The Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity, 2021
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
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
Sowing to the Spirit, Reaping Life Everlasting
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 #309 O Jesus Blessed Lord - Kingo
Announcements and Prayers
People ask about our Holy Communion.
Roman Catholics put an emphasis on the ordained priest. The presence of the priest validates the communion service. The forgiveness is partial; the elements become only the body and blood of Christ. The priest and his ordination make it effective.
Calvinists reject Baptism and Communion as sacraments. The elements remain bread and wine and do not convey forgiveness. Calvin mocked the Real Presence.
Lutheran Biblical teaching shows what 1 Corinthians 10:16 reveals. The Body of Christ is with the bread through the Consecrating Word; the Blood is with the wine through the consecrating Word. The Word is always effective.
Distance does not attenuate or weaken the power of the Word, which is always divine. When Jesus multiplied the loaves and fish through His Word, the 5,000 families were stretched across the grassy oasis. Nevertheless, these miracles showed Jesus could create this miracle for the entire crowd. If the liturgy, hymns, creed, readings, and sermon are effective, then how could the Words of Consecration be ineffective? Those who agree with the Augsburg Confession are one with us and are welcome to join the distribution - after God's Word has consecrated the elements for those who hear and believe.
KJV Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For every man shall bear his own burden. 6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
KJV Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank Thee for all Thy benefits: that Thou hast given us life and graciously sustained us unto this day: We beseech Thee, take not Thy blessing from us; preserve us from covetousness, that we may serve Thee only, love and abide in Thee, and not defile ourselves by idolatrous love of mammon, but hope and trust only in Thy grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
Sowing to the Spirit, Reaping Life Everlasting
KJV Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Twenty-plus years ago, I was given a severe adjustment in all my attitudes. Although I was familiar with the basics of Biblical doctrine, trying to show everyone what went wrong also showed me our neglect of the Holy Spirit.
One reason was the Pentecostal-charismatic emphasis on the Spirit and tongues, promoting people to apostles, and forming cell groups. But the main reason was the neglect of Lutherans for the Biblical doctrine of the Spirit always at work in the Word and never apart from the Word. We could call it a recipe, simple but often neglected.
When I made a pumpkin pie yesterday, I followed all the directions. The pie was perfect and had an extra participant - Sassy. Not long ago I made one that was a complete mess and called Schwan's experts. "You have to put the pan on the cooking sheet, and not the cooking sheet below the pan. That blocks the heat." Everything was fine except the application of the directions.
The Biblical recipe for the Word and Spirit is simple - one is never without the other. When people separate the two, it is called Enthusiasm - the root of all false religions and false doctrine.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Translating with the recipe - If we live in the Word of God, let us also march in line with the Word of God. (Lenski, Galatians, p. 295) So we use familiar words, such as rule and guide for the Scriptures, but Paul used the easy to remember verb - march in line. Another word for walking is used today - peripatetic - for moving around, which does not equate with disciplined or ordered walking.
So Paul is putting a little twist in this inspired letter. It is not just talking about or acknowledging the Spirit - it is acting in line with the Spirit in the teaching of the Scriptures.
If a church features soft drinks and snacks during worship, is that in line with the Word of God? If they trust in entertainment to bring in the right people, is that what the Word teaches? One denomination will pick high traffic locations while another emphasizes membership in the biggest denomination - Holy Mother Rome.
This verse is another clear message that the Christian Church is primarily a preaching and teaching institution, that everything is Word-centric, that is - based upon the Faith of Jesus and our faith in Jesus.
A careful study of congregations in America will reveal that the old ways were preach, teach, and visit. Congregations grew. Now it is entertain, keep them busy, and aim at the right demographic - congregations are all shrinking.
Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Vain glory is gathering praise from others when that is not earned or needed. If one person claims something good he has done, others will boast about their part in it, causing conflict and envy. All accomplishments are from the Spirit in the Word.
Luther observed that bearing the cross eliminates vainglory.
6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
This shows the kindly nature of Paul, who is promoted as mean and tough by those who rely on their liberal seminary professors. What does spiritual mean? - If you are bound to the Word of God and not to the whims of man.
Fault here means - something plainly wrong (Lenski). The word is always used for serious errors, not for failing to bow before the District President or Circuit Pastor.
Walther and his circle of pastors protected Bishop Stephan from all of his crimes until they had a set up where only the opponents would riot, steal all the bishop's land and money, and kidnap him - gunpoint - to Illinois. Yes, they had a trial, which was headed by the real estate agent, who was not clergy or a member.
2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
This is so important in the Christian Church, and it is widely practiced but also widely ignored. Grief is a burden, and people help with that experience, which never goes away completely. Serious illness is also a burden, which is why visits and phone calls and prayers are so important. Every time this comes up on Facebook, in emails, etc, I write down a prayer and send it in the Name of Jesus. The Savior helps in a thousand ways.
The law of Christ is "Love one another, as I have loved you." That is a powerful and all-encompassing law, because Jesus loved the disciples, who were "men of little faith" who "denied Jesus three times." And even - who actively persecuted His followers and sent them to prison. That was Paul. The risen Christ confronted Paul with his blasphemies - "Why do you persecute Me?"
KJV Acts 9:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest:
Because Paul was the greatest sinner, even worse than Peter, he was also the apostle who preached the most about Justification by Faith and the overwhelming grace of God.
Vainglory is a terrible and dangerous sin, because the person who basks in praise and glory will find himself inventing a persona that brings everything down to dust, usually with many innocent or trusting people damaged.
We can have disciple-like moments of regret, when we realize that we doubted and feared, but God showed us His power and mercy, in His time, in His way. That is why God's greatest troubadours are those who endured impossible difficulties and remained faithful though on the edge of breaking.
5 For every man shall bear his own burden.
Lenski has a great translation - Each man will carry his own cargo.
That means the work each person does is that God-given responsibility. One family has a child in seizures, who has never been cured but is helped immensely through the extreme patience and faith of her parent.
6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
Lenski says clearly that this is not payment of the clergy but realizing that the teacher of the Gospel is rich in spiritual treasures, which he shares with the recipients. That is the sharing. The right attitude is "I will learn as much as I can about the Gospel."
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Yes, the Buckwheat has started to bloom throughout our yard. I was sowing it before we had some rain. Now the tiny white flowers are feeding bees and forming seeds. Bare spots are filling in, and weeds can find no purchase where the tiny Buckwheats are taking all the sun and water.
The same could have been done with a wide variety of weeds, which can be sown as a cover crop. Buckwheat provides real food. Sowing weeds will create a thrill for a short time. So it is with the vanity of material gain. If that is first and foremost, the results will not be that which matters most. Sowing to the Spirit means reaping everlasting life.
In many various ways we end up with a certain responsibility, our cargo. That gives us the joint effort of spreading the Gospel, and no one can do it alone. I realized that could never be done within the boundaries of apostate synods. They simply could not tolerate it, so they gave me another path, which has worked well.
Whatever we do, we should not grow discouraged because we will see the reward in the appointed time.
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
That is the Gospel charge - where the opportunity presents itself, let us do what is good for all people - and especially for those who are Christians.
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| Rambach was a false teacher, still loved today by false teachers. |
