• Disciple-making

    Pastor’s Perspective: June 2026 Last month I wrote about discipleship. I did so to introduce the subject of disciple-making. Why? Because we started the RENEW process. RENEW is about “Renewing Peace Lutheran in Disciple-Making.” The heart of disciple-making is being a disciple. A key passage for both making and being a disciple is the Great…

  • How much should I give to church?

    Ask the Pastor Is there a Biblical standard for tithing? The starting point for all discussions about giving should begin with God. All that is, is made by God. “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” (Psalm 24:1 NIV) In the first chapter of Genesis,…

  • Why are only people’s first names mentioned during the prayers at church?

    Ask the Pastor We have a long history of naming people. In the Old Testament, the Hebrews named male children at circumcision on the eighth day after birth. See Luke 1:59. The early church adopted a similar pattern with baptismal names which were given at baptism. Historically, most were named after a famed saints, such…

  • Discipleship

    Pastor’s Perspective: May 2026 Since our congregation has started the RENEW process, we should talk about discipleship. Why? RENEW is about “Renewing Peace Lutheran in Disciple-Making.” I am excited about our congregation as we begin this adventure of trusting in God’s faithfulness. What is discipleship? American Christianity often portrays discipleship as an extra layer of…

  • Where was God before the beginning?

    Ask the Pastor Let me give a simplified answer. The first thing to note is that God created everything that is not God, even if it is not listed in the Genesis 1 account. This means God created atoms and angels, and time. This is what is meant by creation out of nothing. Other ancient…

  • What do we mean when we say that Jesus is Son of the Father?

    Ask the Pastor The Nicene Creed states two things about the second person of the Trinity that are equally true. First, that he is “begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father.” Second, that “For us and for our…