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Study the Lutheran Confession of Faith found in the Book of Concord with lively discussions led by host Rev. Brady Finnern, President of the LCMS Minnesota North District, and guest LCMS pastors. Join us as these Christ-confessing Concordians read through and discuss our Lutheran doctrine in the Book of Concord in order to gain a deeper understanding of our Lutheran faith and practical application for our vocations.
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Smalcald Articles: Part 3, Articles 10 & 11: Ordination and Marriage of Priests
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The qualifications for an overseer in Christ’s Church are very clear (see 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1). He is to be above reproach, soberminded, self-controlled, gentle, well-thought-of, and the husband of one wife. Therefore, we believe that pastors are allowed to marry. The distinction between a pastor and bishop is not one of hierarchical power, but…
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Smalcald Articles: Part 3, Articles 8 & 9: Confession and Excommunication
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The Office of the Keys is an aid to all believers in the battle against sin and provides consolation for those with a guilty conscience. The Roman Church taught that those who confessed all their sins to a confessor would find comfort. Enthusiasts looked within for a good conscience, apart from the Word of God. However, we know that God does not de…
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Smalcald Articles: Part 3, Articles 6 & 7: Sacrament of the Altar and the Keys
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The Sacrament of the Altar and the Office of the Keys were sticking points for many in the Church during the 1530s and still are today. In addressing these doctrines, the Concordians made sure their words were very clear: Christ has given us these gifts to be faithfully given to sinners. Misunderstandings about Christ’s presence in the Sacrament, o…
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Smalcald Articles: Part 3, Articles 4 & 5: The Gospel and Baptism
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The Gospel is God’s work through Christ’s death and resurrection for the sake of our forgiveness, life, and salvation. This Gospel is lavishly generous with His gifts: spoken Word, Baptism, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Office of the Keys, and the mutual consolation of the saints. By His grace, God provides these gifts, so that His people might r…
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Smalcald Articles: Part 3, Article 3: Repentance, Part 2
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Repentance apart from Christ leads only to death. The Roman church had a very detailed system of repentance: contrition, confession, and satisfaction. Although the system was well defined, the premise for it began with the misunderstanding that a person could make their own satisfaction for sins. Yet we know that only Christ makes satisfaction for …
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Smalcald Articles: Part 3, Article 3: Repentance, Part 1
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Repentance has two parts: first, contrition—sorrow for sin—and second, faith in the Gospel. The Lord delivers His Law as a thunderbolt and hammer, striking the heart and stirring it toward newness of life. True contrition is not merely sorrow for sin but the realization that we deserve death because of it. In faith, we repent, knowing that there is…
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Smalcald Articles: Part 3, Article 2: Law
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The chief power of the Law is to reveal original sin with all its fruit. We know how low our human nature has fallen in that we need the Law to increase our trespass (Romans 5:20), so as not to harden our hearts. The Law shows us our sin, restrains us from sin, and in Christ by the help of the Holy Spirit, enables us to live a holy life. “Lord God,…
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Sharathon 2025: The Fullness of the Gospel in the Book of Concord
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The Gospel—that is, Christ reconciling the world back to the Father by His life, death, and resurrection—was the heartbeat of the Reformation. We take a closer look at the articles that clearly articulate the Gospel and why it is important to steadfastly keep them on our hearts, lips, and ears throughout our lives. Rev. David Juhl, pastor at St. Pe…
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Smalcald Articles: Part 3, Article 1: Sin
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If we are not dead in our sins, Christ died in vain. The corruption of humankind is so deep that our only hope is a full resurrection (Romans 6:1-4). The Roman Church in Luther’s day taught that individuals had the power to observe God’s commands and love Him, without the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. Yet, all that the human heart can give is …
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Smalcald Articles: Part 2, Article 4: The Papacy
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The office of the papacy is not mandated in Scripture. In fact, the pope of Luther’s day was demanding obedience to the Church, not by a mandate from the Word of God, but by the power of his position. Luther, on the other hand, proclaimed the unity we have in the one name of Christ. We are united in His name through doctrine, faith, sacraments, pra…
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The Roman Church suggested the possibility of convening a Free Council to allow the broader Church to address the issues at hand, but they ultimately postponed any such gathering. Luther wrote the Smalcald Articles to call their bluff and provide the simple truths of Scripture one last time. He ends his preface in prayer, seeking the Lord’s help to…
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Smalcald Articles: Part 2, Article 3: Chapters & Cloisters
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The Church is entrusted with forming servants for faithful service in God’s kingdom. Monasteries were established to provide men and women with a way to live out their baptismal identity through service in the Church and their daily vocations. However, over time, they came to be seen as a means of earning forgiveness and attaining a holier life. At…
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Smalcald Articles: Part 2, Article 2: The Mass
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Anything done in the Church that conflicts with the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world robs people of a clear conscience in Christ. The Church at the time of Luther had fallen into practices that were leading people away from the cross and empty tomb for full salvation: pilgrimages, monastic societies, relics, indulgences, and the invo…
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Smalcald Articles: Part 1 and The Chief Article
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The Triune God is a Divine Majesty. We receive a glimpse of this majesty through the Word of God and learn how, in love, He saved us from our sins. Luther “begins at the beginning” with our God who created the heavens and the earth and then points us back to the Chief Article: that Jesus Christ died for our sins and was raised for our justification…
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The Reformers found themselves in need of a clearer and more direct confession of the faith after controversy arose in Germany and the broader Church. Luther went straight to work. The Smalcald Articles were written as a clear, direct, and firm confession of the Christian faith. Luther was struggling with various health issues and wrote these artic…
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The AFLC and LCMS share several common Scriptural convictions: salvation in Christ alone, the inerrancy of Scripture, male-only pastors, the value of every human life, and conversion as being the work of the Holy Spirit. Yet, there are differences between them, which are manifested by the AFLC’s confessional subscription to only the Creed, Augsburg…
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Confessional Subscription in the ELCA: Past & Present
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When it comes to confessional subscription, it is important to know our history and understand the terminology that is used. Throughout the history of our country, Lutherans have asked the question, “What does it mean to be Lutheran in America?” The predecessors of the current Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) viewed the Augsburg Confes…
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Confessional Subscription: Why is a Quia Subscription Still Vital for the Church Today?
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We believe, teach, and confess the Book of Concord because it is in accord with the Word of God. It is vital that the Church still confess this Truth today, as it leaves us no wiggle room to invent our own ideas. The authority for this is founded in the Divine Scriptures as Jesus tells us, “You will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free (J…
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Our congregations, pastors, workers, and schools confess the entire Book of Concord because it is in accord with the Word of God. The Latin word, “Quia,” expresses a commitment to not only believe that the Lutheran Confessions are in agreement with the inerrant Word, but also to teach, preach, and administer the sacraments according to these confes…
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Apology of the Augsburg Confession: Article 28. Church Authority
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By what authority do our pastors do their work? By what authority does the government do its work? The Church has full authority from the Lord to give a clear conscience to burdened sinners simply through preaching the Gospel and administrating the sacraments. This authority does not mean that there is no need for good order or that Christians shou…
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Apology of the Augsburg Confession: Article 27. Monastic Vows, Part 2
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God calls us as His baptized children to serve our neighbor in our vocations. Monasticism led people to understand that perfection is found in poverty, vows, selling possessions, chastity, and leaving their daily vocations. Perfection is not found in such outward actions, but by faith in the actions of Christ. “Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness; M…
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Apology of the Augsburg Confession: Article 27. Monastic Vows, Part 1
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A casual look at monastic life will often leave us with a favorable impression: chastity, obedience, service of the neighbor, poverty, and prayer— what could be wrong with these things? However, if one is looking for justification or perfection in such a lifestyle, they will never be satisfied (Galatians 5:14). The Roman Church outrightly rejected …
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Apology of the Augsburg Confession: Article 24. The Mass, Part 4
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To participate in the Mass is to receive the gifts of Christ and give a sacrifice of praise for all the blessings He gives. The primary mover in a worship service is not a pastor or the people, but Christ Himself, pouring out forgiveness, life, and salvation on our behalf. This Mass is for sinners, that in faith they are restored and renewed in Chr…
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Apology of the Augsburg Confession: Article 24. The Mass, Part 3
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The Mass is a gift. The Lord gives us the preaching of His Word, devout use of the Sacraments, and fervent prayer. These gifts are not salvific by our outward acts of performing them; however, in faith, we receive forgiveness, life, and salvation. Melancthon breaks down the proper understanding of sacrifice and the sacrament for the sake of providi…
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Apology of the Augsburg Confession: Article 24. The Mass, Part 2
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What does Scripture say about sacrifice? There are two kinds of sacrifices found in the New Testament: atoning sacrifice, and eucharistic sacrifice. The one and final atoning sacrifice was accomplished by Christ’s life, death, and resurrection for the sins of the whole world. Eucharistic sacrifices are done by those who are reconciled to God in Chr…
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