Practical Theology Commons^™

The Psychology Of Prayer, David Preisinger

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

This thesis proposes to present a brief description of the kind of prayer that possesses the three characteristics named above. The discussion is arranged according to the following outline: prayer according to the New Testament, prayer and religious experience. and God, as the impulse; for prayer.

Brief Studies, C. A. Hardt

Concordia Theological Monthly

In spite of many fine Bible translations the pastor will constantly turn to his Greek New Testament, for no translation can reproduce fully the many fine shades of meaning in the original. A careful study of the original will frequently bring the exact meaning of a text or a word into sharper focus, change wholly or in part the meaning conveyed in the translation, or may even correct a misleading and inadequate translation. A few samples chosen at random will illustrate this.

Comfort And Encourapment From Election, Victor Mennicke

Concordia Theological Monthly

When we speak of our eternal election or predestination, we are dealing with a clearly revealed doctrine of Holy Scriptures. For this reason we confess in the Formula of Concord (Ep. XI, 5) : "This (predestination of God) is not to be investigated in the secret counsel of God, but to be sought in the Word of God, where it is also revealed." "It … must be learned from the Holy Gospel"

The Universal Priesthood And The Pastor, Richard R. Craemerer

Concordia Theological Monthly

The Universal Priesthood. The centennial year of our Synod re-emphasized the doctrine of the royal priesthood. The Missouri Synod, and before it the Saxon settlement, regarded itself as a Church because of the universal priesthood. That principle was given a fresh statement in the Reformation, and is a particular heritage of the Lutheran Church. The growth of our Church and the routinizing of its ministry causes this principle to lose some of its vitality. One would expect the laity of the Church to be more energetic than the ministry in safeguarding this principle. Actually we need not expect this to …

The Word Principle In Martin Luther, Carl Walther Berner

Concordia Theological Monthly

Lucid as sunlight are the verses of the Holy Bible which declare that all spiritual life is from the Holy Spirit in the Word. We are born anew by the Word; we are kept in the faith by the Word; we are led to a fruit-bearing life by the Word; we are armor-plated against enemy forces by the Word. Simon Peter lifts his voice majestically to say that we are "born again not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever." Earlier in the same chapter he had reminded those who were …

The Blessed Results Of Justification, H. J. Bouman

Concordia Theological Monthly

In human affairs the results often are not in proportion to the preparations. There the old saying "The mountain labors and brings forth a ridiculous mouse" is frequently true. It is never thus in divine affairs. There the results always are commensurate with preparations, even though our limited vision and understanding fails to see it. Let us remember this as we study the blessed results of justification according to Rom. 5:1-5.

Outline For A History Of The Old Testament Canon, Rudolph Gehle

Concordia Theological Monthly

At one time or another all of us have picked up a magazine to find an advertisement screaming at us that we now have a chance to buy the missing pages from our Bible, pages that for centuries have been forbidden or lost, but now available for a few cents. As a result many have asked the question: Is our Bible really complete? Is something essential perhaps missing from our Bible as we have it?

The Limitations Of Christian Preaching, J. H. Fritz

Concordia Theological Monthly

The objective which one seeks to accomplish and his means for that purpose determine the limitations of his doing. The practice of medicine is limited to a correct diagnosis of the case under consideration and the drugs or other remedial agents that will, if possible, effect a cure. A physician may relate some interesting news events to his patient, speak of his own experience in the recent war, and crack a few good jokes that will produce a hearty laugh, but that will not cure the patient of his tuberculosis or pneumonia or tonsilitis. For the production of a good …

The Lord's Prayer, The Pastor's Prayer, G. H. Smukal

Concordia Theological Monthly

The Kingdom is the kingdom of the Father, for the Father is addressed. And since Jesus teaches us to pray for the coming of the Father's kingdom, the Father must have a kingdom. This argument is sustained by the conclusion of the prayer: Thine is the Kingdom. Since the Father has a kingdom, He is a King. Though He is the King, we are to approach Him as our Father. Jesus teaches us to believe with a rejoicing heart that we are children of a king and encourages us to seek better acquaintance with, and greater knowledge of, the King …

The Reunion Of Christendom, Th. Engelder

Concordia Theological Monthly

"Interim hat den Schalk hinter ihm!" When the attempt was made to reconcile Lutheranism and Catholicism by means of the Augsburg Interim, the Lutheran laymen rose in their might and declared: "Selig ist der Mann, Der Gott vertrauen kann Und willgt nicht ins Interim, Denn es hat den Schalk hinter ihm!" "Of the Interim beware, For a knave is hiding there." (Hurst, History of the Christian Church, II, p. 217.) When Melanchthon and others offered the Church a modified form of this union document in the Leipzig Interim, 1548, the Lutherans at once detected the same knave hiding there. And …

The Reunion Of Christendom, Th. Engelder

Concordia Theological Monthly

Examining the basic principle of unionism, "In essentials (fundamentals), unity - in non-essentials (non-fundamentals), liberty," we need to call attention to some additional points. We have to point out, in the first place, that in urging the acceptance of their principle upon us the union-men occasionally misapply a sound principle of theology. It is good theology to distinguish between fundamental and non-fundamental doctrines, the fundamental articles being those which form the basis of faith, the nonfundamental articles those "which are indeed found in Scripture but are not the foundation or object of faith in so far as it obtains forgiveness …

Youth Leadership, P. E. Kretzmann

Concordia Theological Monthly

To offer a satisfactory summary of the problems which confront young people, particularly those of the late high school and college age, would require at least a semester's work, and therefore we can at best point out only those features of guidance which seem to require the most attention on our part. Let it be dated at once that the most difficult phases of work in the early stages of adolescence cannot be discussed at this time, partly because the amount of time at our disposal will not permit a satisfactory rehearsal of the most significant points, partly because most …

Leading Thoughts On Eschatology In The Epistles To The Thessalonians, L. Fuerbringer

Concordia Theological Monthly

In our discussions of the leading eschatological thoughts in the Epist1es to the Thessalonians we now proceed to a new section. In -the previous installments we have noted that the Lord will return suddenly, as a thief in the night, 1 Thess. 5:1-3; that He will not return before the great Antichrist will have been revealed, 2 Thess. 2:1-13. But the apostle also shows the purpose for which the Lord will return, namely, for vengeance upon the unbelievers and for the glorification of the believers. This truth is stressed particularly in the section 2 Thess.1:3-12, to which we now turn …

Leading Thoughts On Eschatology In The Epistles To The Thessalonians, L. Fuerbringer

Concordia Theological Monthly

In the autumn of 52 A. D. or somewhat earlier, while on his second great missionary journey, Paul, accompanied by Silas, paid his first visit to Thessalonica. Acts 17.

Being favorably situated on the Aegean Sea, Thessalonica was at that time the largest city of the Balkan Peninsula and one of the most important cities of the Roman Empire, vying with Rome and Alexandria for commercial supremacy. The population of Thessalonica must have exceeded 100,000. Many Jews lived there. It was just the place for Paul to undertake extensive missionary activity.

Faith, Ed. Kohler

Concordia Theological Monthly

As the term "faith" holds a rather prominent place in the language of the Church, it may be well to examine more closely its meaning and implications.

The Social Implications In The Gospels And In The Book Of Acts, P. E. Kretzmann

Concordia Theological Monthly

What are social implications? We might ask first: What is meant by "social"? Obviously the answer is: Anything that Involves two or more people as distinguished from a situation that concerns one person, or individual, alone. To satisfy one probable Inquiry at once, we hasten to say that we want to forestall any suspicion as to any inclination toward a social gospel by stating that the message of the Gospel as we find it in the Holy Scriptures, although commonly proclaimed before social groups, is definitely addressed to the individual, since faith is clearly a matter of the individual, as …

The Means Of Grace, F. E. Mayer

Concordia Theological Monthly

How does the infinite God reveal Himself to finite man? How can union and communion between God and man be established? There is an inherent longing in man to bridge the chasm which separates the unknown, absolute God from sinful, mortal man, and since Adam's fall natural man has attempted to penetrate into the being, counsels, attitude, and mysteries of God.

Pilgrims Of Hope, Victor Bartling

Concordia Theological Monthly

The Address to the Pilgrims. "Peter, the apostle of Jesus Christ," etc., 1 Pet.1:1, 2; that means, Jesus through His duly commissioned servant writes this letter to Christians, who have their true home in heaven and so are living as aliens on earth, specifically to Christians of Asia Minor who most probably have received the Gospel, either directly or indirectly, through the Apostle Paul. They live not in an integrated, visible commonwealth as the people of God but are scattered, now here, now there, among a heathen populace.

The Danger Of Lowering Professional Standards, P. E. Kretzmann

Concordia Theological Monthly

Where is the blame to be laid when such an appreciation of the ministerial office, its opportunities and responsibilities, is absent? Bulletin 11 of the American Association of Theological Schools states that lowered standards are at least in part a matter of lowered ethics. The situation may be accounted for in part by the fact that some pastors did not enter the ministry from adequate motives.

The Aims Of Chrisitan Education, P. E. Kretzmann

Concordia Theological Monthly

In discussing this topic, it may become necessary to touch upon a number of points which are closely related to it. Such points are matters pertaining to the transmission of information, teaching processes and procedures, the problem or task involved in the various acts connected with the stimulation of self-activity and the motivation of learning and other considerations pertaining to curriculum construction.

The Pastor And Religious Education, Paul Koenig

Concordia Theological Monthly

God’s Word is by no means silent on the subject of religious or Christian education. The pages of that Holy Book abound in references to one of the greatest tasks of the Church of Jesus Christ and her members. Not only did the Lord of the Church in His Great Commission make it incumbent on His disciples to "teach them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you"; not only has He given the means for the teaching, viz., His holy Word; not only has He set forth aims of such teaching efforts in unmistakable terms; but He has …

The Pastor And The Pastoral Cure Of Souls, H. F. Wind

Concordia Theological Monthly

As the pastor of today surveys the scene presented by life In twentieth-century America, the setting in which he must practise his profession, he cannot but be impressed by the increasing magnitude of the task set for him. This task is indeed many-sided. It includes the functions of the public ministry, the preaching of the Word and the public administration of the Sacraments; it includes the teaching functions of the ministry in the educational activities of the Church; it includes administrative tasks as executive head of a rather complex organization; it includes missionary activities and frequently service in synodical offices; …

Justification, Santification, And Stewardship In Their Aims And Relation To Each Other, W. Arndt

Concordia Theological Monthly

''Three hackneyed terms," some one may say. "Why waste valuable time on them when there are greater subjects to discuss?" But are there? Is it not true that, If we really knew what these terms signify, if we knew not only their dictionary definition, but were thoroughly intimate with them by much contemplation, consideration, and cultivation, ''tasting, touching, and handling them," gratefully and reverently, there would be a great change in our attitude and mode of life, a rejuvenation of our spiritual energies, the suppression of the spirit of pessimism and lethargy, and the beginning of a new era of …

Doctrinal Preaching, J. H. Fritz

Concordia Theological Monthly

"In a restless nation and agitated times, in these days of somewhat bustling religious activity, there has come to be too little of real doctrinal preaching."

Foreword: That The Ministry Be Not Blamed., Theo. Laetsch

Concordia Theological Monthly

Unionism is a sign of the times. Alliances of nations, mergers of corporations, unions of laborers, of employers, of capitalists, consolidation of resources, collective bargaining, - these are expressions familiar to every one. In union there is strength. Union eliminates much waste, senseless competition, makes for greater economy, efficiency, service, better times. Union, cooperation, is hailed by many as the cure-all for the manifold troubles of the present day, as the best possible solution of the vexing twentieth-century problems.

Chrisitan Burial, J. A. Petersen

Concordia Theological Monthly

The topic "Christion Burial" might on first thought appear to be a topic that rightfully belongs to the pastoral conference. It should not require so much thought to realize, however, that the right understanding of this important subject and, following upon the right understanding, the correct practice concerning Christian burial is of vital importance to the members as well as to the pastor of the congregation, especially in our day, when the opinion is steadily gaining ground that Christian burial should be denied no one, regardless of what the deceased has confessed and how he hos lived. At no time …

Wie Muss Gottes Wort Gepredigt Werden, Damit Glaube Entstehe In Den Herzen Der Zuhoerer, F. Pieper

Concordia Theological Monthly

Wie muss Gottes Wort gepredigt werden, damit glaube entstehe in den Herzen der Zuhoerer (How must God's word be preached so that faith arises in the hearts of the hearers)

Wie Muss Gottes Wort Gepredigt Werden, Damit Glaube Entstehe In Den Herzen Der Zuhoerer, F. Pieper

Concordia Theological Monthly

Wie muss Gottes Wort gepredigt werden, damit glaube entstehe in den Herzen der Zuhoerer (How must God's word be preached so that faith arises in the hearts of the hearers)

Wie Muss Gottes Wort Gepredigt Werden, Damit. Glaube Entstehe In Den Herzen Der Zuhoerer, F. Pieper

Concordia Theological Monthly

Wie muss Gottes Wort gepredigt werden, damit glaube entstehe in den Herzen der Zuhoerer (How must God's word be preached so that faith arises in the hearts of the hearers)

Propositions Concerning The Election Of Grace, P. E. Kretzmann

Concordia Theological Monthly

Propositions Concerning the Election of Grace.

With special reference to Calvinistic and synergistic views

According to Holy Scriptures there is only one gracious will of God, that of the universalis gratia, which desires the salvation of all men.