German

In this sermon, preached by Walther on Christmas Day, 1872, he encourages his hearers to persist in their childlike faith.

This essay written by August Pieper, entitled Quo propior Luthero, eo melior theologus, appeared in volume 14 of Theologische Quartalschrift in 1917, in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the 95 Theses and the Reformation. While holding true to the doctrine of sola Scriptura, Pieper distinguishes Martin Luther from great men of other eras by highlighting his simple, child-like faith and trust in God and the Word. He discusses why it is essential for both church leaders and laypeople to continue to study Luther and provides several different approaches to studying Luther effectively.

Salomon Franck (1659-1725) was a lawyer who was most famous for his poetry. Many of his poems were set to music by Johann Sebastian Bach. Among his many works are “I Leave All Things to God’s Direction” (CW414) and “O God, Forsake Me Not” (CW424). This hymn, which meditates on the joy that from eternity God has by grace and in Christ elected his own for heaven, is set to the melody “Wer Nur Den Lieben Gott” (CW444).

Hoenecke preached this sermon in 1890 on the eleventh Sunday after Trinity. It was translated as part of the American German Lutheran Writings Class in 2009.

In this Reformation sermon, first preached in 1856, Walther celebrates the great freedoms which the Gospel brings.

Walther delivered this sermon in 1861. In it he reminds the heirs of the Reformation exactly what they have inherited and encourages them to cling to it.

Benjamin Schmolck (1672-1737) was a pastor in Germany who wrote 1183 different hymns, including "Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty" (CW255) and "Dearest Jesus, We Are Here" (CW295). This hymn which praises God for coming to us in his Word and letting us come to him in worship is to be sung to the tune "Meinen Jesum Lass Ich Nicht" (CW 304).

This sermon was also preached in 1844, the very next week. In it, Walther uses God's timeless Word to comfort Christians against the tribulations faced during the End Times, many of the same tribulations then as we face today.

Walther first preached this sermon in 1844 and his words are no less true today. May we always take to heart his strong encouragement to come to Jesus.

The editor of the volume * Goldkoerner* explains the rationale for his work of publishing this series of sermons from C.F.W. Walther.