Articles by Pastor Pope

These articles are included in our monthly newsletters!

November 2025

Members of the Body of Christ

In November we enter the final days of the church year. Unlike the secular calendar year which begins in January, the church calendar year begins in Advent. At the end of the church year, our thoughts are turned toward the Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell. The appointed readings draw our attention to the Second Coming of Christ and of His judgment of all flesh. Watch and pray is the order, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead; the faithful will enjoy eternal life with Him, while those who have rejected Him will be sent into the outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. We need not face this Judgment with fear, for Christ is with us. He has promised that we are sinless before the Father: His death has paid the debt that was owed to God because of our sin. Now we can rest secure in the peace that we have with God through His Son. Just as we do not worry when we see leaves fall from the trees because we know that spring is coming, we do not worry when we think about the Judgment, for we know that the Resurrection is coming. As the leaves and flowers burst forth in all their glory to face the springtime sun, so too will the bodies of the dead burst forth from their tombs to face the everlasting Son of Man. The end of the church year also reminds us that we do not run the race of faith alone. We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses that have gone before us and run the race of faith to the end. They have attained the glory of the heavenly Kingdom and now rest with God, beholding His face for eternity. We are not the first Christians, and unless Christ comes back in our lifetimes, we will not be the last. Future generations of Christians will run the same race, face temptation and trial, and in the end will emerge victorious, aided by the Holy Spirit. This is the reality of the communion of the saints. Saints are those who have faith in Christ and have been baptized into His Bride, the Church. Saints are both living and dead, on earth and in Heaven. Those saints who have died have joined the Church Triumphant, and are currently in Heaven with God. They pray for us as we fight temptation and wage war as part of the Church Militant here on earth. All saints are joined together in the unity of the Body of Christ, His Church. As members of Christ’s Body, we know that we are acceptable to Him. His death has covered our sins and given us eternal life. As Christians we do not fear His Judgment, but look for it and prepare for it. We look forward to the time when we will stand with former generations as members of the Church Triumphant, praising our Lord’s name forever. _________ 1. Mt. 25:13 2. Heb. 11-12 -Pastor Pope

October 2025

A Light Shines in the Darkness

As Halloween approaches, skeletons and jack-o’-lanterns appear on sidewalks, and ghostly figures haunt our yards and imaginations. Our thoughts turn from the bright day of summer to the cold darkness of winter. The realities of the dark and mysterious seem to press ever closer, as the shadows of long nights make strange what is familiar in the day. The modern, secular world dismisses the supernatural, thinking that it only exists in our minds or in movies. Yet as Christians we affirm that reality is more than the material, more than just “stuff.” There is a spiritual world that we cannot see, creatures that are invisible to our eyes. Angels watch over us and protect us; demons seek to lead us into temptation and drag us down to the depths of Hell. Yet through it all, we who are in Christ can rest confident in the promises of God. He has won victory over the demonic hordes of the Enemy. That angels and demons exist and are active in our world has been a belief shared by Christians throughout all ages. It is only modern, “enlightened” minds who deny this, thinking that the mysteries of the universe have been solved. Skeptics claim that we can explain demonic activity with science; that the demons that Jesus cast out were not real beings, but psychological issues that the people of long ago did not understand. But the Bible does not speak this way. The Scriptures warn us that Satan and his allies are dangerous – Peter warns us to “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). We are not to imagine that we are wiser than the apostles, who saw first-hand the miracles of Christ. Satan is a very real threat to us as long as we are in the world, and he seeks to lead us away from our saving Christ. Yet Satan does not have victory – he has been cast down by Christ. The Son of God took on flesh “that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Heb. 2:14-15). By His dying Christ has destroyed death, and by rising again He has restored to us everlasting life. We are no longer slaves of death, subject to the rule of Satan and his demons. Though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, surrounded by enemies, we shall not fear, for our Lord is with us. Through the darkness, our Lord protects us and leads us to safety. He gives us His Church, that we may build each other up, pray for one another, and receive all His gifts. He gives us His Word, that it may be for us a light that shines in the darkness and shows us the Way to everlasting life. He gives us His Sacraments, that they would strengthen us in faith and keep us united with Him. If you suspect some demonic influence in your life, you can speak with your pastor. You can ask for a house blessing, in which your pastor will come to your house and speak the Word of God, rebuking evil spirits and sanctifying the space with prayer. Satan and his demons have no power over those who are in Christ. The only protection against Satan is to be connected to Christ in the Church. Christ works through the Church to proclaim the pure Gospel, forgive your sins, and distribute the Sacraments. The devil may try to scare you or remind you of your sins, trying to keep you away from Christ. Know that since you have been made a new creation, he cannot harm you. You belong to your Father, who has called you out of the darkness into His everlasting light. -Pastor Pope

September 2025

What is Confirmation?

The end of summer us upon us. Kids are back in school and the temperatures have slightly cooled. With the school year comes another beginning of confirmation for the children of Our Savior. Confirmation is a rite, that is, a ceremony, that we have inherited from the history of the Church. It indicates that a child has been examined and has been found to confess the Lutheran faith. He or she is then ready to become a full member of the congregation and participate in the Lord’s Supper. For many of us confirmation class was our first introduction to the Small Catechism, the book that Martin Luther wrote to provide a simple, basic explanation of Christian doctrine. Confirmation class is a crucial part of the Christian's formation. We will learn Lutheran doctrine and learn about the Bible, but it isn't just about becoming familiar with a body of knowledge. The ultimate goal of confirmation is to learn how to live Christian lives. We can use the word "catechesis" to describe the process of teaching the Christian life. The main goal of Christian catechesis is to create and sustain faith in Christ and learn how to express that faith in one’s life. Catechesis is a process that is begun at Baptism and ends at death. It does not end with confirmation and full membership in the church, but continues throughout the Christian's life. Faith in Christ is the goal of catechesis. We want to know Christ, to have a righteousness that comes by faith in Him, not our own observance of God's Law. Our righteousness is tainted by sin, and so cannot save; but the righteousness of Christ, which is given to us and which we hold on to by faith in His promises, gives us eternal life. Successful catechesis gets the catechumen to recognize this central truth, that he must look away from himself and toward God. Catechesis involves teaching, but is not the same as education. Education is concerned with passing on a body on information or developing intellect or skills. Catechesis involves forming Christian habits and attitudes in addition to learning from books. The catechumen learns by doing. He attends the Divine Service, listens to preaching, and reads and meditates on the Bible and Catechism. Catechesis does not only happen in the classroom. Catechesis involves doing the things which continue to be a part of the Christian's life after Baptism and after Confirmation: attending the Divine Service, confessing sin, hearing the absolution, and living one's calling in a God pleasing way. All this flows from the righteousness that is given to us through faith in Christ. Catechesis enables the Christian to live faithfully by hearing the Word of Christ and doing those things that will continue to be a part of his or her life. The rite of Confirmation does not mark the end of something, like a school graduation ceremony, but marks the beginning of a child’s adult Christian life. For those of us whose confirmation is now a more or less distant memory, let us remember that our catechesis is still ongoing. We still have much to learn. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus as we run the race to win the prize of heaven (Heb. 12:1-3). -Pastor Pope

August 1, 2025

What Does it Mean to be a Lutheran?

To be a Lutheran is to believe what the Bible teaches. In the 16th century, a monk named Martin Luther taught that the doctrines of Christianity are clearly found in the Holy Scriptures. Luther rejected the idea that the Church could change doctrine, and this belief put him in conflict with the Roman Catholic Church. Over the years, the church of Rome had obscured the doctrine of Justification, or the way that we are made righteous before God. Rome teaches that we cooperate with God in Justification: when we do good deeds, we earn merit for ourselves that contributes to our salvation. However, the Scriptures teach that salvation is a free gift from God, which we receive by faith, without any merit or worthiness that is our own. This Lutheran teaching of salvation by faith alone is at the center of Lutheran teaching and is at the heart of the debate that started the Lutheran Reformation. To clarify and preserve the biblical doctrine of Justification, the Lutheran reformers joined together and wrote the Book of Concord, a collection of documents that form the basis of Lutheran teaching. It is a clear explanation of what we believe and confess as Lutherans. The Book of Concord is not Scripture; we do not teach that it is a new revelation. However, every teaching and doctrine found in the Book of Concord is drawn from the Scriptures, not the reason or wisdom of man. As a congregation of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS), Our Savior Lutheran Church accepts without reservation that the Book of Concord is a true and accurate statement and exposition of the Word of God. “Lutheran” is not just a denominational affiliation but is central to our identity. We are Lutherans because we are united around the teachings of Jesus Christ, as given to us in the Scriptures and explained in the Confessions. The teachings of the Confessions are the basis for our unity. St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10). We are to follow Christ, follow the doctrines that He gives us in His Word and avoid chasing our own ideas; for nothing in Scripture comes from private interpretation (2 Peter 1:20). We are to confess a common faith, a unity that is based on the teachings that we have received from God. Another word for unity is concord. This is why the Lutheran Confessions are called the Book of Concord. When the Lutheran reformers compiled the documents, they were confessing unity and agreement that was based around the doctrines of God’s Word. As Lutherans, we are the inheritors of their legacy. We confess unity not only with those in our congregation, but also with the congregations of the LCMS and all those who have confessed the Lutheran faith throughout history. This united confession is why we call ourselves Lutherans – we confess the teachings that are in the Lutheran Confessions. These teachings are the basis of our unity because they are rooted in God’s inerrant, inspired Scriptures. They are true teachings of Christ, in them we find our hope and life. -Pastor Pope

March 2025

Jesus Loves Me, This I Know

The love that Christ shows to us is at once simple and profound. It is simple in that it can be summed up in the words of the children’s song: “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” It is profound in that one can never quite get to the bottom of it. The love of God, like His peace, surpasses all understanding. We know that God is love, and so it is natural that He loves. Yet when we look at the object of His love, we can be left perplexed. Why does He love sinful people? Why does He chase after those who constantly turn away from Him? Why does He love me, when I have sinned, fallen short of His standards, and tried to keep Him away? Nevertheless, for the sake of His Son Jesus Christ, He does love you. He loves you enough to call you to His altar, where He distributes to you the gifts of Christ’s true body and true blood. He loves you enough to make you co-heirs in His Kingdom, adopting you in the waters of Baptism and giving you a new life. He loves you enough to call you away from sin, which is never very satisfying anyway, that you may be forgiven and inherit eternal life. All this the Lord does out of pure love for you, a free gift to His beloved. We are about to enter the season of Lent, the time of solemn preparation for the joyous feast of Easter. We remember that God not only shows His love by words, but by action. The Son of God hid the glory that rightfully belonged to Him and took on the form of a servant, becoming like you so that you might become like Him and receive eternal life. The Hymn “O Love, How Deep” (LSB 544) beautifully shows us the mystery of the Incarnation of Christ: “O love, how deep, how broad, how high, Beyond all thought and fantasy, That God, the Son of God should take, Our mortal form for mortals’ sake!” In that mortal form, Christ suffered hunger, thirst, and pain. He was tempted by the devil, cursed by those He came to save, and suffered a painful death. Yet He did it all for you. In His great love, the Son of God came to die in your place and atone for your sin. He suffered the consequence of sin in your stead, that your sin would no longer keep you away from Him. During this season of Lent let us keep this truth ever before our minds, that we would be reminded of the great love that our Creator has for us. -Pastor Pope

April 2025

Only Christ Can Satisfy

Ecclesiastes 6:3-9: “If a man begets a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with goodness, or indeed he has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better than he—for it comes in vanity and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness. Though it has not seen the sun or known anything, this has more rest than that man, even if he lives a thousand years twice—but has not seen goodness. Do not all go to one place? All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the soul is not satisfied. For what more has the wise man than the fool? What does the poor man have, who knows how to walk before the living? Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.” Solomon writes that even if a man is blessed with great things in this life, but does not have the rest to enjoy them, that he is worse off than a stillborn child, who at least has rest. Rest is something that can be hard to come by, especially in our modern world. We carry around devices that are designed to attract our attention and so deprive us of rest. Screens are an ever-present reality, cluttering the walls of restaurants and even showing up at gas station pumps. Smart phones, social media, constant television coverage of even the most mundane events all seek to grab our attention and hold us captive to the flow of information, much which is worthless. How many stories will you read today, and not remember tomorrow? The constant chatter of our plugged-in and hyperconnected age draws our attention to vanities that do not last, and away from that which is lasting, our Lord Jesus Christ. Our screens encourage us to direct our gaze to them, to seek the frivolous and temporary, rather than the lasting and eternal. But our restless age affects more than the media that we consume. Those hours that are not eaten away by distraction are often spent trying to make money and get ahead in the world. Solomon gives us an example of a man who is blessed with great things. He has wealth, children, and possessions. Yet his position is not enviable because he does not have the rest to enjoy it. Many people spend their lives chasing money, power, or status. They work untold hours, sometimes for genuine need, but often just to accumulate wealth and fill their barns with riches and material goods. They work not for what is necessary, but so that they will be able to have luxuries and fine foods. If you work long hours and provide for your family and your neighbors, this is good; you do well. Likewise, you do well if you can enjoy some luxuries, such as a night out at a good restaurant or a glass of fine scotch. Yet don’t forget that the money that you make will not, in the end, bring you peace. The food and drink that you seek will be consumed, the cars and clothes will wear out, and you will be left hungering for more. All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the soul is not satisfied. The hunger of our souls can only be satisfied through Jesus Christ, who came into our flesh to suffer death and bring us back to God. He gives us peace and rest. In Holy Communion Jesus gives us His Body to eat and His perfect Blood to drink for the forgiveness of our sins. This heavenly meal fills us and satisfies our longing for spiritual rest. Jesus is that living bread which has come down from heaven, which gives eternal life to all who believe. We have true rest in Jesus because we know the He provides for us. He has done it all. As the Father’s baptized children, we rest in His promises, knowing that we are at peace with God. -Pastor Pope

May 2025

New Life

Christ is risen from the dead! It is fitting that spring should be the time when we celebrate the Resurrection of Christ. All around us we see the beauty of the natural world burst forth to new life after the dark and dreary days of winter. Green grass grows, flowers bloom into full color, and the air is filled with birdsong. One of our Easter hymns, “Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain” (LSB 487) makes the connection between spring and the Resurrection rather beautifully. ‘Tis the spring of souls today; Christ has burst His prison And from three days sleep in death As a sun has risen; All the winter of our sins, Long and dark, is flying From His light, to whom is giv’n Laud and praise undying. Now the queen of seasons, bright with the day of splendor, With the royal feast of feasts Comes its joy to render; Comes to gladden faithful hearts Which with true affection Welcome in unwearied strain Jesus’ resurrection! Christ’s Resurrection has inaugurated a new era, a new season of the world. No longer are we oppressed by winter’s gloom; now Spring, the queen of seasons, shines forth to free us from the dead Winter. We awake to the glorious news that Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death. Because of Christ’s Resurrection, we no longer dwell in the barren January wilderness. His death has taken away our sins, and His resurrection has given us the hope of eternal life in the sunshine of God’s glory. In Christ we are given life in that eternal sunshine, recipients of the gifts He comes to give. In the waters of Baptism we are made new, regenerated and given new life. Speaking to Nicodemus the Pharisee by night, Jesus says, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (Jn. 3:5, NKJV). In Baptism the Resurrection of Christ is given to us, and we are brought into the spring of souls. We are renewed, washed of our sins, and made heirs to the Kingdom of God. It is important to note that the Baptism that Christ is speaking of is one of water and the Spirit. Water is an essential and necessary part of Baptism, for Jesus does not separate the two elements of water and Spirit. There is no “Spirit Baptism” that takes place apart from Baptism with water. It is the water of Baptism, combined with the Word of God, which bring us into the Kingdom of God and allows us to rejoice in the news that Christ is risen from the dead. Baptism frees us from the winter of our sins and brings us to the feast of feasts where we joyfully welcome the news of Jesus’ Resurrection. This spring let us joyfully remember the grace that we have received in Baptism and the everlasting promises that we have been given. -Pastor Pope

June 2025

The Splendor of Creation

It is summer, and for me summer has always meant outdoor activities. The summers of my youth were spent going on canoeing trips in Canada, hiking trips in New Mexico and Colorado, and trips to my Boy Scout Summer Camp in Ohio. I learned a lot on these trips – the importance of being self-reliant, the importance of being prepared, and just how great a blessing air conditioning is. Most importantly, though, I learned to marvel at the beauty of God’s Creation. Creation is beautiful. High mountains, green valleys, and grassy plains cover our land, filled with an abundance of wildlife. Lakes and ponds dot the landscape, nourishing and sustaining life by providing life-giving water. We see these great gifts that we have been given and can’t help but marvel that God the Father spoke all things into existence from nothing. It is the Lord who sustains His Creation and watches over it, who knows when every tree falls in the forest and who looks after the needs of every sparrow. It is the Lord who makes the sun rise every day, who upholds the stars and planets in their orbits, who gives us signs and seasons to mark the passage of years. What is more wonderful is that He does all this for us. The created world is not good for its own sake, but has been made for our provision and enjoyment. The creation of mankind was the final act of God’s creative activity, the crowning jewel of His world. He did not call it complete until Adam and Eve had been formed. God made all that is for us, to provide for us. Even in our fallen state, cast out of the perfect Eden, God still uses His Creation to provide for us. He gives us plants and animals for food, He waters the ground with rain so that these plants would grow and that we would have water to drink. As you go about your summer plans, don’t forget the work that God continues to do for you. Don’t forget to come to church, where God provides for our souls as well as our bodies. God nourishes and sustains us through with His holy Word, with His Absolution, and His Sacrament of the Altar. God reminds us that He sent His Son to die for us, the God-man giving His life to atone for our sins. God reminds us that He has forgiven us for Christ’s sake, the precious blood of the all-atoning Sacrifice covering the multitude of our sins. So this summer, spend time marveling at Creation. Spend time marveling at God’s mighty works, which He has accomplished for you. -Pastor Pope

July 2025

Daily Habits

“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (NKJV) “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV) Our habits shape our lives. The things we do habitually become part of the structure of our lives, and part of us. Our habits become so ingrained in the daily rhythm of life that we don’t even need to think about them; we just do them every day. You probably don’t need to think about brushing your teeth or grabbing your morning coffee. You just do it because it’s what you do, and if you forget you feel like something is missing. Your habits form the daily pattern of your life. This is why Christians throughout history have made daily prayer a habit. Christians are to pray without ceasing; yet, often we forget to pray. Many times, this is due to a lack of planning and discipline. If we only pray when we remember or when we feel like it, we will inevitably forget, or not be in the mood. But if we have a daily habit of prayer, if we have discipline and stick to an orderly plan, these times of forgetfulness will become less. It becomes much easier to remember when prayer is integrated into our daily habits. A daily habit of prayer is not only for the individual but also for the whole household. Christianity is a religion of community, and the first and most basic community is the family. If individuals have habits, families have habits as well. Families may have a habit of watching movies on a certain night of the week, or celebrating Independence Day in a particular way. Christian families have long had the habit of coming together every day to pray and read the Bible. Daily family devotions are an excellent way to sanctify your time as a family and receive the forgiveness of the Gospel. Daily devotions are also a great way to instruct children and bring them up in the faith. As the head of the household, the father is encouraged to bring up his children in the training and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4). Christian parents have the responsibility of teaching their families the Scriptures and ensuring that they are taught well. This teaching cannot be relegated to a couple hours on Sunday. A time of family devotions is an excellent way to introduce more of the Word of God to children. As times of prayer become habitual, they become part of the family’s culture. By regularly hearing the Word proclaimed, and by regularly coming together to pray the community of the family is strengthened in the faith. Like all habits that require discipline, the most important part of family devotions is to begin. Both individuals and families, whether they have children at home or not, benefit greatly from family devotions. But it can be overwhelming to find a place to start. Here is some practical advice and resources: • Pick a time and stick with it for a week. If you find that that time consistently doesn’t work well, pick a different time and try it out for a week. My family does devotions right before bed; perhaps the morning or right after dinner will work for you or your family. • Don’t overthink it. Portals of Prayer has an outline for daily family worship that includes prayer, a Bible reading, and a meditation. It’s simple, short, and perfect for establishing a habit. • If you struggle with finding the words to pray, use the Psalms. They were given to us for this very reason, that we would have excellent words with which to praise God. • Our hymnal, the Lutheran Service Book (LSB) is not just for use at church; it can be a valuable resource in the home as well. It has orders of prayer for various times of day, as well as the lectionary readings for Sunday. • Hymns are another great addition to family worship. Our hymnal contains many excellent hymns that have been passed down to us, a precious heritage bestowed on us by our Lutheran forefathers. • Concordia Publishing House (cph.org) sells the Treasury of Daily Prayer, which includes even more resources for daily prayer. If you are interested, come to my office and I can show you my copy. The habit of daily family prayer establishes the Word of God in the household and keeps Him at the center of daily family life. Even so, it always leads to the Divine Service on Sunday, when the wider community of the Church is gathered together to hear God’s Word preached and to receive His Sacraments as one united Body. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you as you continue to enjoy this summer and celebrate the wonderful gifts that He gives us. -Pastor Pope