CLC's Ministry by Mail

Imagine it is your anniversary, and you ask your wife if it’s allright to go out with your friends. She replies, “If that’s what you want to do on our anniversary, then go ahead.” Later, when you find yourself sleeping on the couch, would you be surprised and protest, “But you said I could go!”? I don’t think any of you are naïve enough to think she was actually giving you her blessing. But someti...

Some of you may be familiar with the background to the hymn “Amazing Grace.” It was written by an Anglican pastor named John Newton in the late 1700s. The hymn is about John Newton’s own life experience. Before he was an Anglican pastor, he was a man who gave very little thought to God. After leaving the British Royal Navy, he became involved in the business of slave trading – transporting men, wo...

“How are you doing?” I would imagine that everyone here today has been asked that question more than once. Depending on who asks the question, you might well anticipate additional questions. If a friend you have not seen for some time asks the question, you might expect that friend to go on to ask questions like: “How is your husband or wife,” or “how is your family?” If your doctor asks you that...

Dearly Beloved Fellow Believers,Salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ is to us the most precious teaching of the HolyScriptures. By it we are sure of our salvation and can live in peace. We know that our eternal placein the Father’s house is assured because Christ won it for us by His sacrifice and God has given it to usby His grace.

Our meditation is based on the parables of the lost sheep and lost coin.  You will see though we sinners find reason to keep our distance from one another and our God, the Saviorcomes to actively seek and recover you into His eternal fold.

I think weall know the importance and blessing of having a friend.  Have you been particularly blessed duringyour life to have someone that you would consider your “best friend”?  Someone you can always count on to “bethere.”  Someone whose friendship was unconditional.  Someone who always made your day better.  Someone you just really liked beingaround.  If you’ve had that type of afriend during...

I want to start with a question: Which is easier—to offer a conciliatory hand, an olive branch, to someone who has wronged you repeatedly, or to offer a conciliatory hand to someone whom you have wronged repeatedly?

On this Trinity Sunday, listen to how the Triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit gives us LIVING HOPE.

·        United by the blood of Christ ·        At peace through the preaching of Christ ·        Build on the cornerstone, which is Christ

In a church on a Sunday morning, after the service was over, one of the members asked to speak to the pastor privately. After they had gone into the pastor’s study and closed the door, the man informed the pastor that he was resigning his membership in the congregation. He had with him a signed letter of resignation that he handed to the pastor, asking that it be presented to the church council. T...

Ourmeditation is based on Jesus’ teaching concerning the Holy Spirit.  You will see that though the spirit of the worldseems ever to be evolving and encroaching, the Spirit of God remains theunchanging fount of saving truth.  Again,the Savior saith: “And when [the Spirit] is come, He will reprove the world ofsin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” O Risen Lord, bless Thy Word thatwe may trust...

John 14:1-6 (NKJV) "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there youmay be also. 4 "And where I go you know, and the wa...

The story is told of a sheepfoldthat had one young ewe (a female sheep), that was particularly assertive.  She was so assertive that the other sheep inthe pen thought she knew something they didn’t and they began following thisassertive little lamb.  They followed herright through an opening in the fence and out of the farmyard.  Though this little lamb acted like she knewwhat she was doing, she h...

Think about this question for a moment—are you an optimist or a pessimist? Is the glass perpetually half-full or half-empty for you? Did the folks who developed “Murphy’s Law” have you personally in mind, or do you believe with the apostle Paul, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13)? Do you believe that it is possible to “rejoice in the Lord always,” (Phil. 4:4) as P...

The ressurection of Jesus means Jesus is our savior forever.

The sermon this Easter morning is based on the discovery of the empty tomb. You will see thatthough the sinner embarks on many a foolish journey, the Gospel reveals God’s desire to ever guideyou to and by the forgiveness and grace found in the Risen Lord. Again, from Mark’s Gospel: “Theangel said to the women: ‘Be not affrighted! Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified. He isrisen! He is no...

Behold Christ cursed instead of us

Ironic, isn’t it? Irony is an outcome that is the opposite of what you might expect. Wewouldn’t expect a little child to teach a preacher of God’s Word a lesson about such a basicmatter of faith—and yet, that’s exactly what happened! My niece was a good example of whatJesus means when He spoke about us having absolute trust in Him and receiving the kingdomof God “like a little child” (Luke 18:17)....

There’s a storm on the horizon—it is coming. This storm will either bring destruction orsalvation, fire and judgment or healing. What will be the determining factor? Fear. The kind thattrembles and trusts.

We shake our heads when we see politicians rail against corruption, only to have theirown scandals exposed. But before we nod in agreement, let’s ask ourselves—what’s in ourcloset? What sins do we ignore in ourselves while we cry out for justice against others? Thiswas the spiritual blindness of Malachi’s time, and it’s a warning for us tod

Have you ever considered how your relationship with your spouse affects yourrelationship with God? Marriage was one of God’s last creations and one of His greatest giftsto humankind. As our text states, it is a holy institution which God loves.

For Lent we are letting Malachi prepare us for Christ's passion.

Let me ask you—is the temple of your heartand the worship of your heart ready? Is it ready for Palm Sunday, to cry outwith a true heart, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes inthe name of the Lord”? Is it ready to stand at the foot of the cross with abroken and contrite heart, sorrowing over the extent of our sinfulness andmarveling at the extent of His love? Is it ready to hurry...

Our sermon for Transfiguration Sunday is by Pastor Nathan Pfeiffer Berea Ev. Lutheran Church Inver Grove Heights, MN