In my book, 10 Lies Satan Loves to Tell, I go over many different lies that Satan likes to whisper and the truth that God tells you. Before we can begin to dig into these lies, it’s important to know who Satan truly is. I thought it would be beneficial to answer these five frequently asked questions about Satan so you can have a better understanding of the enemy to your faith and how Christ defeated Him for you.

When I was a child, Communion seemed to take forever. In an attempt (I suspect) to keep restless kids occupied, an adult suggested that we pray for each person who walked past our pew. I can’t remember how much praying I did then, but the advice stayed with me. As an adult, I often pray for my fellow congregants as they take Communion. This little spiritual practice has given me a richer picture of the Body of Christ.

 I was giving some motherly advice to my college-aged daughter, listing several different suggestions on how she might handle a situation she was facing. As I talked, my daughter looked more and more annoyed. Finally, she said, “Mom, stop trying to fix it!” 

One of the blessings of being a professional church worker is the kindness and generosity I have received from other church workers and members of the congregations I have served. I have had access to various opportunities merely because I’ve gotten to know people throughout the course of my study and service. For example, while I was an undergraduate, I secured a summer job because my pastor knew the owner of the company. I obtained a discount on three different cars because the party selling the car knew I was a church worker with limited resources. It really is who you know. Or perhaps who knows you.

Every winter, my church works with a local charity and other houses of worship to host a hypothermia shelter. One week a year, each church welcomes a group of our unhoused neighbors into their building, giving them dinner, a warm place to sleep overnight, and breakfast. From November to March, the houses of worship in our community supplement the country’s overflowing permanent shelters, one week and one church at a time.

What is the difference between believers and unbelievers in God’s eyes? The Father created us in His image, and Jesus carried the sins of every one of us, both believers and unbelievers, fully satisfying God’s wrath against all of us through His suffering, death, and resurrection. The difference lies in the work of the Holy Spirit, creating and sustaining saving faith in Jesus Christ for believers.

“Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20). This blog is the first of a series based on topics which Rev. Dr. Alfonso Espinosa treats in his book series on faith and culture.

After five years of infertility, I was finally pregnant. Six weeks later, I had a miscarriage. It was devastating. Why had God let me down this way? I had unknowingly fallen into thinking that if I was a “good Christian,” God would give me what I wanted. And when it didn’t happen, I sank into grief and bitterness. Holding on to faith seemed more painful than letting it go.

In our day and age, does the church really matter? Several years ago, there was a video making the rounds on social media that claimed Jesus is greater than religion. The whole premise of the popular video was that believing in Jesus was something higher than the church: a personal faith that exists in and unto itself. Though the video didn’t quite phrase it that way, this was the message it conveyed. The video resonated well with many people because it made them think that in the end, the church doesn’t matter. What matters is simply what you believe and that you are in the driver’s seat in this whole Christianity thing because after all, Jesus is greater than religion. 

We’re surrounded by symbols in our modern world, from the red octagon that commands us to stop to the golden arches that signal our next meal. Symbols have a powerful way of conveying meaning without using words, and the Christian Church has long used symbols to communicate biblical truths and point to Jesus’ salvation. Read on to discover how symbols can still be used in Lutheran schools, churches, and homes as reminders and teaching tools in the faith.