🤔 Spoiler: It's more than just fulfilling Old Testament checklists. 👀

The Old Testament prophecies weren’t predictions—they were revelations of truth about who God is. 🔥

A Savior who’s born of a virgin, dies on a cross, and rises from the dead? Yep! 100%

Messiah = Savior, and every prophecy about Him proves God’s plan..

This isn’t just history; it’s truth about who God is and how much He loves *you*. ❤️

The same Old Testament faith as Moses, Peter, and Paul is yours today. ✝️

✅ You’re forgiven.

✅ You’re saved.

✅ You’re secure in Christ.

Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Content Executive.

#higherthings #lcms #lutheran #oldtestamentprophecy #messiah

We’re playing the wrong questions only game! 🎯

🤔Question: How can I use my religion to make me feel safe?

(If you ask a law question, expect a law answer. ⚖️ Any question that includes phrases such as “What can I do?” is a law question.)

It’s the opposite of faith because faith doesn't look to self; it looks to Jesus. ✝️

Faith looks to God for every good gift, including safety.🛡️

God, the creator, takes care of everything. 🌍

Relying on political parties or self-help methods can turn into idolatry. 🏛️📚

We start turning the gifts and blessings from God into idols. ⚠️

(It’s why prosperity teachers make so much money, and so many people follow them. 💸)

God gives us gifts we see and can't see… 🌟

🛡️He defends us from all evil

🚧He protects us when we don’t even know we’re in danger

False teaching tells us he does it because… 🚫

✔️ We did something good

📖 We’ve been reading the Bible

⛪ We’ve been going to church

He doesn’t do it because of any merit or righteousness in us. ❌

➡️The Truth: You know Christ loves you because he died for you, and that’s what you get to measure safety against. ❤️✝️

Even the bad news is good news because of Jesus. 💖

Jesus promises peace through his presence, not through a lack of trials. 🕊️

Even death has been conquered through Christ. ⚰️✝️

"If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Rom. 8:31) ✨

In the face of trials, Jesus calls us to run to the cross (where He comes to us).🏃

The peace God gives you is the forgiveness of sins. 🤝

Safety is not rooted in having enough good things or too few bad things. 💎💔

It’s rooted in a present God FOR YOU. 🌟

When we experience suffering, remember that it too has a purpose. 🌱

Rejoice in the life of faith that looks not to ourselves, but to the gifts of the Holy Spirit — where He forgives your sins and washes you clean. 💧

Contributor Marsh Shamburger is Pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Rocklin, CA.

Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Content Executive.

#higherthings #lcms #lutheran #jesus

🤔Why Don't Lutherans Do Testimonies?

Testimonies are a prominent feature in evangelical traditions but less common in Lutheran churches.

❓What’s wrong with testimonies?

🛑 They often shift the focus from Christ to the individual, creating a "me-centered" narrative rather than a Christ-centered one.

⚠️ There’s a risk of “exceptionalizing” faith stories, which might alienate those without dramatic experiences.

🤷 They can become overly individualistic, focusing on personal uniqueness rather than shared grace and salvation.

The impact of testimonies:👇

📉 A testimony-focused culture may prioritize behavior modification over the gospel message of grace and forgiveness.

💃 It shifts church from being a place to receive grace to one where individuals feel pressured to showcase their spiritual achievements.

The Lutheran take:👇

📖 Faith is created by hearing God’s Word, not through subjective experiences or individual narratives.

🛡️ The Lutheran confessions forbid preaching and public teaching in a worship setting without a formal call, raising concerns about lay testimonies in public worship.

🙏 Emphasis on human sinfulness highlights the need for Christ’s forgiveness rather than self-improvement stories.

💔 Lutherans acknowledge the ongoing struggle with sin, pointing to Christ’s mercy as the foundation of hope.

Even outwardly pious individuals struggle internally, emphasizing the need for Christ's salvation.

💡 Acknowledging inner brokenness aligns with the Lutheran focus on grace over works (or appearances).

Ultimately, we don't want to have a story. We want the life, death, and resurrection of the God-man, Jesus Christ, who is the savior of the world. 🙌

There’s a time and a place to talk about struggles and give encouragement, but it's not from the front of the church or in place of Bible study. 📚

Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Content Executive.

Contributor Chris Brademeyer is Pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Oakes, ND.

#higherthings #lcms #lutheran #christiantestimonies