The Christo-centricity of Liturgical Preaching

Forever emblazoned on my memory banks are the words over the seminary chapel doors...

Commentary on the Propers

While I own copies of all of the volumes in the Christian Worship suite, a subset of those volumes is located on the small shelf that is part of my office desk.

Ten Years In: Reflections on Teaching Grown-Ups (Part 2)

First, our mid-2020 church-planting workshops will always be special to me.

The Person of the Preacher—Does It Matter?

“The person of the preacher” is a phrase I was not acquainted with until a few years ago.

Accompaniment for Services—Service Builder Edition

It was a matter of timing, so it couldn’t be helped. I’m hoping you didn’t miss it, but I would understand if you did.

Ten Years In: Reflections on Teaching Grown-Ups (Part 1)

First, I carry a laminated SETPI diagram in my work bag to glance at when I’m outlining Bible studies months away.

A Successful Tempo for Setting Two

It turned 40 this year. Based on its release date in Christian Worship, however, it’s only four years old for the vast majority of WELS congregations.

Exegeting Your Listeners

Should a preacher change his preaching based on where he is and to whom he is preaching?

So Much to Learn: Notes From Another Young Pastor on Teaching Grown-Ups (Part 2)

Recently, my congregation spent a couple of months working through the first few chapters of Genesis.

Helping You Plan For All Saints’ Day 2025

All Saints’ Day can be observed on Sunday, November 2, this year. The appointed Hymn of the Day for All Saints’ Day...

Avoiding Law-Gospel Negligence and Obsession: Part 2

I can imagine how some preachers might react to the term: “Law-gospel obsession? Could there be such a thing?"

So Much to Learn: Notes From Another Young Pastor on Teaching Grown-Ups (Part 1)

While AI might be a bit controversial, it can nevertheless also be a helpful tool.

Sing More Lutheran Chorales!

I can always get a few likes on my social media accounts with this recommendation. But it’s easier posted than done.

Avoiding Law-Gospel Negligence and Obsession: Part 1

Lutheran preachers treasure God’s law and gospel. Could it happen, though, that we preach too little law and gospel? Or...

So Much to Learn: Notes From a Young Pastor on Teaching Grown-Ups

There’s something both humbling and hopeful about walking into a Bible study room filled with adults.

A Singer’s Book

As far as hymnals go, Christian Worship (2021) is not drastically different than its predecessor. It was meant, however, to be noticeably different in a few ways.

Three Reasons Why Sermon Form Matters

The way we arrange our thoughts in a sermon is probably not something we think about much (or ever).

Working With Adult Learners

Knowles advanced the idea that adults bring a unique set of characteristics to the classroom, and by designing a lesson...

Defining the Purpose of Preaching: Help from Luther

Defining the purpose of preaching can be tricky.

What the teachers in your congregation wish you’d do in Bible study

Feedback is invaluable. This holds true especially in Bible study settings...

Importing Music Graphics That Match

if you have learned to use Christian Worship: Service Builder (CW:SB) and... found yourself wanting to add something that you use locally in the same format...

The Tapestry of Preaching: Use it to Check Your Sermons

Do you ever look back at sermons you’ve preached? If you do, what do you look for?

Psalms as Hymns

Many hymns in the Psalter can be used at places in the service other than the place for the psalm.

Planning Your Bible Study Courses for a Whole Year

How do we plan out our Bible study courses over an entire academic year, for example?

Treasures “Hidden” in a Hymnal

When you hold Christian Worship: Hymnal in your hands, you’re holding a book that has plenty of “back stories” worth telling.

Setting Specific Goals Across a Bible Study Curriculum

How often do the pastors in WELS write their own Bible studies instead of using preexisting materials?

The Tapestry of Preaching: Hearer Interpretation

“How do I connect the textual, scriptural, gospel-centered truths I’m preaching to my listeners’ real lives?”

The Tapestry of Preaching: Evangelical Proclamation

Sometimes, to understand a story you need to know one key point.

Retuning of Hymns in Christian Worship 2021

There are roughly forty hymns in Christian Worship (2021) that were retuned—same text as before, sung to a different melody.

What do students consider to be qualities of successful teachers?

In one of the first lessons of their first courses at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, the students are asked...

Please Proceed Slowly

It was late summer/early fall 2021 when orders for Christian Worship 2021 began to be filled and boxes of hymnals...

Sometimes I Wonder . . .

I sometimes wonder how valuable premarriage counseling is. That’s probably not how the editors want this article to start.

The Tapestry of Preaching: Theological Confession

David Schmitt defines theological confession: “Through the sermon, the preacher makes confession of the teachings of the faith.”

The Tapestry of Preaching: Textual Exposition

Textual exposition assumes that a sermon is based on a biblical text or texts. While that may seem obvious, it’s not something we can take for granted.

Gospel Acclamations in Christian Worship

The place was St John’s in Burlington, Wis. The event was a new hymnal introduction workshop.

Teaching Tips & Curriculum Connections

Last month, we gained insight into some of the practical aspects of teaching Bible information class in a cross-cultural setting. Here are two related classroom tips that the teacher of a cross-cultural class may find useful.

The Tapestry of Preaching

What are the essential ingredients in a sermon? We could say simply, “The Word of God,” but that could mean different things to different Lutheran preachers.

Bible Information Class for Cross-Cultural

If there is a topic I’m experienced at talking about and teaching, it is Baptism. Specifically, infant baptism. I know the verses. I know the arguments.

Introducing the New Hymnal

The congregation I began to serve in June 2022 had not yet moved in the direction of adopting the new hymnal. For a number of years, it had been making use of materials from Christian Worship: Supplement.