Reconciliation The coming to agreement of two or more persons after misunderstanding or estrangement. There are many instances of this in the Bible but the dominant theme is the reconciliation of humanity to God. (Via the Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible) 2 Corinthians 5:18–19 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through…

Stewardship Utilizing and managing all resources God provides for the glory of God and the betterment of God’s creation. (via the Holman Bible Dictionary) 1 Peter 4:10 Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. There’s Got To Be Another Word for That…

Evangelism As Lutherans, we are committed to telling the good news. Evangelism is sharing God’s love in Jesus, inviting others to trust this grace and join God’s work. We celebrate love as pure gift and continue Jesus’ ministry as our calling, shaping lives rooted in faith and service. (via ELCA.org) Matthew 28:19–20 19 Go therefore and…

Discipleship Discipleship is a lifelong journey of living out and spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. (via Women of the ELCA) Luke 9:23 Then he said to them all, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. God’s Way of Turning the…

Almsgiving The act of voluntarily giving to those in need.   Hebrews 13:16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.   An Overlooked Discipline Every Lent we are invited to the three traditional practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Of the three almsgiving…

Adiaphora The term “adiaphora” is a transliteration of the Greek term (Latin: indifferentia; undifferentiated matters) meaning indifferent things.  (via Dictionary of Luther and the Lutheran Traditions) Romans 14:2-3 2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one…

Sanctuary A holy place where God is present. In the wilderness, that was the tent of meeting; in the time of Solomon, it was the Temple at Jerusalem. In both places, the Lord’s presence was made visible as a pillar of smoke during the daytime and a pillar of fire at night. (via The Harper…

Eucharist (YOO-kuh-rist) A Greek word meaning “thanksgiving” used in reference to the meal of Holy Communion. We call this meal Eucharist because we eat and drink in a spirit of thanksgiving. (via Baptized, We Live)   Luke 22:19–20 19 Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and…

Kyrie (KEER-ee-ay) A short repeated invocation (in Greek or in translation) used in many Christian liturgies, especially at the beginning of the Eucharist or as a response in a litany. The word comes from Greek Kuriē eleēson ‘Lord, have mercy’. (via The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable) Mark 10:47 46 They came to Jericho. As…

Sacrament An act that imparts God’s grace, using visible means, connected with the Word of God, and commanded by Christ; for Lutherans, Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. (via Lutheran Basics for Teachers) 1 Corinthians 10:16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that…

Liturgy Liturgy (meaning “work of the people”) is what we do when we gather to worship. The chief liturgy of Lutherans is the Holy Communion, the weekly Lord’s day event when we (1) hear the reading and proclamation of scripture and (2) act out the Gospel in the ritual drama of a meal. We believe…

Salvation God’s work to rescue us from the consequences of our sin, so that we might live in restored relationship on this earth and eternally. (via Lutheran Basics for Teachers) Titus 3:4-5 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we…

Atonement The work of Jesus to restore our relationship with God. (via Lutheran Basics for Teachers) Romans 5:10-11 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. 11 But more than that, we even boast in…

Covenant A mutual agreement between two or more people to do (or refrain from) doing certain acts; sometimes the undertaking of one of the parties. (via The Handy Bible Dictionary & Concordance (1983)) Jeremiah 31:33-34 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I…