Concordia Publishing House

This post is adapted from Words of Strength and Promise: Devotions for Youth. Read below for a devotion written by Juliana Shults.

This excerpt is taken from the January–March 2021 edition of Today’s Light. 

This post is adapted from Callings for Life: God’s Plan, Your Purpose written by Jeffrey Leininger.

This post is an excerpt adapted from Holding Up the Prophet's Hands: Supporting Church Workers by Bruce M. Hartung. 

What would happen if a congregation encouraged its members to develop significant relationships with one another? What if those relationships grew deep and the congregation became a place of authentic personal encounter, with God in Word and Sacrament and with one another, the members of the Body of Christ? Person-to-person relationships create a context in which words of appreciation can be spoken and received as meaningful and truthful. To show true caring for one another requires that members feel safe in making their needs known. It also requires that those who hear about an individual’s need have the desire and the capacity to respond in understanding, practical, and empathic ways.

There’s no question that this has been one of the most contentious political seasons in memory. Since the primaries ended, the low favorability of both candidates has been a much-discussed topic. All across social media, you see people pouring more energy into lamenting a win from either candidate than championing one they believe in.

The idea that each individual person has to know everything can set some on edge. How are you meant to know everything in the short lifespan that you have? In his new book, Meant for More, Rev. John Nunes says it's entirely okay to not know everything. In fact, we should embrace the unknowns and live happily in them. Read an excerpt from his book below to see his brilliant thoughts.

Holy Week is traditionally a solemn time (until Easter, that is!) when Christians around the world meditate on the betrayal, death, and burial of our Lord Jesus.

Today’s devotional reading comes from the letter to parents in Ezekiel and the Dry Bones: Arch Books.

We read today a devotion from Meditations on the Gospels that focuses on the reading from Matthew.

This post is an adapted excerpt from Without Flesh: Why the Church Is Dying Even Though Jesus Is Still Alive by Jonathan Fisk.

The Ancient Church saw martyrdom as an honor. Today, we cower in corners, bickering over the color of the carpet. The Ancient Church conquered the world by dying at its hands. Today, we are crushed in an overwhelming retreat of trying to fit in.