Q&A with Dr. David Rueter, author of Teaching the Faith at Home
CPH recently released Teaching the Faith at Home: What Does This Mean? How Is This Done? by Dr. David Rueter, director of the DCE program at Concordia University Irvine and the Youth and Family Ministry Facilitator for the Pacific Northwest District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. In his new book, Dr. Rueter passionately challenges the status quo of confirmation practices and(…)
What People Are Saying About “The Idea and Practice of a Christian University”
This is an extremely illuminating book that will be of great help to our universities and to the LCMS as a whole. At a time when synodical universities are struggling with “Lutheran Identity,” this book serves as a template for faculty, administrators, boards, and students for how that can be achieved and for how that identity can help colleges to be truly excellent at every level.
—Gene Edward Veith, PhD
Professor of Literature
Patrick Henry College
Clearly articulating the Lutheran interaction model for relating faith and learning, this volume is a gift to everyone interested in understanding the Lutheran difference in Christian higher education. Ranging from background theological and historical essays to reflections from scholarly disciplines and administrative and
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What Does It Mean to Be a Lutheran University?
The recently released book The Idea and Practice of a Christian University: A Lutheran Approach offers a biblical, Lutheran view of higher education that’s rooted in the interaction of faith and learning. In the following excerpt from Dr. Steven Mueller’s chapter, “Distinctives of Lutheran Theology for Higher Education,” he talks about about Lutheranism as “a living confession of the Christian faith” and the implications this has for a Lutheran university.
Lutheranism Is a Theological Designation
There is, as we have noted, a point in recognizing and celebrating heritage and culture. These and other cultural expressions may be important parts of a university community and may help unite constituents in meaningful ways. Whether recognized or not, such cultural expressions are always . . . Read All
New Release: The Idea and Practice of a Christian University
What’s the relationship between faith and learning? Should higher education be aimed at career readiness, or at nurturing students’ minds and spirits to embrace a multi-vocational understanding of their lives? New from Concordia Publishing House, The Idea and Practice of a Christian University argues for a return to unashamedly Lutheran higher education for the greater good of the Church and society. A closer look at this holistic vision reveals the blessing of two key doctrines at work: the two-kingdom lens of God’s power and grace along with the teaching of vocation. Voices from across many campus departments combine their passion for reform with academic expertise, history, and reasoned reflections.
Topics encountered in the book include:
A genealogy of Lutheran higher
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Proof of Alien Life? Here’s How to Respond
The headlines have been tantalizing: “ ‘Definite Evidence’ of Alien Life within 20-30 Years, NASA Chief Scientist Says” and “NASA: Proof of Alien Life in 20 Years.”
When a reputable organization makes these claims, people take notice. What would it mean to our understanding of God, creation, and humanity if life, even in simple forms, exists on other planets? From a scientific point of view, what would constitute enough proof to establish the fact of extraterrestrial life?
Faith and Science in a Skeptical Age can help you answer these questions and give you tools to respond. We offer this free download of chapter 4, which discusses the possibility of extraterrestrial life, and how we as Christians can understand . . . Read All
Commemoration of Frederick the Wise
Today, May 5, the church commemorates Frederick the Wise. Were it not for Frederick, there might not have been a Lutheran Reformation! Frederick protected Luther, provided sanctuary for him, and likely saved his life.
Why did this ruler risk his own life to protect Luther? You can learn about him in Sam Wellman’s new biography Frederick the Wise.
*Read the first chapter for free!*
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Taking One’s Place in God’s Order (Part 2)
The following is a continuation of an excerpt from the newest volume in the Concordia Commentary series, Ephesians, in which Thomas Winger expounds on the biblical view of marriage and subordination to Christ as described by Paul in Ephesians 5. You can view the first part here.
Mutual Love and Service within the Christian Community
What, then, is the norm by which Paul challenges and redevelops the traditional elements of marriage for application to Christian lives? Surely it is the Gospel, for the sacrificial love of Christ for the church as his bride is the dominant theme of this pericope. The crucial question, however, is whether (or to what extent) the Gospel breaks down order in the . . . Read All
Call Day–What’s It All About?
Every year around this time, our two Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod seminaries are buzzing with excitement over Call Day. Many people in the LCMS—from seminary students and their families, to district presidents, to pastors, to calling congregations—have been anxiously awaiting its arrival. But what exactly is “Call Day”? We asked one of our editors, Rev. Dr. Benjamin Mayes, to explain.
What Is Call Day?
Call Day is the day when candidates for the pastoral ministry receive their first calls to serve as pastors, missionaries, and chaplains.[1] In The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, this happens in services each year, held at the two seminaries in St. Louis, MO, and Fort Wayne, IN.[2] A “call” here is a summons extended . . . Read All
How Long Was Jesus in the Grave?
We are excited to announce that the Lutheran Bible Companion has been chosen as a finalist for the 2015 Christian Book Award in the category of Bible Reference!
One of the many great features of The Lutheran Bible Companion is the “Questions People Ask About …” section included in several of the chapters. These sections rectify many misconceptions about seemingly contradictory Bible passages and answer common questions people have about the Bible. The following excerpt is taken from the section “Questions People Ask about Matthew.”
How Long Was Jesus in the Grave?
Some people hold that there is a discrepancy between the prediction of Jesus that He would be in the sepulchre three days and three nights (Mt 12:40) and
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Publish with CPH!
Do you have a manuscript of a professional or academic nature that you’d like to get published? Consider submitting it to our peer review process!
The peer review process is suited for smaller projects (e.g., a single book) by an individual author or a small team. It is similar to the peer reviewed process or “refereed” process used to publish professional or academic journals. It is especially well suited for producing a textbook from an existing manuscript.
When asked to describe his experience with this process, one of our authors, Dr. Andrew Steinmann, said:
“The peer review process for CPH academic publications is a flexible, responsive and very helpful procedure for prospective authors wishing to bring a well-polished study
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Luther on Prophecies concerning Christ’s Resurrection
As we continue the celebration of the great Easter Feast, today’s excerpt from Luther’s Church Postil comes from a sermon on Acts 13:26–39. Here Luther addresses Paul’s use of passages from the Psalms and from Isaiah to prove the resurrection. In addition, he points out that Christ is both true God and true man (the Son of David), the promised Messiah who would save His people from sin, death, and hell.
Christ Himself says, “I will preach in a new way, namely, that the Lord said to Me: ‘You are My Son; today I have begotten You’ ” [Ps. 2:7]. . . .
How does this passage agree with the point for which St. Paul cites it, to prove the
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Luther on Christ’s “Sermon” to the Emmaus Disciples
We rejoice today that Satan, sin, death, and the grave have been conquered. Alleluia, He is risen! Christ is risen indeed, Alleluia! In this excerpt from Luther’s sermon on Luke 24:13–35 included in his Church Postil, the reformer reflects on the “sermon” that the risen Christ preached to the two disciples as they traveled from Jerusalem to Emmaus. With Christians throughout history, Luther here ponders what Christ may have told the disciples, as He “interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.”
This was without a doubt a very beautiful, glorious sermon [that Christ preached to the disciples on the way to Emmaus]. Now it is true that we all—and each one of us—would like to
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A Conversation with Dr. Andrew Steinmann
Dr. Andrew Steinmann is the Distinguished Professor of Theology and Hebrew at Concordia University Chicago and the author of several books and more than fifty articles and book reviews. He is currently working on two more volumes for the Concordia Commentary series. We recently caught up with Dr. Steinmann to talk about how he approaches writing projects and manages the demands of teaching and book deadlines.
You are currently working on commentaries for 1 and 2 Samuel. How has writing these commentaries differed from other commentaries you have completed?
The Book of Samuel presents a number of interesting difficulties that are out of the ordinary. First, the book is primarily historical narrative, but the author often does not explicitly discuss . . . Read All
Praise for new biography of Frederick the Wise
Frederick the Wise is back from the printer! Read below what others are saying about this fascinating biography of Martin Luther’s protector.
To his family, friends, peers, and subjects, Elector Frederick the Wise of Saxony was much more than simply Martin Luther’s noble protector. Dr. Wellman’s thoroughly researched and engaging biography paints a vivid image of the Saxon elector. It is sure to become a valuable resource for students of German history and the Reformation period. Interested readers will be introduced to a Christian prince whose humanity and integrity were rare for someone of his elite status within the German empire. They will also encounter political intrigue and scandalous behavior. Praiseworthy, yet not without his flaws, Frederick the Wise steps
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Q & A with Sam Wellman, author of “Frederick the Wise”
We asked Sam Wellman, author of Frederick the Wise: Seen and Unseen Lives of Martin Luther’s Protector, to answer a few questions about the book and his work.
What made you decide to write a biography about Frederick the Wise?
I was initially interested in Martin Luther and wrote a complete draft of a biography on Luther. It dawned on me that a serious Luther scholar needs to be up to speed in Latin, 16th century German, and biblically-supported theology. I fell short, but in becoming familiar with the literature on Luther and his world, I also realized that major secular figures peripheral to Luther had no comprehensive treatment in English. I had adequate background to
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Coming Soon: A Full-Length Biography of Frederick the Wise
In Frederick the Wise: Seen and Unseen Lives of Martin Luther’s Protector, author Sam Wellman provides us with the first full-length English biography of elector Frederick III of Saxony. Wellman takes readers on a fascinating biographical journey, revealing why the noteworthy elector risked his realm of Saxony to protect the fiery monk Martin Luther and the developing reforms of the Church.
Scheduled to release in April, Frederick the Wise is available for pre-order now on cph.org. Keep reading below for a preview of the book in which Wellman describes Frederick’s first interactions (though indirect) with Martin Luther.
*Now available on Kindle.
Headache: What to Do About Martin Luther
In September 1516, Frederick called Spalatin away from . . . Read All
Mark 1:1–8:26 — What People Are Saying
“James Voelz’s concentration on the distinctiveness and precision of Mark’s language and style distinguishes this learned and readable commentary from others on the market. The clarity of his articulate expositions, the abundance of helpful examples given and the alertness to contrary views testify to the book’s origins in decades of inspiring teaching. Now a world-wide readership is able to participate in this meticulous analysis of Mark’s Gospel.”
—J. Keith Elliott, Emeritus Professor of New Testament Textual Criticism,
The University of Leeds, UK
“Voelz brings to his task years of engagement with the Gospel of Mark, an enthusiasm for exegesis, a particular focus on linguistic matters, and a scholarly voice of his own. This weighty commentary will repay consulting it.”
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LTS Newsletter
The Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tshwane is out with its first newsletter for 2015. Read more about our more than ten new students starting with the beginners course this year and student Ashenafi Desta Gonemo’s trip with long-standing director of … Continue reading →. . . Read All
Release of Letters to Lutheran Pastors 3 Concludes a Nearly 25-Year Publishing Journey
With this third volume of Hermann Sasse’s Letters to Lutheran Pastors, an effort of nearly a quarter century comes to a close. There is, to be sure, much more Sasse to translate and publish, and others have and are taking up the challenge. . . . With two volumes of The Lonely Way and with three volumes of Letters to Lutheran Pastors, we have now put into print some 2,500 pages of Sasse.
Thus writes editor and translator the Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison (president of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod) in the preface to volume 3 of Letters to Lutheran Pastors. The complete 3-volume collection gathers together more than 60 circular letters that Sasse wrote and distributed . . . Read All
Book Giveaway: Win a book of your choice from the 2015 Academic Catalog!
It’s a new year, which means there’s a new Professional and Academic Book Catalog with lots of great new products. Since we like to celebrate new things with giveaways, we’d like to offer one lucky winner the book of his/her choice from our 2015 Professional and Academic Book Catalog. If you haven’t received your copy in the mail, you can view it online HERE or by clicking on the image of the catalog to the right of this post. (You can also request a printed copy HERE but you may not receive it in time to enter the contest.)
Here are the rules: You may choose only one single item with a retail value of $99.99 or less. If the . . . Read All
We’re Proud to Celebrate National Lutheran Schools Week
As we celebrate National Lutheran Schools Week this week, we encourage you to pray for our Lutheran schools, their students, and their teachers:
Jesus, Savior and Good Shepherd, who has given Your life to save us, You have directed us to feed and tend Your lambs and sheep. Bless our Lutheran schools. Strengthen, equip, and encourage all who teach and all who learn in them, so that Your name is praised and honored as knowledge, skills, and attitudes are imparted and acquired. Make our school a haven of Your grace and mercy. Give patience and discernment to our teachers as they daily interact with their students. Give them the insight to apply rightly both Law and Gospel, equipping their students
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Lent-Easter Preaching and Worship Resources
Lent is a month away. If you’re looking for a devotional resource to use individually, with your family, or with your church, check out Concordia Publishing House’s 2015 Lenten and Easter resources. Singing with the Exiles gives your church a simple, unified way to connect worship, Bible study, and personal meditation during Lent and Easter. Explore the Christological themes of Isaiah 40–55, woven beautifully into complete worship services, pastoral guides for Lenten midweek and Holy Week preaching and teaching, and daily devotions for the whole church.
With thematic inspiration drawn from Dr. R. Reed Lessing’s work for the Isaiah 40–55 volume of the Concordia Commentary series, Singing with the Exiles presents prophecies of the Messiah found in Isaiah and . . . Read All
See us in Fort Wayne, IN at the Symposia Series
Next week, Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN, will sponsor their annual Symposia series, which is the largest annual gathering of LCMS pastors, and brings together clergy and laity from all over the world.
CPH editors Dr. Benjamin Mayes and Laura Lane will be at the conference, and look forward to meeting you. Contact them at benjamin.mayes@cph.org or laura.lane@cph.org if you’d like to schedule a meeting.
The theme for the 30th annual Exegetical Theology Symposium, January 20–21, is The Integrity of the Scriptures: Text and Canon.
The 38th annual Symposium on the Lutheran Confessions has chosen Culture: Friend or Foe? as its theme and will take place January 21–23, under the sponsorship of the Department of . . . Read All
Luther on Baptism
The observance of the Baptism of Our Lord on January 11 offers the opportunity to reflect on the significance of Baptism in the life of a Christian. What exactly occurs when water and the Word are applied to a sinful human being? Luther addressed this life-giving Sacrament in a sermon on John 20:19–31 included in his Church Postil, though the passage the reformer focuses on in this section is 1 John 5:6: “This is the one who comes with water and blood.”
St. John . . . says about Christ: “This is the one who comes with water and blood” [1 John 5:6], etc. He includes what we have in the kingdom of Christ and praises the power of
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Introducing Ephesians, the newest Concordia Commentary
By on May 12, 2015
Posted in Lutheran Blogosphere | Tagged Concordia Commentary, Ephesians, Eternal Election, Marriage, new