Mid-Week Lenten Service, April 2, 2014. Isaiah 53

Mid-Week Lenten Vespers, April 2, 2014

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

Bethany Lutheran Worship, 7 PM Central Daylight Time 

The Hymn #227   Come Holy Ghost                 2. 72  
The Order of Vespers                                             p. 41

The Psalmody                                                 p. 128
The Lection                            The Passion History

The Sermon Hymn #249            Isaiah Mighty Seer            2.72  

The Sermon –      Isaiah the Preacher

 
The Prayers

The Lord’s Prayer

The Collect for Grace                                            p. 45

The Hymn # 660                Heaven is My Home                         2:46

KJV Isaiah 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it wereour faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Isaiah the Preacher

KJV Isaiah 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

This  preaching of the Atonement is found in the greatest of the major prophets, hidden in plain sight for centuries.

There are many Messianic passages throughout the Psalms, found in the major and minor prophets. They begin with Genesis 3:15.

Romans 10 uses this passage in reference to preaching. Report - something heard. Faith comes by hearing the report - the preached Word of God.

This was hidden in plain sight because it was in plain sight, in this major prophet, and often read, but not seen for what it was. And yet, because people knew the words themselves, it was was clear when they were fulfilled.

In the same way we hear words growing up from our parents, too many times to count, and we realize what they mean much later when they come true. 

No one expected the Messiah to bear the sins of the world, to suffer and die in disgrace and abandonment, and yet to show Himself the true Savior by this death, to reveal this truth in His resurrection.

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Verse two leads into verses 3-5 to give a picture of this great paradox - that He became our Savior and Messiah while becoming utterly disfigured and repulsive in the gore of the crucifixion. And it was not just the bloody torture, but also the rejection and abandonment - the cry of abandonment - Why have You abandoned Me?

Although the crucifixion was horrific, it was also life-giving  and peace-giving, since it was all done for a purpose - to pay for our sins, to give us the peace of justification, and to heal us with the Gospel. 

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

This is another paradoxical section, a seeming contradiction. First of all, we are the weak, foolish sheep, prone to wander away from the Shepherd, and yet He is the sheep sacrificed for His flock. He is both Lamb of God and Shepherd, victim and High Priest.

As anyone can see, Jesus fulfilled this prophecy by not making a defense for Himself. He warned the Romans and the religious leaders about what they were doing, giving them a chance to repent, but He did not defend Himself and spoke only reluctantly.

8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

All this  took place  to atone for the sins of all people. Just one verse shows how perfectly the crucifixion and resurrection were predicted, centuries before the events took place. Jesus died with known criminals, and all three were buried. But Jesus was buried in a rich man's tomb, one never used before.

He was honored in His death because He had done no wrong. Thus we speak of the righteousness of Christ that we receive through faith. There can only be a righteousness of faith or a righteousness of works. If faith is denied, works are being taught - and they are always taught in the name of grace (as Rome does). 

But grace is not grace when earned.

Thus we can only experience grace through faith, and this is delivered by Instruments or Means - the Word and Sacraments.

10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

This chapter is pure Gospel and used many times in the New Testament. This is a sermon about Jesus that creates and sustains faith. These verses comfort every sinner, because we all hear what Christ did for us, so the message - the report - would tell us forgiveness comes from Him, through God's grace, received in faith, not from our works, or some carefully crafted philosophical acrobatics lesson.

12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Jesus is exalted because of this atoning death. This is so clear that when I read it to children and ask who it is, they all say, "Jesus" without hesitation. How could it be anyone else?

http://www.normaboecklerart.com

Virtue Online - Why the Church Can Never Embrace Gay Marriage

The first female president of a Lutheran seminary is a single woman,
and somehow that is not news.

Why the Church Can Never Embrace Gay Marriage

COMMENTARY

By David W. Virtue D.D.
www.virtueonline.org
April 1, 2014

The Church of Jesus Christ, in all its myriad manifestations, is in the midst of the greatest cultural change on sexuality since Apostolic times.

Never before in church history has the ontology and cosmology of human sexual behavior been so challenged. Not even the Borgia Popes dared challenge the definition of sexuality, however debauched their behavior was. In some denominations today efforts are underway to overturn prevailing definitions. The speed with which all this has taken place is breathtaking in its brevity and stunning in its acclamation.

When I wrote my first editorial in 1979 for the Virginia Churchman titled Gay is Not Okay, I could not have envisaged, over three decades later, the ordination of openly homosexual practicing bishops, both men and women. Nor could I have possibly dreamed that this would become such a defining issue that it would tear the fabric of the Anglican Communion apart, pitting province against province, diocese against diocese, archbishop against archbishop, bishop against bishop, splitting whole congregations, and leading to massive schism with lawsuits running into the tens of millions of dollars. It has also led to broken friendships, angry bloggers, screams of homophobia, and capitulation by churches, including bishops and archbishops, as well as corporations, states and possibly, in time, an entire nation led by a homosexual affirming President.

It has been a sexual blitzkrieg without moral equal and with a ferocity unequalled since the beginning of the Civil Rights movement with its struggle for racial equality in the 1960s.

Still the case has not been made that the Bible is either irrelevant on the subject or can be ignored or deconstructed to make it mean something other than what it says and means. It is disingenuous to write off the Apostle Paul as locked into his own culture or that the Bible never speaks to committed, faithful same-sex unions. Few, if any, serious Christians will deny the Apostle spoke prophetically and wisely on adultery and fornication. To say that what he said about homosexuality can now be discounted is to deeply violate Scripture.

While many denominations and churches have conceded that monogamy (from monos, “single,” and gamos, “marriage”) is the same as or the virtual equivalent of a “stable homosexual union,” Gamos in scripture is usually always rendered “marriage,” which assumes a heterosexual union. It is a highly idiosyncratic use of gamos to translate it as a “stable homosexual union.” Gamos (“marriage,” “wedding”) and gameo (“to marry”) occur 16 and 29 times respectively in the New Testament. In NO case do they refer to same sex oral or anal intercourse.

So also with the term homophobia, which so often appears in anti-Catholic and anti-Protestant polemics. The word rightly refers to fear ofsameness, not to fear of homosexuality at all, as is often assumed.

Wherever homophobia is bandied about, its etymology should be first examined before any knee-jerk defensiveness or marginalization is elicited. “Classic Christian teaching is not homophobic but hemophilic in the sense of attesting God’s love for all of us as the same kind of sinners in need of unmerited grace,” writes Thomas C. Oden, Professor of Theology at Drew University.

Christian marriage is by definition an enduring covenant between one man, one female since grounded in the potential gift of sexual generativity, bonded with a solemn promise of enduring mutual commitments in the service of holy matrimony, offered up in the presence of God and the community of faith, so as to provide a nurturing environment for the parenting of children, the most precious gift that can come of sexuality, says Oden.

Same-sex intercourse cannot offer this gift or lead to generativity or natural birth, but only to fleeting individualistic, narcissistic pleasure that may haunt memory, undermine identity, and sear conscience. 

Classic Christian teaching views it as an oxymoron that persons of the same sex might be feigned in God’s presence as being “married” in a valid holy matrimony, though they may indeed have enduring friendships and may, like all of us sinners, receive the forgiving grace of baptism and Eucharist, says Oden.

JESUS AND HOMOSEXUALITY

When Jesus was asked questions about marriage, he went straight back to the defining passages in Genesis that say that marriage is between male and female and is meant to be life long. He saw the Creation accounts in Genesis as authoritative in His day. And what is authoritative for Jesus is authoritative for Christians, also. While Jesus did not specifically teach on homosexuality, His establishment of the Genesis passages as the fundamental passages on marriage (even more fundamental than the Law) leaves no doubt as to the outcome. One might also point out that Jesus said nothing about Bisexuality, Bestiality and any of the now 58 other sexualities that litter the sexual lexicon. He did firmly condemn child abuse.

“And He answered and said to them, ‘Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’“
—Matthew 19:4 (NKJV)

“But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’”
—Mark 10:6 (NKJV)

Whenever the Bible mentions marriage, it is between a male and a female. The first mention of marriage, Genesis 2:24, describes it as a man leaving his parents and being united to his wife. In passages that contain instructions regarding marriage, such as 1 Corinthians 7:2-16 and Ephesians 5:23-33, the Bible clearly identifies marriage as being between a man and a woman. Biblically speaking, marriage is the lifetime union of a man and a woman, primarily for the purpose of building a family and providing a stable environment for that family.

The Bible alone, however, does not have to be used to demonstrate this understanding of marriage. The biblical viewpoint of marriage has been the universal understanding of marriage in every human civilization in world history. History argues against gay marriage. Modern secular psychology recognizes that men and women are psychologically and emotionally designed to complement one another. In regard to the family, psychologists contend that a union between a man and woman in which both spouses serve as good gender role models is the best environment in which to raise well-adjusted children. Psychology argues against gay marriage. In nature/physicality, clearly, men and women were designed to “fit” together sexually. With the “natural” purpose of sexual intercourse being procreation, clearly only a sexual relationship between a man and a woman can fulfill this purpose. Nature argues against gay marriage.

So, if the Bible, history, psychology, and nature all argue for marriage being between a man and a woman—why is there such a controversy today? Why are those who are opposed to gay marriage/same-sex marriage labeled as hateful, intolerant bigots, no matter how respectfully the opposition is presented? Why is the gay rights movement so aggressively pushing for gay marriage/same-sex marriage when most people, religious and non-religious, are supportive of—or at least far less opposed to—gay couples having all the same legal rights as married couples with some form of civil union?

The answer, according to the Bible, is that everyone inherently knows that homosexuality is immoral and unnatural. The only way to suppress this inherent knowledge is by normalizing homosexuality and attacking any and all opposition to it. The best way to normalize homosexuality is by placing gay marriage/same-sex marriage on an equal plane with traditional opposite-gender marriage. Romans 1:18-32 illustrates this. The truth is known because God has made it plain. The truth is rejected and replaced with a lie. The lie is then promoted and the truth suppressed and attacked. The vehemence and anger expressed by many in the gay rights movement to any who oppose them is, in fact, an indication that they know their position is indefensible. Trying to overcome a weak position by raising your voice is the oldest trick in the debating book. There is perhaps no more accurate description of the modern gay rights agenda than Romans 1:31, “they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.”

To give sanction to gay marriage/same-sex marriage would be to give approval to the homosexual lifestyle, which the Bible clearly and consistently condemns as sinful. Christians should stand firmly against the idea of gay marriage/same-sex marriage. Further, there are strong and logical arguments against gay marriage/same-sex marriage from contexts completely separated from the Bible. One does not have to be an evangelical Christian to recognize that marriage is between a man and a woman.

According to the Bible, marriage is ordained by God to be between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:21-24; Matthew 19:4-6). Gay marriage/same-sex marriage is a perversion of the institution of marriage and an offense to the God who created marriage. As Christians, we are not to condone or ignore sin. Rather, we are to share the love of God and the forgiveness of sins that is available to all, including homosexuals, through Jesus Christ. We are to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) and contend for truth with “gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15). As Christians, when we make a stand for truth and the result is personal attacks, insults, and persecution, we should remember the words of Jesus: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you” (John 15:18-19).

In an era of rampant sexually transmitted diseases where an estimated 110 million Americans have an STD, the ecclesial blessing of same-sex intercourse is hardly a constructive contribution to a “safer” form of sex. “Safe,” according to its advocates, refers merely to the avoidance of pregnancy or disease, not to the moral strength or spiritual serenity that follows from obedience to the divine command. Sex that draws people into illusory dreams and demoralizing liaisons never becomes truly safe.

Marriage is an important goal for most Americans, research shows, although it may not be their top priority. Having a successful marriage is “one of the most important things” in life for 36% of adults, according to a 2011 Pew Research survey. An additional 48% said it is “very important but not the most” important. Being a good parent is seen as “one of the most important things” by a larger share of adults (53%).

What are the advantages of marriage? According to the public, it is easier for a married person than a single person to raise a family (77% say so).

Gay marriage is untenable biblically; it is a capitulation to the culture; it is a caricature of real marriage. As Kenyan Anglican Archbishop Eliud Wabukala noted, marriage is under attack and the homosexual movement has become an ideology that attacks human identity as male and female created in the image of God. He also said that laws legalizing same sex marriage passed in England recently are “a profound rejection of the law of God.” He is right.

He affirmed his church and the Bible’s stance that marriage is the lifelong union of one man with one woman for the raising of children, joyful companionship and the blessing of society and the nation. “We have no other position than the teaching of the Bible.” His statement openly rejects polygamy.

“In his teaching about marriage, Jesus reaffirms that marriage is the coming together of a man and a woman in accordance with the pattern of creation itself when he says ‘from the beginning of creation God made them male and female’ (Mark 10:6). For the health and well-being of both church and society we must promote this great God given gift of marriage without compromise and ambiguity,” the Archbishop concluded.

END

Ten reasons why homosexual marriage is harmful and must be opposed can be seen at this link:
http://www.tfpstudentaction.org/politically-incorrect/homosexuality/10-reasons-why-homosexual-marriage-is-harmful-and-must-be-opposed.html

VOL is indebted to the following sources for this article: Requiem: A Lament in Three Movements by Thomas Oden. Recommended Resources: The Truth About Same-Sex Marriage: 6 Things You Must Know About What's Really at Stake by Erwin Lutzer and Logos Bible Software and Mr. S. Michael Houdmann of GotQuestions.org

What would Thrivent say?

LQ and Rolf Synod Frothing over Justification by Faith

Pastor Steve Brockdorf and the Rolf Synod
use the same tactics as SpenerQuest.

Theses on the Article of Justification: A Refutation of the aclc’s Critique: Part Six

Posted on March 31, 2014 by Rev. Stefanski under Blog,Justification

Leave a comment

PART SIX: OUR FIRST THESIS ELICITS BAD BEHAVIOR (AND EVEN WORSE ARGUMENTATION)

With regard to our first thesis, the ACLC horribly miscasts an illustration used by Pr. Rydecki on a blog in an attempt to portray him—and thereby the whole diocese—as having redefined “paid” and misunderstanding faith as something other than that which receives. In so doing, they quote Luther…and then reject what Luther says!

Of course, even before they get to that error, there is the problem that the ACLC pastors feel justified in making a private writing of Pr. Rydecki’s somehow a position of the diocese based on the fact that we cite his paper, “The Forensic Appeal to the Throne of Grace” (a paper which is largely quotations of the orthodox Lutheran fathers, anyway). Their doing this is as ludicrous as convicting all Lutherans of every statement of Luther’s private writings simply because we have his catechisms and Smalcald Articles in the Book of Concord.

That said, what of the Luther quote that the ACLC sets forth and then backs away from, as well as what Pr. Rydecki posted to a blog, to which the ACLC objects?

Apparently, the ACLC did not actually read Rev. Rydecki’s paper, where he quotes Chemnitz as teaching the very thing the ACLC seems to hate so much in Pr. Rydecki’s blog post, that faith is the “using of” the benefits of Christ before God’s judgment:

Therefore, because God does not justify out of frivolity, unconcern, error, or iniquity, nor because He finds anything in man whereby he might be justified before God; and yet the just requirement of the Law must be fulfilled in those who are to be justified, Rom. 8:4, therefore a foreign righteousness must intervene—the kind of righteousness which not only with payment of penalties but also with perfect obedience to the divine law made satisfaction in such a way that it could be a propitiation for the sins of the whole world.

To this the terrified sinner, condemned by the voice of the Law, flees in true faith. This he desires, begs for, lays hold of; to this he submits himself; this he uses as his defense before the judgment seat of God and against the accusation of the Law. By regard for this and by its imputation he is justified, that is, he is absolved from the comprehensive sentence of condemnation and receives the promise of eternal life. This is what Paul is saying in Rom. 3:31: “The doctrine of the righteousness of faith does not destroy the Law but upholds it.”

Loci Theologici, vol. 2, p. 481;
quoted in Pr. Rydecki’s “Forensic Appeal,” p. 4

So, also, this from Chemnitz:

Therefore God, “who is rich in mercy” [Eph. 2:4], has had mercy upon us and has set forth a propitiation through faith in the blood of Christ, and those who flee as suppliants to this throne of grace He absolves from the comprehensive sentence of condemnation, and by the imputation of the righteousness of His Son, which they grasp in faith, He pronounces them righteous, receives them into grace, and adjudges them to be heirs of eternal life.

Loci Theologici, vol. 2, p. 482;
quoted in Pr. Rydecki’s “Forensic Appeal,” pp. 4–5

Chemnitz says that God has set forth a propitiation through faith in the blood of Christ, and that it is those who “flee” to this throne of grace whom God absolves. To “flee to the throne of grace” is the same thing as to “use Christ’s payment to satisfy one’s debt before God”…and both of these are simply to receive what Christ has earned to the end for which He earned it—the actual absolution of, justification of, imputation of righteousness to, regeneration of, bestowal of eternal life upon those who so receive it, all purely for the sake of His merit and because of His complete payment for all sins, even the sins of those who remain lost.

Again, this from Chemnitz:

Therefore the Pharisee, because he was not willing to use the benefit of this calling, but wanted to enter into judgment before the tribunal of justice, was condemned. But the publican, who was first accused at the tribunal of justice, convicted and condemned there, later by faith called out to the throne of grace and was justified.

Loci Theologici, vol. 2, p. 482;
quoted in Pr. Rydecki’s “Forensic Appeal,” p. 5

The Pharisee was unwilling to use the benefit of the calling to the throne of grace, whereas the publican by faith called out to the throne of grace.

Of course, we find the same thing in the Apology:

Now we will show that faith justifies and nothing else. Here, in the first place, readers must be taught about this point: Just as it is necessary to keep this statement—Christ is Mediator—so is it necessary to defend that faith justifies. For how will Christ be Mediator if we do not use Himas Mediator in justification?

Apology of the Augsburg Convession IV:69–70

This is what Luther was clearly saying in his quote, and what Pr. Rydecki also referred to, that one must “use Christ as Mediator in justification.” Unless the ACLC wishes also to convict Luther, Melanchthon, and Chemnitz of rejecting faith as being “the hand that receives” and, thus, supposedly redefining what is meant by Jesus’ having paid for all mankind’s sin, they have no basis for making such a claim about Pr. Rydecki, whose words are in accord with those both of the fathers and of the Confessions themselves.

Thus, the ACLC is in error when they pretend that there is a contradiction between faith as the hand that “receives” and faith as the hand that “uses,” or a contradiction between faith as passive and faith as clinging to Christ or laying hold of Christ. This is a serious error on their part, as such an error will color more and more the rest of one’s theology and practice the longer it is left unchecked. When they, further, take their leap of illogic as an excuse to attribute a non-existent error from a private writing to the whole of our diocese, the pastors of the ACLC have thereby left the realm of civil discourse.

God willing, we will continue this week with a look at the next few theses, as well as have a statement on another, related matter.

Rolf Synod Decisively Refuted - Their UOL Dogma Laid Waste by Calov, Chemnitz, and the Scriptures

Part Five: Treating Calov with respect by following his argument and paying attention to his words, Part 2

Previous articles in this series:
Part Four: Treating Calov with respect by following his argument and paying attention to his words, Part 1
Part Three: Questions of Methodology: Thoroughgoing Theology vs. ‘Slam Dunks’
Part Two: A Matter of Definition
Part One: Their Preamble and Our Preface

All of the ELDoNA's posts on the the Article of Justification have now been compiled on one page on the diocesan website:
Articles on Justification

WELS Mission Board Members Should Not Be Reading This Blog

WELS Mission gurus (aka foreclosure bandits) are not pleased that people know about their latest robbery attempt in Savoy, Illinois.

Burglars like to work with disguises (as angels of light - we are just here to help you out...the door) and under the cover of darkness.

They do not like appearing in blogs.

But they should not be reading this blog, which deals with sound doctrine and attacks their dogma.

Missing Something about the New Luther Seminary President

The PR material lavishes praise on everything about her,
except a relationship with someone else.
The unspoken word is the most important one.

The lopsided smile suggests a vain attempt
to seem happy.
Mark Jeske's is even more pronounced.

When I looked at the limited gallery in Google Images,
I thought this was a mistake - a rather feminine looking young man.
No - this was the publicity photo used earlier at Gettysburg Seminary.
The thumbnail on Google is really ambiguous.

LutherQuest is silent - so far.

The ALPB Online Forum has not noticed anything.

Steinke is the first woman to head a seminary, and Luther is mega-sized, though with serious financial problems. The last president was fired at Christmas.

A little searching showed she featured prominently in a pro-gay group. She listed her name and Gettysburg Seminary was also listed.  This is a partial list -

http://www.icpj-gettysburg.org/newsletter/201007/AU_thanks.htm

Adams Unity Coalition Thanks Contributors to Unity Events

The Adams Unity Coalition wishes to thank the following individuals and organizations for their contributions to the success of the unity events held on June 19-20.

Mark Whitney
Chrissy Habeeb
Sylvia Asante
Rev. Jeanette Leisk, St. James Lutheran Church
Rabbi Carl Choper, Interfaith Alliance of PA
Father Bernardo Pistone and Father Jonathan Sawicki, St. Francis Xavier Church
Lakshmi Viswanathan
Rev. Robin J. Steinke, Dean, Lutheran Theological Seminary 

I have not found anything through my normal searches, which suggests that the advocacy groups like Lutherans Concerned (now ReconcilingWorks) know full well and do not want to congratulate Robin and her partner too soon.

---

http://adamsunity.org/

Building Inclusive Communities

Member organizations of the Adams County Unity Coalition share an interest in building a community of respect for all peoples regardless of age, gender, class, race/ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, appearance, ability, or employment status. The Coalition provides resource-sharing and networking opportunities for member organizations and facilitates collaboration among member organizations to support our individual and collective efforts to promote peace, justice, and unity in Adams County, PA. (Read more about our goals and activities here)

Upcoming Events

“The State of Hate in Pennsylvania…and the Good News”

The Adams Unity Coalition will host civil rights investigator and trainer Ann Van Dyke for a presentation on the activity of hate groups in Pennsylvania and how communities can take action on Thursday, Nov. 21, at 6:30 p.m. at the YWCA Gettysburg & Adams County, 909 Fairfield Rd., Gettysburg. For more information, click here.

Recent events

November 9, 2013: Unity vigil

Over 100 people attended the Adams Unity Coalition’s unity vigil on Saturday, November 9, standing together on the steps of Gettysburg College’s Christ Chapel in support of racial justice, peace, and immigrant rights. For more information, click here.

October 5, 2013: Voices of Unity

On October 5, 2013, the Adams Unity Coalition sponsored “Voices of Unity,” a rally held on the lawn of the Lutheran Theological Seminary of Gettysburg. For more information, click here.

Laetare Sunday 2014 - The Fourth Sunday in Lent. John 6:1-15. The Feeding of the Five Thousand

Laetare Sunday, The Fourth Sunday in Lent, 2014

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Time


The Hymn # 151 Christ the Life 2:78
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual 
The Gospel 
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #429 Lord Thee I Love 2:54 

Bread from Heaven

The Communion Hymn #508 Thou Whose 2:72
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn # 45 Now the Hour 2:95

KJV Galatians 4:21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

KJV John 6:1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. 4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. 5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, 9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? 10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. 12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. 15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

Fourth Sunday In Lent
Lord God, heavenly Father, who by Thy Son didst feed five thousand men in the desert with five loaves and two fishes: We beseech Thee to abide graciously also with us in the fullness of Thy blessing. Preserve us from avarice and the cares of this life, that we may seek first Thy kingdom and Thy righteousness, and in all things perceive Thy fatherly goodness, through Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God world without end. Amen.

Bread from Heaven

KJV John 6:1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.

Lately I have seen people answer this question - "Who would you spend an hour with, if you could sit on a park bench and talk to anyone in the world, past and present?"

Several have said, "Jesus."

I answered once or twice, "You can listen to Him every day, in the Word of God."

John's Gospel is the best example of that truth. The Fourth Gospel assumes the reader knows the basics from the other Gospels. He has given us, through the Holy Spirit, the most important sermons of Jesus.

Most importantly, this great supplement is written down by the disciple closest to Jesus, the one entrusted with caring for Mary His mother.

John's Gospel naturally reads like an eye-witness account, because it is - and it is personal and intimate.

There is an important explanation in the opening of this famous miracle. An enormous crowd followed Him because of the miracles He had already performed.
This is an important observation, because there is a constant reference about two numbers.
One - God has done this for all people - Creation, providing for material needs, giving His Son to pay for the sins of the world.
Two - The much smaller number who believe in Christ, are forgiven through faith in Him, have the status of saints (holy, sanctified by Him) and will enjoy eternal life if they continue in faith.

Readers and listeners will note that everyone was fed, although not everyone was a believer. In fact, this chapter of John shows that "many disciples" fell away because of Jesus' hard sayings. Who can listen to this - and they went away.
John 666 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Although people may believe at first, they do not continue. Therefore, many are called (invited) but few are chosen (elect). 

Likewise, this Gospel miracle is generously given (without being requested) to everyone present, but not everyone appreciated it, understood it, or believed because of it.

3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. 4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. 

This verse gives us a clue about the timing of this event and also a glimpse at how it looked for Jesus and the Twelve. They were up on a low mountain and saw the vast crowd coming around to continue being with Jesus. So, with words, we have a picture of what they saw.

5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

Jesus knew what He would do, and He also knew what the disciples would say when He asked. But He asked to bring out the shortcomings of the disciples, to teach us about that miracle and also to remind us of our similar reactions.

Philip should have answered - "God will provide. And You are the Son of God." But Philip stayed within the bounds of human reason, concluding that a large sum of money would not be enough to buy the crowd a few morsels. Left unsaid is the name of the bakery that would provide the food and deliver it immediately.

Here is the state of every Christian and every congregation. I remember a "mission leader" saying, "We will build a chapel that we can turn into a doctor's office if it fails." That was before it started. They were already betting against it.

And this miracle is aimed at us as individuals, so we are not too anxious about our material needs. Even when nothing seems to be there, God is already taking care of the problem - before we even ask.

That is sad, when people act as if God needs us to ask before He can do anything. He says in Isaiah and Ephesians that He is already acting before we ask, that He provides far beyond anything we can imagine. Why does He say this? - so we are filled with confidence in Him to ask anything we need.

Thus faithful Christians have always trusted in God and they have done extraordinary things, miraculous things, by relying on Him rather than themselves. So it is oddly humorous to find church leaders relying on business practices instead and not trusting in the Gospel Promises.

God provided ways to buy land and build a chapel in New Ulm, which could have been called Ishmael Lutheran Church, because everyone was against it. One day the heating bill was paid by a check sent randomly by someone - not even a member. 

God allows us to feel the want, so we appreciate how He provides without us even comprehending how that could happen. We often have to give up on all our wisdom and work before we realize what He does in an instant.

8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, 9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? 

This is the most ironic comment, since the answer to the rhetorical question is - "That is irrelevant Andrew. God can do everything with nothing, let along a tiny amount like this."

The small amount is significant. Because we start with so little - a few members, a tiny rented dirty building, a few dollars, an ordinary man entrusted with the everlasting Gospel. And God turns that into something great through His Gospel and Sacraments. 

The Gospel swept through the Roman Empire with manuscripts and preachers.

The Gospel took over Europe in the Reformation - with only "words" and the printing press. The Lutherans were nothing. They were few, poor, scattered, and persecuted. God provided the Muslims at the gates of Europe to keep the Roman Catholic emperor busy until the Lutherans got entrenched in their little zone.

Now the mission experts and Church Growth experts take the accomplishments of the past and turn them into rubble, proclaiming, "Look at how wise and great we are." 

10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 

This is a telling detail. It was done in an orderly way, to serve the starving people for one thing. They also needed aisles to get to the fresh water. It was an oasis, because there was a lot of grass there.

11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. 12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

Jesus gave thanks. Why would the Creating Word give thanks? He is God, but also as God's Son He was always obedient to the Father and did everything in accord with the Father. 

Jesus is also an example. If he gave thanks to God - as God - why should we eat without giving thanks to God, who provided the bounty for us?

This is also a foreshadowing of Holy Communion, where believers receive the Body and Blood of Christ, across the centuries, among millions. How can this be? Denying the miracle of Feeding is a denial of the Lord's Supper. And denying the Lord's Supper is a rejection of this miracle.

A miracle is not answered by - how can such things be? A miracle is something God performs because of His gracious will for us. The more we open our eyes to miracles, the more miracles we see. And those who take a rationalistic look at the Gospel see without seeing and hear without comprehending.

The essences of the Protestant Reformation comes from Luther - justification by faith alone. The Catholics opposed this. Today, the famous Babtist Rick Warren says, "Faith is not enough." Many Protestants say that, sinking right back into Romanism and works salvation. Some Lutherans like it so much, they hop the fence.

13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. 

Luther has a great comment on this - It shows how we should be frugal with what God has given us. Those apostates who believe nothing are entrusted with vast resources given by God. They waste them. They have no regard for them. Their only request is to have even more, so they beat the drums for estate gifts.

The churches that want to astonish everything with their luxury - gold, marble, computer screens - will often disappear faster than a morning fog. "You have to spend to grow." No - God's Word is the foundation and He will determine the results - not man.

14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. 15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

This was not the time for Jesus to be proclaimed Messiah. God provided the calendar and everything was fulfilled exactly as the Old Testaments.