Mrs. Pekoe often made tea. She kept a plain little teapot on a low shelf near her stove and brewed a cup of tea in it for herself every day. She kept a larger fancy teapot on a higher shelf, and whenever guests arrived, she made some tea in the fancy pot for them. Mrs. […]
A catechism had been written, beautiful and clear, a catechism that people would love and confess for 450 years—and more if the Lord tarries. What is so special about this catechism that it should stand this test of time? The document answered a burning question of its day about the Lord’s supper, but that would […]
Luther had nailed his ninety-five theses to the door at Wittenberg nearly fifty years ago. Now it was 1562 and many doctrines still needed further explanation. Lack of understanding especially about the Lord’s supper caused much chaos and confusion in the land. The need for clear explanation of doctrine was great. This would be a […]
He was a quiet and gentle boy. He loved books and he loved to study. He was well-suited to be taught in the best of schools. But his father, a tutor, could not afford this. The senate of Breslau, however, noticed how intelligent this boy of their town was. Zacharius Ursinus was sixteen years old […]
Caspar Olevianus had tried to save a close friend from drowning, and almost drowned himself. In the terror of the moment, Caspar had vowed to be a preacher of the gospel of the Reformed faith. Now it was time to keep his word. As soon as his studies in law were finished, he turned his […]
Caspar Olevianus was a boy born into a wealthy family in the city of Treves, a stronghold of the Roman Catholic Church. His father was head of a baker’s guild, and in the 1500s if parents had money, they sent their children to school. Caspar was sent to many Roman Catholic schools. One day at […]
More chaos was in the land in 1560. Two leading men had been cast out of the Protestant town of Heidelberg, Germany: the Lutheran Dr. Hesshuss and the Calvinist Klebitz. Their wrestling match during a church service was the last straw. But the views they had been fighting over—views about the Lord’s supper—were far from […]
He was a man of great intellect and strong opinions, but where would his opinions lead? Dr. Thieleman Hesshuss taught at the new seminary in Heidelberg, Germany in 1560. Professors holding to various religious opinions taught at this school at this time, and Hesshuss held his Lutheran views on the Lord’s supper very highly. Differing […]
What is my only comfort? That I am not my own. My faithful Savior owns me, Whose blood for me atoned. The devil’s strength is broken. My Savior’s on the throne. What is my only comfort? That I am not my own. My Keeper so preserves me, Each hair of mine is known. No […]
“Just hang on!” Emma’s knees jittered against the side of the climbing wall as she looked up at her friends waiting for her at the top. She had never been so high off the ground before. They tried to encourage her. “You can’t fall!” Emma knew it was true. The harness around her was […]