Raisin Cakes

The following is taken from pages I created for the Webpage of my congregation, Hope Lutheran Church. I have chosen to post it here for numerous reasons not least of which is that I hope others will find it helpful.

All the materials listed through the following links are public domain and you may freely copy and use them (if you have doubts or questions about the public domain status of anything listed here, please contact me).

Disclaimer: although I commend these resources to you for your spiritiual growth and Christian edification, I cannot vouch for everything included herein. Please test everything you read against God's Holy Word and utilize your God-given reason and Christian knowledge.

Bibles:

• I personally recommend the English Standard Version (ESV) as it is a generally reliable translation of the original Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic Scripture texts.
• American Standard Version
  • One of the best English translation available in the public domain is the American Standard Version (ASV), published in 1901. Although it does contain archaic language, it is much easier to read than the King James Version (KJV), published in 1611. Note, however, this translation is not built on the ancient texts discovered in the twentieth century and does not take into account the considerable Biblical scholarship that the last hundred years has produced.
• King James Version 
  • Although much good scholarship has become available since the publishing of this "Authorized Version," the King James Version still has much to commend it. Whereas it should not be relied upon as anyone's only Bible, (the ASV concerns are much magnified with this translation), yet this text has largely stood the test of time. Note, however, that many of the archaic phrases and colloquialisms in this translation can be easily misinterpreted by today's speaker of English. If you wish, follow this off-site link to a King James Bible dictionary and have hard-to-understand words defined.

Sermons & Treatises:

Written by Dr. Martin Luther (1483-1546)

Reformer and Rediscoverer of the Gospel of Christ who once wrote: "God has surely promised His grace to the humbled, that is, to those who mourn over and despair of themselves. But a man cannot be thoroughly humbled till he realizes that his salvation is utterly beyond his own powers, counsels, efforts, will and works, and depends, absolutely on the will, counsel, pleasure and works of Another - God alone. As long as he is persuaded that he can make even the smallest contribution to his salvation, he remains self-confident and does not utterly despair of himself, and so is not humbled before God."

• Treatise on Good Works (191 KB) download
  • A seminal, influential work on the importance of good works, compared and contrasted with the central doctrine of justification by faith.
• Preface to His Latin Writings (39 KB) download
  • Written later in his life, this preface to his published Latin writings gives us a remarkable window into Martin Luther's theology and into the truth revealed in God's inspired Word
• Preface to the Book of Romans (43 KB) download
  • When Martin Luther first translated the Bible into German (at that time, the Bible was only available to the lay people in the Latin, which no one could read. Working from Greek manuscripts, Luther translated the whole Bible into German so that the people could read the Bible for themselves. When first published, Luther also included an explanatory preface to each book of the New Testament. The preface to Romans is particularly good.
• The 95 Theses (32 KB) download
  • The theses for debate on the sale of indulgences that Martin Luther posted on the door of the castle church.  Intended to be the topics for debate and not intended to start a Church-wide Reformation, nevertheless they are the springboard from which the true Gospel of Jesus Christ was restored to Christendom.
• Commentary on Galatians (662 KB) download
  • His second commentary on this Gospel-centered letter of St. Paul. Recommended as basic reading for all Christians who wish to grow in their love for Scripture and for the Lord Jesus whom it proclaims.
• On the Bondage of the Will (817 KB) download
  • One of the most difficult doctrines of the Bible to understand is the relationship between free will and salvation. Written as a part of a public debate with Erasmus of Rotterdam, Martin Luther clearly (and polemically) explicates the Bible's teaching on free will and demonstrates how it is of great comfort to the believer.
• Sermon on the Reception of the Holy Sacrament (35 KB) download
  • An excellent sermon, calling us to mind as to what the meaning of the Sacrament of the Altar is, also reminding us of the importance of faith, of believing in the Real Presence, and of having faith in the words "given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins."
• Sermon on How to Contemplate the Sufferings of our Lord (26 KB) download
  • This was not only one of Luther's most popular published sermons, but one of his most popular writings during the formative years of the Reformation. An excellent corrective to today's overly pietist means of  hand-wrenching" on Good Friday.
• Assorted Sermons (292 KB) download
  • A selection of eight sermons on various topics. Note: the translation of Scripture in this selection is slightly archaic (for example, it says "thee" instead of "you" and "believeth" instead of "believes."

The immediate past-president of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod was the late Dr. A. L. Barry. Dr. Barry wrote a very helpful series of pamphlets entitled the "What About?" series. The series ranged on topics from "What About Christian Families?" to What about "Homosexuality?" to "What About Baptism?" and everything in between. It is a helpful summary of many of the doctrines of the Christian faith in an easy-to-use format.

To download the entire series of "What About?" pamphlets as collated in one larger document entitled "Unchanging Truth in Changing Times," click here.

Authentic Christianity is that which:

       ♦ Takes God's Word at face value;

       ♦ Offers no gimmicks;

       ♦ Faithfully divides Law & Gospel;

       ♦ Offers God's forgiveness, life, 
          and salvation.

I hold that Jesus Christ crucified and risen again for the forgiveness of my sins (justification) is the very center and core of who I am. My Lord comes to us to forgive our sins and give us Himself through means such as the Word of God, preaching, baptism, absolution (forgiveness) and the Lord's Supper.

The authentic, Christian and apostolic faith is confessed in the three creeds:

• The Apostles' Creed;
• The Nicene Creed;
• The Athanasian Creed.
  
  

This universal faith is also confessed in the Book of Concord of 1580, including:

• The Unaltered Augsburg Confession (UAC);
• The Apology (Defense) of the Augsburg Confession;
• The Small Catechism;
• The Large Catechism;
• The Smalcald Articles;
• The Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope;
• The Epistome of the Formula of Concord;
• The Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord.

• The Confession of St. Patrick (50 KB) download
  • St. Patrick (386-461).  Briton Missionary to Ireland.  Captured as a youth by slavery and sold to an Irish Druidic priest, he escaped captivity and eventually returned to Ireland as a missionary.  Credited with the wholesale evangelism of Ireland.   His Confession is an eloquent and important confession of the Trinitarian faith.
• "Confessions" by St. Augustine (581 KB) download
  • Augustine of Hippo (354-430).  African bishop and important theologian of the Church who was active in defending the faith against numerous 4th century heresies.  This is his Confessions- an autobiographicl account of his sinful life before conversion and an eloquent testimony to the grace of God in his life and in the world. 
• "The Imitation of Christ" by St. Thomas à Kempis (652 KB) download
  • Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471), devotional writer and Christian mystic who once wrote:  "if you would receive profit, read with humility, simplicity and faith, and never seek the fame of being learned."  While at times this work wrongly elevates Christian experience over the objective truth of Holy Scripture, it is still worth reading carefully.
• C.F.W. Walther's First Presidential Address (36 KB) download
  • This first convention address by the first president of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod is entitled "The Scriptural truths regarding the relationship of a church organization and its members, as they are exemplified in our Synodical Constitution."  It is surprisingly relevant for our times and our situation today.
• C.F.W. Walther's Address to New Church Members (14 KB) download
  • An interesting window into the past; it is amazin to see (and instructive for us today) how important Lutheran doctrine and the teachings of Holy Scripture were in those heady days when the Missouri Synod was new.
• "Sacred Meditations" by Johann Gerhard (534 KB) download
  • Johann Gerhard (1582-1637) was an early Christian leader, theologian, and hymn writer.  Written early in his life at age 23, this writing (while at times running in an overly pietistic vein) is a classic of devotional literature.
• "Paradise Lost" by John Milton (452 KB) download
  • John Milton (1608-1674) was an English Puritan, and Secretary during the regime of Oliver Cromwell in England,  He wrote his epic-sized poem "Paradise Lost" later in life, after losing his eyesight. 
  • Caution: "Paradise Lost" is well-worth reading. Beware of the anti-Trinitarian (Arian) elements, however. While it is debated whether or not John Milton was or wasn't an Arian, it is undeniable that Arian elements are present in some of his writings. Arianism is that ancient false teaching that teaches that Jesus was just a man before he was elevated to the right hand of God. In other words, Jesus is not co-eternal with God the Father. In contrast, the true faith teaches that Jesus is co-eternal and co-majestic with the Father and the Spirit. Arian elements in "Paradise Lost" include an episode where the Father exalts his Son to sit at his right hand (thereby implying he was once just a man). Milton argues that jealousy of this move led to Satan's rebellion.
• "Pilgim's Progress" by John Bunyan (744 KB) download
  • John Bunyan (1628-1688) was an American Puritan who wrote extensively using allegory.  Best known for his extended allegory "Pilgrim's Progress."