The Word became flesh

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

John 1:14
Holy Bible

Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Sola Scriptura
Lutheran Church of Portugal

A Prayer for Christmas

Lord God, heavenly Father, you sent your angels to tell lowly shepherds not to be afraid but instead to rejoice at the birth of the Savior, Christ the Lord. Drive all fear from our hearts, and lead us to rejoice at the news of our Lord Jesus, true God, begotten of the Father from all eternity, and true man, born of the Virgin Mary. Open our hearts to hear the choirs sing of all your promises, lead us in penitence to view the manger, and then let us return to our daily lives glorifying and praising God for all that we have heard and seen, in the name of that Christ child. Amen

WELS - Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
www.wels.net

Luke 1:30-33

But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever; his kingdom will never end."

Luke 1:30-33
Holy Bible

Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Sola Scriptura
Lutheran Church of Portugal

Christmas Prayer

Father in heaven, on this day you gave the world the gift of your Son, Jesus. We marvel at the mystery of the manger, that this child could be both man and God, both humble and divine, both the Prince of Peace and the price of peace. So great is the love of God that even though our sin required such a sacrifice, the Light of the world still descended into our darkness. We kneel before the virgin-born God wrapped in cloths and sing the angels' song: Glory to God in the highest! Amen.

1 João 4:9

"Nisto se manifesta o amor de Deus para connosco: que Deus enviou seu Filho unigénito ao mundo, para que por ele vivamos."

1 João 4:9
Bíblia Sagrada

Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Sola Scriptura
Igreja Luterana de Portugal

João 14:6

"Disse-lhe Jesus: Eu sou o caminho, e a verdade e a vida; ninguém vem ao Pai, senão por mim."

João 14:6
Bíblia Sagrada

Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Sola Scriptura
Igreja Luterana de Portugal

João 3:16-17

"Porque Deus amou o mundo, de tal maneira, que deu o seu Filho unigénito, para que todo aquele que nele crê não pereça, mas tenha a vida eterna. Porque Deus enviou o seu Filho ao mundo, não para que condenasse o mundo, mas para que o mundo fosse salvo por ele."

João 3:16-17
Bíblia Sagrada

Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Sola Scriptura
Igreja Luterana de Portugal

Provérbios 21:2-3

"Todo o caminho do homem é recto aos seus olhos, mas o Senhor sonda os corações. Fazer justiça e julgar com rectidão é mais aceitável ao Senhor do que oferecer-lhe sacrifício."

Provérbios 21:2-3
Bíblia Sagrada

Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Sola Scriptura
Igreja Luterana de Portugal

De todo o meu coração te busquei

"De todo o meu coração te busquei: não me deixes desviar dos teus mandamentos. Escondi a tua palavra no meu coração, para eu não pecar contra ti. Bendito és tu, ó Senhor; ensina-me os teus estatutos."

Salmos 119:10-12
Bíblia Sagrada

Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Sola Scriptura
Igreja Luterana de Portugal

Galardoador dos que O buscam

"Ora, sem fé, é impossível agradar-lhe; porque é necessário que aquele que se aproxima de Deus creia que ele existe, e que é galardoador dos que o buscam."

Hebreus 11:6
Bíblia Sagrada

Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Sola Scriptura
Igreja Luterana de Portugal

Psalm 34:18

"The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He saves those crushed in spirit."

Psalm 34:18
Holy Bible

Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Sola Scriptura
Lutheran Church of Portugal

Tiago 3:9-10

"Com ela bendizemos a Deus, o Pai, e com ela amaldiçoamos os homens, feitos à semelhança de Deus; De uma mesma boca procede bênção e maldição. Meus irmãos, não convém que isto se faça assim."

Tiago 3:9-10
Bíblia Sagrada

Chamados a ser como Cristo

Não somos chamados a ser como os outros cristãos, somos chamados a ser como Cristo!

Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Sola Scriptura
Igreja Luterana de Portugal

A eficácia da oração

"E esta é a confiança que temos nele, que, se pedirmos alguma coisa segundo a sua vontade, ele nos ouve."

1 João 5:14
Bíblia Sagrada

Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Sola Scriptura
Igreja Luterana de Portugal

Romans 15:13

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Romans 15:13
Holy Bible

Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Sola Scriptura
Lutheran Church of Portugal

2 Coríntios 12:9

"E disse-me: A minha graça te basta, porque o meu poder se aperfeiçoa na fraqueza. De boa vontade, pois, me gloriarei nas minhas fraquezas, para que em mim habite o poder de Cristo."

2 Coríntios 12:9
Bíblia Sagrada

Salmo 145:1

"Eu te exaltarei, ó Deus, rei meu, e bendirei o teu nome pelos séculos dos séculos e para sempre."

Salmo 145:1
Bíblia Sagrada

Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Sola Scriptura
Igreja Luterana de Portugal

Marcos 1:1-3

"Princípio do Evangelho de Jesus Cristo, Filho de Deus; Como está escrito nos profetas: Eis que eu envio o meu anjo ante a tua face, o qual preparará o teu caminho diante de ti. Voz do que clama no deserto: Preparai o caminho do Senhor, Endireitai as suas veredas."

Marcos 1:1-3
Bíblia Sagrada

Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Sola Scriptura
Igreja Luterana de Portugal

Thoughts Of Faith

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

John 14:6
Holy Bible

Thoughts of Faith
www.tof.org

Thoughts of Faith is a mission of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod.

The Beginning

The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Mark 1:1

The Beginning

There are some phrases used in the Bible which can quickly catch my attention. One of those is "in the beginning." These are the very first words of the very first book of the Bible, and they explain how everything came to be. Similar words are used by Mark, but not in the context of creation. They are used to signal the beginning of God's work to rescue the lost.

Prior to the coming of Jesus into the world, God used promises to guide his people. He also used many visual helps which included a system of sacrifices. As people faithfully listened to the promises and offered their sacrifices, they expressed their trust in the Lord and what he would do for them.

Mark's record of the life of Jesus signals a dramatic change. He shifts the believer's focus away from the sacrifices and promises to their fulfillment. Mark announced the coming of Jesus and the good news of God's forgiveness and peace. It wasn't that the assurance of forgiveness and peace didn't exist prior to Jesus' coming, but now there was no mistaking what God had begun. Today, I need to rely on this precious proclamation to address my sin and guilt.

Where do I look when my guilt gnaws at me? Where do I look when my conscience is seared by the blazing testimony of God's justice? Where do I look when my self-earned goodness leads only to despair? There is only one answer, and it is Jesus.

This is the answer Mark provides and proclaims. His words are the call to look at what God has done. With his Gospel account he reveals what Jesus did from the beginning of his earthly ministry to the end of it. He reveals Jesus' humble coming and his faithfulness to his Father's will. He reveals Jesus' powerful acts of love and unsurpassed words of compassion. He also reveals Jesus' suffering, death and resurrection. This is the good news I long to hear, and desperately need to hear.

The beginning. These are very specific words and very descriptive words. The beginning of the gospel of Jesus is the beginning of my hope, my comfort, and my peace with God. It is also the beginning of my confidence of life in heaven.

Prayer:
O dearest Lord, I thank you for sending Jesus into the world to be the Savior of all, and I thank you for revealing him to me as my Savior. Give me the faith I need to trust him in all things for this life and for the life to come.

WELS
www.wels.net
www.WhatAboutJesus.com

Tiago 1:2-6

"Meus irmãos, tende grande gozo quando caírdes em várias tentações, Sabendo que a prova da vossa fé obra a paciência. Tenha, porém, a paciência a sua obra perfeita, para que sejais perfeitos e completos, sem faltar em coisa alguma. E, se algum de vós tem falta de sabedoria, peça-a a Deus, que a todos dá, liberalmente, e o não lança em rosto, e ser-lhe-á dada. Peça-a porém, com fé, não duvidando; porque o que duvida é semelhante à onda do mar, que é levada pelo vento, e lançada de uma para outra parte."

Tiago 1:2-6
Bíblia Sagrada

Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Sola Scriptura
Igreja Luterana de Portugal

Eclesiastes 11:5

"Assim como tu não sabes qual o caminho do vento, nem como se formam os ossos no ventre da que está grávida, assim, também, não sabes as obras de Deus, que faz todas as coisas."

Eclesiastes 11:5
Bíblia Sagrada

Marcos 4:35-41

35 Naquele dia, quando já era tarde, disse-lhes: Passemos para o outro lado.
36 E eles, deixando a multidão, o levaram consigo, assim como estava, no barco; e havia com ele também outros barcos.
37 E se levantou grande tempestade de vento, e as ondas batiam dentro do barco, de modo que já se enchia.
38 Ele, porém, estava na popa dormindo sobre a almofada; e despertaram-no, e lhe perguntaram: Mestre, não se te dá que pereçamos?
39 E ele, levantando-se, repreendeu o vento, e disse ao mar: Cala-te, aquieta-te. E cessou o vento, e fez-se grande bonança.
40 Então lhes perguntou: Por que sois assim tímidos? Ainda não tendes fé?
41 Encheram-se de grande temor, e diziam uns aos outros: Quem, porventura, é este, que até o vento e o mar lhe obedecem?

Marcos 4:35-41
Bíblia Sagrada

A tua benignidade é melhor do que a vida

"Porque a tua benignidade é melhor do que a vida, os meus lábios te louvarão."

Salmos 63:3
Bíblia Sagrada

Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Sola Scriptura
Igreja Luterana de Portugal

Romans 10:9-10

"That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."

Romans 10:9-10
Holy Bible

Salmos 42:11

"Por que estás abatida, ó minha alma, e por que te perturbas dentro de mim? espera em Deus, pois ainda o louvarei. Ele é a salvação da minha face e o meu Deus."

Salmos 42:11
Bíblia Sagrada

How do I know there is a God?

Have you ever thought about how many things you know and believe without having seen them? Take gravity for instance. No one has ever seen gravity, but I see evidence of it is all around. As a matter of fact, we depend on it for almost all of our everyday activities. Gravity holds our cars on the road. It keeps us from floating away into space. We would be in serious trouble without it.

Look at God in very much the same way that you look at gravity. You have never seen him, but you see evidence that he must exist in the world. Whether taking in a soft summer sunset or a late night display of the constellations, know that someone took some serious time and effort to get things just right. The Bible puts it this way, "Every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything." (Hebrews 3:4)

Have you ever taken time to look closely at the world in which we live? Get up a little earlier than normal tomorrow and let the sunrise speak for itself. You decide which is more impressive, the beauty of the sunrise or the fact that is has risen every day in the history of the world. You will hear an inaudible voice in that sunrise. It is God's voice. (Psalm 19:1-4)

Perhaps you are more impressed with detail. Take time to count the hairs on one of your arms from your wrist to your elbow. As you notice the delicacy with which each hair is connected, consider how hard plastic surgeons work to duplicate a "normal" hair pattern. They never do get it quite right, do they? All of this is part of God's great attention to detail and more evidence that he does exist.

We have never seen God, but, like gravity, we know he is here. He has taken the time to leave evidence of his existence all around the world in which we live. Take time to notice it. You will see that he is very real. If you want more, definite information, take time to get to know him better in the Bible.

WELS
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
http://www.wels.net/what-we-believe/questions-answers

O anúncio da vinda do Senhor

O anúncio da vinda do Senhor, precedido pelo seu anjo.

"Eis que eu envio o meu anjo, que preparará o caminho diante de mim; e, de repente, virá ao seu templo o Senhor, a quem vós buscais, o anjo do concerto, a quem vós desejais; eis que vem, diz o Senhor dos Exércitos."

Malaquias 3:1
Bíblia Sagrada

Cristo voltará!

Cristo morreu!
Cristo foi sepultado!
Cristo ressuscitou!
Cristo voltará!

Gloria Dei
Gloria Dei Evangelical Lutheran Church
www.gloriadeigb.com

Salmos 100:4

"Entrai pelas portas dele com louvor, e em seus átrios com hinos: louvai-o e bendizei o seu nome."

Salmos 100:4
Bíblia Sagrada

Don't let me worry about death

Jesus, don't let me worry about death. Remind me every day that you have forgiven all my sins. Remind me also that if you have conquered death for me, then I don't need to worry about anything at all! Thank you, Jesus! Amen

www.wels.net
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod

Jesus, you are my King

Jesus, you are my King. In love for me, you did what no king should have to do–you suffered and died for a rebellious servant like me. Thank you for your forgiveness and care. Fill me with your love and faithfulness so that I always serve and honor you.

www.wels.net
www.WhatAboutJesus.com

Blessing

The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look on you with favor and give you peace.

Amen

Luther's Evening Prayer

I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray You to forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.

ELS Catechism and Explanation, p. 26

www.evangelicallutheransynod.org

Luther's Morning Prayer

I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray You to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.

ELS Catechism and Explanation, p. 26

www.evangelicallutheransynod.org

A mighty fortress is our God

A mighty fortress is our God, A trusty shield and weapon;
He helps us free from every need That has us now o'ertaken.
The old evil foe Now means deadly woe;
Deep guile and great might Are his dread arms in fight;
On earth is not his equal.

With might of ours can naught be done; Soon were our loss effected.
But for us fights the valiant one Whom God himself elected.
You ask, "Who is this?" Jesus Christ it is,
The almighty Lord. And there's no other God;
He holds the field forever.

(Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal - Hymnal - 200, stanzas 1 and 2)

Interactive Faith (WELS)

January is two months away and what better way to start a new year than with a new Interactive Faith online Bible study series.

Beginning Wed., Jan. 7, 2015, Rev. David Scharf, Immanuel, Greenville, Wis., will lead a six-week study called "Breaking the Cycle with Grace (a study of the book of Judges)."

Scharf says of the topic, "It has been said that nearly every doctrine of the Bible can be found in the biblical narratives contained in the book of Judges. That fact alone merits a deeper look! And yet, how often have we read, let alone studied this action-packed book of God's grace? In our lives, we go through cycles of ups and downs - we think God is pleased one moment and that he is not the next. Come and break the cycle of uncertainty with grace as we study a book full of God's love and patience!"

The study will be streamed live online twice every Wednesday night between Jan. 7 and Feb. 11 at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. (central).

Thousands of WELS members have participated in the Interactive Faith Bible studies, which are held twice a year and led by a WELS pastor or professor. Many congregations gather as a group for the study; other WELS members connect as couples or individuals. The studies are designed to have 10 to 15 minutes of lecture by the instructor, followed by 5 to 10 minutes for congregations to discuss a question or two or do further study. Participants can interact with the instructor via the chat box.

To learn more or join the study, go to www.wels.net/interactivefaith

Jeremias 29: 11

"Porque eu bem sei os pensamentos que tenho a vosso respeito, diz o Senhor; pensamentos de paz, e não de mal, para vos dar o fim que esperais."

Jeremias 29: 11
Bíblia Sagrada

1 John 2:9-10 (NIV)

Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.

- 1 John 2:9-10 (NIV)

Eclesiastes 3: 1-8

1 Tudo tem o seu tempo determinado, e há tempo para todo o propósito debaixo do céu.
2 Há tempo de nascer, e tempo de morrer; tempo de plantar, e tempo de arrancar o que se plantou;
3 Tempo de matar, e tempo de curar; tempo de derrubar, e tempo de edificar;
4 Tempo de chorar, e tempo de rir; tempo de prantear, e tempo de dançar;
5 Tempo de espalhar pedras, e tempo de ajuntar pedras; tempo de abraçar, e tempo de afastar-se de abraçar;
6 Tempo de buscar, e tempo de perder; tempo de guardar, e tempo de lançar fora;
7 Tempo de rasgar, e tempo de coser; tempo de estar calado, e tempo de falar;
8 Tempo de amar, e tempo de odiar; tempo de guerra, e tempo de paz.

Eclesiastes 3: 1-8
Bíblia Sagrada

How God Blessed the Reformation through Katie Luther

"God blessed the Reformation through Katie Luther's support of Martin's preaching and teaching the Gospel, and her setting a model for the Christian family, her household, and Christian businesswomen."

Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS)

http://www.evangelicallutheransynod.org/Lutheran-Sentinel/how-god-blessed-the-reformation-through-katie-luther/

Encontrar Deus em Cristo

"Não devemos tentar penetrar nos sublimes mistérios da majestade de Deus, mas devemos simplesmente contentar-nos com o Deus na cruz. Quem tenta encontrar Deus fora de Cristo encontrará apenas o diabo."
Martinho Lutero

"We should not try to penetrate the lofty mysteries of God's majesty, but we should simply be content with the God on the cross. Anyone who tries to find God outside of Christ will find only the devil."
Martin Luther

Proverbs 13:24

He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.
Proverbs 13:24

Loving, Careful Discipline
Being a parent is very great privilege. Being a parent is also a very difficult job! It's hard to strike the balance between protecting your children and letting them spread their wings in a sometimes scary world. It's hard to strike the balance between letting your children have fun and making them abide by the rules. It's hard to strike the balance between being your children's friend and being their life's teacher. We know it is important to discipline our children, but we also want to balance that with what Colossians 3:21 says, "Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged."
We all need discipline because we have a sinful nature that needs to be continually trained. It is especially vital in a child's formative years to receive discipline. Sinful habits formed in childhood will be even more difficult to break in adulthood. For their own personal benefit and for the benefit of society children should receive careful discipline so they become humble, hard-working, ethical adults who strive to serve God and serve others with their lives. While children might not appreciate the disciplinary training their parents give them, later in life they will appreciate that their parents loved them in that way.
Key words in this Bible verse are "loves" and "careful". . ."he who loves him is careful to discipline him." God calls upon parents to carefully discipline their children out of love for them. If discipline - in whatever form it is administered - is not motivated by the love and care of parents for their children, it can lead to choices that are detrimental and sinfully wrong. The goal of discipline is to help children mature and lead more God-pleasing and productive lives, and ultimately that children are trained spiritually and spend eternity in heaven through faith in their Savior Jesus.
Parents, pray for wisdom to be able to lovingly and carefully discipline your children.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help parents to love their children to carefully discipline them for their earthly and eternal benefit. Amen.

WELS
www.wels.net/contact-us
Twitter: @welstweets
www.facebook.com/welslutherans

Isaías 49: 1

"O Senhor me chamou desde o ventre, desde as entranhas de minha mãe fez menção do meu nome."

Isaías 49: 1
Bíblia Sagrada

Reflexão: Vocação e trabalho

"O que fazes na tua casa é tão valioso como se o estivesses a fazer no céu para o nosso Deus. Devemos acostumar-nos a pensar que a nossa vocação e trabalho são sagrados e agradáveis a Deus, não devido a si próprios, mas por conta da palavra e da fé, das quais a obediência e o trabalho fluem." (Martinho Lutero)

"What you do in your house is worth as much as if you did it up in heaven for our Lord God. We should accustom ourselves to think of our position and work as sacred and well-pleasing to God, not on account of the position and work, but on account of the word and faith from which the obedience and the work flow." (Martin Luther)

Ressurreição

RESSURREIÇÃO
Raffaellino del Garbo (c. 1476 – 1527)

As Portas do Paraíso Lutero

Amado por muitos, desprezado por outros, o monge, sacerdote, professor e Doutor em Teologia, Martinho Lutero, é conhecido como o Reformador da Igreja no século XVI. Influenciou consideravelmente a Educação e a Literatura. Lutou pela popularização das escolas. Traduziu a Bíblia Sagrada para a língua do povo alemão, e escreveu inúmeras obras exegéticas, doutrinárias e de educação cristã.
A doutrina, o culto e a piedade preconizadas por Lutero foram adoptados com algumas variantes na Alemanha, nos países bálticos, escandinavos e na Finlânida. Foram também aceites, por outros reformadores, na França, Inglaterra (onde a Igreja Anglicana ficou submetida à autoridade do estado), Escócia e Países Baixos. Com a emigração, os luteranos espalharam-se por todos os continentes, somando hoje, cerca de 70 milhões.
Sob uma óptica genuinamente lusitana, Artur Villares, aborda nesta sua obra os momentos e temas mais cruciantes da vida de Lutero.

Pela primeira vez em língua portuguesa são ainda apresentados neste livro as célebres 95 teses contra as indulgências com que Lutero, em 1517, incendiou a opinião cristã da Europa ocidental.

As Portas do Paraíso Lutero

Artur Villares

Edição: 1983

Páginas: 112

Editor: Vega

ISBN: 9789726991144

Bertrand Livreiros

http://www.bertrand.pt/ficha/as-portas-do-paraiso-lutero?id=86162

Leitura Books & Living

http://www.livrarialeitura.pt/livro/lutero-as-portas-do-paraiso-artur-villares/

WLS Christian Worship 106:1

Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary

Come to Calvary's holy mountain,
Sinners, ruined by the fall;
Here a pure and healing fountain
Flows to you, to me, to all,
In a full, perpetual tide,
Opened when our Savior died.

Christian Worship 106:1

http://www.wls.wels.net

Light for My Path Daily Devotion

Bible Reading

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 

(Galatians 1:3-5 ESV)

Hymn  ELH 404:2,4  The Lord, My God, Be Praised

The Lord, my God, be praised,
My Trust, my Life from heaven,
The Father’s own dear Son,
Whose life for me was given,
Who for my sin atoned
With His most precious blood,
Who giveth me by faith
The highest heavenly good.

The Lord, my God, be praised,
My God, who ever liveth,
To whom the heav’nly host
All praise and honor giveth.
The Lord, my God, be praised,
In whose great name I boast,
God Father, God the Son,
And God the Holy Ghost.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son into the world to be my Savior, delivering me from all my sins and earning eternal life for me and all who believe in Him.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

The Church is that ship that carries Christ and His disciples (Matthew 8:23)

Johann Gerhard (1582 – 1637), o principal dos teólogos do período de ouro da Ortodoxia Luterana (séc. XVII)

“The Church is that ship that carries Christ and His disciples (Matthew 8:23), and transports us at long last to the port of eternal blessedness. The Church navigates her established course through the sea of this age with the rudder of faith, having God as her pilot, angels for oarsmen, and the company of all the saints for her passengers. The mast in her middle is the cross of salvation, on which is suspended the sail of the evangelical faith, by which she is lead by the breath of the Holy Spirit to the security of eternal rest.”

(Cristo na tempestade no mar da Galileia, Rembrandt)

What is a Lutheran?

What is a Lutheran?  What do Lutherans Believe?

Lutherans are Christians who believe that all Christian teachings should come from God’s Word, the Bible. We believe that the Bible is God’s Word. This means that everything the Bible teaches is correct and true. We believe Lutheransthat it is only through the Bible that we can know the one true God – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit – and His will for our lives.

Lutherans believe in God’s grace.

All people are sinners and would perish eternally without God’s help. The good news is that God has provided all of this help as a free gift. Lutheran BeliefsGod’s saving grace is His undeserved love for all people through the life, death and resurrection of His Son. God loves all people, of every nation and race equally. It is God the Father’s desire for all people to hear His Word, to believe in His Son, Jesus Christ, as their only Savior, and therefore to have eternal life. Jesus lived a holy life in our place and died on the cross for the forgiveness of all our sins. Through this completed work of Jesus, God the Father sees the whole world as not guilty, or justified. This teaching of “justification” is the central truth of the Bible.

Lutherans believe that faith in Jesus Christ is necessary for eternal salvation.

This faith in Jesus, who is both God and man, our Savior, comes only as God, the Holy Spirit, works through God’s Word and Baptism in a person’s heart. We believe we sinners cannot come to faith through our own power, but that our faith is accomplished only by the power of the Holy Spirit as He connects us to Jesus as the Savior.

ELS

Bibel och Bekännelse - Lutherska Bekännelsekyrkan

Lutherska Bekännelsekyrkan

Nytt nummer av Bibel och Bekännelse!

I inledningen riktas fokuset mot påsken där Ingvar Adriansson tar upp en viktig fråga som kanske du också har funderat över någon gång. Varför behöver vi höra påskevangeliet år efter år?

"Har vi inte varje år när vi närmar oss påsk hört om Guds Lamm som förs bort för att lida och dö på korset? Behöver vi verkligen höra detta om och om igen? Du och jag är av naturen främmande för denna undervisning. Vi har en röst i vårt hjärta som hela tiden vill stöta bort detta. Det är otron som varje dag vill göra sig påmind, som vill bort från Guds kärlek, från rättfärdiggörelsen. Att predika hans död till dess han kommer tillbaka är vår stora uppgift som kyrka och församling."

Läs hela numret: www.bekannelse.se/Aktuellt/Bibel_och_Bekännelse/Bibel_och_Bekännelse_2014_nr.2.pdf

Lutherska Bekännelsekyrkan

WELS Kingdom Workers

WELS Kingdom Workers

A volunteer teacher having fun with her students in Lusaka, Zambia.

Genesis 6:22

Noah did everything just as God commanded him.
Genesis 6:22

Domingo Reminiscere

Fotografia: Ana Luísa Santos

Domingo Reminiscere, à saída da Igreja do Porto, com os nossos queridos irmãos brasileiros, no regresso de Valnir Brandt! 

WELS Devotion - March 21, 2014

Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Colossians 2:20-23

Imagine the scenario. You’ve just finished taking a big test. Your semester grade hangs in the balance. You studied hard, but you’re not sure how well you’ve done. Thankfully, your teacher had mercy. He included some extra credit questions on the test, and you’re sure you’ve answered those questions quite well. In fact, your answers to those questions might mean the difference between the semester grade you need and the one you’re praying you don’t get. Extra credit can be a beautiful thing.

Every day we take a kind of test from God, one with only two questions. He says, “Do you love me above all things? Do you love your neighbor as much as you love yourself?” (Matthew 22:37-40). What should we do with such hard questions?

Some people try to help their chances by looking for extra credit. They make extra rules and restrictions about what people can eat or drink, extra rules about how to behave. They say, “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!” They make rules God hasn’t given in the Bible, and they hope God will give them extra credit for keeping them.

Not only is this not extra credit. It’s sin. If such people truly loved God, they’d stick to the questions on his test instead of inventing their own. If they truly loved their neighbor, they wouldn’t be so obsessed with how good their own behavior looks.

It’s good to set high standards for ourselves, but isn’t it easy to start thinking that we’re earning extra credit with God? Listen to God’s warning in today’s reading. You can’t cover up your sin with extra credit. Trying only makes things worse.

God has given you something infinitely better than extra credit. God has provided a proxy to take your test for you. God has given you his Son. Jesus loved God above all things. Jesus loved his neighbor as himself. Jesus aced God’s test, and it all counts for you. Are you looking for a good grade on life’s report card? Forget about extra credit.  You have Jesus!

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for acing God’s test for me. Amen.

www.wels.net

1 Timothy 3:16

Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.
– 1 Timothy 3:16 (NIV)

On the first day of the new year

WELS

On the first day of the new year, Lord God, pour into our hearts a rich measure of your grace, that we may live joyful lives of forgiveness. On this day you placed your Son under the Law to fulfill all righteousness; make us your obedient children. On this day our Lord was given his name; may we also be known by his name all the days our lives. Amen.

Era uma vez

"Era uma vez um homem piedoso, que queria ver o céu. Por isso esforçou-se constantemente em obras de piedade e de abnegação. Cada vez subia mais e mais alto na escada da perfeição, até que um dia ficou com a cabeça no céu. Mas ele ficou muito decepcionado: o céu estava escuro, vazio e frio. Porque Deus estava na terra, num berço, na manjedoura."

Martinho Lutero