Logos StaffRobert Kolb, professor of systematic theology emeritus at Concordia Seminary, Saint Louis, is co-editor with Timothy J. Wengert of the translation of The Book of Concord (Fortress Press, 2000), co-editor with Irene Dingel and L’ubomir Batka of The...
Elliot RitzemaLoneliness is truly an epidemic in our Western culture. Countless people lack any close friends or romantic partners. They join no groups. They go bowling alone. What can churches offer to the lonely? One answer: the practice of public confession...
Robert KolbFor five hundred years, the term “Lutheran” has served variously as a badge of confession for a specific definition of Christian, for Martin Luther’s supporters, as a word of insult used by foes to condemn a variety of views opposed to their own, or...
Which theologians are people searching for online? Here are sixteen of the most searched theologians (in no particular order) from all traditions—along with a few comments about each and a few books each has written. 1. Karl Barth First is Karl...
Tobin PerryThe tree of life represents the fullness of eternal life that God wishes to lavish on humanity. It’s one of the most powerful images in God’s Word, extending from the first chapters of Genesis to the final ones of Revelation. Of the three most...
Mike Leake“Church.” To my pre-adolescent mind this word meant, “that place you go when you visit grandma’s house, where you sing boring songs and hear an old guy talk for hours.” To my adolescent mind this word meant, “that place you endure when...
Portia CollinsA few years ago, I tweeted something that made pretty big and unexpected waves on social media. The tweet read, “Sisters, if we are smart enough to cook, raise/teach children, take care of homes, work 9–5s, or do whatever it is that we do daily...
Much of the Christmas season is packed with gathering, traveling, and gifting. But one easy way to reflect more on Jesus’ life (even during the busiest days) is by spending a few minutes in an Advent or Christmas devotional. See several options...
Karen EngleToday is a day set aside to remember one of the most somber events in history. International Holocaust Day commemorates the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and honors the 6 million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and millions of...
Guest Author“I am not the head of the church. Jesus is.” As a pastor, I had not only heard that many times, I had said it many times myself. And I really did believe it. But it left a major question unanswered for me. If I am not the head, what part of the...
Frederick Cardoza has ministered for 20 years in church and parachurch ministries of all sizes and has taught academically for more than 15 years at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. In this excerpt, adapted from his course...
Tim PerryA Christian understanding of death ... [does not] trivialize or objectify it. In the Christian imagination, death presents us with the mystery of life held in the hands of God—life that is not our own, that is fragile and limited. It presents death...
Lexham PressThis excerpt about the meaning of suffering comes from Jeremy R. Treat’s reflection on Good Friday, collected in Suffering & Glory: Meditations for Holy Week and Easter. *** Many of us instinctively feel that if we are faithful to Jesus, then...
Bible Study MagazineCan we learn how to pray like Jesus? We know he prayed in the wilderness and in the garden of Gethsemane. We hear snippets of his conversation with the Father in John 11 when he raised Lazarus from the dead and in Luke 23 when he hung from the cross...
In this Faithlife Live webinar, we talk with African American pastors Charlie Dates and Bryan Loritts, who offer guidance on how the Church should respond to the evil of racism and discuss gospel implications. Head to faithlife.com/live to see past...
We’re all now almost pros at social distancing, and it’s beginning to feel like groundhog day every day. But the plus side of this seismic shift in daily routines is the opportunity to spend more time reflecting on God, his Word, and life. Here are...
DidaktikosRobert Smith Jr. on Cultivating Imagery to Satisfy the Narrative Mind In the twenty–first century world of theological education, preaching can seem an antiquated exercise that no longer speaks well to a culture immersed in social media and...
Nijay GuptaSeveral excellent commentaries on the Thessalonian letters have been produced over the years, but the last decade has seen a notable surge of strong scholarship on these texts.
When it comes to biblical mysteries, the temptation that most Christians face is . . . to favor our own thinking, to trust our own minds. If we do this, however, we exclude the rich mysteries of the Christian faith.
An Example of Co-Teaching as a Means of Modeling Interdisciplinary Dialogue Eric J. Tully | Trinity Evangelical Divinity School One of the challenges in Christian higher education is navigating the tension between various fields of study. Christian...
by Chris Porter Coming to biblical studies from prior research in the social sciences I am often asked what makes for good interdisciplinary research. While a valid question, I think the more interesting question is what makes a good...
Dare I try to talk about the art of preaching when I am not a full-time preacher? I wondered about this before deciding to start a blog series on preaching. Perhaps it does seem a bit audacious. But what else are blogs for? My hope is simply to...
Matthew BoffeyWith Christmas coming up, it’s a great time to gather as a family and enjoy some movies. But, if you’re anything like me, sometimes you feel a little guilty for just watching movies all day. That’s where documentaries come in handy...
When Dietrich Bonhoeffer was just a 27-year-old lecturer at Berlin University, he made a bold move: denouncing the principles of the new German chancellor, Adolf Hitler. Bonhoeffer was one of the first Germans to publicly challenge the new fuhrer...
Today’s guest post is by Pastor Sam Luce of Redeemer Church in Utica, New York. Sam has been a pastor for 17 years—14 of which he served as a children’s pastor. He received his BA in theology from Portland Bible College, and he’s...
Ryan Pemberton“For freedom Christ has set us free,” the Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Galatians. “Stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Gal 5:1). But what does the Apostle Paul mean when he writes of our freedom in Christ...
Taylor BlomquistLooking for ideas for how to prepare for Lent? Start with these popular titles: Top Lenten resources Continue your Lenten journey of fasting, prayer, and meditation by saving on popular products during the Lent sale. Ever wonder what resources...
Paul BurkhartUsing the Christian Church Calendar can be an incredibly meaningful way of engaging God, and the tradition of the Community of Faith. It’s also a way of sharing one’s spirituality with the global church, both past and present. Here, I...
Ash Wednesday marks the first of 40 days that many in the church spend praying, reflecting, and fasting, culminating in the celebration of the risen Christ on Easter. Here are four selections from Faithlife staff to encourage you as you...
Tyrel TjoelkerDon’t let day-to-day activities compete with your Bible study—instead, make them work together with audiobooks. Audiobooks are perfect for when it feels like life is getting in the way of your study. They increase your productivity, help you...