

Preparing the Way

Daily Devotion – December 8, 2021

Devotion based on Luke 3:1-6
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20211208dev.mp3
See series: Devotions

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for sending messengers to prepare my heart for your coming. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

669 – Sharing Christmas Joy

welstechpodcast@wels.net (WELS) — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 20:32:25 GMT

WELSTech welcomes the Advent and Christmas season with 5 ways to share the good news of our Savior’s birth. Also listen for ideas for building your church bulletin, Martin’s latest hardware pick (with a wire), and tools for telling the next generation. Plus, Sallie’s go-to video editor saves the day, and we announce the Bible verse of the year!

The discussion

Go, Tell It – Martin and Sallie give you five ideas for sharing your Christmas joy.

Change your Facebook profile picture and cover photo
- Canva
Share Advent and Christmas imagery with a verse or message
- Lutheran Stock Photos
- Free Bible Images
Share devotional resources
- Martin Luther College devotional series
Share online Christmas concerts
- Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary – Sunday, December 12 at 3:00 pm
- Martin Luther College Christmas concert archive
Share YouTube Christmas videos
- Christmas Story told through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Wikipedia, Amazon…
- For King & Country Christmas Concert

News in tech

Computer Science Education Week – December 6-12

Hour of Code from Code.org

WELS now

Christian Worship: Service Builder webinar archive – Coming Soon.

Camtasia Studio for the virtual Advent by Candlelight win!

Logitech G502 HERO High Performance Gaming Mouse

Ministry resources

Telling the Next Generation

Community feedback

YouVersion Verse of the Year – Matthew 6:33
WELSTech Google Group – Wireless Access point discussion

Next time

Nicole Balza, hostess of Together video updates, joins us with an update on Forward In Christ magazine.

Get involved

Add comments
Send us an e-mail welstech@wels.net
Join the WELSTech community:
- WELSTech Google Group
- WELSTech on Facebook
- WELSTech on Pinterest
- WELSTech on Instagram
Add to the WELSTech wiki welstechwiki.gapps.wels.net
Contribute to the #WELSTech Twitter conversation
Follow us on Twitter – welstech, mspriggs and salliedraper
Share with the Diigo group welstech

Image by u_gzwjc5ts from Pixabay

Bible study on the divine call available

WELS — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 19:30:59 GMT

People have always had questions about the divine call and the process we use to call people into the public ministry. With the high number of vacancies and with many congregations affected by the shortage, it’s not surprising that there have been more questions than normal about exactly what the divine call is and how the doctrine of the call is applied among us.

For that reason, the 2021 synod convention passed a resolution encouraging the Conference of Presidents to develop resources and perhaps a series of instructive articles in Forward in Christ that will provide our people with a better understanding of the divine call and how it works.

The COP is now making available a Bible study that deals with the public ministry, the call, and our WELS call process. That Bible study, which includes a PowerPoint presentation and a leader’s guide, is now available for download online. While designed for a Bible class setting, it will also be available to anyone for personal self-study.

Serving with you in Christ,
WELS President Mark Schroeder

New synod in Latin America forms

WELS — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 19:29:43 GMT

In October, representatives from WELS and WELS’ sister churches throughout Latin America met in Medellín, Colombia, to form a new synod: Iglesia Cristo WELS Internacional. Founding members come from churches in Bolivia, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Venezuela.

“For years, our sister churches in Latin America have just been small, individual groups fighting against the wind,” says Rev. Larry Schlomer, administrator of WELS World Missions. “For them to be able to have this much broader ministry that’s clearly being blessed by the Lord, there’s an excitement there.”

As part of a synod, these churches will be able to do mission work together, train pastors together, and support each other with prayers and fellowship.

Synod membership is expected to swell in the future as new groups gathered during the Academia Cristo training efforts complete a two-year confessional process called Ruta Cristo (Christ path). “One of the needs that Ruta Cristo has given us is where will new congregations that come from Academia Cristo go?” says Rev. Henry Herrera, a pastor in Colombia and president of Iglesia Cristo WELS Internacional. “This is why we can tell them now that the answer is Iglesia Cristo WELS Internacional.”

Currently 12 groups are on that two-year path, with dozens more possible in the upcoming year. Leaders who complete the highest level of Academia Cristo classes also will be considered candidates for a new seminary program led by Iglesia Cristo WELS Internacional and supported by WELS missionaries.

“For years we were adding people to our churches [in Latin America] by the tens. To now have people joining our fellowship through the work of so many people by the hundreds—if not soon, the thousands—is just amazing,” says Schlomer. “The real blessing is that the Lord is leading more people to learn about grace and what Jesus has done.”

Learn more about Academia Cristo at wels.net/latinamerica.

Return to the Lord – December 7, 2021

Tue, 07 Dec 2021 07:00:52 GMT

“So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners among you of justice, but do not fear me,” says the LORD Almighty. “I the Lord do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty.
Malachi 3:5-7

Return to the Lord

Daily Devotion – December 7, 2021

Devotion based on Malachi 3:5-7
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20211207dev.mp3
See series: Devotions

Due to the forces of nature and the erosion of time, the face of the quickly evolving planet we live on is much different today than when God first created it. Human empires also rise to power only to fall back into the dust of history over time. As individuals, we are even more fickle and subject to change—sometimes, the entire course of our lives can turn on a dime with one rash decision. Unlike his creation, however, God is eternal and unchanging.

For one thing, this means that God’s perspective on right and wrong does not “evolve” over time—nor does it need to. He was already perfectly holy and immeasurably loving from all of eternity. The One who will judge all nations has revealed to us his divine law, which is his unchanging will for the lives for all people of all times. Meanwhile, our sinful and impulsive human hearts try to justify our faithless disobedience by claiming that times have changed. Some, for example, attempt to redefine adultery as not hurting anyone, an “old-fashioned” idea. Others don’t even offer an excuse as they trample others in their never-ending quest for self-satisfaction. But the LORD Almighty says, “I will come near to you for judgment.”

Fortunately, God’s changelessness means that his mercy and compassion are also eternal. His promises to forgive all who repent are as valid today as they were when he first spoke to them. For the sake of his Son Jesus Christ, God still offers grace to us today. “Return to me, and I will return to you,” he says. Today, as you hear his invitation, turn to God in repentance and trust in his unending love.

Prayer:
Lord God, turn my fickle heart away from sin and towards your Son. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Return to the Lord – December 7, 2021

Tue, 07 Dec 2021 07:00:52 GMT

“So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners among you of justice, but do not fear me,” says the LORD Almighty. “I the Lord do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty.
Malachi 3:5-7

Return to the Lord

Daily Devotion – December 7, 2021

Devotion based on Malachi 3:5-7
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20211207dev.mp3
See series: Devotions

Prayer:
Lord God, turn my fickle heart away from sin and towards your Son. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Through My Bible Yr 1 – December 7

Tue, 07 Dec 2021 07:00:50 GMT

Through My Bible Yr 1 – December 7

John 19:38-20:10 (NIV84)

LISTEN HERE

Through My Bible – December 7

Bible reading based on John 19:38-20:10 (NIV84)
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/through-my-bible/01-1207db.mp3
See series: Through My Bible

The Burial of Jesus

³⁸Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. ³⁹He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.^[a] ⁴⁰Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. ⁴¹At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. ⁴²Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

John 20

The Empty Tomb

¹Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. ²So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

³So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. ⁴Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. ⁶Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, ⁷as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. ⁸Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. ⁹(They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

¹⁰Then the disciples went back to their homes,

Footnotes:

John 19:39 Greek a hundred litrai (about 34 kilograms)

John 14:27

Sarah Proeber — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 07:00:16 GMT

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Call Report – December 6, 2021

Sarah Proeber — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 22:02:41 GMT

Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod

Pastor, teacher, and staff minister call report

11/30/2021 – 12/6/2021

The call report details when pastors, teachers, and staff ministers change positions within WELS. The Conference of Presidents oversees and coordinates the calling process.

NO DECISION REPORTED

Pastors	Current call	New call	Date issued
Rev Michael Hartman	1 Latin America Team	Europe Administrative Committee Missionary to London	10/23/2021
Rev Gary Bode	Valley View LC Helena MT	Cross of Christ LC Coon Rapids MN Associate Pastor	10/31/2021
Rev Patrick Feldhus	The Lutheran Home Belle Plaine MN	Grace LC Le Sueur MN Pastor; Half-Time Call	10/31/2021
Rev Dustin Sievert	St Croix Lutheran Academy West Saint Paul MN	Abiding Shepherd LC (ELS) Cottage Grove WI Administrator	10/31/2021
Rev Joshua Olson	Shepherd of the Bay LC Lusby MD	Christ LC Eden Prairie MN Pastor	11/7/2021
Rev Jacob Haag	Redeemer LC Ann Arbor MI	Salem LC Stillwater MN Associate Pastor	11/7/2021
Rev Thad Bitter	Grace LC Portland OR	New Mission Start Collinsville IL Pastor	11/8/2021
Rev Tony Hansen	Great Plains Lutheran High School Watertown SD	St Paul LC Roscoe SD St John LC Bowdle SD Pastor	11/10/2021
Rev Mark Schutz	Hope LC Spearfish SD	Hope LC Chino Valley AZ Hope LC-Prescott Prescott AZ Pastor	11/11/2021
Rev Kyle Bitter	St John LC Wauwatosa WI	Luther Preparatory School Watertown WI Professor	11/14/2021
Rev Darin Warnecke	St John LC Sturgis MI	St Paul LC Oconto Falls WI Pastor	11/14/2021
Rev Donn Dobberstein	Commission on Discipleship	Gethsemane LC Davenport IA Pastor	11/14/2021
Rev Luke Werre	Peace LC Sun Prairie WI	St Paul’s LC North Mankato MN Associate Pastor	11/14/2021
Rev Daniel Baumler	Christ Our Redeemer LC El Paso TX	King of Kings LC Willoughby OH Pastor	11/14/2021
Rev Darin Warnecke	St John LC Sturgis MI	First LC Aurora NE Pastor	11/14/2021
Rev Tyler Peil	Prince of Peace LC Salt Lake City UT	Mt Calvary LC Waukesha WI Associate Pastor	11/15/2021
Rev David Horton	Beautiful Savior LC Petoskey MI	St John LC Whitewater WI Pastor	11/16/2021
Rev Larry Schwanke	St John LC Milton WI	St John LC Kendall WI St Matthew LC Ontario WI Pastor	11/17/2021
Rev Silas Schmitzer	St Matthew LC Stoddard WI	St Peter LC Clovis CA Pastor	11/17/2021
Rev Zachary Pudlo	Crown of Life LC West Saint Paul MN	St Paul LC Muskego WI Associate Pastor	11/18/2021
Rev Aaron Dolan	Fox Valley Lutheran High School Appleton WI	Manitowoc Lutheran High School Manitowoc WI Teacher	11/20/2021
Rev Peter Sulzle	St John LC Redwood Falls MN	Immanuel LC Manitowoc WI Associate Pastor	11/21/2021
Rev Michael Zarling	Water of Life LC – Racine Campus Racine WI	Immanuel LC Woodville WI Pastor	11/21/2021
Rev David Wietzke	Crown of Life LC Pueblo West CO	Trinity LC Kaukauna WI Pastor	11/21/2021
Rev Harmon Lewis	Messiah LC Johns Creek GA	Salem LC Woodbury MN Pastor	11/21/2021
Rev John Meyer	St John’s LC Sparta WI	Good Shepherd LC Burton MI Pastor	11/21/2021
Rev Andrew Schroer	Redeemer LC Edna TX	Pan de Vida LC Garden Grove CA Pastor	11/21/2021
Rev M John Derme	Shepherd of the Mountains LC Reno NV	St Paul LC Saint James MN Pastor	11/21/2021
Rev Jason Liebenow	St Paul LC Tipler WI St Mark’s LC Iron River MI St John’s LC Florence WI	Our Shepherd LC Lancaster CA Pastor	11/21/2021
Rev Nathan Buege	Victory of the Lamb LC Katy TX	Star of Bethlehem LC New Berlin WI Associate Pastor	11/22/2021
Rev Daniel Herold	Glory to God LC Tinley Park IL	Christ LC Marshall MN Pastor	11/22/2021
Rev Michael Ewart	St Peter LC – North Campus Appleton WI	Ministry of Christian Giving Christian Giving Counselor; MI & NA Districts	11/22/2021
Rev Martin Spaude	Calvary LC Chandler AZ	Ministry of Christian Giving Office Waukesha WI Christian Giving Counselor; AZCA District	11/22/2021
Rev Matthew Natsis	Good Shepherd LC Livermore CA	Water of Life LC – Racine Campus & Caledonia Campus Racine WI Associate Pastor	11/23/2021
Rev Tyler Shinnick	Martin Luther LC Neenah WI	Trinity LC Saline MI Associate Pastor	11/23/2021
Rev Mathew Pfeifer	Lincoln Heights LC Des Moines IA	St Paul LC Mauston WI Associate Pastor	11/28/2021
Rev Benjy Pederson	Cross of Christ LC Coon Rapids MN	Salem LC Milwaukee WI Associate Pastor	11/28/2021
Rev Daniel Schroeder	St Peter LC Modesto CA	Christ the King LC Palm Coast FL Pastor	11/28/2021
Rev James Backus	St Mark’s LC Watertown WI	Immanuel LC Medford WI Associate Pastor	11/28/2021
Rev Matthew Vik	St Paul’s LC Fort Atkinson WI	St Peter LC Saint Peter MN Associate Pastor	11/28/2021
Rev Eric Schroeder	St John LC Wauwatosa WI	Grace LC Crivitz WI Pastor	11/28/2021
Rev Stephen Schmiel	Faith Evangelical LC Prior Lake MN	St Paul’s LC Menomonie WI Associate Pastor	11/29/2021
Rev Benjamin Schmudlach	First LC La Crosse WI	St Paul’s LC Menomonie WI Associate Pastor	11/29/2021
Rev John Stelljes	Mt Olive LC Shakopee MN	Hope LC Indian River MI Our Savior LC Gaylord MI Pastor	11/30/2021
Rev Scott Schultz	Cross of Christ LC Portage WI	Reformation LC Dousman WI Pastor	11/30/2021
Rev Joseph Johnson	Amazing Grace LC Portland OR	Timothy LC Saint Louis Park MN Pastor	11/30/2021
Rev Joshua Janke	Risen Savior LC Mc Farland WI	Shepherd of the Valley LC West Fargo ND Pastor	11/30/2021
Rev Timothy Shrimpton	Gloria Dei LC Belmont CA	Shepherd of the Plains LC Lubbock TX Pastor	12/1/2021
Rev Philip Koelpin	Retired	Immanuel LC Greenville WI Associate Pastor; Retirement Call	12/1/2021
Rev Luke Myslik	Zion LC Peshtigo WI	St Luke LC New Lisbon WI Associate Pastor	12/2/2021
Teachers	Current call	New call	Date issued
Mrs Rebecca Buth	King of Kings LS Garden Grove CA	Carlsbad Christian Academy Carlsbad CA Teacher; Kindergarten	10/24/2021
Mrs Elizabeth Wilde	Trinity LS Marshfield WI	Trinity LS Marshfield WI Teacher; Kindergarten, Permanent Call	10/24/2021
Mrs Stephnie Marquez	Arizona Lutheran Academy Phoenix AZ	Arizona Lutheran Academy Phoenix AZ Teacher; Art, Half-Time, One-Year, Provisional Call	10/25/2021
Miss Sandra O’Laire	St Marcus LS – Main Campus K4 – Gr 8 Milwaukee WI	Trinity LS Waukesha WI Teacher; Kindergarten	10/31/2021
Mrs Morgan Zeng		Risen Savior LS – East Campus – LES Milwaukee WI Teacher; Grade 4 (East Campus)	10/31/2021
Mr Daniel Roemhildt	St Peter’s LS Sturgeon Bay WI	Northdale Christian Academy Tampa FL Teacher; Grades 7-8	11/7/2021
Mrs Michelle Wachal	Zion LS Rhinelander WI	King of Kings LS Maitland FL Teacher; Kindergarten	11/7/2021
Mr Michael Strautmann		Wisconsin Lutheran College Milwaukee WI Professor; Asst. Professor of Business	11/8/2021
Miss Kathleen VanOrman	Sola Fide Academy Lawrenceville GA	CrossLife Christian Academy Pflugerville TX Teacher; Grade 1	11/11/2021
Mr Kaleb Buch	St Luke’s LS Oakfield WI	Immanuel LS Salem OR Principal; Grades 6-8	11/14/2021
Mr Joshua Lepke	St Paul LS Muskego WI	New Hope Lutheran Academy West Melbourne FL Teacher; Grades 7-8	11/14/2021
Mrs Rebecca Friske	Bethel LS Bay City MI	St Paul LS Plymouth NE Teacher; Kindergarten & Grade 1	11/14/2021
Mr Daniel Johnson	Mount Lebanon LS – Hampton Ave Campus Milwaukee WI	St Paul LS Stevensville MI Principal; Grades 7-8	11/14/2021
Mrs Jennifer Trimmer	St Lucas LS Kewaskum WI	St John LS Watertown WI Director; Director & Teacher of Special Education	11/14/2021
Mr Aaron Trimmer	Our Savior LS Grafton WI	St John LS Watertown WI Teacher; Grade 5	11/14/2021
Mr Glenn Metzger	St Lucas LS Milwaukee WI	St Matthew LS Spokane WA Teacher; Grades 5-6	11/14/2021
Mrs Alison Moeri	Little Lambs Learning Center Duluth MN	Jesus Loves Me Learning Center North Mankato MN ECM Teacher; 2-Year-Old	11/14/2021
Mrs Stephanie Treder	St John’s LS Jefferson WI	Jesus Loves Me Learning Center North Mankato MN ECM Teacher; Lead Pre-K	11/14/2021
Mrs Megan Schaffer	St John LS Mukwonago WI	Jesus Loves Me Learning Center North Mankato MN ECM Teacher; Pre-K	11/14/2021
Mr Andrew Danner	St Paul LS Plymouth NE	Cross of Christ LS Coon Rapids MN Principal; Grades 7-8	11/14/2021
Mr Alan Schaffer	Christ LS Oakley MI	St John LS Saginaw MI Principal; Grades 7-8	11/14/2021
Mr Michael Fetcenko	St Paul LS Onalaska WI	West Lutheran High School Plymouth MN Teacher; Science, STEM, Coaching	11/14/2021
Mrs Sherri Bellile	Bethlehem LS Hortonville WI	Bethlehem LS Hortonville WI Teacher; Grades 5-6, Principal Release-Time, Less-than-Half Time, Provisional Call	11/14/2021
Mr Mark Hesse	St Lucas LS Kewaskum WI	St Paul LS Bangor WI Principal; Grades 7-8	11/15/2021
Mr Scott Georgson	Good Shepherd LS Sioux Falls SD	Divine Savior Lutheran Academy Delray Beach FL Teacher; Grades 5-6	11/15/2021
Mr Chad Marohn	St Paul LS Howards Grove WI	Mt Calvary LS Waukesha WI Principal; Grade 8	11/15/2021
Mr Steven Strong	First LS La Crosse WI	Illinois Lutheran High School Crete IL Teacher; Grades 10-12, Science	11/15/2021
Mr Paul Hoffman	St Paul LS Appleton WI	Illinois Lutheran High School Crete IL Teacher; Grades 7-10, Science, Technology Director	11/15/2021
Mrs Amanda Johnson	Trinity LS Brillion WI	Christ-St Peter LS-East Campus Milwaukee WI Teacher; Grade 1	11/15/2021
Mr Daryl Johnson	Trinity LS Brillion WI	Christ-St Peter LS-West Campus Milwaukee WI Teacher; Grades 6-8, English Language Arts	11/15/2021
Mr Scott Stevenson	Pilgrim LS Mesa AZ	Illinois Lutheran Elementary School Crete IL Principal	11/15/2021
Mrs Ellen Stevenson	Pilgrim LS Mesa AZ	Illinois Lutheran Elementary School Crete IL Teacher; Kindergarten	11/15/2021
Mr Karl Schwerin	Fox Valley Lutheran High School Appleton WI	Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School New Ulm MN Teacher; Grades 11-12, Science	11/16/2021
Mrs Katie Coudron	St John LS Milwaukee WI	St John LS Lannon WI Teacher; Kindergarten	11/16/2021
Miss Rachel Taasaas	St Matthew LS Spokane WA	Lakewood LS Lakewood WA Teacher; PreK & Kindergarten	11/16/2021
Miss Rebecca Kramer	Crown of Life LS West Saint Paul MN	Christ LS Big Bend WI Teacher; Grades 1-2	11/16/2021
Mr Darin Stewart	St Mark LS Green Bay WI	Fox Valley Lutheran High School Appleton WI Administrator; Athletic Director	11/16/2021
Mr Benjamin Washburn	Peace LS Hartford WI	Michigan Lutheran Seminary Saginaw MI Professor & Vice-President	11/16/2021
Mr Steven Lehman	St Paul LS Menomonie WI	St Paul LS Menomonie WI Teacher; Grade 4, Athletic Director	11/16/2021
Mrs Erin Mensching	Cross of Christ LS Coon Rapids MN	Little Sprouts Learning Center Ixonia WI ECM Director	11/17/2021
Mr Jason Schultz	Divine Savior Lutheran Academy Doral FL	Wisconsin Lutheran High School Milwaukee WI Teacher; Grade 10 Homeroom, Theology	11/17/2021
Mr Blair Schaper	Wisconsin Lutheran High School Milwaukee WI	Wisconsin Lutheran High School Milwaukee WI Administrator; Athletic Director	11/17/2021
Mr Marc Shambeau	Wisconsin Lutheran High School Milwaukee WI	Divine Savior Academy – Sienna Missouri City TX Teacher; Grade 10 Homeroom, Upper-Level Math	11/17/2021
Miss Aimee Hardman	Northdale Christian Academy Tampa FL	Divine Savior Academy – Sienna Missouri City TX Teacher; Grade 2	11/17/2021
Mr Landon Zacharyasz	Mount Olive LS Appleton WI	Martin Luther College New Ulm MN Professor; Education & Director of Field Experiences	11/17/2021
Miss Kathryn Gut	Shepherd of the Valley LS Westminster CO	Martin Luther College New Ulm MN Professor; Early childhood education	11/17/2021
Mrs Rebecca Toepel	St Peter Lutheran Preschool Modesto CA	Kids Crossing Early Learning Center Madison WI ECM Teacher; 4K	11/18/2021
Mrs Danielle Fetcenko	St Paul LS Onalaska WI	Cross of Christ LS Coon Rapids MN Teacher; Kindergarten	11/18/2021
Mrs Linda Baumann	Trinity LS Jenera OH	FVL Schools Inc Appleton WI Director of Instruction	11/18/2021
Mr Erik Landwehr	Divine Savior Lutheran Academy Doral FL	1 Latin America Team Missionary; 1LA Dean of Students	11/18/2021
Mrs Kelley Randall	St John LS Milwaukee WI	Emmaus LS Phoenix AZ ECM Director & 3K Teacher	11/21/2021
Mrs Megan Allard	St John LS Neillsville WI	Mt Calvary LS Redding CA Teacher; Grades 1-3	11/21/2021
Mr Michael Allard	St John LS Neillsville WI	Mt Calvary LS Redding CA Principal; Grades 6-8	11/21/2021
Mr Ryan Friske	Trinity LS Bay City MI	Grace LS Oshkosh WI Teacher; Grade 5, English Language Arts	11/21/2021
Ms Deborah Heiderich	St John LS Maribel WI	Salem Preschool Woodbury MN ECM Director	11/21/2021
Mrs Amanda Ofstie	Little Lambs Learning Center Mandan ND	Zion Lutheran Preschool Mobridge SD ECM Teacher	11/21/2021
Mrs Jill Russow		Mount Lebanon LS – Hampton Ave Campus Milwaukee WI Teacher; Grade 2	11/21/2021
Mr Philip Miller	St Paul LS Rapid City SD	First German LS Manitowoc WI Teacher; Grades 5-8, Athletic Director, Vice Principal	11/21/2021
Mrs Elizabeth Tiedemann	Resurrection LS Rochester MN	Christ LS Zumbrota MN Teacher; Grades 3-5	11/21/2021
Mr Zachary Seeger	Abiding Peace Academy Simpsonville SC	Cross of Glory LS Washington MI Principal; Grades 5-8	11/21/2021
Mr Peter Mathwig	Divine Savior Lutheran Academy Doral FL	St Paul LS Saint James MN Teacher; Grades 2-4, Coaching	11/21/2021
Mr Jacob Zimmermann	St John LS Fremont WI	Good Shepherd LS Burton MI Principal; Grades 6-8, Athletic Director	11/21/2021
Mrs Amanda Schulz	Holy Cross LS Madison WI	Grace LS Oshkosh WI Teacher; Kindergarten	11/21/2021
Mrs Kelli Baas	Trinity LS Brillion WI	Building Blocks for Life Preschool Cambridge MN ECM Teacher	11/21/2021
Mr Justin Siegler	St Paul LS Beverly Hills FL	Faith LS Tacoma WA Teacher; Grades 5-6, Athletic Director	11/21/2021
Mr Nathan Bitter	St Mark LS Bemidji MN	Good Shepherd LS Wisconsin Rapids WI Principal; Grades 1-8	11/21/2021
Mr Isaac Sharrett	Bethany LS Port Orchard WA	Bethany LS Port Orchard WA Teacher; Grades 5-6, Athletic Director, Provisional, One-Year Call	11/21/2021
Mr Jeffrey Wetzel	St Paul LS Muskego WI	Christ Alone LS Thiensville WI Principal; Grades 5-6 2022-2023, Principal 2023-2024	11/22/2021
Mrs Karla Leitz	Memorial LS Williamston MI	St Paul LS Onalaska WI Teacher; Kindergarten	11/22/2021
Mrs Jennifer Hahn	Grace Lutheran Academy Lowell AR	St Paul LS Onalaska WI ECM Teacher & Student Services Coordinator	11/22/2021
Mr Jeremiah Schmiege	Sola Fide Academy Lawrenceville GA	Arizona Lutheran Academy Phoenix AZ Teacher; Grades 10-12, Science/STEM	11/22/2021
Miss Kaylen Orr	Building Blocks Christian Academy Los Angeles CA	Divine Savior Academy – Santa Rita Ranch Liberty Hill TX ECM Director; Kindergarten	11/22/2021
Mrs Sarah Myers	St Mark LS Green Bay WI	Huron Valley Lutheran High School Westland MI Teacher; English	11/22/2021
Mrs Christina Johnson	First LS La Crosse WI	First Light Early Learning Center La Crosse WI ECM Teacher; 3K	11/22/2021
Mrs Alisha Gilbert	First LS La Crosse WI	First Light Early Learning Center La Crosse WI ECM Teacher; 4K	11/22/2021
Mr Steven Springborn	Nebraska Evangelical Lutheran High School Waco NE	Lakeside Lutheran High School Lake Mills WI Teacher; Choral	11/23/2021
Mr Shawn Herkstroeter	Faith LS Fond du Lac WI	Lakeside Lutheran High School Lake Mills WI Principal	11/23/2021
Mrs Carrie Dorst	Faith LS Antioch IL	St Mark LS Green Bay WI Teacher; Kindergarten	11/24/2021
Mrs Sarah Greil	Redeemer Learning Center Tomahawk WI	Grace Lutheran Child Care Charlotte NC ECM Teacher	11/24/2021
Miss Catharyn Waggoner	Our Savior’s LS Zion IL	Little Lambs Childcare Beloit WI ECM Director	11/28/2021
Miss Deborah Doletzky	Grace LS Saint Joseph MI	St Paul LS Beverly Hills FL Teacher; Grade 2	11/28/2021
Mrs April Schaefer	Mount Olive LS Appleton WI	St Mark LS Citrus Heights CA ECM Teacher; Jr Kindergarten	11/28/2021
Mr Alec Bergmann	Divine Savior Academy – Sienna Missouri City TX	Zion LS Egg Harbor WI Principal; Grades 5-8	11/28/2021
Mrs Kendra Bergmann	Divine Savior Academy – Sienna Missouri City TX	Zion LS Egg Harbor WI Teacher; Grades 1-4	11/28/2021
Miss Amanda Treder	St John LS Wauwatosa WI	Ascension LS and Preschool Sarasota FL Teacher; Grades 1-2	11/28/2021
Mrs Patricia Koestler		Lamb of God LS West Allis WI Teacher; Grades 1-2	11/28/2021
Mrs Kara Krull	Wee Love Learning Center Appleton WI	St Paul Lutheran Child Center Winneconne WI ECM Teacher; Assistant ECM Director, 4K Lead	11/28/2021
Ms Michelle Yotter	St Peter LS Saint Peter MN	Crown of Life Christian Academy Fort Myers FL Teacher; Grade 1	11/28/2021
Mrs Alyssa Wascher	Risen Savior LS – Main Campus LES Milwaukee WI	Risen Savior Christian Academy Pooler GA Teacher; Kindergarten	11/28/2021
Mrs Andrea Baird	Christ-St Peter LS-West Campus Milwaukee WI	St Mark LS Citrus Heights CA Teacher; Kindergarten, Principal Release-Time	11/28/2021
Miss Sarah Sauer	St Croix Lutheran Academy West Saint Paul MN	King of Kings LS Maitland FL Teacher; Grades 5-6, Athletic Director	11/28/2021
Mrs Allison Byers	St Paul LS Lake Mills WI	Cornerstone Early Learning Center Hugo MN ECM Director	11/28/2021
Mrs Rachel Hansen	Good Shepherd LS Burnsville MN	Divine Savior Lutheran Academy Delray Beach FL ECM Teacher	11/29/2021
Mr Matthew Oppermann	Crown of Life Christian Academy Fort Atkinson WI	St Paul LS Green Bay WI Principal	11/29/2021
Ms Katrina Bartsch	Mount Lebanon LS – Hampton Ave Campus Milwaukee WI	Risen Savior LS Mankato MN Teacher; Grades 3-4, Music	11/29/2021
Mr Aaron Hartwig	St Paul LS North Fond du Lac WI	Risen Savior LS Mankato MN Principal; Grades 7-8	11/29/2021
Miss Monica Zimmermann	Mount Lebanon LS – Hampton Ave Campus Milwaukee WI	Divine Savior Lutheran Academy Delray Beach FL Teacher; Grade 3	11/29/2021
Miss Rachel Nemitz	St John LS Manitowoc WI	Fox Valley Lutheran High School Appleton WI Teacher; Special Ed. Instructor	11/29/2021
Mr David Tess	St Croix Lutheran Academy West Saint Paul MN	Fox Valley Lutheran High School Appleton WI Teacher; Network Administrator	11/29/2021
Miss Aimee Duncan	Trinity LS Aberdeen SD	Fox Valley Lutheran High School Appleton WI Teacher; Science	11/29/2021
Mr Kyle Melso		Fox Valley Lutheran High School Appleton WI Teacher; Spanish, Religion, Social Studies	11/29/2021
Mr Justin Hansen	Good Shepherd LS Burnsville MN	Divine Savior Lutheran Academy Delray Beach FL Teacher; Grade 4	11/29/2021
Mrs Darnell Anthony	East Fork LS Whiteriver AZ	Atonement LS Milwaukee WI Teacher; 4-year-old Kindergarten	11/30/2021
Miss Margaret Rasmussen	Wisconsin LS-Elementary School (3-5) Racine WI	Atonement LS Milwaukee WI Teacher; Grade 4	11/30/2021
Mr Scott Anthony	East Fork LS Whiteriver AZ	Atonement LS Milwaukee WI Teacher; Grades 5-6, English Language Arts	11/30/2021
Mr Nathan Hablewitz	New Hope Lutheran Academy West Melbourne FL	Atonement LS Milwaukee WI Teacher; Physical Education, Athletic Director	11/30/2021
Mrs Heidi Groth	Christ-St John’s LS West Salem WI	Bethlehem LS Hortonville WI Teacher; Grades 1-2, Athletics	11/30/2021
Mrs Emily Borgwardt	Trinity-St Luke Western Ave Campus Watertown WI	Immanuel LS Greenville WI Teacher; Lower Grades	12/1/2021
Mrs Elissa Ellermann	Christ-St Peter LS-West Campus Milwaukee WI	Reformation LS San Diego CA Teacher; Grade 1	12/1/2021
Miss Jessica Neumann	St John LS Mukwonago WI	Martin Luther LS Oshkosh WI Teacher; Grades 1-2	12/1/2021
Mr Adam Pavelchik	Mt Olive LS Mankato MN	St John’s LS Burlington WI Principal; Grade 8 (25% teaching)	12/1/2021
Mrs Mandy Pavelchik	Mt Olive LS Mankato MN	St John’s LS Burlington WI Teacher; Grades 5-6, English Language Arts	12/1/2021
Mr Paul Kanzenbach	St John LS Milwaukee WI	Emanuel LS New London WI Teacher; Grade 4	12/2/2021
Mr Adam Igl	St John’s LS Newburg WI	Beautiful Savior LS Grove City OH Teacher; Grade 2	12/2/2021
Mrs Jillian Igl	Peace LS Hartford WI	Beautiful Savior LS Grove City OH ECM Director & Lead Teacher	12/2/2021
Mrs Malissa Voss	Calvary LS Dallas TX	Risen Savior Academy – Lakewood Ranch Lakewood Ranch FL Teacher; Kindergarten	12/2/2021
Miss Deanna Rahn	Wisconsin LS-Middle School (6-8) Racine WI	St Paul LS Wisconsin Rapids WI Teacher; Grades 1-2	12/5/2021
Mr Matthew Evans	California Lutheran High School Wildomar CA	Holy Trinity LS Des Moines WA Teacher; Grade 5, Spanish	12/5/2021
Mrs Julia Marshall	Divine Savior Lutheran Academy Doral FL	Abiding Word LS Houston TX Teacher; Grade 1	12/5/2021
Mr Justin Marshall	Divine Savior Lutheran Academy Doral FL	Abiding Word LS Houston TX Teacher; Grade 4	12/5/2021
Ms Beth Hauf	Bethlehem LS-North Germantown WI	Salem LS-Greenfield MN Greenfield MN Teacher; Grade 1-2	12/5/2021
Ms Anna Potter	Emanuel First LS Lansing MI	St Matthew LS Iron Ridge WI Teacher; Grades 1-2	12/5/2021
Mr Luke Beilke	Ascension LS and Preschool Sarasota FL	Shepherd of the Valley LS Westminster CO Principal; Grades 6-8	12/5/2021
Mrs Laura Pufahl	Trinity LS Waukesha WI	Peace LS Hartford WI Teacher; Lower Grades	12/5/2021
Mr Casey Pufahl	Wisconsin Lutheran High School Milwaukee WI	Peace LS Hartford WI Teacher; Grade 5, Music, Drama	12/5/2021
Mrs Jennifer Hennen	Wisconsin Lutheran High School Milwaukee WI	Morning Star LS Jackson WI Teacher; Grade 5	12/5/2021
Mrs Jodi Murphy	Pilgrim LS Menomonee Falls WI	Morning Star LS Jackson WI Teacher; Grade 2	12/5/2021
Mr Casey De Frain	St Mark’s LS Watertown WI	Bethel LS Bay City MI Teacher; Grades 3-5	12/5/2021
Mr Robert Schmidt	Divine Savior Lutheran Academy Doral FL	St Philip LS Milwaukee WI Teacher; Grade 8	12/5/2021
Mrs Emily Schmidt	Divine Savior Lutheran Academy Doral FL	St Philip LS Milwaukee WI Teacher; Grade 5	12/5/2021
Mr Joel Lauber	Good Shepherd LS Omaha NE	Shepherd LS Albuquerque NM Principal; Grades 6-8	12/5/2021
Mrs Rebekah Frear		Grace LS Glendale AZ Teacher; Lower Grades Reading, Student Support Services	12/5/2021
Miss Marie Laich	Eastside LS Madison WI	Beautiful Savior LS Grove City OH Teacher; Grade 1	12/5/2021
Mrs Shelley Kromschroeder	Salem LS-Greenfield MN Greenfield MN	Salem LS-Greenfield MN Greenfield MN Teacher; Grades 5-6, Provisional Call	12/5/2021
Staff Ministers	Current call	New call	Date issued
Mr Macord Johnson	Prairie LS Upper Site Fairfax MN	Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School New Ulm MN Development Director; Director of Mission Advancement	11/16/2021
Mr Philip Stuebs	St John-St James LS Reedsville WI	Redeemer LC Tucson AZ Staff Minister & Music	11/21/2021
Mrs Rachel Lemke	Fox Valley Lutheran High School Appleton WI	Immanuel LC Greenville WI Staff Minister; Family/Outreach	12/1/2021

CALLS ACCEPTED

Pastors	Current call	New call	Date accepted
Rev Joshua Free	Abiding Peace LC Elgin IL	St Paul LC Livonia MI Associate Pastor	12/4/2021
Teachers	Current call	New call	Date accepted
Mr Dennis Friske	Emanuel LS Tawas City MI	Emanuel LS Tawas City MI Principal; One-Year, Retirement Call, Less-Than Half-Time Call	11/9/2021
Mrs Jamie Wendorf	Lamb of God LS West Allis WI	Lamb of God LS West Allis WI ECM Teacher; 3K, Permanent Call	11/28/2021
Mrs Tricia Hackmann		St Jacobi LS Greenfield WI Teacher; Grade 3	11/29/2021
Mr Bradley Evers	Trinity LS Brillion WI	Mount Olive LS Appleton WI Teacher; Grade 8, Upper Grades Dept.	11/30/2021
Mrs Alyssa Warnke	Divine Savior Lutheran Academy Doral FL	Grace LS Oshkosh WI ECM Teacher; 3-Year-Olds	12/1/2021
Mr Travis Hahn	St Paul LS Menomonie WI	St Paul LS Menomonie WI Teacher; Grades 5-6, Provisional Call, Jan-Jun 2022	12/2/2021
Mrs Crystal Kesting	Emanuel LS New London WI	Neenah LS (PreK) Neenah WI ECM Teacher; 3K	12/3/2021
Mr Nathan King	Manitowoc Lutheran High School Manitowoc WI	Manitowoc Lutheran High School Manitowoc WI Teacher; International Program Director, One-Year Call	12/3/2021
Mr Chad Grambsch	Zion LS Columbus WI	Zion LS Columbus WI Principal; Grades 3-4, Technology Director	12/4/2021
Mrs Kristi Bredendick	Crown of Life LS West Saint Paul MN	Crown of Life LS West Saint Paul MN Teacher; Grade 1	12/5/2021
Mrs Kellsie Wasser	Trinity LS Nicollet MN	Trinity LS Nicollet MN ECM Director & Teacher, Permanent Call	12/5/2021
Staff Ministers	Current call	New call	Date accepted
Mrs Katherine Tiefel	Emanuel LS New London WI	Emanuel LC New London WI Staff Minister; Director of Music & Worship	12/1/2021
Mr William Scharf	Emanuel LC New London WI	Emanuel LC New London WI Staff Minister; Technology Director, 80%, One-Year Call	12/3/2021

CALLS DECLINED

Pastors	Current call	New call	Date declined
Rev David Pagel	New Life LC – South Kenosha WI	Brooklyn LC Brooklyn Park MN Pastor	11/28/2021
Rev Andrew Schultz	St John (Barre Mills) LC La Crosse WI	St Matthew LC Winona MN Pastor	12/1/2021
Rev Steven Neumann	New Life LC – Central Kenosha WI	Good Shepherd LC Pipestone MN St John LC Lake Benton MN Pastor	12/2/2021
Rev Seth Dorn	St Stephen LC Beaver Dam WI	St Bartholomew LC Kawkawlin MI Holy Cross LC Standish MI Associate Pastor	12/3/2021
Rev Joel Vogel	St Mark LC Lincoln NE	St John LC Mukwonago WI Associate Pastor	12/3/2021
Rev Randall Ott	Zion LC Greenleaf WI	Grace LC La Crosse WI Pastor	12/4/2021
Rev Paul Prange	Ministerial Education Waukesha WI	1 Latin America Team Missionary; Diaspora Ministry Facilitator	12/4/2021
Rev Jonathan Bilitz	Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel Madison WI	Summerlin LC Las Vegas NV Pastor	12/4/2021
Rev Jon Zabell	St Paul LC Green Bay WI	Martin Luther College New Ulm MN Professor; Music & dean of chapel	12/4/2021
Rev Scott Bergemann	New Life LC – Central Kenosha WI	Bethany LC – Lynndale Campus Appleton WI Associate Pastor	12/4/2021
Rev Nathaniel Winkel	Mountain Valley LC Eagle CO	Our Savior LC Grafton WI Associate Pastor	12/4/2021
Rev Ian Headrick	Our Redeemer LC Yorktown VA	Friedens LC Bonduel WI Pastor	12/4/2021
Rev Allen Kirschbaum	Spirit of Life LC Caledonia MI	Calvary LC Canyon Country CA Pastor	12/4/2021
Teachers	Current call	New call	Date declined
Mr Timothy Raddatz	St John LS Wrightstown WI	Trinity LS Marshfield WI Principal; Grades 6-8	11/21/2021
Mr Matthew Groth	Arizona Lutheran Academy Phoenix AZ	St Jacobi LS Greenfield WI Teacher; Grade 5, Technology Director	11/29/2021
Mr David Duncan	St Peter LS Schofield WI	Divine Savior Academy – Sienna Missouri City TX Administrator; Dean of Students	11/30/2021
Mrs Bethany Babinec	St John LS Watertown WI	Good Shepherd’s LS West Allis WI Teacher; Grades 1-2	11/30/2021
Mrs Rachel Duncan	St Peter LS Schofield WI	Divine Savior Academy – Sienna Missouri City TX Teacher; Grade 1	11/30/2021
Miss Lauren Ewings	Fox Valley Lutheran High School Appleton WI	West Lutheran High School Plymouth MN Teacher; Grades 9-12, English Language Arts	11/30/2021
Mr Nathan Deering	Lord of Life LS Thornton CO	St Philip LS Milwaukee WI Teacher; Grade 3	11/30/2021
Miss Christine Swoboda	Shepherd LS Albuquerque NM	Emmaus LS Phoenix AZ Teacher; Lower Grades	12/1/2021
Mrs Valerie Follendorf	Redeemer LS Tucson AZ	Beautiful Savior LS Grove City OH Teacher; Grade 1	12/2/2021
Mr Ryan Jaeger	St John’s LS Two Rivers WI	St Paul LS Fort Atkinson WI Principal	12/2/2021
Mrs Alicia Evers		St Paul LS Appleton WI Teacher; Grade 1, Provisional Call	12/2/2021
Mr Matthew Stob	St John LS Hemlock MI	St John LS Red Wing MN Principal; Grades 7-8	12/2/2021
Miss Wendy Fischer	St John LS Fremont WI	Neenah LS (K-2) Neenah WI Teacher; 5K	12/3/2021
Mrs Erin Mensching	Cross of Christ LS Coon Rapids MN	St John LS Watertown WI ECM Director; Childcare	12/3/2021
Mr Andrew Van Weele	Life LS Friendswood TX	Our Savior’s LS Zion IL Principal; Grades 6-8	12/3/2021
Mr Benjamin Pagel	Peridot-Our Savior’s LS Peridot AZ	St Paul LS South Haven MI Principal; Grades 5-8	12/3/2021
Miss Cassandra Grys	St John LS Maribel WI	Divine Savior Lutheran Academy Doral FL Teacher; Grade 3	12/3/2021
Mr Philip Hochmuth	St John LS Maribel WI	Peace LS Livonia MI Principal; Grades 7-8	12/4/2021
Mrs Dania Wickert	St Paul LS Mount Calvary WI	Crown of Life Christian Academy Fort Myers FL Teacher; Grades 2-3	12/5/2021
Mrs Kristi Coffin	Divine Grace LS Lake Orion MI	Beautiful Savior LS Grove City OH Teacher; Kindergarten	12/5/2021
Mrs Beth Ristow	St Lucas LS Milwaukee WI	Holy Word Christian Academy Austin TX Teacher; Kindergarten	12/5/2021
Miss Rachel Nottling	Divine Grace LS Lake Orion MI	Carlsbad Christian Academy Carlsbad CA Teacher; Grade 4	12/5/2021
Mr Dyllan Jensen	Mt Olive LS Delano MN	Faith LS Fond du Lac WI Teacher; Middle School, Asst. Principal	12/5/2021
Ms Sylvia Straschinske		St John LS Montello WI Teacher; Kindergarten	12/6/2021
Mr Thomas Stelter	St Paul LS Appleton WI	Garden Homes LS Milwaukee WI Teacher; Grade 7 Dept.	12/6/2021

RESIGNED

Teachers	Current call	Date resigned
Mrs Lori Ernest	St Paul LS Fort Atkinson WI	11/30/2021
Miss Michelle Goens	St Lucas LS Milwaukee WI	12/3/2021
Ms Alissa Schulz	St Paul LS Menomonie WI	12/23/2021
Mr Kevin Hahm	Atonement LS Milwaukee WI	6/30/2022
Mrs Kristin Black	Fox Valley Lutheran High School Appleton WI	6/30/2022
Miss Claire Boeder	Trinity LS Belle Plaine MN	6/30/2022

VIEW CALL REPORT PDF

View a downloadable pdf version of the call report.

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The path of Academia Cristo

FIC — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 15:03:38 GMT

WELS’ Latin America missions team created a Spanish website in 2015, which launched Academia Cristo. Since its launch, 47 students from 12 countries have become confessional Lutherans—41 in 2021 alone. Most of them have gathered and now lead groups of believers.

Academia Cristo’s goal is to reach many with the gospel to train the few who will reach many more on the ground throughout Latin America. Here’s how it works, using Dr. Eduardo Milanesi, a surgeon in Cochabamba, Bolivia, as an example:

Learn more about mission work in Latin America at wels.net/latinamerica.

Volume 109, Number 01
Issue: January 2022

Endure His Coming – December 6, 2021

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 07:00:51 GMT

“Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty. But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears?
Malachi 3:1,2

Endure His Coming

Daily Devotion – December 6, 2021

Devotion based on Malachi 3:1,2
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20211206dev.mp3
See series: Devotions

Nine-year-old Emma was pleased with herself. She was the first in her class to finish the assignment, and now the teacher was walking around the room checking everyone’s work. Just one more row of desks and the teacher would look down on Emma’s paper with a smile and hand her a big sticker. But wait! Emma suddenly realized she had missed an important part of the instructions. No wonder she finished before everyone else! With the teacher now only two desks away, Emma had a terrible sinking feeling in her stomach.

God’s people had been waiting and praying for the Lord to send the promised Messiah for hundreds of years. They longed for his arrival and were confident that his coming would bring many blessings. Then God sent the prophet Malachi with this message: “Yes, the one you are hoping for is coming soon. But are you ready?” The prophet pointed out many ways in which God’s people and their leaders had been disobedient. And it wasn’t just that they had heard God’s instructions wrong—they had willfully chosen to follow their own sinful desires. They were not as ready as they thought for the coming of God’s holy Son.

Does the Christmas season bring a knot to your stomach? Perhaps you become stressed at the thought of all the work that needs to be done before the holidays. Maybe you are anxious about upcoming family gatherings for any number of reasons. But what about the fact that the holy God himself has come to earth and will return one day in judgment! This fact need not fill you with terror. Although we have been just as disobedient as those before us, Jesus Christ, the righteous Son of God, came to make us right before God. He calls us to repent and believe the good news that in him, all our sins have been forgiven. We can stand before God’s throne confident that our Savior Jesus has come to make us clean.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, make me ready to welcome you with a humble but joyful heart. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Endure His Coming – December 6, 2021

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 07:00:51 GMT

“Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty. But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears?
Malachi 3:1,2

Endure His Coming

Daily Devotion – December 6, 2021

Devotion based on Malachi 3:1,2
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20211206dev.mp3
See series: Devotions

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, make me ready to welcome you with a humble but joyful heart. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Isaiah 7:14

Sarah Proeber — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 07:00:45 GMT

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Through My Bible Yr 1 – December 6

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 07:00:42 GMT

Through My Bible Yr 1 – December 6

John 18:1-27 (NIV84)

LISTEN HERE

Through My Bible – December 6

Bible reading based on John 19:17-37 (NIV84)
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/through-my-bible/01-1206db.mp3
See series: Through My Bible

The Crucifixion

¹⁷Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). ¹⁸Here they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

¹⁹Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. ²⁰Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. ²¹The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”

²²Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

²³When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

²⁴“Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”
This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said,
“They divided my garments among them
and cast lots for my clothing.”^[a]So this is what the soldiers did.

²⁵Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” ²⁷and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

The Death of Jesus

²⁸Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” ²⁹A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. ³⁰When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

³¹Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. ³²The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. ³³But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. ³⁴Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. ³⁵The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. ³⁶These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,”^[b] ³⁷and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”^[c]

Footnotes:

John 19:24 Psalm 22:18
John 19:36 Exodus 12:46; Num. 9:12; Psalm 34:20
John 19:37 Zech. 12:10

Luke 1:35

Sarah Proeber — Sun, 05 Dec 2021 07:00:36 GMT

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”

Making a Good Memory – December 5, 2021

Sun, 05 Dec 2021 07:00:30 GMT

I thank my God every time I remember you.
Philippians 1:3

Making a Good Memory

Daily Devotion – December 5, 2021

Devotion based on Philippians 1:3
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20211205dev.mp3
See series: Devotions

In the movie screen of your mind, picture this: You see a pair of sandaled feet walking inside of a house. The walking that you see is a restless pacing. The feet stand at one window. They cross the floor to another window and sigh. Then the feet cross the floor again. These feet belong to the apostle Paul. He’s in Rome and living in a rented house. But here’s the problem: He can’t leave. There’s a Roman guard in the room there with him. Paul is under house arrest, awaiting trial to face accusations from people who do not like what he’s preaching. And he’s not simply stuck there for a week or two. He’s there for years.

But the Lord sustains him. One of the ways the Lord sustains him is through the happy memories Paul has of his fellow believers. Paul cherishes these memories so much that he even tells the Christian congregation in Philippi, “I thank my God every time I remember you.”

Based on what Jesus Christ has done on your behalf at the cross, God has purged from his mind every memory of your sin. Instead, there are only happy memories of your fruits of faith; fruits of faith that are big or small, carefully planned or impulsive, long or short, complex or simple.

One of those fruits of faith can be this: Making a good memory for someone else.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, give some thought to doing that. Maybe you could pick up the phone and thank someone for the kindness that really made an impression on you. Maybe you could tell a fellow Christian with chronic pain how their patient example inspires you. Or perhaps you’re just the person to give someone a hearty, much-needed laugh.

Whatever you do, do it to God’s glory. And don’t underestimate the power of a good memory. Look what it did for Paul.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for washing me clean in Jesus’ blood and remembering only my fruits of faith. Help me to touch others with good memories of Christian love. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Making a Good Memory – December 5, 2021

Sun, 05 Dec 2021 07:00:30 GMT

I thank my God every time I remember you.
Philippians 1:3

Making a Good Memory

Daily Devotion – December 5, 2021

Devotion based on Philippians 1:3
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20211205dev.mp3
See series: Devotions

One of those fruits of faith can be this: Making a good memory for someone else.

Whatever you do, do it to God’s glory. And don’t underestimate the power of a good memory. Look what it did for Paul.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for washing me clean in Jesus’ blood and remembering only my fruits of faith. Help me to touch others with good memories of Christian love. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Through My Bible Yr 1 – December 5

Sun, 05 Dec 2021 07:00:10 GMT

Through My Bible Yr 1 – December 5

John 18:28-19:16 (NIV84)

LISTEN HERE

Through My Bible – December 5

Bible reading based on John 18:28-19:16 (NIV84)
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/through-my-bible/01-1205db.mp3
See series: Through My Bible

Jesus Before Pilate

²⁸Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. ²⁹So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”

³⁰“If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.”

³¹Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”

“But we have no right to execute anyone,” the Jews objected. ³²This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled.

³³Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

³⁴“Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”

³⁵“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”

³⁶Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

³⁷“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

³⁸“What is truth?” Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. ³⁹But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?”

⁴⁰They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion.

John 19

Jesus Sentenced to be Crucified

¹Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. ²The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe ³and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they struck him in the face.

⁴Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” ⁵When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”

⁶As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”
But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”

⁷The Jews insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.”

⁸When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, ⁹and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. ¹⁰“Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”

¹¹Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”

¹²From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”

¹³When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). ¹⁴It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour.
“Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews.

¹⁵But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”
“Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked.
“We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered.

¹⁶Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus.

Through My Bible Yr 1 – December 4

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 07:00:46 GMT

Through My Bible Yr 1 – December 4

John 18:1-27 (NIV84)

LISTEN HERE

Through My Bible – December 4

Bible reading based on John 18:1-27 (NIV84)
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/through-my-bible/01-1204db.mp3
See series: Through My Bible

John 18

Jesus Arrested

¹When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it.

²Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. ³So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.

⁴Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”

⁵“Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.

“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) ⁶When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

⁷Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”
And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

⁸“I told you that I am he,” Jesus answered. “If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” ⁹This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”^[a]

¹⁰Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)

¹¹Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

Jesus Taken to Annas

¹²Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him ¹³and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. ¹⁴Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be good if one man died for the people.

Peter’s First Denial

¹⁵Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, ¹⁶but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the girl on duty there and brought Peter in.

¹⁷“You are not one of his disciples, are you?” the girl at the door asked Peter.
He replied, “I am not.”

¹⁸It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.

The High Priest Questions Jesus

¹⁹Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

²⁰“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. ²¹Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”

²²When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby struck him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.

²³“If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” ²⁴Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.^[b]

Peter’s Second and Third Denials

²⁵As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, “You are not one of his disciples, are you?”
He denied it, saying, “I am not.”

²⁶One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the olive grove?” ²⁷Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.

Footnotes:

John 18:9 John 6:39
John 18:24 Or (Now Annas had sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.)

A Promise Wrapped in a Name – December 4, 2021

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 07:00:45 GMT

“‘The days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah. “‘In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The LORD Our Righteous Savior.’
Jeremiah 33:14-16

A Promise Wrapped in a Name

Daily Devotion – December 4, 2021

Devotion based on Jeremiah 33:14-16
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20211204dev.mp3
See series: Devotions

Most parents spend a lot of time choosing a name for their child. One reason for their careful consideration is that a name says something about a person. For many people, certain characteristics come to mind when they hear various names. For example, people may be inclined to trust someone with the name “Lincoln,” and when they hear the name “Tiffany,” they might think of someone wealthy.

When God promised the coming of his Savior, he wanted to make sure that his people would have a clear picture of what he would be like, so he gave him a name that described him well. He announced through the prophet Jeremiah that the Savior would be called “the LORD Our Righteousness.”

His name is the LORD. This is the name God gave himself. And it describes him well. He is the God of free and faithful grace, who always keeps his promises and saves his people. His name is also “Our Righteousness.” Instead of demanding a righteousness that we don’t have and can’t offer, he would be our righteousness so that we would have the peace and favor of God.

God’s Old Testament people looked forward to the coming of the Savior, but we have seen the LORD Our Righteousness in the person of Jesus Christ. As we look forward to celebrating Christmas, let’s rejoice that the baby born in the manger was wrapped up in a name that tells us so much about him. He is our LORD, and he has brought us righteousness. There is no greater reason to celebrate.

Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for telling me so much about your Son and our Savior. Help me to stay focused on what is most important this Christmas season. Give me a faith that continually looks to the baby born in the manger, who is the LORD Our Righteousness. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

A Promise Wrapped in a Name – December 4, 2021

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 07:00:45 GMT

“‘The days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah. “‘In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The LORD Our Righteous Savior.’
Jeremiah 33:14-16

A Promise Wrapped in a Name

Daily Devotion – December 4, 2021

Devotion based on Jeremiah 33:14-16
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20211204dev.mp3
See series: Devotions

Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for telling me so much about your Son and our Savior. Help me to stay focused on what is most important this Christmas season. Give me a faith that continually looks to the baby born in the manger, who is the LORD Our Righteousness. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Micah 5:2

Sarah Proeber — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 07:00:18 GMT

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.

2021 WELS Schools Christmas Concerts

WELS — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 20:37:45 GMT

Schedules and livestream links for WELS schools’ Christmas concerts

Information provided by the WELS Choral Festival Facebook page.

Please search and visit the schools’ individual websites for additional information.

Friday, December 10, 7:00 p.m. CST

Shoreland Lutheran High School

“Light of Our Salvation”

https://www.youtube.com/…/ShorelandLutheranHighSchoolLi…

Sunday, December 12, 2:00 p.m. CST

Luther High School

“Come and See the Newborn King”

www.lutherhigh.org

Sunday, December 12, 3:00 p.m. and 7 p.m. (CST)
Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary
Christmas at the Seminary
livestream.com/WLSLive

Sunday, December 12, 3:00 p.m. CST

Luther Preparatory School

Christmas Concert

Sunday, December 12, 4:00 p.m. PST

California Lutheran High School

“Sing We Noel”

clhsonline.net

Sunday, December 12, 7:00 p.m. CST

Wisconsin Lutheran High School

“Love Has Come”

https://livestream.com/wlhs

Monday, December 13, 7:00 p.m. CST

Winnebago Lutheran Academy

Christmas Concert

Tuesday, December 14, 1:00 p.m. CST

Winnebago Lutheran Academy

Christmas Concert

Tuesday, December 14, 7:00 p.m. CST

West Lutheran High School

Christmas Concert

Thursday, December 16, 10:00 a.m. CST

Luther Preparatory School

Christmas Concert

Friday, December 17, 7:00 p.m. EST

Michigan Lutheran Seminary

“Hail to the Lord’s Anointed!”

https://ca-legacy.mlsem.org/cardinal_casts/

Friday, December 17, 7:00 p.m. CST

St. Croix Lutheran Academy

“Light and Life to All He Brings”

Friday, December 17, 7:00 p.m. MST

Arizona Lutheran Academy

https://www.youtube.com/c/ArizonaLutheranAcademy/

Friday, December 17, 7:00 p.m. MST

Rocky Mountain Lutheran High School

Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church

“And the Angels Sang”

https://corchurch.com/online-streaming/

Saturday, December 18, 6:30 p.m. CST

Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School

Performing Arts Center

“Rejoice! Rejoice Believers!”

kmlhs.org/stream

Saturday, December 18, 7:00 p.m. CST

Wisconsin Lutheran High School

Christmas Chamber Ensembles Concert

https://livestream.com/wlhs

Saturday, December 18, 7:00 p.m. PST

Evergreen Lutheran High School

Christmas Concert

Sunday, December 19, 2:00 p.m. CST

Illinois Lutheran High School

“Tidings of Comfort and Joy”

Sunday, December 19, 3:00 p.m. CST

Northland Lutheran High School

“Christmas begins with CHRIST”

Sunday, December 19, 4:00 p.m. CST

Fox Valley Lutheran High School

FVL Choirs Christmas Concert

Sunday, December 19, 7:00 p.m. CST

Lakeside Lutheran High School

East Gymnasium

“Glory to the Newborn King”

www.llhs.org

Wednesday, December 22, 4:30 p.m. CST

Manitowoc Lutheran High School

Capitol Civic Centre

“Joy Has Dawned”

https://livestream.com/accounts/1533510

Wednesday, December 22, 7:00 p.m. CST

Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School

“Content Our Earthly Lot to Share”

Livestream can be found on Facebook or at mvl.org

Wednesday, December 22nd, 7:30 p.m. CST

Manitowoc Lutheran High School

Capitol Civic Centre

“Joy Has Dawned”

https://livestream.com/accounts/1533510

The right gift at the right time

agoede — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 17:09:36 GMT

Dear Friend,

Have you ever received the right gift at the right time? Imagine a little girl at Christmas unwrapping a new toaster, or a bride opening a wedding gift only to find a dollhouse. Wrong gift. Wrong time.

God is the perfect Giver: “When the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship” (Galatians 4:4-5). What a loving God we have, and he continues to give his church the right gifts at the right time. At Pentecost the disciples were enabled to speak in tongues and emboldened to preach. Today God gives gifts to his church to spread the gospel in ways never imagined by the disciples!

Consider TELL Network, an online ministry by WELS Multi-Language Productions. I began serving as the first TELL online missionary at the end of 2019—the beginning of a global pandemic that drove many people searching online for hope.

With one of the largest Lutheran social media presences in the world (1.5 million Facebook followers and likes), TELL engages viewers across the globe with devotional videos and content. Each piece encourages them to download the TELL app where they take self-learning Bible studies. Currently there are over 10,000 active users on the TELL app. Next they join a live group class where they learn the Bible and Lutheran catechism with an instructor like me. We build agreement around the truths of God’s Word. Students are equipped to share their faith with others and start a small group Bible study using the TELL method.

If possible, an in-person visit is made. Prayers are lifted up for the Spirit to create and grow a gospel community. The leader is trained to identify and train the next TELL student within their group. The process repeats.

Samuel Kalivogui, a TELL student from Guinea in West Africa, says:

I met TELL through Facebook. The very first time I watched a video on Facebook I got interested. Pastor Dan Laitinen contacted me via WhatsApp. We later started live classes. I got interested because they are offering true Bible gospel training free of charge. That’s something I have been looking for. My understanding of the Bible has greatly increased. The method is so interesting! Currently I’m using the lessons of TELL to do all my preaching and I’ve been invited twice to preach on my local radio station.

Samuel estimates his radio broadcasts alone reached 400,000 people in a heavily non-Christian country. And he is just one of over 200 students from nearly 30 countries who are signed up for TELL live group classes. Praise God for these exciting results!

God-willing, you can help us expand TELL’s reach. Each live group student costs about $600. Other expenses include building apps and online student learning systems, overseeing a social media team, and sending missionaries. Most of all, we must wisely and consistently spend advertising dollars in an aggressive online space.

Your special prayers and gifts towards Multi-Language Productions matter. It will enable TELL to increase our reach online, keep content in front of millions of eyes, and welcome more live group students like Samuel who are eager to spread the gospel.

Thank God for his right Gift at the right time. And thank you for yours.

To us a child is born!
Dan Laitinen
Missionary, TELL

Donate Now

Through My Bible Yr 1 – December 3

Fri, 03 Dec 2021 07:00:50 GMT

Through My Bible Yr 1 – December 3

John 17:20-26 (NIV84)

LISTEN HERE

Through My Bible – December 3

Bible reading based on John 17:20-26 (NIV84)
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/through-my-bible/01-1203db.mp3
See series: Through My Bible

Jesus Prays for All Believers

²⁰“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²²I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: ²³I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. ²⁴“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. ²⁵“Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. ²⁶I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

Jesus Humbles Himself to Save Us from Destruction – December 3, 2021

Fri, 03 Dec 2021 07:00:36 GMT

“Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.”
Luke 17:26-29

Jesus Humbles Himself to Save Us from Destruction

Daily Devotion – December 3, 2021

Devotion based on Luke 17:26-29
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20211203dev.mp3
See series: Devotions

Eating. Drinking. Buying. Selling.

Those are four activities people do countless times every day in places all over the world. They were happening long ago as well, Jesus points out, on the day “fire and sulfur rained down from heaven” when God destroyed the cities of Gomorrah and Sodom on account of their sin.

In many ways, the lives of those who died that day were no different than ours. Their average day involved eating and drinking, buying and selling—normal activities that require multiple daily decisions and consume so much of our thinking. But suddenly, they received a reminder that those daily decisions weren’t the most important thing.

That’s not to say they aren’t important at all. What you buy, where you work, how you manage your money, what kind of food you provide for your family, and what home you live in consumes a great deal of our thinking. The lives of people we love are often affected by those decisions and impact the quality of our living.

Just not as much as God can. The many people who died that day in that destruction didn’t believe that.

But Lot did. On the day Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed, Lot took his family and fled from where he had been doing all his eating and drinking, buying and selling. Not because he wanted to destroy the quality of their lives, but because he believed there was only one thing they needed.

They needed the God who had promised a Savior that would one day not flee from the cross where God’s anger rained down on him as the willing sacrifice for our sins. They needed the Savior who would provide for them something even more satisfying than the very best deals or meals you can find on earth. They needed the Savior who could satisfy our souls forever with the gracious gift of eternal life in everlasting perfection. They needed the same Savior we have been given.

Prayer:
Father in heaven, thank you for the gift of Jesus our Savior, who alone graciously saves me from eternal destruction. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Jesus Humbles Himself to Save Us from Destruction – December 3, 2021

Fri, 03 Dec 2021 07:00:36 GMT

“Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.”
Luke 17:26-29

Jesus Humbles Himself to Save Us from Destruction

Daily Devotion – December 3, 2021

Devotion based on Luke 17:26-29
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20211203dev.mp3
See series: Devotions

Eating. Drinking. Buying. Selling.

Just not as much as God can. The many people who died that day in that destruction didn’t believe that.

Prayer:
Father in heaven, thank you for the gift of Jesus our Savior, who alone graciously saves me from eternal destruction. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Through My Bible Yr 1 – December 2

Thu, 02 Dec 2021 07:00:48 GMT

Through My Bible Yr 1 – December 2

John 17:6-19 (NIV84)

LISTEN HERE

Through My Bible – December 2

Bible reading based on John 17:6-19 (NIV84)
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/through-my-bible/01-1202db.mp3
See series: Through My Bible

Jesus Prays for His Disciples

⁶“I have revealed you^[a] to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. ⁷Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. ⁸For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. ⁹I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. ¹⁰All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. ¹¹I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your nameóthe name you gave meóso that they may be one as we are one. ¹²While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. ¹³“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. ¹⁴I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. ¹⁵My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. ¹⁶They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. ¹⁷Sanctify^[b] them by the truth; your word is truth. ¹⁸As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. ¹⁹For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

Footnotes:

John 17:6 Greek your name; also in verse 26
John 17:17 Greek hagiazo (set apart for sacred use or make holy also in verse 19

Jesus Humbles Himself to Redeem – December 2, 2021

Thu, 02 Dec 2021 07:00:23 GMT

“At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Luke 21:27,28

Jesus Humbles Himself to Redeem

Daily Devotion – December 2, 2021

Devotion based on Luke 21:27,28
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20211202dev.mp3
See series: Devotions

Khaleesi is a one-and-a-half-year-old miniature long-haired dachshund dog. She recently ran after a rabbit and kept running when the rabbit ran into a drain tube roughly 6 inches in diameter. The rabbit got all the way through. But Khaleesi didn’t—she got stuck in the vertical position about four feet down. The dog’s owner called the fire department for help. But when they got to the scene later that evening, they concluded that because it was dark, the terrain was rough, and the retaining wall the pipe was in was already in danger of collapsing that they wouldn’t be able to safely do anything until the next morning. The owner didn’t sleep that night. The next morning, everyone returned to the scene. The firefighters used the jaws of life to carefully cut away sections of the pipe without hurting Khaleesi. Everyone could hear Khaleesi crying and whimpering the entire time. But finally, 20 hours after she got stuck in the pipe, Khaleesi was set free. She jumped into the arms of her owner, with her tail wagging excitingly.

Like Khaleesi in that drain tube, we long for relief too. We are eager to find relief from stress, anxiety, guilt, and worry. We’re eager to be relieved of broken hearts, loneliness, regrets, and shattered dreams—which can all affect us for much longer than 20 hours.

Thankfully, the Bible tells us that Jesus has done everything necessary to bring us relief from all of these things. And one day, when Jesus returns “with power and great glory,” we will experience that relief in full. Until then, do not let the pain of this sinful world overwhelm your faith in the Savior who humbled himself to redeem us all from pain, death, and sin.

Prayer:
Gracious Redeemer, have mercy on me and keep my eyes of faith always fixed on you, and my heart always eager for my redemption. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Jesus Humbles Himself to Redeem – December 2, 2021

Thu, 02 Dec 2021 07:00:23 GMT

“At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Luke 21:27,28

Jesus Humbles Himself to Redeem

Daily Devotion – December 2, 2021

Devotion based on Luke 21:27,28
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20211202dev.mp3
See series: Devotions

Prayer:
Gracious Redeemer, have mercy on me and keep my eyes of faith always fixed on you, and my heart always eager for my redemption. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 18:53:46 GMT

Through My Bible Yr 1 – December 1

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 07:00:54 GMT

Through My Bible Yr 1 – December 1

John 17:1-5 (NIV84)

LISTEN HERE

Through My Bible – December 1

Bible reading based on John 17:1-5 (NIV84)
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/through-my-bible/01-1201db.mp3
See series: Through My Bible

John 17

Jesus Prays for Himself

¹After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. ²For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. ³Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. ⁴I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. ⁵And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

Jesus Humbles Himself to Meet Our Needs – December 1, 2021

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 07:00:01 GMT

Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as [Jesus] had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They replied, “The Lord needs it.”
Luke 19:32-34

Jesus Humbles Himself to Meet Our Needs

Daily Devotion – December 1, 2021

Devotion based on Luke 19:32-34
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20211201dev.mp3
See series: Devotions

Why did the owner of the colt let Jesus’ disciples take it? He didn’t complain. He didn’t ask why. He didn’t ask for a security deposit or down payment. He didn’t tell them to have it home by midnight. He just let them go, apparently, because he believed that if the Lord needs something from you, then it’s something you should just do.

Jesus applied the same attitude toward the will of his Father in heaven. Why did he ride into Jerusalem knowing that, at the end of the week, his perfect obedience was going to be rewarded by the shedding of his own blood? Why would he mount a donkey, parade into the city, listening to the cheers of men, women, and children knowing that by the end of the week nails and thorns would be pounded into him?

It’s because his Father expressed a need too. That need was for you to be forgiven of every sin. It was for you to be safe forever, right next to him. This is why Jesus came. This is why he humbled himself, stumbling under the weight of a cross and willingly walking through the darkest valleys of the shadow of death. He was only and always thinking about our need to be forgiven and giving you something to look forward to when Jesus comes again—an eternal existence with our heavenly Father where every tear will be wiped away, and you will never need anything more than what you’ve already been given.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for the humility with which you graciously meet our every need. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Jesus Humbles Himself to Meet Our Needs – December 1, 2021

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 07:00:01 GMT

Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as [Jesus] had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They replied, “The Lord needs it.”
Luke 19:32-34

Jesus Humbles Himself to Meet Our Needs

Daily Devotion – December 1, 2021

Devotion based on Luke 19:32-34
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20211201dev.mp3
See series: Devotions

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for the humility with which you graciously meet our every need. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

He’s coming—really!

Peter Prange — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 18:18:05 GMT

“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

Weather radar is amazing.

I have a weather app on my cell phone, and it can tell me exactly how far away the nearest snowstorm is. And is it accurate! When storms are approaching my neighborhood, it calculates within minutes when the snowfall will be the heaviest. And sure enough, it’s not long before my sidewalks are covered with snow. It came.

It’s also helpful when I’m heading out. That app tells me whether or not I need to grab my boots and shovel to clear my driveway before leaving for the day. It’s about the closest I’ll ever get to knowing what the future holds.

An absent gift-giver

In recent years, it has become customary for TV weather experts to add a short, silly segment to their daily forecast around Christmastime—the “Santa radar.” I was surprised to discover that the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has provided a simulated tracking of Old St. Nick’s toy-laden sleigh in the days leading up to Christmas since 1955. Maybe I missed it as a kid, but this “forecast” seems to have risen in popularity over the past decade or two. For children, it’s exciting to imagine what gifts Santa Claus might be delivering to their homes in the not-too-distant future. But we all learn that Santa never actually shows up. He’s not coming.

We wait in daily repentance and share his gospel with others so they too will repent. Jesus will come!

But once upon a time he did. Back in the fourth century A.D., he was known as St. Nicholas of Myra, a faithful bishop of the early Christian church. Legend has it that Nicholas was a generous giver of gifts to the poor. So it became popular in the Middle Ages to give gifts on Dec. 6, the day on which many Christians still remember his pastoral ministry. When Dutch Christians said his name, it apparently sounded like Santa Claus, and the name stuck.

Martin Luther is said to have been the one who suggested that credit for gift-giving should be transferred from St. Nick to the giver of all gifts, the Christ Child, Jesus. He also apparently instructed people to exchange gifts on Dec. 25, the church’s celebration of the Savior’s birth.

These days, the Christ Child sadly takes a back seat to a commercially secularized Santa, who is nothing more than a running gag passed along from one generation to the next. Eventually everyone comes to understand that Santa’s not really coming. If he is, then where is he?

A Gift-giver who is coming

Do we have the same impression of Jesus? Is talk of his coming again in judgment and salvation nothing more than a running joke, a silly myth that we pass along from one generation to the next?

Already in the first years after Jesus’ ascension, people were suggesting that very thing. In his second letter, St. Peter warned about those “scoffers” who ask, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised?” (2 Peter 3:3,4). And then he reminds us that Jesus is “not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness” (3:9).

So what’s the holdup? He’s being patient, waiting to gather those who need to get their spiritual act together before his return. Us too. Peter wrote, Jesus is being “patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). No joke. It’s real.

So we wait in daily repentance and share his gospel with others so they too will repent. Jesus will come!

Author: Peter Prange
Volume 108, Number 12
Issue: December 2021

A heart captured by the gospel: Article 2

Earle D. Treptow — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 18:01:06 GMT

When we know God has declared us righteous because of Jesus, we are consumed by a desire to share that truth.

On April 17, 1521, Martin Luther stood before the Diet of Worms, a gathering of the most powerful people in the Holy Roman Empire. Since he had spent the previous 15 years of his life as a monk, he was unaccustomed to appearing before princes and lords. It showed. He failed to follow courtly etiquette. He spoke softly. When asked if he wished to retract anything in his writings, he seemed unprepared, requesting additional time to think.

What a difference a day makes! On April 18, Luther boldly took a stand. Encouraged by brothers in Christ the night before, the professor from Wittenberg clearly confessed his faith. If someone could demonstrate from the Scriptures where he had erred, he would immediately recant what he had written and would, as he said, “be the first to cast my books into the fire.” Otherwise, he could not and would not recant, because God’s Word had the final word in every debate. “I cannot do otherwise,” he said. “Here I stand. God help me” (Luther’s Works Vol. 32, pp. 111,113).

Love for the gospel

The trembling of the previous day was gone. Yet Luther continued to tremble. The trembling, however, was not because he feared being burned at the stake as a heretic. The Holy Spirit had worked in the reformer’s heart a different kind of trembling—a trembling before the Word of God. In Isaiah, the Lord says, “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit and who tremble at my word” (66:2).

The Spirit had trained Luther to handle God’s Word with fear and trembling. He approached the Bible as a servant, not a master. Sitting in judgment on the Scriptures was not an option. What his Savior-God said, he would believe. What the Lord taught, he would teach.

What we want to concern ourselves with, above all, is preaching Christ crucified.

Luther reverenced every verse of the Scriptures because through the Word about Christ the Holy Spirit had broken through his darkness. The Spirit had convinced him that the gospel revealed the righteousness God gives to sinners through faith in Christ (Romans 1:17). Because Luther loved the gospel that had opened heaven to him, he opposed those who placed their ideas above what God said in his Word. Love for the gospel compelled the reformer to speak and write against the teachings of the Roman Church that contradicted the Scriptures.

Because Luther was by nature sinful —a fact he readily confessed—he no doubt harbored some inappropriate motives in his rejection of false teachings. Yet his intention in speaking against false teachings was not to prove that he knew the Scriptures better than others. His goal was not even to preserve pure doctrine for pure doctrine’s sake. Above all else, he was consumed with proclaiming the righteousness of Christ, which is received through faith.

Please don’t misunderstand that. Luther was no fundamentalist. He considered every teaching of God’s Word important. If God said it, then Luther would teach it, even if the teaching flew in the face of popular opinion. But all he did and said was in service to the gospel, by which the Spirit forms faith, forgives sins, and grants everlasting life. From painful, personal experience Luther knew that the only thing that speaks peace to a burdened conscience is the good news of forgiveness in Christ. He did not find peace in possessing pure doctrine but in the righteousness of Christ his Savior. The reformer recognized that his life with God depended not on his ability to express every doctrine of the Scriptures with perfect precision but on Christ’s perfect life and death for sinners.

Proclamation of Christ

Luther’s desire was that others would experience the peace that comes from knowing Christ as their righteousness before God. That’s why he spoke and wrote against false doctrine—he was consumed with proclaiming the righteousness of Christ.

That’s what we want driving us as well. It’s easy to become so consumed with ensuring that everyone confesses pure doctrine that we act as if life with God comes through purity of teaching rather than faith in Christ. What we want to concern ourselves with, above all, is preaching Christ crucified, the sinner’s righteousness, holiness, and redemption. We teach and preach everything God says in the Bible, without apology, because we tremble at his Word. We do so in service of a far greater goal than being doctrinally correct. We strive for pure doctrine because we are consumed with proclaiming the gospel of Christ’s righteousness, by which the Spirit grants life.

Maybe an example would help. A friend tells you that the Bible has mistakes in it because it was written by humans. You’re convinced she’s wrong because you know what the Scriptures teach. You even have passages ready to show her the error of her thinking: “All Scripture is God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16) or “Prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). Since God gave the writers the words they were to write, there cannot be any errors.

What should be your goal in that conversation? I can tell you the goal I’ve adopted more than once: Prove her wrong (and demonstrate that I’m right). But there’s a better way to approach such a conversation. After all, there’s only one reason we believe that the Bible is God’s Word. It’s not because we are smarter or godlier. It’s only because the Lord graciously chose to reveal that to us and moved us to accept it. Think about how he did that. He led you to believe that Jesus is the Savior of the world—and your Savior too. Because you believe that Jesus is your Savior, you believe that the Bible is inspired by God and inerrant.

When we lose sight of the goal of pure doctrine—the salvation of sinners—we end up acting like the Pharisees Jesus had to rebuke. Pride in their purity of doctrine led them to be consumed with compelling people to conform, rather than pointing them to Christ. They lost sight of the heart of God’s Word and missed seeing Christ.

When the Lord enables us to see ourselves as he sees us, righteous through faith in Christ, then we no longer need to find our righteousness in the fact that we have pure doctrine. We won’t have to prove ourselves right and others wrong. Instead, astounded by the Lord’s grace to us, we will be consumed with proclaiming Christ’s righteousness to others. The righteousness we desperately need to stand before God on the Last Day, they need too.

This is the second article in a three-part series based on the 2021 synod convention essay.

Author: Earle Treptow
Volume 108, Number 12
Issue: December 2021

Purposeful discussions

Mark Schroeder — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 17:12:11 GMT

Sixty years ago, our synod was faced with the most difficult decision in its history. For more than 20 years, WELS and the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) had been working to convince their sister church body, the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS), that it had departed from the biblical doctrine it had previously held. When the LCMS made it clear that it would not heed those loving admonitions, WELS’ 1961 synod convention was compelled to suspend the fellowship that had existed for nearly a century.

The resolution included the noteworthy phrase “suspend fellowship,” rather than “terminate fellowship.” A footnote explained, “The word suspend used in the resolution has all the finality of termination . . . but contains the hope that conditions might some day warrant the reestablishment of fellowship.” In keeping with that understanding, it was then resolved that “under conditions which do not imply a denial of our previous testimony, we stand ready to resume discussions with the LCMS with the aim of reestablishing unity in doctrine and practice.” Even as our synod acknowledged that fellowship no longer existed, it expressed the hope that at some point unity could be restored. WELS was willing to hold discussions for that purpose, but for the next 50 years, those discussions did not materialize.

Ten years ago, WELS and the ELS determined that the time was right to begin discussions with the LCMS. Even though there was no indication that full agreement in doctrine could be established, the meetings would enable the two sides to understand clearly the doctrinal positions of the other and to remove any misunderstandings or caricatures that had developed over the years. The tenth annual meeting will take place this December.

While WELS is not at the point where it can say that unity in doctrine and practice exists or will happen in the foreseeable future, there have been some clear benefits to these meetings:

These meetings have helped the three synods clarify beliefs and doctrinal positions, enabling the three synods to identify where real differences remain.
The meetings have permitted the leaders to get to know their counterparts firsthand, allowing them to develop an appreciation and respect for one another as well as offer encouragement in their efforts to be faithful to the Word of God.
These meetings have opened up lines of communication that enable the synods to consult with each other in matters of mutual concern and interest. For example, leaders in WELS World Missions are able to consult with their counterparts in the LCMS to discuss mutual challenges. In areas that do not involve church fellowship, WELS has been able to work with the LCMS, including participating as a “friend of the court” in legal proceedings dealing with religion freedom issues.
These meetings give WELS leaders the opportunity to answer and confess when LCMS representatives sincerely ask what WELS believes and practices and why. “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15).

Like the delegates to the 1961 convention, we pray for the day when fellowship between our synods can be restored on the basis of the Scriptures. That day is not yet here, and it’s not likely near. But we can—and should—continue to work toward that God-pleasing goal.

Author: Mark Schroeder
Volume 108, Number 12
Issue: December 2021

Confessions of faith: Allen and Rosalind Braun

Ann Jahns — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 17:00:44 GMT

Neighborly kindness—and blueberry pancakes—forge a relationship that leads a couple on a path to Jesus.

For Allen and Rosalind Braun, the journey to becoming members at Cross of Christ, WELS’ home mission congregation in Liverpool, N.Y., has spanned decades. “Our story from the beginning is a culmination of many things,” says Allen. “It covers our families, people we’ve met, and different church denominations.”

That journey led to an unexpected meeting in the laundry room of their apartment building—a meeting that God used to change their lives.

Allen and Rosalind on their wedding day.

Religious struggles

The Brauns come from very diverse backgrounds, growing up on opposite sides of the country. Allen was born in Sleepy Hollow and grew up in Westchester County, N.Y., and Rosalind grew up in Houston, Texas. While Rosalind was raised Baptist, Allen was raised a Jehovah’s Witness. When he was 8 years old, his family moved to Texas. Allen recalls being ridiculed in school because of his faith. Even his relatives mocked his family for their religion.

Throughout his childhood and young adult years, Allen struggled with being a Jehovah’s Witness and questioned many religious topics, including the Trinity, additions to Scripture, and how only certain people are allowed to take the Lord’s Supper. He also struggled to measure up to the religion’s manmade standards and was keenly aware of Jehovah’s Witness elders keeping a tally of his “mistakes.” So he started asking questions about what he had been taught. Those questions and his actions eventually led to his removal from church membership.

In 2000, Allen met Rosalind from the same apartment building. On one occasion he mentioned that he was going to attend a concert. Since she also loved music, she handed him a disposable camera and asked him to snap some pictures. Those concert pictures didn’t turn out very well, yet their budding relationship did. The two went on their first date on July 22, Rosalind’s birthday, and by Aug. 22 they were married.

Allen and Rosalind began attending a local Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Hall together, where Allen was hoping to be reinstated into the faith. But it still didn’t seem right to either of them. The “hoops” Allen would need to jump through to be reinstat-ed caused them both to walk out and never return. “I was mentally torn for a long time,” admits Allen.

Neighborly kindness

Needing a fresh start, the Brauns talked about moving out of Texas. Allen felt his home state of New York calling to him, so in 2017 they settled in Rome, N.Y. It was there Rosalind met someone who made an impression on her—a kind man named Jim Bruland.

Jim lived in their apartment complex, and one day he held open the laundry room door for Rosalind, politely asking if she needed help. “Our first encounter was cordial, but not much was said—just an exchange of pleasantries,” remembers Jim.

(Left and right) Allen and Rosalind early in their marriage and today. (Center) Allen and Rosalind at their confirmation with Jim Bruland.

Some time later, Jim ran across both Rosalind and Allen in the laundry room. They started a conversation, with Allen commenting on a t-shirt that Jim was folding, which displayed 1 John 4:9, “God sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” Jim said that the t-shirt was from his church, Cross of Christ. The seed was planted.

As the conversation continued, Rosalind mentioned that she makes delicious blueberry pancakes. “When Jim said that he loves blueberry pancakes, I invited him over and offered to make him some,” says Rosalind.

But it was a full year before Rosalind met Jim in the laundry room again. She had just lost her father, and Jim provided an empathetic ear, sharing his experience with losing his own father. Rosalind says: “We connected over losing our fathers.” Jim recalled her gracious invitation for pancakes, and he accepted it. The subsequent get-together cemented the friendship between the Brauns and Jim.

A shared faith

Even before meeting Jim, the Brauns had been searching for a church to call home. They had attended one Christian church with dear friends and visited a Baptist church as well, “but nothing ever fit,” says Allen. “It just didn’t feel right. So we did a lot of praying.” Because he remembered Jim talking about his church, Cross of Christ, Allen asked if they could attend church with Jim. “The Holy Spirit made me ask him,” says Allen. “It wasn’t me. It was the Spirit.”

Allen’s baptism. It’s displayed in a frame given to him by Pastor Birner.

Allen and Rosalind started visiting Cross of Christ regularly and began taking Bible information classes online due to COVID-19. Jim, a member of Cross of Christ since 2016, would join them in their apartment to help work through the lessons. The Brauns were guided through the membership process by their pastor, Ben Birner. “He was so gentle and reassuring with us,” remembers Rosalind.

Allen was joyfully baptized into God’s family at Cross of Christ on Oct. 18, 2020, Birner’s first adult baptism. Six months later, Allen, Rosalind, and another friend Susan were confirmed on April 18, 2021—Allen’s birthday. Their friend Jim was by their side, sharing in their joy. Allen recalls, “Our confirmation day was a culmination of learning the difference between the doctrines of Jehovah’s Witnesses and the truths of Scripture. To be able to say in front of everyone that I believe the words that came from Jesus and not from an organization meant a lot to me.”

Gospel joy

The Brauns will be the first to tell you that being a follower of Christ isn’t easy, nor does it remove troubles from our lives. Both of them struggle with health issues. Right before the pandemic hit, Allen became gravely ill and was hospitalized. One of the nurses caring for him was a Jehovah’s Witness, and the encounter stirred up some of the hurt from his past. As Allen was wrestling with his feelings, he went to God in prayer, asking if he truly needed to forgive the people who had hurt him. “But then I knew that Jesus was saying to me, ‘My son, have you forgiven them? Because I have forgiven them all.’ And that was the answer,” Allen recalls.

Allen and Rosalind have certainly made sacrifices as followers of Christ, including enduring the pain of being estranged from Allen’s family, who remain Jehovah’s Witnesses. “My father no longer speaks to me,” says Allen. “My family never even told me when my grandparents and uncle died. My brother-in-law told me that he doesn’t owe me anything.”

Allen is now making up for experiences he wasn’t allowed to have as a child in a religion that doesn’t celebrate Jesus’ birth. Since early October, the Brauns have been joyfully displaying a Christmas tree in their home. “Christ is the center of Christmas,” Allen simply says. “The Christmas tree is up already because of all of the Christmases I’ve missed.”

Some may call it fate or coincidence, but we know that God arranged for Jim Bruland to meet Rosalind and Allen in that laundry room. “Our triune God, the only God, is amazing!” says Jim. “He works in mysterious ways. His ways are higher than our ways. My path on this pilgrimage was meant to cross Allen and Rosalind’s path. There was nothing I could do to keep those paths from crossing.”

The friendship that started with a bond over blueberry pancakes is now a bond of shared faith in Jesus Christ. “That’s all it took,” says Allen. “A friendly gesture, the simplest thing, led my wife and me down a path to God that we never knew we would take.” He is grateful every day for Jesus’ full and free grace: “I don’t have to consider works as my salvation. I have the freedom to now serve God, instead of serving men. Jesus by grace has forgiven our sins. Our ultimate reward is to someday be in heaven with him.”

Learn more about Jehovah’s Witnesses and how to share the gospel with them in Speaking the Truth in Love to Jehovah’s Witnesses by Roland Cap Ehlke. It’s available at Northwestern Publishing House, nph.net.

Author: Ann Jahns
Volume 108, Number 12
Issue: December 2021

What makes Christmas Christmas?

Melissa Anne Kreuser — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 16:54:12 GMT

Christmas isn’t about what we do. It’s about Christ coming to earth to do what we were unable to do.

I have a secret. And it’s about Christmas.

It might be something you don’t want to hear: Christmas doesn’t depend on you.

If you don’t do another thing between now and Dec. 25, Christmas will still be Christmas. Honestly.

The idea that what we do is what makes Christmas Christmas is a lie. The truth of what makes Christmas what it is remains true regardless of how ready we feel or what we’ve done to prepare. We celebrate Christmas because Jesus, our God, Savior and King, came to earth as a baby. But we often neglect to remember the entire reason he had to come in the first place: Because we could not do what needed to be done.

Read this from Galatians: “When the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship” (4:4,5, emphasis added).

The Bible tells us that the time had fully come for Jesus to be born. But it surely wasn’t because Mary and Joseph were ready. It surely wasn’t because the most amazing inn had its best room available. And it surely wasn’t because the world was a safe place for Jesus. But still, the time had fully come according to God’s plan.

This Advent season, I’m using the letters in the word manger to help remind me that it’s not about what I’ve accomplished in my preparations that makes or breaks the holiday.

M—Motive

The Christmas cards are fun. The decorations are beautiful to look at. The cookies are oh-so delicious. But what’s the why behind your actions? Is it helping to prepare your heart for his coming or is it distracting your focus? Is it enriching the season for your family or is it stressing you and the others in your home out, causing arguments and exhaustion? Are you enjoying your preparations, or do you look at them with a feeling of obligation or dread?

“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10).

A—Ability

Not everyone is Martha Stewart or Joanna Gaines. One of my friends has incredible patience to have her kids help her hand make every Christmas card they send. Another makes the most delicious cookies with unbelievably intricate frosting decorations. Yet another has the financial means to purchase great gifts for everyone and anyone. I am none of the above. But I’m learning to accept that. God made you with your own set of talents and abilities. It’s only an exercise in frustration if you try to magically become someone that you’re not. It’s okay to buy—and not make—the cookies. It’s okay to say no to sending cards. And it’s okay to spend ten meaningful dollars on a gift for someone who you know will spend way more than that on you.

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us” (Romans 12:6).

N—Need

Consider your needs this year. Has it been a rough one financially? Your family members don’t need grandiose gifts to know that you love them. Has work been more stressful than usual? You don’t need to put up thousands of outdoor Christmas lights simply because it’s what you always do. What about your spiritual needs? Do you need to connect with God and dig deeper into the Word before Christmas arrives? Let that be at the top of your to-do list.

“ ‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her’ ” (Luke 10:41,42).

G—Grace

Oh, those troubled relationships, and things only get harder at the holidays. The questions of who will host, when will we eat, what will we eat, when will we go to church, whose Christmas program will the grandparents attend this year. The list goes on and on. Not to mention the idle chit-chat at the get-togethers themselves. It can be exhausting. Even the healthiest, friendliest relationships can be strained under the weight of the season.

Let grace be your guide in these situations. Jesus came to graciously forgive you for all your faults, and he asks you to extend that forgiveness to others for their faults at Christmas and the new year.

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13).

E—Expectations

I remember my first Christmas after becoming a mother. I offered to host Christmas Eve, thinking it would be easier. I had this picture-perfect first Christmas with my babies in my mind. I got them adorable outfits with matching tights, and I decked out the table like something in a Pottery Barn catalog. The day came, and one of the girls needed to be changed before anyone even arrived. I spent what felt like half of the evening in my bedroom nursing and barely sat at the table that I had so carefully decorated to eat. I went to bed crying that night. It didn’t even feel like Christmas because life got in the way. I was expecting a magical day full of lighthearted laughter, great conversation, and babies who followed their schedule perfectly. The celebration of the Savior’s birth, which doesn’t change, was happening right before my eyes, and I could not join in the way I expected.

Evaluate your expectations: Are they realistic? Are you focused on the things of this world that disappoint us time and time again?

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! . . . Do not be anxious about anything. . . . And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4,6,7).

R—Rest

Find time to rest during this Advent and Christmas season. Schedule it if you have to. Say no to working overtime or to that one last commitment that is going to put you over the edge. Instead sit in a chair, eyes closed, and reflect on what Christmas means to you as a child of God. Soak up just how much the Creator of the world loves you.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).

Don’t let the devil’s lies replace the truth about Christmas: The King of the world came as a tiny babe at just the right time to do what we were unable to do for ourselves.

No, Christmas doesn’t depend on us. And for that we can be eternally grateful.

Author: Melissa Anne Kreuser
Volume 108, Number 12
Issue: December 2021

Q&A: Is our time of grace really unchangeable?

David Scharf — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 16:47:46 GMT

Our “time of grace” refers to the time we are alive to come to know Jesus. Is that fixed date really unchangeable? Or do our actions impact it?

The answer to your questions is yes. Yes, God controls when my life ends. Yes, my choices can impact when my life ends. This is a paradox (i.e., a seeming contradiction) of Scripture. We need to let both statements stand because the Bible teaches both.

Avoiding the ditches

Throughout history, many have fallen into the ditch by holding to one of those statements and denying the other.

On one side, Stoics believed that everything is predetermined and that we are merely actors on the stage playing our part according to the script. Many today believe that everything is inevitable because it’s been predetermined. This side denies human accountability in their choices.

On the other side, the Epicureans embraced the idea that everything happens by chance. Deists believe that God set the world in motion with the laws of nature and then withdrew after creation to let the world run its course. These ideas deny God’s loving care for his creation.

The perspective of God’s providence

Job 14:5 says, “A person’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.” From God’s perspective, everything must happen as it does.

God’s care for creation extends to the smallest detail. Jesus said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care” (Matthew 10:29,30). If God were to remove his care and blessing, we would cease to exist “for in him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).

What a comfort to know, “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps” (Proverbs 16:9). What a comfort to confess, “My times are in your hands” (Psalm 31:15). What a comfort to know that the One who holds our time in his hands also held the nails that showed his infinite love for us!

The perspective of human accountability

The previous point may leave us asking, “If everything has to happen as it does, then why try to eat healthy, seek medical treatment, or be concerned about how much sleep we get?”

Scripture’s answer shows that from our perspective, we can impact the length of our lives. Consider King Saul, Ahithophel, and Judas, all of whom committed suicide. Their actions shortened their lives, though God knew the actions they would take. From our perspective, all of us have seen those who abuse their bodies and health in various ways and shorten their lives. Yet their choices were not outside of God’s foreknowledge.

On the side of lengthening life, the Bible records that God revealed to Hezekiah that he would die. However, Hezekiah prayed and God extended his life by 15 years! God tells us that prayer changes things: “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16). Certainly, God takes into consideration the prayers and choices of people and weaves them into his providence and care. He can say, “It all happens just as I knew it would.”

So, where does that leave us? We will care for our bodies as gifts from God to glorify him, while understanding that our times are in the hands of our loving God.

Have a question, ask it here!

Author: David Scharf
Volume 108, Number 12
Issue: December 2021

Bible study: The comfort of God’s providence

David Scharf — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 16:44:05 GMT

God’s providence means that everything happens according to God’s design (even permitting evil to work for the good of his people). It also refers to what God actually does in time. Most often we think of this last item when considering God’s providence over creation. This is where some run into questions when it comes to the evil that exists in the world.

What two questions would you ask God about the presence of evil in the world?

Read Genesis 50:20; Exodus 14:19,20; Psalm 5:4-6; Matthew 10:29-31; Acts 17:28; and 2 Thessalonians 1:6.

How do these passages help answer the questions you developed above? In general, the Genesis passage tells us that God can work through even the evil intent of others to bring about good. Exodus reminds us that God provides protection for his people. That care is detailed and complete as the Matthew passage reminds us. Everything depends on God’s care. But while the Lord continues to preserve this world, the Psalm passage tells us he does not participate in the evil that humanity inflicts on others. In the midst of suffering the message of God’s love and forgiveness in Christ sometimes finds fertile ground and brings joy.

God’s preservation

There are three points of great comfort when considering God’s care for his creation: God’s preservation, God’s cooperation, and God’s governance.

God’s preservation is the fact that God daily cares for and sustains his creation.

One Lutheran church father prayed, “We live not, Lord, on bread alone; Without your blessing, bread is stone.” This is similar to the thought we express in the table prayer, “Come Lord Jesus, be our guest, and let these gifts to us be blessed.” Nothing blesses us except what God provides.

At times God’s preservation is referred to as “continuous creation.” Psalm 104 depicts creation and God’s continual preservation.

Read Psalm 104:10-30.

Pick out three things that God continues to do in order to bless you today.

God’s cooperation

God also cooperates with his creation, that is, he enables creation to function. The apostle Paul says, “In [Jesus] all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17). Without God’s cooperation everything would fall apart. Molecules wouldn’t form, cells wouldn’t bond, and life would cease to exist.

God cooperates with his creation according to the laws of nature he established. It is important to note that God cooperates with every action materially, that is, he does not generally suspend the laws of nature if a person is doing something evil. However, God does not cooperate with evil morally, that is, he is not responsible for someone’s evil intentions.

Considering the passages from the first section, what comforting truths can you share with the victim of an evil act?

God’s governance

Finally, God governs his creation. He directs the affairs of creation to carry out his will. God governs everything so that in the end, his people will be resurrected to live with him forever in a new heaven and a new earth. Since the fall into sin, our world is subject to corruption, but our world—and everything in it—still serves God’s purpose!

Read Genesis 1:26; Psalm 24:1; and Romans 8:18-21.

In a balanced way, answer someone who says, “Mankind is ruining the earth.” The Lord gave humanity a world in which to live and thrive. All that is under his control, but he asks us to be good stewards of our planet and all the blessings he gives us, including our health, family, friends, and all that he has allows us to manage. We manage it to the extent we can control things, but there are things we cannot control either individually or together. Sadly, the record of humanity’s care of earth, and even our own bodies and lives, is marred by greed, selfishness, and thoughtlessness.

Author: David Scharf
Volume 108, Number 12
Issue: December 2021

Parent conversations: How can we help today’s overwhelmed teens?

Dan Nommensen — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 16:16:50 GMT

Being a teen has always involved struggle and angst. The difference today is that a teen’s struggles can be broadcast immediately to an entire world of virtual “friends.” Plus, social media has created a constant need to “perform” that doesn’t go away when a teen steps into his bedroom. A teen’s bedroom has historically been a safe haven. That illusion is shattered when a smartphone keeps flashing notifications, begging a teen to engage, perhaps even reminding him of the mistake from which he’s trying to recover or the people he’s trying to avoid. Dan Nommensen, a Christian counselor who has experience with today’s teens, introduces us to Aimee, an overwhelmed teen who needs help. You may find yourself nodding and realizing that the answer for Aimee’s problems is the same as the answer for your problems and those of the teens you know.

— Nicole Balza

AIMEE KNEW HER life was far from perfect. But she did not want anyone else to know that. She worked at looking good—wearing the right clothes, taking the right classes, hanging with the right friends, posting all the right things. But the pressure to maintain that perfect image took its toll, and depression began to take hold. She lived in fear that people would discover the real Aimee and she would disappoint others—and herself.

Statistics reveal the growing mental health crisis for teens. Depression, anxiety, uncertainty, and other factors are leading to an increase in significant symptoms of distress. Suicide and self-harming behaviors are increasing among our youth, and parents and adults must watch for the warning signs and take action to maintain safety.

Some of us older, more experienced adults know that struggles can be blessings and opportunities to grow closer to God. Unfortunately, any well-intentioned attempt to characterize a teen’s current stress as a blessing will likely be met with, “You just don’t understand!” or worse—complete shutdown. If we do not connect with our teens or if we provide trite advice that makes them feel like their faith isn’t strong enough, we may unintentionally compound the problem.

Our teens’ anxieties around performance expectations can be an opportunity if we wrap our arms around our teens, listen to them, and help them understand they are not alone. If we are honest with ourselves, we all feel an innate pressure to perform. It’s natural. And it started after the fall into sin with the very first human beings who walked the earth.

The root cause of performance pressure

By nature we human beings know we are not perfect, so we turn to a natural law way of thinking (I should, I must). The problem is as old as the first sin. Adam and Eve knew they were not perfect. “They realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves” (Genesis 3:7). Social media is a modern-day fig leaf many teens use, stitching together a protective covering of perfection. Then they find themselves lost in the impossibility of reaching that perfection. Some may begin to realize there is no way they can keep up with all this, and they give up.

The challenges and feelings our teens are wrestling with are actually opportunities to discuss how God’s children respond—or better yet, how God responds on our behalf.

In the case of Adam and Eve, God approached them, asked questions, listened to them, held them accountable, and loved them enough to send them a Savior who would cover their sin and be perfect for them. As God dealt with more of his children in the days, decades, and centuries to come, he used circumstances to point to his solution—Christ. Many of God’s people—from Moses to Hannah to the apostle Paul—wrestled with feelings of inadequacy and were gently led to see or be reminded of God’s grace and his solution in Christ.

Not every adult feels equipped to walk a teen through this process of getting to the root cause of anxiety like Aimee’s. This is where a pastor or Christian counselor can be of assistance. Do not underestimate the seriousness of the situation when performance anxiety begins to turn into depression and crippling anxiety. As part of his loving care for his dear children, God provides spiritual and mental health professionals to help. Psalm 138:7 reminds us, “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life.”

Counseling in light of God’s Word

Aimee met with a Christian counselor. In the course of opening up about her feelings, she began to understand that her efforts were leading her nowhere. She was reminded of her identity as a redeemed child of God and how grace fills any void in her life. As 2 Corinthians 12:9 notes, “‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” Aimee does not need to be perfect. Neither do you. It is okay to have weaknesses. It’s okay to cry. It’s okay to have a bad day.

Aimee learned that her attempts to hide her failures behind social media did not bring the relief she so desperately desired. The fig leaf of social media will never be enough to hide who we truly are. It has the potential to entrap people young and old in a ceaseless effort of performing away our guilt and imperfections, hiding them from view, or pointing out the imperfections in everyone else. It causes us to abandon the recognition of the sin that lives inside of us.

Aimee began to see and appreciate the freedom she has in Christ—a freedom from that law-focused thinking that had gripped her with a need for perfect performance in her life. For Aimee it was a relief to hear the Word of God, to see it pointing to Christ and all he did for her. She was free to be Aimee. Aimee is sinful and does stupid things sometimes, but she is also a forgiven, precious, loved, redeemed child of God. She is a follower of the One who lived that perfect life for her and gave his life as a perfect substitute for her. Aimee now sees herself through the lens of Christ’s perfection—a saint who now lives no longer to perform but to show thanks to God for removing that pressure and guilt that brought her to the depths of despair. And she now has a toolbox of skills to practice whenever she feels tempted to grab a fig leaf.

What helped Aimee through this time? The Word of God shared by someone who took the time to listen, express understanding, and get down into those depths with her as they explored how life can look when we realize our freedom in Christ.

Although the world will offer its solutions—some of them good and helpful—only the Word of God can give us the knowledge that we do not measure up to the perfection that we crave. Only the Word of God can then bring us the good news that we have a Savior who lived that perfect life for us and paid that price for all our sins of the past, present, and future.

Parents, educators, pastors: During this challenging time for teens, remember that this is their opportunity to face disappointment and struggle. Let’s wrap them in love and point them to Christ. We also have a responsibility to watch for symptoms of distress in teens and connect them to resources for help. We will be blessed to see how the Lord leads our teens toward a greater appreciation of their freedom in Christ.

Learn more at christianfamilysolutions.org, including articles for parents and educators and options for seeking professional help when necessary.

Author: Multiple authors
Volume 108, Number 12
Issue: December 2021

Through My Bible Yr 1 – November 30

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 07:00:09 GMT

Through My Bible Yr 1 – November 30

John 16:16-33 (NIV84)

LISTEN HERE

Through My Bible – November 30

Bible reading based on John 16:16-33 (NIV84)
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/through-my-bible/01-1130db.mp3
See series: Through My Bible

¹⁶“In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”

The Disciples’ Grief Will Turn to Joy

¹⁷Some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” ¹⁸They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”

¹⁹Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? ²⁰I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. ²¹A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. ²²So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. ²³In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. ²⁴Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

²⁵“Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. ²⁶In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. ²⁷No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. ²⁸I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”

²⁹Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. ³⁰Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”

³¹“You believe at last!”^[a] Jesus answered. ³²“But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.

³³“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Footnotes:

John 16:31 Or “Do you now believe?”

Jesus Humbles Himself to Tears – November 30, 2021

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 07:00:05 GMT

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” As [Jesus] approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it.
Luke 19:39-41

Jesus Humbles Himself to Tears

Daily Devotion – November 30, 2021

Devotion based on Luke 19:39-41
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20211130dev.mp3
See series: Devotions

Throughout his ministry on earth, Jesus showed his power to control things: the wind, the waves, sickness, disease, evil spirits, and even Satan. He showed that power again on Palm Sunday when he was able to ride a colt that no one had ever ridden. A colt like that typically needs to be broken in. The first time a colt feels the uncomfortable weight of a human on its back, it typically reacts very aggressively, trying to throw that person off. But that’s not what happened. Jesus rode the colt into Jerusalem, and the colt cooperated. Jesus, again, on Palm Sunday, showed himself to be someone who has complete control over absolutely anything.

Remarkably, this all-powerful person was also sympathetic. Today’s Bible reading tells us that he wept when he saw the city of Jerusalem. Why? Because Jesus was well-aware that most of the people in that city would not sing his praises and worship him as their Lord and Savior. They refused to believe he was who he claimed to be. And they would, therefore, spend eternity without him and all the blessings he promises his followers in the life to come.

Jesus’ tears tell us how very much he cares about each and every soul he came to save. That includes you. He loved you enough to ride into Jerusalem, where he would die to pay the price for your sins so you can enjoy his blessings forever in the life to come. What a reason to rejoice! Spend this day celebrating what he has done for you and singing his praises.

Prayer:
Gracious Savior, hear my heartfelt cries for mercy and satisfy the deepest longings of my soul with your perfect love. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Jesus Humbles Himself to Tears – November 30, 2021

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 07:00:05 GMT

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” As [Jesus] approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it.
Luke 19:39-41

Jesus Humbles Himself to Tears

Daily Devotion – November 30, 2021

Devotion based on Luke 19:39-41
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20211130dev.mp3
See series: Devotions

Prayer:
Gracious Savior, hear my heartfelt cries for mercy and satisfy the deepest longings of my soul with your perfect love. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Through My Bible Yr 1 – November 29

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 07:00:57 GMT

Through My Bible Yr 1 – November 29

John 15:26-16:15 (NIV84)

LISTEN HERE

Through My Bible – November 29

Bible reading based on John 15:26-16:15 (NIV84)
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/through-my-bible/01-1129db.mp3
See series: Through My Bible

²⁶“When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. ²⁷And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.

John 16

¹“All this I have told you so that you will not go astray. ²They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. ³They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. ⁴I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you this at first because I was with you.

The Work of the Holy Spirit

⁵“Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ ⁶Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. ⁷But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. ⁸When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt^[a] in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁹in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; ¹⁰in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; ¹¹and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

¹²“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. ¹³But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. ¹⁴He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. ¹⁵All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

Footnotes:

John 16:8 Or will expose the guilt of the world

Jesus Humbles Himself to Serve – November 29, 2021

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 07:00:09 GMT

They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
Luke 19:35-38

Jesus Humbles Himself to Serve

Daily Devotion – November 29, 2021

Devotion based on Luke 19:35-38
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20211129dev.mp3
See series: Devotions

Bojana is the name of a woman who lives in Serbia, and her TV is upside down. So is her computer screen. And her computer keyboard. When she reads a newspaper, she holds it upside down. When people try to correct her, she doesn’t listen to them. When someone hands her a piece of paper to write on, she turns it upside down, starts writing from the right lower corner, and finishes in the upper left. As far as doctors know, there is no one else in the world who is like Bojana. They say she has a rare brain condition called “spatial orientation phenomenon,” which means that her eyes see things the right way, but for some reason, her brain changes them and turns things upside down. What she sees doesn’t exactly show her reality.

Something similar took place on Palm Sunday. God himself was coming into Jerusalem. But it didn’t look the way you might expect. God didn’t look majestic and glorious. He looked like just another human being. He wasn’t surrounded by armies of angels but instead by his very normal-looking disciples. He didn’t ride into town on an impressive stallion or in an expensive chariot. He was riding on a borrowed donkey. What the crowd saw that day with their eyes didn’t exactly show them the full reality of the God who was approaching them.

But what they saw certainly revealed the true nature of our God’s heart. Jesus came in humility. He came to serve. He came to give. He came to save us and forgive us by lowering himself under the full weight of the whole world’s sins. On Palm Sunday, we see our Savior who humbled himself to serve us.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you humbled yourself to serve us as our Savior. May I forever worship you with humility and thanks that properly honors your saving name. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Jesus Humbles Himself to Serve – November 29, 2021

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 07:00:09 GMT

They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
Luke 19:35-38

Jesus Humbles Himself to Serve

Daily Devotion – November 29, 2021

Devotion based on Luke 19:35-38
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20211129dev.mp3
See series: Devotions

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you humbled yourself to serve us as our Savior. May I forever worship you with humility and thanks that properly honors your saving name. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Loved by God – November 28, 2021

Sun, 28 Nov 2021 07:00:54 GMT

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.
1 Thessalonians 3:12

Loved by God

Daily Devotion – November 28, 2021

Devotion based on 1 Thessalonians 3:12
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20211128dev.mp3
See series: Devotions

Early in this letter, the apostle Paul addressed the believers in Thessalonica as those who were “loved by God.” The message Paul preached centered on the love of God. As sinners, all people only deserved to be separated from God and condemned. But God had mercy on the people of this world and sent his only Son, Jesus, to rescue them from the curse of sin and the hold of eternal death. Jesus has taken away the guilt of sin and brought peace between God and people.

When the Holy Spirit uses this good news to work and strengthen faith in Jesus, and the love of God fills our hearts, it has an effect on the way we treat other people. Filled and thrilled with that love of God, Paul prays for the increase of God’s love in the hearts of people. The more our hearts hear the saving truths of God’s Word, the more they are conformed to live according to the love of God. In fact, Paul prays for God’s love to “overflow for each other.” Like a container that is filled to overflowing, so the love that God pours into our hearts is so measureless that it fills us with its goodness and overflows from us into the lives of others.

Filled with God’s kind of love, we are moved to love others the way he loves us: completely, unconditionally, selflessly. We love not only “each other”—those who share our faith and joy in Jesus, but also “everyone else”—even those who may make our life difficult. The love of God we show toward them can make such an impression that they might ask why we treat them so well. Then that’s an opportunity to tell them about the love of God in Jesus!

Prayer:
My God, increase my faith and fill me with your love in Jesus. Give me the ability to let your love generously overflow from my heart into the lives of people all around me. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Loved by God – November 28, 2021

Sun, 28 Nov 2021 07:00:54 GMT

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.
1 Thessalonians 3:12

Loved by God

Daily Devotion – November 28, 2021

Devotion based on 1 Thessalonians 3:12
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20211128dev.mp3
See series: Devotions

Prayer:
My God, increase my faith and fill me with your love in Jesus. Give me the ability to let your love generously overflow from my heart into the lives of people all around me. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Through My Bible Yr 1 – November 28

Sun, 28 Nov 2021 07:00:18 GMT

Through My Bible Yr 1 – November 28

John 15:9-25 (NIV84)

LISTEN HERE

Through My Bible – November 28

Bible reading based on John 15:9-25 (NIV84)
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/through-my-bible/01-1128db.mp3
See series: Through My Bible

⁹“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. ¹¹I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. ¹²My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. ¹⁴You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruitófruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. ¹⁷This is my command: Love each other.

The World Hates the Disciples

¹⁸“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. ¹⁹If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. ²⁰Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’^[a] If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. ²¹They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me. ²²If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin. ²³He who hates me hates my Father as well. ²⁴If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. ²⁵But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’^[b]

Footnotes:

John 15:20 John 13:16
John 15:25 Psalms 35:19; 69:4

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 22:52:55 GMT

668 – Blended Learning

welstechpodcast@wels.net (WELS) — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 20:17:47 GMT

We’re back with another lively edition of WELSTech featuring the co-hosts with the most – Rachel Feld and Jason Schmidt. Jason shares details about his upcoming WELS Education Conference presentation, Rachel isn’t losing her keys, and Martin shares an online video creation tool. Plus there’s job opportunities, professional development, and much more to explore. Join the conversation!

The discussion

Blended Learning – Voice, Choice, Pace, and Place – Tools to Support Blended Learning is the title of Jason Schmidt’s presentation at the upcoming WELS Education Conference. Jason shares details of what participants can expect in this timely session. The conference will take place June 20-22, 2022 at the Ingleside Hotel in Pewaukee, WI.

News in tech

Upgrade to the New Windows 11 OS

WELS now

Amazing Grace Virtual Academy is hiring – Contact AGVA superintendent Dr. Jim Grunwald, for details on teaching opportunities and a part-time administrative opening

Coming up next on WELSTech

Share the joy of Christmas.

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Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 19:23:33 GMT

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 15:15:56 GMT

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 15:33:35 GMT

Thu, 11 Nov 2021 18:57:03 GMT

Wed, 10 Nov 2021 16:22:55 GMT

667 – Policy & Procedures

welstechpodcast@wels.net (WELS) — Tue, 09 Nov 2021 20:37:58 GMT

WELSTech this week answers the why, what, who, how and where questions around policies and procedures for church and school. There’s also much to share about Adobe, the iPad mini, Christmas concert date announcements, and free tools for organizing goals and meetings. Plus, the WELSTech mailbag is full!

The discussion

The time is now – Martin and Sallie share encouraging words for churches and schools to consider the many policies and procedures needed to effectively ensure security and privacy, document processes, and support members, employees and volunteers with the highest standards and consistency.

News in tech

How to Edit your PDFs in Your Browser Using Adobe Acrobat

WELS now

Mark your calendars for December Christmas concerts, either in-person or live streamed

Martin Luther College – Saturday, December 4 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, December 5 at 4:00 pm
Wisconsin Lutheran College – Sunday, December 12 at 3:00 and 7:00 pm

Picks of the week

Ministry resources

EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) Overview – free tools for organizing goals, meetings, and more, related to ideas from Traction by Gino Wickman.
WELSTech Episodes 373a and 373b – Christmas Around the World – includes discussion from World Missions Administrator, Pastor Larry Schlomer, about their use of EOS tools in organizing the work of World Missions.

Community feedback

Sharon Ragner from Fox Valley Lutheran High School wrote in with feedback on Episode 665 – Web Design Principles.
- W3C Accessibility Fundamentals Overview
- School Website Accessibility
Julia Wagenknect from Faith Lutheran Church in Anchorage, AK is looking for logo help for their preschool
- Episode 665 includes a list of website designers who may be able to help
- Also check out graphic artists Corissa Nelson (corissanelsonart.com) and Ian Welch (www.ianmwelch.com/design)

Next time

We’re joined by Rachel Feld and Jason Schmidt for details on edtech at the Ed Conf!

Get involved

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Image by u_gzwjc5ts from Pixabay

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 14:46:05 GMT

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 20:32:13 GMT

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 19:56:34 GMT

665 – Web Design Principles

welstechpodcast@wels.net (WELS) — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 19:29:16 GMT

This episode of WELSTech is all about web design. Listen for tips and areas of focus to enhance your ongoing website efforts, web designer leads, if you choose to go that route, a color pallet tool, and an online conference topic about digital outreach. Plus, Sallie is searching tabs and Martin’s getting rid of distractions. WELSTech goodness awaits!

The discussion

Website designers

Jonathan Ruddat – accomplishingsuccessllc.com
Becky Atkinson – basicallydigital.net
Eric Mueller – pixeleric.com
Emma Hislop – emmahislop.com
Diahann Lohr – adunate.com
Alli Pappathopolous – twelvetwocreative.com
Dana Kirchoff – danamkirchoff.com – Episode 651 interview

No finish line – The design process for your church or school website is never done. Martin and Sallie discuss concepts covered in Adobe XD’s Web Page Design: A Comprehensive Guide.

WebAIM Contrast Checker
WELS is hiring a web designer. Learn more and apply!

News in tech

Apple Air Pods

WELS now

From WELS Congregational Services – The Foundation is a new set of resources that helps churches allow the gospel message heard in worship to echo throughout the week, edifying God’s people. Year C Advent and Christmas resources are available for download at https://welscongregationalservices.net/the-foundation! Learn more …

Picks of the week

Search tabs & more … Top 15 Google Chrome tips and tricks
Hide all other windows – Windows: Windows Key + Home | Mac: Option + Cmd +H
- Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts
- Mac keyboard shortcuts

Ministry resources

Adobe Color

Community feedback

Gospel Outreach with Media (www.gowm.org) online conference is Live – now through November 8

Digital Front Page Evangelism – Redeemer, Fond du Lac sample

Next time

We’re talking policies and procedures – the why, what, who, how, and where!

Get involved

Add comments
Send us an e-mail welstech@wels.net
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- WELSTech Google Group
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664 – Personal Knowledge Management

welstechpodcast@wels.net (WELS) — Tue, 12 Oct 2021 19:28:51 GMT

In this episode of WELSTech we’re introduced to PKM, an organization method for notes, research, and ideas. In addition, we’re talking about humane technology, sharing Kindle books, and prayer options in the YouVersion Bible app. Plus Martin gives us a mini-German lesson!

The discussion

A new acronym – Martin shares insights regarding Personal Knowledge Management (PKM). Organizing notes and ideas in a digital “zettelkasten” allows for deeper thinking, leading to expanded knowledge and wisdom.

News in tech

Facebook, WhatsApp outage shows danger of relying on one company for messaging

WELS now

Humane Technology for Lutheran Worship
WELS Technology is hiring a Security Analyst and a Technical Support Specialist. Learn more and apply!

Picks of the week

Ministry resources

YouVersion’s Prayer options

Community feedback

Bible crosswords
- Create your own
  - Crossword Generator
  - Crossword Hobbyist
- Bible crossword sources
  - Christian Bible Reference
  - Bible Puzzles
Gospel Outreach with Media (www.gowm.org) online conference starts October 18 and runs through November 8
Check out WELSTech’s new Video tab

Get involved

Add comments
Send us an e-mail welstech@wels.net
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- WELSTech Google Group
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Feature image by Erol Ahmed on Unsplash

Mon, 04 Oct 2021 14:44:15 GMT

663 – #edu22

welstechpodcast@wels.net (WELS) — Wed, 29 Sep 2021 13:39:22 GMT

Welcome to the season opener of WELSTech! We’ve packed this special episode with our favorite edtech guest hosts, exciting announcements about the upcoming WELS Education Conference, a first-hand review of the iPhone 13, lots of Logitech love, and a new Christian Worship digital lectionary. All this, and you can consume it in either audio or video format! Fancy like!!

The discussion

It’s a full house on WELSTech today as Martin and Sallie kick off a new season and are joined once again by our favorite education technology guest hosts, Professor Rachel Feld from Martin Luther College and Jason Schmidt, Executive Director of Wisconsin Virtual School.

And if that wasn’t enough excitement, WELSTech is re-introducing video! Our audio podcast continues without a blip, but now listeners will have the option to be watchers, if they prefer video!

The interview

WELS Education Conference – Paul Patterson from WELS Lutheran Schools joins the conversation to share some of the first details about the upcoming WELS Education Conference, June 20-22, 2022 at the Ingleside Hotel in Pewaukee, WI. Under the theme United in Christ, Diverse in Service, attendees will choose from topics in six strands – Feedback and Assessment, Higher Order Thinking, Student Achievement, Student Centered Classroom, Social Emotional Learning, and Leadership in Ministry. There’s much for educators to get excited about!

News in tech

Martin reviews the iPhone 13 Pro.
Revisit the green vs blue discussion on WELSTech 611 – iBullying

Picks of the week

Logitech Combo Touch Keyboard
Logitech C922x Pro Stream webcam
Silhouette Cameo
Getting Into Vlogging & the RODE Wireless Go II portable mic

Ministry resources

New Christian Worship hymnal digital lectionary
Search “WELS” in your favorite podcast tool for all the great devotional content produced as podcasts. You’ll find us on Apple, Spotify, Google Podcasts and Stitcher.

Community feedback

In a comment on Episode 420, Erica Chapman gave a special shoutout to Pastor David Witte’s Through My Bible podcast.
Christ In Media is back with an XR Project and Festival plus the annual Gospel Outreach with Media online conference.

Coming up next on WELSTech

Learn a new acronym – PKM – and the ideas behind Personal Knowledge Management.

Get involved

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Wed, 29 Sep 2021 00:46:48 GMT

Mon, 27 Sep 2021 18:22:50 GMT

662 – From LEGOs to Email

welstechpodcast@wels.net (WELS) — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 14:26:20 GMT

WELSTech is back with LEGO news and a wrap up of the book discussion of A World Without Email. Martin shares a free tool for creating diagrams and flowcharts, and the community mail bag includes the ability to ride along with a raindrop. Did we mention LEGOs?

The discussion

Every techie loves LEGOs, so it’s appropriate we offer huge WELSTech congrats to Caleb and Jacob Schilling, WELS members recently featured on Season 2 of LEGO Masters.

Protocols & Specialization – Martin and Sallie conclude the discussion of A World Without Email by Cal Newport with practical suggestions for improving workflow and moving away from the hyperactive hive mind way of working.

Listen to the entire book discussion

Picks of the week

Community feedback

WELS RSS feeds
River Runner
Bible Lesson Media Resources
WELS Communication microphone recommendations
- Wired – Sony ECM-44B
- Electro-Voice RE50/B

Coming next on WELSTech

A new season of WELSTech kicks off, loaded with all kinds of WELSTech goodness, of course! We welcome guest hosts Rachel Feld and Jason Schmidt as well as Paul Patterson from the Lutheran Schools Office who will preview the upcoming WELS Education Conference 2022. All that, and we’re adding video to the show too!

Get involved

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Tue, 07 Sep 2021 12:57:19 GMT

Tue, 07 Sep 2021 12:49:52 GMT

661 – Adding Value to Information

welstechpodcast@wels.net (WELS) — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 19:10:44 GMT

This week on WELSTech, we resume the book discussion of A World Without Email by Cal Newport with chapters 4 & 5, all about knowledge work processes. Martin shares his first blog post in a “Getting Into Vlogging” series, and Sallie has news about free Bible verse motion video content for church screens.

Ford assembly line, 1913 – via Wikipedia

The discussion

WELSTech is adding a blog. Subscribe today to receive updates!

Manage the Workflow – Martin and Sallie share thoughts on chapters 4 & 5 of A World Without Email by Cal Newport, which begins to explore improved options for knowledge workers to offset the hyperactive hive mind.

Picks of the week

Faithlife Bible Screen – featured on Church Tech Today
Getting Into Vlogging – Part 1
- SonyZV-1 review

Community feedback

From WELS Intersections – a discussion about a recent Carey Nieuwhof podcast on Everything You Need to Know About Church Online
Anker Docking Station
YouTube Premium
ViewPure.com
From Free Tech 4 Teachers – 5 Ways to Display YouTube in Class

Coming next on WELSTech

The book discussion concludes with a discussion of chapters 6 & 7 and the conclusion of A World Without Email by Cal Newport.

Get involved

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660 – Is Email Making Us Miserable?

welstechpodcast@wels.net (WELS) — Tue, 17 Aug 2021 19:46:54 GMT

The WELSTech book discussion of A World Without Email by Cal Newport continues this week with chapters 2 & 3. Martin is excited about a new bookmark manager that ends a multi-year search for a suitable tool. And Sallie is off in space maintaining the stations.

The discussion

A Mind of Its Own – Martin and Sallie dive into chapters 2 & 3 of A World Without Email by Cal Newport, which look at the genesis of email and similar technologies and how tech can take on its own, unexpected usage and consequences.

Picks of the week

Lockdown Productivity: Spaceship You
Raindrop.io bookmark manager

Community feedback

Coming next on WELSTech

The book discussion continues as we look at chapters 4 & 5 of A World Without Email by Cal Newport.

Get involved

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Thu, 12 Aug 2021 15:10:25 GMT

659 – Are You Checking Your Email Again?

welstechpodcast@wels.net (WELS) — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 14:39:49 GMT

After a bit of a hiatus, WELSTech is back, and we’re kicking off a book discussion of A World Without Email by Cal Newport. Google goodness, more reading, and tech-in-ministry practical solutions for network management and video editing round out the rest of the show.

The discussion

Martin and Sallie start a new book discussion of A World Without Email by Cal Newport. Pastor Peter Hagen shared the book idea after listening to an author interview on episode 403 of the Carey Nieuwhof podcast. Today we cover the Introduction and Chapter 1, and we learn about the “Hyperactive Hive Mind.”

Picks of the week

Google Goodness
- Learn to use Google’s Applied Digital Skills in your curriculum in upcoming professional development training
- 16-Day Organize Your Google Drive YouTube playlist
- Digital Binder for Technology
Deep Work by Cal Newport

Community feedback

Coming next on WELSTech

The book discussion continues as we look at chapters 2 & 3 of A World Without Email by Cal Newport.

Get involved

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Share with the Diigo group welstech
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My question deals with the consumption of alcohol. I believe drinking is ok if done responsibly, but my friend believes any alcohol consumption is a sin. The friend believes that the word "wine" in the Bible has different meanings such as to be happy or joyful. The friend always uses the example that God would never say a little viewing of pornography is fine, just don't overdo it. He takes the case that the over- consumption of alcohol can lead to sinful acts. He also believes that Jesus wouldn't had wine at the Lord's Supper only juice. How do you address this train of thought?

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 18:14:08 GMT

I would encourage your friend to focus on clear passages of Scripture. The Bible does not condemn the use of alcohol (Psalm 104:14-15; 1 Timothy 5:23). It condemns the abuse of alcohol (Romans 13:13; 1 Corinthians 6:10; Ephesians 5:18). If wine itself were sinful, Jesus would certainly not have miraculously changed water into wine at the wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11). Under the Old Testament ceremonial laws, God even commanded the use of wine with offerings (Exodus 29:40; Number 28:7). Think of the implications of that. In biblical days in Palestine, people regularly mixed wine with water to purify the water. We know from history that wine was part of the celebration of the Passover meal. Since the institution of the Lord’s Supper took place during the celebration of the Passover meal, the “fruit of the vine” (Matthew 26:29) was a part of it. Any grapes that had been harvested in the previous fall and pressed into juice would most likely have been going through the fermentation process in the following spring (when Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper). What your friend says about pornography is true: God does not approve of that in large or small amounts. Equating the moderate consumption of alcohol to pornography is where your friend’s argument collapses. Nowhere does the Bible say that any alcohol consumption is a sin. Christians are free not to consume alcohol or to consume it in moderation. They are not free to bind the consciences of others with their opinions. Ref. Conquerors through Christ website serves those affected by porn use. You may subscribe to the CtC e-Newsletter and visit CtC on Facebook.

I often give in to the sin of watching porn and feel bad and pray to God apologizing and get Communion, then end up falling into temptation again and repeating. I know if you ask for forgiveness but repeat it then it's not being truly repentant. I want to stop and feel super bad if I don't take Communion, but know I will sooner or later fall back into my old ways. What should I do? I don't feel right talking to my pastor about it either.

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 18:13:02 GMT

If you do not feel that you can talk to your pastor about this, I would encourage you to check out the resources, including counselors, available through Conquerors Through Christ, an agency within WELS. Conquerors through Christ website serves those affected by porn use. You may subscribe to the CtC e-Newsletter and visit CtC on Facebook. As with any sin, we confess our sins to God, we receive in faith God’s forgiveness of our sins and we resolve to fight all the more against sin and temptation. Your words indicate you recognize this. Your words also reflect the ongoing battle that goes on within Christians (Romans 7:15-25). The website can provide you with practical resources to assist you in your battle against temptation. What follows is one of their FAQs: “OK – so maybe I am addicted. Now what do I do? 1.Pray. Tell God about what you have been doing. It shouldn’t be all that hard, after all, He already knows. He’s just waiting for you to come to him so he can tell you that he loves you and has forgiven you. 2.Watch our videos and explore the web site— they summarize the steps to follow to get porn out of your life. 3.Take the hardest step—tell someone—your pastor, a trusted friend, your spouse, or a Christian counselor. This is a sin we can almost guarantee you will not be able to ‘fix’ on your own. You will need help. But the good news is there IS help available. But you must seek it out. Satan will seek to keep you isolated and weak. Don’t let him. 4.Seek ongoing support in the form of counseling and accountability. This is a battle and Satan will not let his grip on you go without a tremendous struggle. 5.Thank God for the victories and cry for mercy for any failures along the way.” God bless all your efforts in saying “No” to sin and “Yes” to godly living (Titus 2:12).

Hello. My question might be confusing but please bear with me. I have been a believer in Christ for some time now. I’m also a fan and avid watcher of Japanese anime. Yet I struggle with addiction to pornography, including lusting after the girls in anime, or I should say the sexually explicit form of the medium known as hentai. I strive to break free from the addiction and treat the girls in anime with love as I would girls in the real world. Further complicating matters, I suffer from OCD, which is a mental disorder that causes doubt and unwanted thoughts. The OCD has caused me bad ideas that anime girls will be cursed by God due to all of the time I lusted after them. So my question is: would God curse anime girls by changing them in any negative way for me as punishment for my sin? Thank you for taking the time to read and respond to this question.

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 18:12:29 GMT

You do not need to be concerned about God cursing animated characters because of your actions. The characters are not real. The real concern is your addiction to pornography. I would encourage you to check out the helpful resources that are available from Conquerors Through Christ. Conquerors through Christ website serves those affected by porn use. You may subscribe to the CtC e-Newsletter and visit CtC on Facebook. If you are interested in speaking with a Christian counselor, Christian Family Solutions offers in-person and video counseling. Both organizations are WELS-affiliated ministries. God’s blessings to you as you seek to do what Scripture says: “ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8).

Pastor, I have a question that has made me very confused and unworthy of being loved by God. I have long tried to get rid of the feelings towards the same gender, but they do not go away. I have prayed to God, but the feelings remain. I have not acted on these feelings and will never do so, but they never go away. They are a part of me, but that doesn’t mean I am not a follower of God. What should I do? I feel alone. I’m scared that I am not enough and will be left when he comes.

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 18:11:42 GMT

Facing temptation has been the human experience since the Garden of Eden. Jesus himself “has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15). The sources of Jesus’ temptations were Satan and the world. In addition to those sources, there is a third source of temptation for every person but Jesus; people possess a sinful nature, an ally of Satan. Being exposed to temptation does not make a person guilty of sin; giving in to temptation is sinful (James 1:14-15). By not acting on the feelings you have, I understand that you recognize these truths. The sad reality is that these sources of temptation are lifelong; they do not go away. That means the person who struggles with the temptation to abuse alcohol or the person who fights against the temptation to use pornography or the person who combats the temptation to lust after another person of the opposite sex or the same sex may have to do so for a lifetime. This is not a hopeless reality by any means. After the apostle Paul described his struggles in fighting temptation (Romans 7:15-24), he exclaimed, “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:25) There is forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ. There is power through the gospel of Jesus Christ to live godly lives. What I can suggest is that you speak with your pastor or other trusted Christian counselor to develop strategies in combating the temptations you face. If you are not able to speak with your pastor about this, you might consider the resources of Christian Family Solutions, a WELS-affiliated ministry. The organization offers in-person and video counseling. Conquerors through Christ website serves those affected by porn use. You may subscribe to the CtC e-Newsletter and visit CtC on Facebook. You understand your situation correctly: facing the temptations you do does not mean that you are not a follower of God. Christians enjoy the forgiveness of sins, yet they struggle against temptation. Thanks be to God that Jesus Christ lived perfectly in our place and that he took on himself the punishment our sins deserved. Thanks be to God for a Savior who “empathizes with our weaknesses” (Hebrews 4:15) and “gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak” (Isaiah 40:29). God’s blessings to you.

658 – Dan Schmidt

welstechpodcast@wels.net (WELS) — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 18:21:55 GMT

On WELSTech this week we wrap up the summer “techy-Sem-theses” interview series with recent Sem graduate, Pastor Dan Schmidt, on today’s gospel ministry in a time of dramatically changing media. App and YouTube picks plus a full calendar of WELS events round out this episode. The interview Martin and Sallie talk with Pastor Dan Schmidt, […]

Mon, 28 Jun 2021 14:19:23 GMT

657 – Caleb Schaewe

welstechpodcast@wels.net (WELS) — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 19:00:17 GMT

Our summer WELSTech interview series continues. This week we talk with recent Sem graduate, Pastor Caleb Schaewe, about the blessings and opportunities around a Christian’s use of social media and the pastor’s role in nurturing it. The interview A recent graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (WLS), Pastor Caleb Schaewe was assigned to serve Shepherd of […]

656 – Dominick Olson

welstechpodcast@wels.net (WELS) — Tue, 08 Jun 2021 19:00:58 GMT

On this episode of WELSTech we kick off a series of interviews with recent graduates of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary on their tech-in-ministry related senior theses topics. First up, we look at the role virtual reality might play in future ministry efforts. The interview Pastor Dominick Olson recently graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (WLS) and was […]

655 – COVID In The Rearview Mirror

welstechpodcast@wels.net (WELS) — Tue, 25 May 2021 19:30:51 GMT

On this episode of WELSTech, we close out the school year with guest hosts Rachel and Jason by reflecting on lessons learned. The picks of the week cover everything from scheduling to audio books to texting tools, with a little gaming bonus as well. Rachel shares Bible lesson A/V resources she’s compiled and details about […]

If I'm reading the Athanasian Creed correctly, it says a belief in the Trinity is necessary for salvation. Could you please elaborate on this a little bit? How could a person be lost if they don't believe in the Trinity, which is a difficult concept for people to comprehend. I believe in the Trinity, but I've always found the Athanasian Creed a bit troubling because I do not fully understand how a belief in the Trinity relates to the Gospel. Maybe it is simply because the Athanasian Creed was written to combat heresies that said Jesus was only a man?

Fri, 14 May 2021 20:13:56 GMT

You are reading and understanding the Athanasian Creed correctly. The Bible teaches that there is salvation only through faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). As you suggested, the Athanasian Creed was written to combat heresies that Jesus is inferior to God the Father. If Jesus is not God, then God is not triune; a denial of Jesus is a denial of the Father (John 5:22-23). The doctrine of the Trinity certainly “is a difficult concept for people to comprehend.” Thankfully, saving faith does not mean that people need to understand all the complexities of biblical doctrines. Saving faith is trust, acceptance and reliance on what God declares about himself and his works (Hebrews 11:1). Saving faith is trust in the God the Bible, who reveals himself in Scripture as a triune God. The Athanasian Creed does not condemn Christians who struggle to understand a God who is far superior to them in every way. The Athanasian Creed does condemn those who deny the deity of Christ and the doctrine of the Trinity.

Does an adult have to be confirmed before they can be baptized?

Fri, 14 May 2021 19:44:23 GMT

Recognizing that the Bible does not command Confirmation, the answer is “no.” Because there is Christian freedom in this area, practices will vary. Some adults might want to wait until their course of Bible instruction is completed before they are baptized. Others might desire to be baptized as they learn about God’s love for them and the blessings of Baptism. Our pastors will work with adults and treat each situation individually.

My granddaughter is 11 years old and is just going to be baptized. How do I explain to her what she all needs to know? She has had no religious teaching. Her parents are separated and so far has had a hard life. The only reason she is getting baptized now is because I said I would like to see her baptized before I pass away. Help.

Fri, 14 May 2021 19:34:54 GMT

You can count on your pastor to explain to your granddaughter what Baptism is all about. You can tell her that God works through Baptism to guarantee the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. You can share Bible passages like the following with her: Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Galatians 3:26-27; Titus 3:5-7; and, 1 Peter 3:21. God’s blessings to you both!

Fri, 14 May 2021 14:06:30 GMT

I was talking to someone who told me that the Bible says that people can put a curse on me. He also said that in the Bible there is a prayer that will remove a curse. How do I answer that? I have read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation a number of times but never read this about curses. Can you give me some information about curses in the Bible?

Thu, 13 May 2021 20:15:08 GMT

According to the Bible, cursing is using God’s name to wish evil on someone or something. God’s Second Commandment forbids such speech and actions (Romans 12:14; James 3:10). A curse spoken against you, a child of God, amounts to idle words. God is not bound to carry out the whims and wishes of people who act contrary to his will (Psalm 109:28). Romans 8:31-39 describes God’s strong, enduring love for his children. I am not aware of the prayer that was mentioned to you.

I recently heard of something called the Euthyphro Dilemma in Plato's Dialogue, which paraphrased, asks the question, "Are morally good acts good because God commands them or does God command them because they are good?" The dilemma is designed to somehow separate God and "religion" from morality, and basically suggests that morality is independent of religion. I know this is wrong, as I understand that everything God commands is perfect and holy. I am just wondering what a good counter argument to this dilemma is.

Thu, 13 May 2021 19:38:44 GMT

Any discussion of “good” starts and ends with God. Jesus explained, “There is only One who is good” (Matthew 19:17). “Good” does not exist because God says so. There is good in the world because God is good. The “counter argument” would focus not on the words of God but the essence of God. Our Great Heritage addresses your question this way: “The question has been asked: Does God decree the good because it is good? Or is the good good because God decreed it? The answer must be: Neither. God is not subject to any standard or idea of good over and above himself; nor does he arbitrarily decree that anything should be good, while he might perhaps just as well declare the very opposite to be good. Rather, God, who is, is perfection in every respect.” (Volume 1, page 498)

After Satan's fall from heaven, why did God put Satan on earth in Paradise with Adam and Eve instead of another part of the universe without life?

Wed, 12 May 2021 20:35:03 GMT

God banished Satan and all the evil angels to hell after they rebelled against him (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6). In his wisdom, God allows the fallen angels and their leader to roam the earth (Job 1:7; 2:2; 1 Peter 5:8). In his wisdom, God allowed Satan to tempt Eve in the Garden of Eden—as you noted. In the Bible, God does not explain his actions, nor does he need to (Romans 11:33-36). What the Bible does teach is that God controls Satan’s activities (Revelation 20:3), and the day is coming when Satan and all the evil angels will be confined to hell forever (Revelation 20:10). That ultimate confinement will take place because Jesus successfully carried out his mission of destroying the devil’s work (1 John 3:8).

I am curious about the WELS stance on use of the enneagram, which has become popularized in many churches. Thanks.

Wed, 12 May 2021 19:54:29 GMT

There is no official position or stance of our church body regarding the use of the enneagram. While I am not in a position to endorse fully this assessment of that practice, the information illustrates how a confessional Lutheran church body approaches the subject.

654 – More iDols

welstechpodcast@wels.net (WELS) — Tue, 11 May 2021 18:44:57 GMT

On this episode of WELSTech we feature the second half of our iDols interview with Pastor Christopher Ewings. There’s also discussion of a hardware solution for fast internet, great deals on the Microsoft suite of tools, using Facebook Groups for private church connections, stock imagery, and newsletters. And our synod schools are sharing graduation and […]

This is a comment, don't know where else to put it. Whoever wrote today's Daily Devotion (5/6/21), I want to express my gratitude to that person. It was one of the best I have seen posted! Thank you and may God bless you all richly. Google News has posted several of your articles! Accidentally saw them as I don't go there often.

Mon, 10 May 2021 19:05:53 GMT

Thank you for your kind words. I will pass along your words of appreciation to the author of the devotion.

What is our (WELS) official position on Critical Race Theory?

Mon, 10 May 2021 19:00:51 GMT

You will find “official position” statements of our church body here. Those statements do not address the subject of your inquiry.

What does the Bible say about necromancy?

Mon, 10 May 2021 18:52:57 GMT

The Bible clearly condemns the practice of trying to communicate with those who have died. Consider the following sections of Scripture. “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD; because of these same detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the LORD your God. The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so” (Deuteronomy 18:10-14). “When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn” (Isaiah 8:19-20).

One of my closest friends told me that Satan can be redeemed and still have some good inside him even though he's pure evil. I had some conflicts because of her explanation and I wanted to be sure: is this true?

Thu, 06 May 2021 19:42:39 GMT

There is no possibility of redemption for Satan and all the evil angels. Jude 6 explains: “And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.” Revelation 20:10 describes that judgment: “And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Jesus also spoke of that judgment in Matthew 25:41.

If a Christian is cremated and their ashes are, say, sprinkled all over the place (e.g. little in WI, MI, SD, MN) etc...where will our body come out when we hear Jesus? Should a Christian's ashes not be sprinkled around, but rather kept together in one burial place?

Thu, 06 May 2021 19:24:27 GMT

The Bible describes the resurrection—and transformation of the bodies of all Christians—as being instantaneous (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). The God who made all things from nothing (Genesis 1) will raise the bodies of all who have died and reunite bodies and souls (John 5:28-29). Nothing is impossible for our all-powerful God (Jeremiah 32:27). Followers of the Lord enjoy Christian freedom to choose between cremation or traditional burial. The Bible does not address the subject of dividing the cremains.

What can you tell me about Todd Friel [Wretched Radio], John MacArthur, or Colin A. Miller? I have watch several of their YouTube videos and they seem sound, but I would like a WELS opinion. Thank you.

Tue, 04 May 2021 19:25:12 GMT

Like the apostle Paul (Philippians 1:18), we can rejoice whenever—and by whomever—the gospel of Jesus Christ is proclaimed. At the same time, Scripture instructs us to “watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.” (Romans 16:17) A brief look at the websites of the ministries of the first two individuals reveals errors regarding the Bible’s teaching of the End Times. There is also the denial of the sacraments as means of grace. I was not able to find doctrinal statements for the third individual you mentioned.

Why doesn’t WELS promote The Chosen series on the life and ministry of Jesus?

Tue, 04 May 2021 18:37:25 GMT

Not promoting that series is consistent with our church body’s policy of not taking an official position on books, movies or television shows. Occasionally, Forward in Christ offers reviews of books published by Northwestern Publishing House.

How do I respond to a family member’s gay wedding invite?

Sat, 01 May 2021 00:28:46 GMT

Romans 14:14, 23 teaches us not to act contrary to our conscience. If you are convinced that it would be wrong for you even to attend the ceremony, then it would be wrong for you. On the other hand, you might be convinced that you can, in good conscience, attend the ceremony. Your attendance or absence from the ceremony is not the most important matter here. More important is what you communicate to your family member about your presence or absence. If you choose to attend, you can explain that you came because you love your family member, not because you agree with same-sex marriages. On the other hand, if you choose not to attend, you can explain to your family member that you thought through how best to show love to him or her and also stand up for the truths of Scripture, and you settled on not attending. The decision on what to do with the wedding invitation is entirely yours. Most important is what you communicate to your family member regarding your decision. Speak the truth in love to your family member (Ephesians 4:15), provide Christian witness and example, and keep your relative in your prayers. God bless you.

Why did God make the world belong to the devil when He was able to defeat the devil?

Fri, 30 Apr 2021 23:56:28 GMT

Because God is all-powerful, he certainly could have prevented the fall of the angels and the subsequent fall of Adam and Eve. God does not explain why he did not prevent those falls—nor is he obligated to do so (Romans 11:33-36). After the devil led Adam and Eve into sin, God promised a Savior (Genesis 3:15). That Savior would crush Satan one day. By his holy life, sacrificial death and glorious resurrection, Jesus did crush Satan. The devil’s final defeat will take place on the Last Day, when he will be confined to hell forever (Revelation 20:10). Until the Last Day, Satan retains power and influence as allowed by God (Job 1:12; 2:6). Because of his power and influence, the devil has the title “the prince of this world.” (John 12:31). As mentioned previously, the day will come when that “prince” will be crushed completely and be unable to bother God’s people anymore. Until that time, God’s people recognize the power and evil intent of Satan (1 Peter 5:8), and they use the spiritual weapons God has given them to be successful in warding off the old evil foe (Ephesians 6:10-18; James 4:7).

If I get cremated, will my soul go to heaven and on Judgment Day my ashes be made back into my body even though I have no skeleton? If I choose cremation, is that OK with God?

Fri, 30 Apr 2021 00:09:47 GMT

When a Christian dies, the soul immediately goes to heaven (Ecclesiastes 12:7; Luke 23:43; Hebrews 9:27). Burial or cremation take place after that. Choosing cremation over traditional burial will not affect your eternal relationship with God. After sin entered the world, God announced to Adam, “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return” (Genesis 3:19). As the wages of sin (Romans 6:23), death would be the common experience for people, and the body would begin the process of decomposition at death. In the end, cremation essentially speeds up the process that occurs with burial. Regardless of cremation or burial, “…a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his [Jesus’] voice and come out” (John 5:28-29). Since the Bible is silent on the subject of cremation, Christians are free to choose burial or cremation.

What does WELS teach about Melchizedek's birth, death and his priesthood?

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 23:45:47 GMT

Hebrews 7:3 explains that we do not know anything about the beginning or end of Melchizedek’s life. He appears and disappears on the pages of Scripture. Melchizedek served as “priest of God Most High” (Genesis 14:18). As priest, he served the only true God, the God of the Bible. More than that, Melchizedek served as king (Genesis 14:18). That was unusual because a person served as a priest or a king but not both. By serving in those offices, Melchizedek pointed ahead to Jesus, who is Prophet, Priest and King.

653 – iDols

welstechpodcast@wels.net (WELS) — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 20:24:44 GMT

This week WELSTech welcomes Pastor Christopher Ewings and a discussion of the Christian’s relationship and use of today’s technology. Martin and Sallie go retro with picks and resources that have stood the test of time. And Sallie says good bye … to Wisconsin. The interview The ultimate technology guru – Pastor Christopher Ewings from Faith […]

Does a person have to be baptized to go to heaven?

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 00:45:56 GMT

No. Think of all the Old Testament believers who were not baptized—as Baptism had not yet been instituted. Jesus stated that it is the lack of faith, not Baptism, that condemns (Mark 16:16). We speak of Baptism being necessary in the sense that the Lord commands us to administer it. However, Baptism not absolutely necessary for salvation because the Holy Spirit can bring people to saving faith in Jesus through the gospel in Word alone. In situations like that, people will still want to be baptized—to do what Jesus says and to receive, in addition to the message of the Bible, another guarantee of God’s love and forgiveness in Christ.

With the gaining popularity of people obtaining concealed carry permits, I would like to ask WELS' stance on potential lethal use of a weapon. My thoughts are that in Exodus 22:1-3 lethal force can be used if yours or your family's lives are in danger, but not if it is clear the threat is non-life-threatening. In either case, it should only be used as a last resort.

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 00:39:35 GMT

The Hebrew word in the Fifth Commandment (Exodus 20:13 and Deuteronomy 5:17) prohibits murder—the illegal and inappropriate ending of human life—and does not forbid all taking of life. So, for example, governments can rightly implement capital punishment (Romans 13:4) if they so choose. What about individuals who want to protect themselves and their families, you wonder? Some Christians look to Matthew 5:39 and Romans 12:17 as absolute directives not to resist physical threats. In their context though the verses advocate love toward others instead of seeking revenge. Others look to sections of Scripture like Proverbs 24:11-12 and Luke 22:35-38 as the basis for defending oneself and one’s family from physical threats. Protecting our own life (self-defense) could result in the death of another person. That is not murder. Exodus 22:2-3 illustrates the law God gave his people of Israel regarding defending oneself from a thief.

Someone told me that in the original Greek, the Bible didn’t say to a man: do not lie with another man but that it says don’t lie with a boy (to prevent abuse). Please help.

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 00:30:51 GMT

It looks like your request is addressing Leviticus 20:13. The 1984 NIV rendered that verse this way: “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable.” The 2011 NIV puts that verse this way: “If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable.” The Hebrew language, the primary language of the Old Testament, has several words that can be translated “man.” The Hebrew word that is translated “with a man” in the verse above refers to a “man” or a “male.” Context will determine the particular shading of words. So, for example, the Hebrew word referenced can mean “boy” in some contexts. That is what we find in Jeremiah 20:15: “Cursed be the man who brought my father the news, who made him very glad, saying, ‘A child is born to you—a son!’” The context of that verse makes it clear that the Hebrew word is not speaking of a man but a male child. The context of Leviticus 20 makes it clear that there is a contrast with “woman.” “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable.” God designed sexual relations to take place between a man and a woman in marriage. Leviticus 20:13 condemns the practice of a man having sexual relations with another man as he would with a woman (in marriage). People who support same-sex activity and same-sex marriage look for the Bible to differentiate between abusive same-sex relationships and consenting same-sex relationships: condemning the former but approving the latter. The Bible makes no distinction like that; it forbids and condemns all sexual relations that take place between men only and between women only. While Leviticus 20:13 (and Leviticus 18:22) were part of the Mosaic code that governed Old Testament Israel, we find the same condemnation of same-sex activity in Romans 1:24-32 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. With that last passage in mind, it is important to note that it is not particular sins that keep people out of the kingdom of God; it is impenitence and unbelief. God wants all to come to repentance and believe in him to enjoy salvation (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9).

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 15:13:50 GMT

My husband died about 16 months ago at the age of 82. He had a twin sister who only lived two days. She was baptized. When his soul got to heaven, could he meet the soul of his twin sister? Would she still be a baby? At the time of the resurrection, will she be resurrected as a two-day-old baby? In answer to a similar question a number of years ago in a Bible class, the WELS pastor indicated the possibility of a baby who dies being in heaven as a healthy young adult and a person who dies at an advanced age being in heaven as in their prime of life years. Thank you.

Thu, 22 Apr 2021 00:17:58 GMT

Such a reunion that you asked about will certainly take place. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 describes the Lord gathering together those Christians who died and those Christians who are alive on the earth at the time of his visible return on the Last Day. When the Lord gathers together his Church, this truth remains: “And so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:17). The Bible does not address the subject of resurrected bodies of Christians as to their appearance in earthly age. The Bible does teach this: “The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body” (1 Corinthians 15:42-44). What was said in that Bible class is certainly possible with a God who can do all things. While we may presently lack answers to some of our specific questions about heaven, the Bible gives us enough information that we can “encourage one another” (1 Thessalonians 4:18). And so, receive my encouragement to continue looking forward to the time when God’s people will enjoy a perfect and glorious life with God—forever.

Can a person be saved if they believe Satan is their scapegoat? Seventh Day Adventists teach this. They are careful to say that Satan is in no way a sin-bearer, but their prophet Ellen White wrote about this in The Great Controversy (Chapter 18, The Sanctuary). If a person reads Ellen White and believes Satan bears the final penalty for their sin, are they believing in a false Jesus who didn't complete their atonement?

Tue, 20 Apr 2021 01:06:52 GMT

That is a conclusion one might make, but that is a conclusion Seventh-day Adventists reject. They state: “Satan makes no atonement for our sins. But Satan will ultimately have to bear the retributive punishment for his responsibility in the sins of all men, both righteous and wicked. Seventh-day Adventists, therefore, repudiate in toto [their emphasis] any idea, suggestion, or implication that Satan is in any sense or degree our sin bearer. That thought is abhorrent to us, and appallingly sacrilegious. Such a concept is a dreadful disparagement of the efficacy of Christ and His salvation, and vitiates the whole glorious provision of salvation solely through our Savior.” (Questions on Doctrine, page 400). Without question, Seventh-day Adventist teaching fails to see the scapegoat on the great Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16) typifying the substitutionary work of Jesus Christ. The larger problem is that Seventh-day Adventism fails to distinguish clearly between law and gospel. Ellen White, one of that church’s early leaders that you cited, wrote: “In the Law is embodied the same principle as in the Gospel.” The message of the law and the message of the gospel are in fact opposites. The law reveals our sin and our need for a Savior; the gospel shows us our Savior, Jesus. Jesus’ loud cry on the cross, “It is finished” (John 19:30), reveals that the Lord successfully completed his soul-saving mission. His triumphant resurrection from the dead guarantees it (Romans 4:25).

Are we to literally take the account of Eve eating a piece of fruit as the reason mankind deserves to die and suffer in hell? Thanks.

Tue, 20 Apr 2021 01:05:20 GMT

The genre of Genesis 3 is narrative. The content of the chapter records historical events. There is nothing in the chapter that suggests any content is to be understood symbolically or figuratively. When it comes to Adam and Eve’s sin, what is more important than the content of God’s command is the command itself. What I mean is this: God could have commanded Adam and Eve not to do something else, and their violation of that other command would have amounted to sin. “Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4). Transgression, another word for sin, means to step across a forbidden line. Martin Luther addressed your question with these words: “To reason it seems very ridiculous that any one fruit should be so deadly as to destroy the whole human race in infinite succession, and destroy it, moreover, with eternal death. But this power of destruction did not lie in the fruit. To be sure, Adam sank his teeth into the fruit; but in reality he sank them into a thorn, which was the prohibition of God and disobedience to God. This is the real cause of the evil, to wit, that Adam sins against God, whose command he ignores. He follows Satan. The tree of knowledge of good and evil was a good tree, bearing the choicest fruits, but because the prohibition of God is joined to it and man does not heed the prohibition, it turns into the deadliest of all poisons.” (What Luther Says, Volume III, Page 1290)

Can the devil still use somebody who has already proclaimed Christ?

Thu, 15 Apr 2021 19:46:03 GMT

Can the devil tempt a Christian? Certainly (1 Peter 5:8). Can the devil use a Christian to tempt someone else? Certainly. There is an ally of Satan inside each Christian; it is the sinful nature (Romans 7:15-25). These are reasons why the Bible instructs us to “resist the devil” (James 4:7). Thanks be to God that Jesus Christ successfully completed his mission of conquering the devil (1 John 3:8) and that he equips us to be successful in our daily skirmishes with the devil (Ephesians 6:10-17).

652 – A Is For Amazing

welstechpodcast@wels.net (WELS) — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 20:03:20 GMT

This week’s WELSTech focus is missions as Marissa Krogmann from WELS Missions Promotion office shares details about an upcoming virtual event and more. Martin’s got just the ticket to take your OneNote use to the next level, and we’ll talk through 7 pages which should be on your church website. Ready, set, play! The interview […]

I'm wondering if WELS is fine with having acupuncture done. I understand that hypnosis is not something that a person should do but I'm also wondering about acupuncture. I can't find it in the question section. Thank you.

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 23:06:09 GMT

You are correct. There have been no previous questions on the subject of acupuncture. But thank you for checking first. It looks like little has been written on the subject in our circles. That literature contains cautions about New Age thinking that the practitioner could try to share with the person receiving treatment. While I am not in a position to endorse fully this assessment of acupuncture, the information illustrates how a confessional Lutheran church body views the practice.

I have always had this question and have grown up WELS and taught in the educational system. Why did the first man and woman God make sin?

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 23:59:51 GMT

God made Adam and Eve with the ability and freedom not to sin or to sin. Being all-knowing, God certainly knew that Satan and other angels would rebel against him, and that Adam and Eve would disobey his command. Being all-powerful, God certainly could have prevented both those falls into sin. The Bible does not provide an answer as to why God allowed sin to enter the world. What we do know from the Bible is this: not only did God know that sin was going to enter his creation, but he formulated a plan to rescue sinners. That plan involved the sacrifice of his Son (1 Peter 1:20; Revelation 13:8). In eternity, God also graciously chose people to be members of his family (Ephesians 1:11-14). The Bible makes it clear that people are responsible for sin (James 1:13-15). God is not guilty of any wrongdoing (Deuteronomy 32:4; Isaiah 6:3). The Bible teaches that Eve was “deceived” by Satan (1 Timothy 2:14). Adam followed the actions of Eve (Genesis 3:6). When it comes to the “why” questions of life and the Bible, I turn to Romans 11:33-36: “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?’ ‘Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?’ For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.” Those words tell me that while I live on this earth, I cannot expect to understand God’s ways and thoughts fully. Like you, I look forward to the time when my knowledge of God and his ways and thoughts is much different than it is now (1 Corinthians 13:12).

I was a WELS Lutheran. (Now, I attend a Missouri Synod church.) One thing that I still feel I need a better understanding, and was part of the reason I felt called to leave the synod, is praying with family. Why does WELS feel it is incorrect for me to say a table prayer or the Lord's prayer with my Christian brothers and sisters? Thanks in advance for helping me understand your perspective.

Thu, 08 Apr 2021 19:50:44 GMT

It would be beneficial for you to read a thorough explanation of what the Bible teaches regarding fellowship, including prayer fellowship. Church Fellowship, available from Northwestern Publishing House, provides such an explanation. Here is an excerpt: “The New Testament does not treat prayer fellowship separately from other forms of fellowship. Prayer as an act of fellowship is simply treated as one element among many others. The early Christians ‘devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer’ (Acts 2:42). There is, therefore, nothing in Scripture to suggest that prayer should be treated any differently from any other expression of fellowship. Since God-pleasing prayer always flows from faith, every prayer is an expression of faith and therefore an act of worship” (pages 48 and 49).

I’m a little confused as to where Jesus went when he died. In the Apostles' Creed it says he “descended into hell. The third day he rose again....” Where in the Bible do I find that Jesus descended into hell? On the cross Jesus said to the thief that day he would be with him in paradise, which seems like Jesus would be in heaven right away. Thanks so much for helping clear this up for me.

Thu, 08 Apr 2021 19:17:53 GMT

When death takes place, a person’s body and soul separate (Ecclesiastes 12:7). When Jesus died on Good Friday, his body remained on earth, while his soul went to heaven (Luke 23:46). The same was true for the repentant thief on the cross (Luke 23:43). Resurrection is the reuniting of body and soul. Early on Easter Sunday morning, Jesus’ body and soul were reunited in the tomb. Jesus descended into hell to proclaim victory over sin, Satan and death. Then, he appeared to his followers on earth as their risen Savior. 1 Peter 3:18-20 teaches Jesus’ descent into hell. Many see Colossians 2:15 as describing the triumphant nature of Jesus’ descent into hell.

God didn't think too much of man to make him out of a pile of dirt. Eve must not have had much of a brain; she didn't know snakes cannot talk.

Wed, 07 Apr 2021 23:19:35 GMT

There is no question here for me to answer, but your statements need a response. The creation of Adam shows God’s special care for human beings. Rather than focusing on the material God used to create Adam, keep in mind how unique Adam’s creation was compared to everything else. Rather than speaking a word to bring about Adam’s existence (as God did in creating everything else), God “formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7). That special action speaks volumes about what God thought of man. God made Adam and Eve to manage his creation (Genesis 1:28). God made Adam and Eve in his image (Genesis 1:27). That meant they were holy, they had perfect knowledge of God’s will, and their wills were entirely in line with God’s will. God’s desire was that Adam and Eve enjoy his love forever. When sin threatened to separate them from his love forever, God promised a Savior (Genesis 3:15). In time, he sent his Son to be their Savior. All this says that God cared deeply for the people he made—the crown of his creation. Created in the image of God, Eve, like Adam, was highly intelligent. When it comes to Eve listening to a serpent (Satan), the Bible simply says that Eve was “deceived” (1 Timothy 2:13). The Bible is God’s message to people. It is inspired and inerrant. God’s desire is that we regard his word as “holy and gladly hear and learn it” (Martin Luther’s Explanation to the Third Commandment). I encourage you to read Psalm 119 to be reminded about that attitude toward God’s word.

When a father dies suddenly, leaving behind a wife and three daughters, all with college education and a long history of participation within the church and being confirmed in the church, is it common for the pastor and then the rest of the church to completely abandon them? Is it because as women they don't have any power/vote in the church that they are basically useless?

Wed, 07 Apr 2021 22:14:15 GMT

One can see pain and hurt in your words. I extend my sympathy to you in your loss. More than that, I want to remind you of the daily meaning Easter has for Christians like you. Because Jesus lives, those who believe in him have life eternal, even though they experience physical death (John 11:25-26; 14:19). May God always be a refuge and strength for you and your family. I, of course, do not have any information that might explain the reaction of others to your loss. Unfortunately, when death takes place, sometimes people—even Christians—do not know what to say. And so, rather than risk saying something wrong, they say nothing. That is not helpful, as your words indicate. Sometimes the best and the most Christians can do initially for a fellow Christian who has experienced the death of a loved one is simply to listen. In addition, they can point grieving Christians to the comfort of God’s word. The reaction of others to your loss certainly does not change your status with God. As a child of God, God’s love for you began in eternity (Ephesians 1:4). His love brought you into his family (1 John 3:1). His love means you will enjoy a perfect and glorious eternity (Psalm 23:6). God bless you and your family.

What is the WELS position on decision theology?

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 19:58:58 GMT

In This We Believe, a statement of belief of our church body, you will find this confession: “We believe that people cannot produce this justifying faith, or trust, in their own hearts, because ‘the man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him’ (1 Corinthians 2:14). In fact, ‘the sinful mind is hostile to God’ (Romans 8:7). It is the Holy Spirit who gives people faith to recognize that ‘Jesus is Lord’ (1 Corinthians 12:3). The Holy Spirit works this faith by means of the gospel (Romans 10:17). We believe, therefore, that a person’s conversion is entirely the work of God’s grace. Rejection of the gospel is, however, entirely the unbeliever’s own fault (Matthew 23:37).” Decision theology is not a teaching of the Bible.

How do I explain the dangers of smoking and God’s plan for us to a friend in a godly way? I’m a WELS Lutheran, and have a Christian (Methodist) friend who smokes. After seeing what a relative of mine who smoked went through (gangrene, multiple amputations, necrotizing fasciitis, and eventually death), I’ve tried to explain to her the dangers of smoking. She tried cutting back, and for a while was doing well, but eventually fell back into the habit. A year after my relative passed away, we got talking about the issue once, and by then, I could tell that she couldn’t help but give up on quitting, as she asked me something to the tune of, “If God knows when we’re all going to die, anyway, what’s the point in quitting?” I couldn’t even answer that, as inside, my heart broke for her. I saw someone who would rather just give in and suffer any possible effects, than tough it out. I’ll always be a friend to her, even if she’s a smoker until her dying day, but I’d just hate to see her possibly suffer the same horrible effects that my relative and millions of others have gone through.

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 19:48:48 GMT

I commend you for your loving care and concern for your friend. You want what is best your friend and that includes her physical well-being. You could point your friend to the Fifth Commandment. That commandment has the purpose of protecting life. The application of that commandment to our lives means that we take care of our bodies as best we can. This care addresses subjects such as diet, exercise and anything that can be harmful to our bodies. There is more than God’s law that addresses the care we give our bodies. The Bible’s teaching of stewardship covers every area of our lives. Everything that we have and are belongs to God (Psalm 24:1). Faithful stewardship, management, of God’s blessings includes our very bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19). This means that we will not want to do anything that could shorten our lives. We live with that mindset because we entrust ourselves to the loving care of God (Psalm 31:15). God’s blessings to you—and your friend—as you seek to work for the good of her body and soul.

I'm currently learning more about the WELS. And I like everything they believe and teach so far. My everyday question is this: what's the purpose of 1000 year reign of Christ?

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 19:00:30 GMT

It is good to read about your study of God’s word. Your question addresses content from Revelation 20. We will want to keep in mind that Revelation 20 does not speak of a one-thousand-year reign of Christ. The chapter speaks of Christians reigning with Christ for a thousand years (Revelation 20:4, 6). In the book of Revelation, numbers have symbolic meaning. That means that “a thousand years” in Revelation 20 means anything but one thousand years. The number ten and its multiples (for example, 100 and 1,000) represent “completeness.” Many biblical scholars understand the one-thousand-year period in Revelation 20 as representing the New Testament age. This means that Revelation 20 speaks of Christians reigning with Christ during the New Testament age. Consider what meaning this had for the first recipients of the book of Revelation (the Christians who belonged to the seven churches in Asia Minor listed in Revelation 2 and 3). Christians in the late first century A.D. were facing extreme persecution. Christians were being killed for their faith. Did that mean that those people had lost everything? Were they to be pitied? Not at all. Their deaths meant that their souls were in the presence of God in heaven. Their deaths seated them on symbolic thrones and they reigned during the New Testament age with Christ—the King whose reign is eternal (Psalm 146:10). There are individuals and churches that teach Jesus will set up an earthly kingdom and reign over it for a period of 1,000 years. They seek to find support for this idea in Revelation 20. That chapter of the Bible does not teach that. No chapter of the Bible does. Revelation 20 describes martyred Christians reigning with the King of kings, Jesus Christ. God bless your continued study of God’s word!

Is it God’s will for some people to go to hell? If I cannot by my own thinking or choosing believe in God, and the only reason I have faith is because the Holy Spirit gave it to me, did God choose me over other sinners? God loves all people, and Jesus died for all sinners, so why do some go to hell? I know that sometimes God makes bad things happen for good reasons, but how do I know that it’s not his will for me (or anyone else) to go to hell? How does free will fit into all of this? Thank you.

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 00:02:39 GMT

The Bible teaches that the antecedent will of God is that he wants all people to be saved (Ezekiel 33:11; 1 Timothy 2:4). The Bible teaches that the consequent will of God is that he will condemn those who reject him (Mark 16:16). While God desires the salvation of all people (2 Peter 3:9) and has provided a Savior for all people (John 3:16), the Bible also teaches that God has elected some to salvation (Ephesians 1:11-14). Those are teachings of the Bible that we human beings cannot harmonize. We entrust them to the counsel of God (Romans 11:33). When it comes to free will, our free will by nature is limited to making decisions about our earthly lives. Regarding spiritual matters, our free will by nature consists only of sinning and rejecting God. That natural condition underscores the truth of what you wrote: “I cannot by my own thinking or choosing believe in God.” Saving faith is God’s gift (Ephesians 2:8). Saving faith is the result of God’s election to grace (Acts 13:48). The doctrine of election can create questions in our minds. That is understandable. God’s ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8). What we want to keep in mind is that the doctrine of election was intended for our comfort. The comfort is that our salvation is in God’s hand—from beginning to end. He chose us in eternity. He sent a Savior. He gives us saving faith and he preserves us in that faith to the end of life. If salvation were up to us in any way, there would be reason for doubt and uncertainty. Because salvation is entirely God’s work, it is a sure thing.

I've been disturbed about one of the 10 Commandments, "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." Luther's Small Catechism, #45, explains God does not require us to observe the Sabbath and other holy days of the OT. I thought it peculiar that this commandment would be the only one omitted. Matt.12:8 and Col. 2:16,17 are the stated supporting Scripture. Reading the complete context of these verses, I understand it to be in reference to the Pharisees' (man's) laws added on to God's commandments in both Matthew and Colossians. Weren't Jesus, the Son, and the Holy Spirit present with the Father when Moses received the 10 Commandments? Furthermore, the construction of the days of the week were named by the Romans after their pagan gods and there isn't clarity as to which day/days God designates as the 6 days of work and which is the 7th day of rest (which is first, and which is last). Different people have different work days. Since it isn't stated which days, wouldn't it mean after one works 6 days (whichever days one labors), labor ceases and rest in body and mind is to solely focus on God?

Wed, 31 Mar 2021 01:06:29 GMT

It is important to note that the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 5) are part of the Mosaic Law that God gave to his Old Testament people of Israel. The Mosaic Law had limited purpose and duration. Its obligations ended when Jesus Christ came into our world as the fulfilment of all the prophecies of the Messiah. We can see from the Mosaic Law wording of the third commandment (“Sabbath day”) and the fourth commandment (reference to the Promised Land) that not all the content of the Ten Commandments applies to New Testament followers of the Lord. So, how do Christians view the Ten Commandments? We rightly regard them as a summary of God’s moral law: his will for all people of all time. We do see Jesus (Luke 18:20) and the apostle Paul (Romans 13:9) restating some of the commandments in a different order from the Old Testament listing. Presenting the commandments in that way illustrates how we, as New Testament Christians, are free from the Mosaic Law wording of the Ten Commandments and yet look to the Ten Commandments as a summary of God’s will for our lives. The language of Scripture is clear in pointing to the seventh day of the week (no matter what name we give it) as the Old Testament Sabbath Day. God set the pattern by working on the first six days and then resting on the seventh (Exodus 20:11). There is something else to keep in mind as time went on: if God’s people were going to find spiritual rest through their corporate worship of the one true God, they would need a common “seventh day” for their assembly. Saturday, the seventh day, was that day. The Sabbath Day pointed ahead to Jesus. He has “rest” for our souls through the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 11:28).

651 – Let’s Grow

welstechpodcast@wels.net (WELS) — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 18:01:10 GMT

This week on WELSTech we take a deep dive into the topic of school marketing with a great interview and discussion on the topic. Guest hosts Rachel and Jason have the perfect tools for designing your next social media post. Crisis planning resources and a call for presenters round out the episode. The interview and […]

Is it ok to have a raffle promoted by a WELS church/school as a fund raiser for a youth field trip?

Tue, 30 Mar 2021 00:03:40 GMT

This is a decision the church/school will need to make after they study the matter. I can pass along the following information from answers to similar questions that contained some concern and caution. Congregational fundraising in the community can reinforce what many wrongly think in the first place—that “all the church is concerned about is money.” Congregational fundraising in the community can reinforce work-righteous thinking in some of the unchurched, leading them to think that “I’ve given to God, so I’ve done my duty.” Congregational fundraising in the community can undermine a church’s efforts to encourage its members to grow in their management of God’s blessings if they grow instead in their reliance on community revenue. There certainly is a danger that fundraisers can fuel the idea that giving involves the possibility of getting or receiving something in return. It is important to keep in mind the motive for giving. It is love for God and gratitude for his love that provides the motivation for giving back to God what is his in the first place (2 Corinthians 5:15; 1 John 4:19). If the church/school is looking for financial support from its own constituency and not the community in any way, free will offerings can go a long way in funding a youth field trip. Congregational members can be presented with the special opportunity to give towards this cause, and God’s people will respond as they are moved. An approach like this eliminates difficulties associated with raffles and fundraising in general.

I'm having a hard time with this. I see so many verses in the Old Testament where God says not to practice human sacrifice of sons and daughters to other nations' gods. Why would God sacrifice His son? Thanks.

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 23:24:26 GMT

God’s Fifth Commandment forbids murder (Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 32:39; Psalm 31:15). God wants to protect human life because it is a time of grace; it is the only time people have to be brought to a confession of their sins and a confession of faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior (2 Corinthians 6:1-2; Hebrews 9:27). Because of the importance of human life, the sacrificial system for God’s Old Testament people of Israel involved food or animals. You are correct in noting that God forbad human sacrifices. Scripture explains that people cannot save themselves or others. “No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them—the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough—so that they should live on forever and not see decay” (Psalm 49:7-9). Human sacrifices are sinful and accomplish nothing when it comes to the forgiveness of sins. Because forgiveness of sins is God’s work, he determined how he would display justice by punishing sin and also display love by forgiving sinners. The giving of his Son in life and in death is at the heart and center of God’s plan of salvation. God gave of himself to save people who could not save themselves, no matter what they did (1 John 4:9-10). That is love—amazing love.

What are the beliefs of the Elevation Church of Steven Furtick?

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 00:16:20 GMT

Their website offers this statement of belief. One would be interested to see statements regarding the work of the Holy Spirit and saving faith, as well as the sacraments.

The WELS has a practice that a non-WELS member cannot sing or accompany during a service. Why do you then allow non-WELS members who write hymns for the WELS hymnal? In my eyes there is not much difference between the words of a hymn on the page or from the mouths and fingers of a musician. Thank you for this ability to ask this question.

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 23:26:22 GMT

I am understanding your first sentence to intend to say that a non-WELS member cannot sing “in a way in which the person would be leading worship” – for example, as a soloist. With that understanding in mind, allow me to pass along the following thoughts that addressed previous questions like yours. “Our hymnody would be very limited if we sang hymns composed only by Lutherans. For instance, we would be without ‘Silent Night’ and ‘Holy God, We Praise Your Name,’ both written by Roman Catholics. We would be without ‘Glory Be to God the Father’and ‘Your Works, Not Mine, O Christ,’ both written by a Presbyterian. We would lose ‘In the Cross of Christ I Glory,’ written by a man most people think was an agnostic. The test of a good hymn is not the denominational background of its author, but the confessional character of its text. “The stanzas from ‘Amazing Grace’ that are included in Christian Worship speak correctly about the grace of God. If the text of any hymn (even one written by a Lutheran!) would contain doctrines that disagreed with the doctrines of the Bible, that hymn would not have been included in our book. “We are not in fellowship with the Baptist Church because it teaches many things that disagree with the teachings of the Bible. But we do not consider the Baptist Church to be a non-Christian denomination. It should not surprise us, therefore, that a Baptist is able to write a hymn text that speaks correctly about grace, even though he may not be able to write a hymn text that speaks correctly about original sin, infant Baptism, or Holy Communion. “The Lutheran Church has tended to consider or judge forms used for worship on the basis of their content rather than their source.” A way of understanding this is that authors and composers present their works for use by Christians around the world. It is not as though the people who then use those hymns are stepping into the churches of the authors and composers and worshiping along with them. The same can be said about many of the musical pieces that our choirs use in our worship services.

I am currently finishing a graduate degree, and I am looking into new employment opportunities. I have seen several jobs which I'd like to apply to, but many are at Catholic and other non-WELS/ELS colleges/universities. What is the viewpoint on me as a WELS Lutheran potentially working at these types of institutions? Does that go against fellowship guidelines?

Wed, 24 Mar 2021 23:33:40 GMT

If the job description for your position is standard, religious fellowship issues would not be involved. Our churches and schools sometimes employ non-members in a variety of positions. Like so many areas of life, conscience is something to be considered. If you were to think that working in that position is wrong, then it would be wrong for you (Romans 14:14). Scripture directs us to act in faith not doubt (Romans 14:23). To have a fuller conversation on this, consider speaking to your pastor. God’s blessings to you.

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 17:59:31 GMT

I understand that the Eastern Orthodox church rejects the filioque in the Nicene's Creed on the basis that it is never explicitly said in Scripture. How come we Lutherans do accept the filioque?

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 00:49:18 GMT

For the benefit of other readers of this question, “filioque” is Latin for “and the Son.” The point of reference is the phrase in the Nicene Creed that speaks of the Holy Spirit proceeding “from the Father and the Son.” “Filioque” was an addition to the Nicene Creed some 250 years after that confession was first adopted. We accept the “filioque” because that is a scriptural truth. The following passages shed light on the subject: John 14:16-17; John 15:26; John 16:7; John 20:22; and, Galatians 4:6. If you are interested in reading more about this topic, this brief paper will give you good information.

Given that the Word and sacraments are the means of grace in the New Testament period, was there an equivalent for the Old Testament period? How do circumcision and the Passover relate to this? Also, if Paul in Galatians describes circumcision as a work of the law, and condemns adding it to faith, how does he also directly tie circumcision to baptism in Romans? If Paul consistently presents baptism as gospel, why does he tie it to the Old Testament work of circumcision? Or was circumcision a work at all, or was that the view the Jews had taken on at the time? And I've recently found the idea of God's presence confusing. In the Old Testament, God's presence could be found in the Most Holy Place, which was accessed once per year by the High Priest. Does this mean God wasn't present in His Word throughout the Old Testament, at least when it had been recorded and written for the people? And no doubt Old Testament believers are saved the same as we are, through faith alone. All their sins were pardoned by Christ. If this is true, how does the idea of God's presence shift from the Old Testament to the New Testament? And lastly, from my understanding, there's seems to be a distinction between God's more general presence (omnipresence) and His special presence in the means of grace. Is this a correct way of thinking about His presence? Thank you for all the help!

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 00:09:50 GMT

God the Holy Spirit has always used the Word of God to bring people to saving faith in Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah (Romans 10:17). For the male population of God’s Old Testament people of Israel, circumcision was a seal of the righteousness that was theirs by God-given faith in the promised Messiah (Romans 4:11). As the rite of circumcision no longer applies to followers of God in New Testament times, the apostle Paul rightly condemned the requirement to be circumcised, along with believing in Jesus Christ as Savior, to enjoy salvation. The book of Galatians addresses this. What that same apostle did in another inspired letter was to speak of a parallel between circumcision and Baptism: “ In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead” (Colossians 2:11-12). The original Passover gave the Israelites deliverance from their enemies. The ongoing Passover observance pointed ahead to the perfect Lamb of God, Jesus, who would take away the sins of the world (John 1:29). When it comes to the presence of God, the Bible teaches that God has many different modes of presence. He is omnipresent (Jeremiah 23:24; Psalm 139:7-10). He is present in the Lord’s Supper, as we receive the Lord’s body and blood, together with the bread and wine (1 Corinthians 10:16; 1 Corinthians 11:27). He is present with his church—when two or three come together in his name, as you referenced. He is present with each believer, as our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). He is present with each believer because he lives in them (John 17:20-23). Jesus was visibly present among people when he came to this world as true man (1 John 1:1-2). Your numerous questions could certainly receive fuller treatment, but this is about the best I could do with limited response space.

Did it rain before the flood?

Fri, 19 Mar 2021 23:52:12 GMT

The Bible does not answer that question specifically. We have this information in Genesis 2:5-6 – “Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground.” In Genesis 2:10-14 we read of a river from Eden that “separated into four headwaters.” The Bible first mentions rain in connection with Noah (Genesis 7:4, 12).

Can the enemy hear our conversation ?

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 20:58:24 GMT

In addressing Satan’s abilities, let’s start with his inabilities. As an angel, the devil is not omnipresent. Only God the Creator is (Psalm 139:7-10). Much as the human soul, housed in a body, can occupy only one space at one time, so the devil, a spirit being, can occupy only one space at one time. Yet, as a spirit being without a body, the devil is able to move from one space to another faster than human beings can. And move he does. Job 1:7 and Job 2:2 describe the devil “roaming throughout the earth.” 1 Peter 5:8 states that the devil “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” Roaming and prowling describe the devil’s non-stop activity as he moves from person to person, seeking to destroy them. With this kind of activity, Satan and his helpers could hear our conversations. Then, again, keep in mind that Satan is not all-knowing as God is. Satan cannot read hearts and minds. Only God can do that (1 Kings 8:39). Satan operates by what he observes and hears. It is good to be aware of Satan’s power and limitations. Here is something else to keep in mind: we want to recognize that the devil has an accomplice inside each person. The sinful nature, passed on from generation to generation, is hostile toward God (Romans 8:7). The sinful nature hates anything good and godly and desires to do the devil’s bidding (Galatians 5:19-21). So while the devil is not personally present in the life of a Christian 24/7, his ally, the sinful nature, is. With spiritual enemies like these, what is a Christian to do? “Put on the full armor of God” (Ephesians 6:13) and launch a counter-offensive. That is not a foolhardy course of action. “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7) is God’s instruction and promise. More than that, we combat our sinful nature through daily contrition and repentance, and we build up the new self through God’s gospel in Word and sacrament (Ephesians 4:22-24).

What is the New Testament reference to the commandment related to “keeping holy the Sabbath” (Sunday)?

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 19:06:15 GMT

For God’s Old Testament people of Israel, the Third Commandment involved a day of the week: Saturday. It was a day that emphasized physical and spiritual rest. The Sabbath day pointed ahead to the perfect rest that the Messiah, Jesus Christ, would provide through the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 11:28-29). Like other parts of the ceremonial law, instructions regarding the Sabbath day are no longer in effect for God’s followers in New Testament times (Colossians 2:16-17). In Christian freedom, followers of the Lord chose Sunday as their primary day for corporate worship; they did so with Jesus’ resurrection in mind. Sunday is not the New Testament Sabbath. Christians are free to worship on any day of the week. For New Testament followers of the Lord, then, the meaning of the Third Commandment is more about the Word of God than a day of the week. The explanation of the commandment in Luther’s Catechism reflects that: “We should fear and love God that we do not despise preaching and his Word, but regard it as holy and gladly hear and learn it.” Gathering with fellow Christians for worship services is still important. “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25). “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts” (Colossians 3:16). Rather than mandating Saturday (or Sunday) as a day of corporate worship, God lets us decide which day of the week to come together for worship. And when there are opportunities for worship, the new self in us responds: “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord’” (Psalm 122:1).

650 – Forms Are Your Friend

welstechpodcast@wels.net (WELS) — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 19:03:24 GMT

Tune in to WELSTech this week for information on church and school communication using online forms. Martin and Sallie share retro picks of the week plus community feedback. And you’ll want to grab a link to the Martin Luther College Holy Week devotions … in song! The discussion Contact Us – Martin and Sallie discuss […]

649 – Great City Network

welstechpodcast@wels.net (WELS) — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 19:59:20 GMT

This week’s WELSTech includes a look at the offerings of Great City Network and the wrap up of The Post-Quarantine Church book discussion. There’s also chat about a Lenten podcast, texting in church, online giving, and capturing parent’s attention as they search online for school options. The interview Outside-the-box urban ministry – Pastor Kent Reeder […]

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WELS Total Mashup

Filled With Fruit – December 11, 2021

Filled With Fruit

Filled With Fruit – December 11, 2021

Filled With Fruit

Luke 1:31

Through My Bible Yr 1 – December 11

Through My Bible Yr 1 – December 11

Isaiah 1 (NIV84)

Through My Bible – December 11

Isaiah 1

A Rebellious Nation

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Through My Bible Yr 1 – December 10

Through My Bible Yr 1 – December 10

John 21:15-25 (NIV84)

Through My Bible – December 10

Jesus Reinstates Peter

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In With the New – December 10, 2021

In With the New

In With the New – December 10, 2021

In With the New

Mark 13:37

Where there is no boom

Comments

Light for our path: Were Joseph and Mary engaged or married when Joseph learned of Mary’s pregnancy?

Were Joseph and Mary engaged or married when Joseph learned of Mary’s pregnancy?

A marriage established by commitment

A marriage rooted in love

Through My Bible Yr 1 – December 9

Through My Bible Yr 1 – December 9

John 21:1-14 (NIV84)

Through My Bible – December 9

John 21

Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish

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Seeing It Through to the End – December 9, 2021

Seeing It Through to the End

Seeing It Through to the End – December 9, 2021

Seeing It Through to the End

Mark 13:33

Through My Bible Yr 1 – December 8

Through My Bible Yr 1 – December 8

John 20:11-31 (NIV84)

Through My Bible – December 8

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

Jesus Appears to Thomas

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Isaiah 40:3

Preparing the Way – December 8, 2021

Preparing the Way

Preparing the Way – December 8, 2021

Preparing the Way

669 – Sharing Christmas Joy

The discussion

News in tech

WELS now

Picks of the week

Ministry resources

Community feedback

Next time

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Bible study on the divine call available

New synod in Latin America forms

Return to the Lord – December 7, 2021

Return to the Lord

Return to the Lord – December 7, 2021

Return to the Lord

Through My Bible Yr 1 – December 7

Through My Bible Yr 1 – December 7

John 19:38-20:10 (NIV84)

Through My Bible – December 7

The Burial of Jesus

John 20

The Empty Tomb

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

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John 14:27

Call Report – December 6, 2021