Lutheranism 101: For Kids by Julie and Scott Stiegemeyer is a short book designed to teach kids about Jesus. The book does this by highlighting important literature in the Lutheran church and showing us how it points to Jesus. It is simple to understand and is great for parents to use to teach their kids.
Kitty, My Rib
Kitty, My Rib gives us the “inside story” of the marriage of Dr. and Katharine Luther as well as their family life. Theirs was a marriage that started out “one-sided,” for Katharine, who had always wanted to get married, had a deep love for Luther, but Luther was convinced by a friend to take her as his wife because he needed someone who could cook and keep the parsonage clean! Katharine was 26 years old and Luther 42 when they married.
The Bondage of the Will
In the early 400s Augustine prayed, “God command what you will but grant what you command.” Pelagius took exception to this and proclaimed that man didn’t need God’s help but … Read More
A Theology to Live By
By opening this review with the words “systematic theology,” I run the risk of losing half my audience. But while a topic-by-topic overview of theology sounds like dry academia, Martin Luther had much more than stuffy classrooms in mind when he nailed his theses to the church door.
The Unholy Trinity: Martin Luther Against the Idol of Me, Myself, and I
The world has changed drastically in the five hundred years since the posting of the Ninety-Five Theses by Luther. Yet, in some ways, the more things have changed, the more they have stayed the same. One seemingly “new” phenomenon has been the rise of interest in and compassion for those who struggle with mental health issues.
The Freedom of a Christian
In 1520 Martin Luther wrote a treatise entitled “On the Freedom of a Christian.” This work is regarded as one of the three great works of 1520 which outlined Luther’s program for the reformation. This particular treatise describes the whole of the Christian life. One of the biggest critiques against Luther’s teaching was that if people are justified by faith apart from works then people won’t do good works because there is no purpose for them.
The Conservative Reformation and Its Theology
The Conservative Reformation and Its Theology written by Charles Porterfield Krauth is an academic and well-reasoned defense of the Conservative Reformation. It is the culmination of many years of study by its author; his magnum opus. The title, “Conservative Reformation,” is used to distinguish the Lutheran teaching from other groups which were not as concerned about holding on to the teaching of the historic Church.
Commentary on Galatians
I have now read Dr. Luther’s commentary on the book of Galatians twice. The first time was for a seminary assignment. This winter, I read it again in preparation for a sermon series. Each time, I have been struck by the way in which Luther unpacks this wonderful epistle in such an easy-to-understand way.
Brand Luther
Next fall is the 500th anniversary of something called the Reformation—on that much all agree. The nature of that event, though, is more debated. Some historians characterize the Reformation as a social rebellion of the people over the papacy, or simplistically, as the religious arm of the Renaissance.
The Lutheran Study Bible
For many years the NIV Study Bible was my resource for personal Bible study. I found it a valuable aid. I never acquired the Lutheran version, the Concordia Self-Study Bible, so I had to make allowances for the Baptist-oriented theology of the notes.
Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses
As a Lutheran, in the past I often referred to the “95 Theses” but had never actually read Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses in their entirety. Martin Luther wrote the theses and nailed them to the church door with the intention that they would be a starting point for debate with other church leaders or scholars. However, the debate never happened.
Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther
Roland Bainton, in his landmark work on the life of Martin Luther entitled Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther, presents a thorough and straightforward recounting of the life of the reformer. Bainton doesn’t hide Luther’s humanity but rather shows how God used him, his struggles, his weaknesses, and experiences to