How Soon the Preus Clan Forgets Justification and Rome!How Quickly They Spread Their Errors!

Dr. Robert Preus wrote this book to counter the Roman Catholic trends of his own Ft. Wayne faculty and to repudiate Objective Faithless Justification. The Preus sons opposed both themes in Justification and Rome. Rolf no longer cites it, though he claims to have edited it with Daniel, another victim of incomprehension.

This appalling doggerel praises the Virgin Mary rather than Jesus Christ. ELCA supports the same trifecta:

1. Genuflecting toward the Church of Rome
2. Opposing Justification by Faith
3. Worshiping the saints in lieu of the Savior, promoting radical social activism.

***

Pr. Austin,

You can tell a bit about a person by their art. Now, I don't know all Pr. Preus' sons, but I have known his son Mark for some years. He wrote this stunning hymn about the Virgin a while ago as he and I were going back and forth on "Ye Watchers." He suggests it be sung to Adoro Te. I wish I had thought to post it a few days back for the Nativity of Mary or for the Dormition.

1.

For Mary, blessed Virgin, do we sing

To Christ, who is her Savior and her King,

Who, born of God and with the Father one,

Came down and made her womb his holy throne.

2.

All generations now confess her blest,

As she by God the Spirit once confessed,

For God made her the vessel of His grace

From whom our Lord first showed His human face.   

3.

When Gabriel spoke then Mary's heart believed,

And by the Holy Spirit she conceived,

And God, who nurtures all and all things made,

Was nurtured and made man within a maid.

4.

As fire burned in the bush unharmed by flame,

And by this mystery God showed his name,

So Mary stays a virgin through the birth

Of Jesus, named Savior of the earth.

5.

What favor did our God in heaven show

To all who live in sin and death below

When God showed favor to the Virgin blest,

And from her flesh our flesh and blood possessed?

6.

The mighty are cast down from off their seat,

The rich are ruined and the proud retreat,

The hungry eat the flesh and drink the blood

That flows to lift the lowly up to God.

 7.

How blest is she whose faith was in the Word

That made her be the mother of our Lord!

God, grant us so to trust in what You say,

And with Your mother marvel at this day!

8.

Grant us, dear Father, such humility

As we within the blessed Virgin see,

That we with her may praise her holy Son,

With You and with the Holy Spirit One. 

+++

William Weedon, Assistant Pastor,

Former Chaplain of the LCMS Purple Palace

St. Paul Lutheran Church, Hamel IL

Catechist on LPR Podcast: The Word of the Lord Endures Forever

A Daily, Verse-by-Verse Bible Study with the Church, Past and Present

www.thewordendures.org

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Widow's Son - "In overflowing wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting lovingkindness will I have mercy on thee, saith Jehovah thy Redeemer.”

 

Complete Sermon -> Trinity 16 - The Widow's Son Raised. Luke 7:11-17.

13. Therefore, if death be present and I can no longer live, I must still know enough to say: Yet I live, and will live; so that death, that is all about me, is like a spark of fire, and life is as great as the sea. Now reason cannot grasp how this takes place. But whoever believes, knows for a certainty that to him death will be like a spark of fire in the midst of the ocean, that is extinguished in a moment. God is almighty, he who believes is in God, therefore he is in life, and though he were in the midst of death. So too a poor person who believes, thinks like this one here in death: O! poverty is a spark of fire, and wealth is as abundant as water in the sea; now a moment only is needed for poverty to sink, and I will be rich; for by faith God has entirely changed him who now has all things in his power. So also with shame; when one’s good name and reputation go down, people think they will never again be regained; if you believe and hold to God, it is a matter only of a moment, and you are again in great honor. For our God knows the art that from invincible poverty he can create great riches, from great shame inexpressible honor. So it is also with sin, if you believe. Thus sin compared with righteousness, is as a spark of fire compared with the whole sea of water. 

14. This you see beautifully illustrated in the case of this woman. She is overwhelmed by exceedingly great pain and anguish, so that she thinks God, heaven, earth and all things are opposed to her. And since she looks into this with the eyes of sense, sees it as it is before her natural eyes, she must conclude it is impossible for her to be delivered from her great anxiety. But when her son was raised from the dead for her, she was as though the whole heaven and earth, wood and stone, and everything laughed and rejoiced with her; then she forgot all pain and suffering, this wholly disappeared just like a spark of fire is extinguished when it falls into the sea. Therefore it is written in the prophet Isaiah 54:6-8: “For Jehovah hath called thee as a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, even a wife of youth when she is cast off, saith thy God. For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In overflowing wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting lovingkindness will I have mercy on thee, saith Jehovah thy Redeemer.” But this I do not see, I think this moment is an eternal something before God; but it is in truth only a moment; and much joy follows as Psalm 8:5 also says: “For thou hast made him but little lower than God, and crownest him with glory and honor.” But this is still all hid from us, and we do not see it as this wife does. Her departed son is in the midst of life, for God has him in his bosom, and intends to wake him. There is a spark of death there that surrounds him, which no one saw. But now when he became alive that was revealed which before was hidden from the whole world. 

15. Thus God certainly deals also with us. Here we should learn the kind of God we have, namely, he who surrounds us and is about us in our very greatest dangers and troubles. Therefore, if one is poor, sticks deep in sin, lies in death, is in sorrows and other afflictions, he thinks: it is a transition state, it is a drop and a spark; for God has surrounded him on all sides with pure wealth, righteousness, life and joy, only he does not permit him to see it. But it is a matter of only a little time when we shall see and enjoy it. Thus you have here an example, not of faith, but of the pure grace and lovingkindness of God. Now we must also say a little on the spiritual understanding or the allegorical interpretation of to-day’s Gospel. 

II. THE SPIRITUAL INTERPRETATION OF THIS MIRACLE. 

16. All works and miracles that Christ does visibly and publicly should be interpreted to the end that they may show forth the works which he does among men unseen and spiritually or within them. Therefore this bodily death signifies the spiritual death of the soul, which man must believe. For no one can see into the soul of another while we live; but when we are dead, we then have other eyes, then we see that the whole world is dead. Therefore the Lord spoke to a Pharisee, Matthew 8:22, who first wanted to go and bury his father: “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.” 

17. This youth who is here being borne to his grave is bodily dead. But there are also some inwardly dead before God who still live here in the body. The soul is dead that does not believe in God and cleave to him. And even though he be in the midst of death, yet he lives, as I said above. 

More Evidence of the Covid Farce - From The American Spectator

 

"Governor Hairgel" is Nancy Pelosi's nephew.
The linked article is worth reading.

Newsom’s COVID Coverup

Despite the governor’s claims in his recent NBC interview, it was him calling the shots.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Widow's Son - “Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents; but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.”

 

Complete Sermon -> Trinity 16 - The Widow's Son Raised. Luke 7:11-17.

7. At times God permits some man to fall into anxiety and need, into pain and distress, so that the world seems as though it had no God, and it makes a person blind, lame, dropsical, and lets anyone die, as here the widow’s son; for they are his creatures, he can do with them what he will. Now, why does he do this? He does it in such an abundance only that we may continually experience his lovingkindness. Therefore as the disciples in John 9:2 asked the Lord concerning the man blind from his birth, whether he or his parents sinned, the Lord answered and said: “Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents; but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” As though he would say: God desires to be praised in this blind person, for he sees that the treasures of the whole world do not move us, wherefore he floods us with his goodness out of pure grace, that he may present a blind person before our eyes, for us to see what a costly treasure we have in the blessing of our sight, although we cannot recognize his grace and kindness in our fortune, that we at least might know and identify them then in our misfortune. Therefore this man had to be blind in order that the others might know themselves, and say: Alas thou good God, what a precious gift I have, what a good thing a healthy body is and a bright countenance! But no one takes it to heart! Yea, it is true we say: have not the cows eyes also! Now, if you were blind you would of course feel the loss, which you do not now feel, because you are well and overshowered with God’s blessings. 

8. So it was in the case of this widow, in whom God lets himself be known, as to what kind of a God he is, what he thinks of us, and what we must think of him. This woman has two misfortunes around her neck. First, she is a widow. This is misfortune enough for one woman, that she is forsaken and alone, and has no one to whom she dare look for comfort. And therefore God in the Scriptures is often mentioned as the Father of the widow and orphans, as in Psalm 68:6 and Psalm 146:9: “God setteth the solitary in families. The Lord preserveth the strangers and orphans, he delivers the widow.” Again: she has an only son about to die, who should have been her comfort. Now, God comes and takes away her husband and son. She had much better have lost house and home, yes, her own life, than her son and husband. But the Lord turns it around. While the husband lived the woman did not appreciate what a blessing a husband was; but when he died she first became aware of it. When he lived, she thought: O, other women have husbands, too! And thought her husband was like other husbands. But afterwards when he was dead, she became aware what kind of a man she had lost. So, too, when her son was bright and well, she did not appreciate the blessing of God, but as soon as he died, she then first saw what a treasure she had lost. Before she did not desire to spend on him; but now, since he is dead, she spends all she has and even herself upon him. And thus it is also with us. There are many of you who do not expend ten dollars that your child may be reared better; if the child dies the parents wish and say: O would to God he were alive, I would give many hundred dollars! Why did you not give something before that he might have learned a little? What is the reason you do not appreciate the grace and blessings of God? In short, the world remains world, and it will not change into anything else. 

9. Now, the woman went ahead and did not know what God had given her; but she was soon obliged to experience it. For before she turns around, and she thinks she is the safest, God comes, tries the wife a little and teaches her certain things, takes her husband and her son. This all has been written for us that we might have an example and learn to acknowledge God when he blesses us with a healthy body, a bright countenance, and bestows upon us other blessings. He does not give them to the end that you should rejoice in them; but that you may know what to think of him. When he takes a member out of your family, permits your wife to die, or destroys one of your eyes, all this is done that you may see what you have enjoyed from him. 

10. And this is now the common teaching through all the Gospels, that we may see what kind of a God we have. It is also shown us here in this Gospel that God will forsake no one; therefore he permits the wife to see in a new light what kind of a God she has. For when she was forsaken and had neither son nor husband, then Christ manifests himself to her and says: Learn to believe, trust God, know him to whom death and life are alike: have a good heart, be of good courage, weep not, there is no need of it. He then goes and awakens the dead, and gives him again to his mother.  

11. This and like miracles God does that the heart may learn how it should be disposed to him and what it may expect from him. As now this wife was fully convinced that there was no hope for her son, that it was impossible for her to receive him back alive again; yea, if one had said to her: Before an hour your son will be alive again, she would have regarded it as impossible and said: It is more possible for the heavens to fall than for my son to live again. Behold, here comes God before she looks around, and does what she never dared to ask of him, as it is impossible, and he restores her son alive to her again. But why does God do this? He permits man to fall so deeply into danger and anxiety, until no help or advice is within reach, and still he desires that we should not doubt, but trust in him who out of an impossible thing can make something possible, and make something out of nothing. If you are so deep in sin that your heart denies you all grace and the mercy of God and makes you think there is no hope for you, as many consciences are ensnared by such anxiety and distress; then turn about and look here how friendly and graciously God allows himself to be pictured by Christ in this Gospel; that you may observe that he means it well with you from his heart; and that he is not here either to condemn or excommunicate you, but to preserve your soul forever. For this purpose such miracles and wonderful works are held before our eyes, and they also serve to the end, that we may see. As God here helps this widow in a temporal way through Christ, so he will help us not only bodily, but much more spiritually, and our soul forever, if we only put our hope in him. 

12. But all miracles and works of God are considered impossible in our eyes, and they are also impossible for the natural man to grasp; and this is to the end that God may be confessed to be an almighty Creator, who from something impossible can create something possible, and can make something out of nothing. It is impossible after I am dead that I should live again; and even if I should pray to all the angels and all the saints for it; nothing will result from such prayers; what then can the free will accomplish? Nevertheless in death I should say: I shall live, not through myself, but because I know that my God is so skillful that he can make something, not out of wood that lies before my eyes, but it is his nature and way to make a thing possible here from something impossible; and create something out of nothing; otherwise he were not the true and real God. 

13. Therefore, if death be present and I can no longer live, I must still know enough to say: Yet I live, and will live; so that death, that is all about me, is like a spark of fire, and life is as great as the sea. Now reason cannot grasp how this takes place. But whoever believes, knows for a certainty that to him death will be like a spark of fire in the midst of the ocean, that is extinguished in a moment.

Little White Dustmop and the Cow Squares

 The cover is Norma A. Boeckler's garden, not mine! Amazon paperback.

Today, the Military Gardening Group convened in the back yard for some pour-over coffee, waiting for the storm to arrive. Stage Left - the Great Pyranees Porchi and the Little White Dustmop were playing around. Charlie Sue gave both dogs sharp little barks to get them running along the chain-link fence. Two and three at a time, they raced along the fence together, turned around, raced back, etc.

Charlie Sue herself is a dog trainer. Patterdale Terriers are considered domineering. She is smart, funny, affectionate, and gentle with her staff.

Suddenly, LWD was in our yard and Charlie Sue was trying to start something with the little guy, who is only half the size of my dog. No one is doubting Charlie's skill in training other dogs. She began fence digging, and Porchi followed. Then LWD wanted to connect the two sides and crawled under the fence where two or three of them had dug. They saw it as a demilitarized zone for friends, but the LWD staff thought otherwise - a bit scared.

I picked up LWD in one hand and gently handed him over to a nervous teenage girl. I asked if he was going to be as huge as his buddy. "No, he will stay small."

This second breech guaranteed that I would have a barrier fence dug in, right after our stormy weather. I may have even more cow squares to use as rugged, portable fencing.

Since the rain was coming I dumped the rain barrels and looked for signs of growth, even without planting something new. There they were, after a few weeks - three delicate strands of morning glory working their way up into the sunlight. Mr. Gardener first used them on his side of the fence, but I did not want them strangling the roses.

Like putting tiny ships in bottles, gardening is a relaxing way to shift Creation this way and that. What some think is labor turns out to be fun, educational, and inspirational.

Ranger Bob is now done with daily IV infusion to ward off infection. I was the driver and got to know the infusion nurses. I brought in roses several times and lit up the staff, especially the three we knew best. Bob told them I wrote books and gardening, so I brought three copies of Creation Gardening. They loved the roses, the fragrances, and the books.

 

Lenski Resources - The Gospel of John - From the Lutheran Library Publishing Ministry

 

Preaching on John by R C H Lenski

Richard C. H. Lenski

September 2023  Lutheran Library Publications

PDF Buy LL a Coffee

“Preaching on John is a series of exegetical-homiletical text studies in which the person of John the Evangelist and some of his choice teachings are treated. After submitting each text to a thorough and satisfying exposition in which applications to present-day life are constantly made, the author presents some sermon outlines and offers homiletic hints.”

“There is an abundance of helpful material here for a series of sermons on the disciple whom Jesus loved.” — From the back cover

Level of Difficulty: Intermediate: Some subject matter knowledge helpful.

Book Contents

• Titlepage
• A word of introduction
• Contents
• The First Contact. John 1:35-42
• A Fisher of Men. Mark 1:14-20
• The Great Ambition. Matt. 20:20-23
• “Whom Jesus Loved.” John 13:21-26
• A Personal Trust. John 19:25-27
• God is Love. 1 John 4:7-11
• John’s Vision of Christ in Glory. Rev. 1:9-20
• The Thousand Years. Rev. 20:1-6

Publication Information

• Lutheran Library edition first published: 2023
• Copyright: CC BY 4.0

Lutheran Theology Gospels Sermons

Richard C. H. Lenski

(1864-1936)

PREVIOUS

The Story of Our Hymns by Ernest Edwin Ryden

Hebrews - Daily Verses - Chapter 13 - Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Hebrews - Chapter 13

13 1 Let brotherly love continue.

2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.

12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.

19 But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

22 And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.

23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.

24 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.

25 Grace be with you all. Amen.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 16 - "...God lets himself be known, as to what kind of a God he is, what he thinks of us, and what we must think of him."

 

Duerer - Adoration of the Trinity

Complete Sermon -> Trinity 16 - The Widow's Son Raised. Luke 7:11-17.

7. At times God permits some man to fall into anxiety and need, into pain and distress, so that the world seems as though it had no God, and it makes a person blind, lame, dropsical, and lets anyone die, as here the widow’s son; for they are his creatures, he can do with them what he will. Now, why does he do this? He does it in such an abundance only that we may continually experience his lovingkindness. Therefore as the disciples in John 9:2 asked the Lord concerning the man blind from his birth, whether he or his parents sinned, the Lord answered and said: “Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents; but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” As though he would say: God desires to be praised in this blind person, for he sees that the treasures of the whole world do not move us, wherefore he floods us with his goodness out of pure grace, that he may present a blind person before our eyes, for us to see what a costly treasure we have in the blessing of our sight, although we cannot recognize his grace and kindness in our fortune, that we at least might know and identify them then in our misfortune. Therefore this man had to be blind in order that the others might know themselves, and say: Alas thou good God, what a precious gift I have, what a good thing a healthy body is and a bright countenance! But no one takes it to heart! Yea, it is true we say: have not the cows eyes also! Now, if you were blind you would of course feel the loss, which you do not now feel, because you are well and overshowered with God’s blessings. 

8. So it was in the case of this widow, in whom God lets himself be known, as to what kind of a God he is, what he thinks of us, and what we must think of him. This woman has two misfortunes around her neck. First, she is a widow. This is misfortune enough for one woman, that she is forsaken and alone, and has no one to whom she dare look for comfort. And therefore God in the Scriptures is often mentioned as the Father of the widow and orphans, as in Psalm 68:6 and Psalm 146:9: “God setteth the solitary in families. The Lord preserveth the strangers and orphans, he delivers the widow.” Again: she has an only son about to die, who should have been her comfort. Now, God comes and takes away her husband and son. She had much better have lost house and home, yes, her own life, than her son and husband. But the Lord turns it around. While the husband lived the woman did not appreciate what a blessing a husband was; but when he died she first became aware of it. When he lived, she thought: O, other women have husbands, too! And thought her husband was like other husbands. But afterwards when he was dead, she became aware what kind of a man she had lost. So, too, when her son was bright and well, she did not appreciate the blessing of God, but as soon as he died, she then first saw what a treasure she had lost. Before she did not desire to spend on him; but now, since he is dead, she spends all she has and even herself upon him. And thus it is also with us. There are many of you who do not expend ten dollars that your child may be reared better; if the child dies the parents wish and say: O would to God he were alive, I would give many hundred dollars! Why did you not give something before that he might have learned a little? What is the reason you do not appreciate the grace and blessings of God? In short, the world remains world, and it will not change into anything else. 

9. Now, the woman went ahead and did not know what God had given her; but she was soon obliged to experience it. For before she turns around, and she thinks she is the safest, God comes, tries the wife a little and teaches her certain things, takes her husband and her son. This all has been written for us that we might have an example and learn to acknowledge God when he blesses us with a healthy body, a bright countenance, and bestows upon us other blessings. He does not give them to the end that you should rejoice in them; but that you may know what to think of him. When he takes a member out of your family, permits your wife to die, or destroys one of your eyes, all this is done that you may see what you have enjoyed from him. 

10. And this is now the common teaching through all the Gospels, that we may see what kind of a God we have. It is also shown us here in this Gospel that God will forsake no one; therefore he permits the wife to see in a new light what kind of a God she has. For when she was forsaken and had neither son nor husband, then Christ manifests himself to her and says: Learn to believe, trust God, know him to whom death and life are alike: have a good heart, be of good courage, weep not, there is no need of it. He then goes and awakens the dead, and gives him again to his mother.  

Let Us Pause To Consider Melanchthon - A Major Part of the Book of Concord

Melanchthon's Major Works - 

Studiously Ignored 

by 

Thrivent Lutherans Today

Loci Communi - Common Places

The Augsburg Confession, 1530

Apology of the Augsburg Confession

Commentary on Romans

I found an author who is studied even less than Luther - Philip Melanchthon. The rabid Objective Faithless Justification dolts hate Melanchthon even more than they hate Luther. The major authors of the German Reformation are Luther, Melanchthon and the genius who studied under both men - Martin Chemnitz. 

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 16 - The Widow's Son Raised - If we believed that everything comes to us from God’s grace and mercy, we would daily run and rejoice, our hearts would continually rise and dwell in heaven. When we once get to heaven we will see that this is true.

 

Jan Verhas - The raising of the widow's son in Nain.

Complete Sermon -> Trinity 16 - The Widow's Son Raised. Luke 7:11-17.

Luke 7:11 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. 12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. 16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. 17 And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.

I. THE MIRACLE ITSELF. 

1. In this Gospel you see how the Evangelist again presents to us a divine miracle, by which he desires to move us to lift our hearts to God, in which is the same state of things as at the time existed in this woman; for to-day’s lesson was not written for the sake of this widow, but for the instruction and help of all who should hear this Gospel until the end of the world, among whom we also have been reckoned. 

2. In the first place notice what lovingkindness and grace were shown to this woman by Christ. We must truly confess she did not merit them; for she is going out of the city with her friends, where there is nothing but crying and weeping. The good woman thought of nothing as little as that she should again lead back her son into the city alive, and for this reason she does not desire it, nor does she ask it, much less has she deserved it. She never thought of such a thing that Christ should come hither; yea, she did not at the time know Christ nor did she know anything of his helping the people. Here all merit and preparations for meeting him are out of the question. 

3. Now all this has been written to the end that just as here this deed of mercy befell this widow freely and entirely of grace, only because it solicited Christ’s sympathy, so from this we can draw the general rule that applies to all the merciful deeds of God, that they all overtake us without our merits, even before we seek them. He lays the foundation and makes the beginning. But why does he pity us? In this way it continues to be the grace of God. Otherwise, if we deserved it, it would not be grace. And if it be of grace, then we can say to him: Thou art a gracious God, thou doest good also to them who deserve it not.

4. This sermon seems easy to us, but where are they who mean it with their heart? If we believed that everything comes to us from God’s grace and mercy, we would daily run and rejoice, our hearts would continually rise and dwell in heaven. When we once get to heaven we will see that this is true. Now no one believes it. The god of this world, the devil, has such great power on earth that we do not see the work of God nor know it. 2 Corinthians 4:4 Therefore we do not appreciate it, we misuse God’s mercies, and are entirely unthankful to him. 

5. If I only kept in mind that he gave me eyes, truly a very great treasure, it would be no wonder if shame caused my death, because of my ingratitude in that I never yet thanked him for the blessing of sight. But we do not see his noble treasures and gifts; they are too common. But when a blind babe happens to be born, then we see what a painful thing the lack of sight is, and what a precious thing even one eye is, and what a divine blessing a healthy, bright countenance is: it serves us during our whole life, and without it one would rather be dead; and yet no one thanks God for it. Examine the entire body, and you will everywhere see traces of God’s grace and goodness. Hence Psalm 33: says: “The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.” He had pure eyes and could see far, that the whole world was full of the goodness and loving-kindness of God. From whom, however, has this goodness come? Have we deserved it? No, but it pleased God to cast his gifts thus promiscuously into the world, which the unthankful receive almost as freely as the thankful. We are grieved when we are obliged to throw away one or two dollars, or less, or even to give them to the poor; how much does God daily cast away of his goods into the world and no one thanks him for anything? Yes, who even acknowledges their receipt? 

6. Thus we may observe all creatures and become convinced of God’s goodness in them. Christ says in Matthew 5:5: “He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” As though he would say: I give it to the whole crowd; but who thanks me a single time for it? He enlightens my and your eyes, but no one acknowledges that it is God’s blessing. If some morning the sun should not rise, or rise three hours late, what distress and loss would that cause? How we would open our mouths and eyes? Then everyone would say: God be praised and thanked, who has given us such a light! But since it occurs daily, that the sun rises and shines at the appointed time, no one considers it a blessing. So it is with the rain from heaven, with the grain in the field and with all God’s creatures. They exist in such abundance, and we are daily so overwhelmed by their abundance that we fail to see them. 

The Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity, 2023.

 

The Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity, 2023

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

Vimeo Link to the Trinity 15 Service

Link for today's service.

Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Daylight Time

The Hymn #345                       Jesus Lover of My Soul                                                          

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

Bow down Thine ear, O Lord, hear me: O Thou, my God, save Thy servant that trusteth in Thee.

Be merciful to me, O Lord: for I cry unto Thee daily.

Psalm. Rejoice the soul of Thy servant: for unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

O Lord, we beseech Thee, let Thy continual pity cleanse and defend Thy Church; and because it cannot continue in safety without Thy help, preserve it evermore by Thy help and goodness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

Gradual

It is better to trust in the Lord: 

than to put confidence in man.

V. It is better to trust in the Lord: 

than to put confidence in princes. 

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise, even with my glory. Hallelujah!

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 #396                           O For a Faith                                

God or Greed

The Communion Hymn #467           Built on the Rock - Grundvig

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 #54                   Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah

                         

Announcements and Prayers

• The flowers are in memory of Gary Meyer.
• Randy Anderson, Sarah Buck, Lori Howell, Kermit Way, Callie. 
• Zach is back.

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.

God or Greed

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.

This passage from the Sermon on the Mount concerns mammon. It is not about money and not about riches. The best and clearest example is the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazareth, where the rich man exemplifies mammon (Luke 16). Several clues make the matter clear. He dined lavishly each day; we can assume that included his friends and those he wanted to impress. He was clothed in fine linen and purple. Today we can find many broadcasts where the concept of mammon is exemplified. 

We have a lot of information about the Roman Empire at that time. Its wealth was based upon slavery, demonstrating all the extremes of wasting money to impress the others. The Republic lasted only 200 years and tyrants ruled during the Empire, their claims of power based upon family names. 

Jesus' public ministry took place during those times. Israel was controlled by Rome, and Jewish leaders obeyed Rome rather than the Scriptures. The excuse for arresting Jesus was His power and popularity. Their folly led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the rapid spread of the Gospel by land and sea.

The greatness of early Christianity was not warfare or persecution but faith in Jesus Christ and the spread of the New Testament.

The question about God or mammon is not one of power but the proper use of power. Almost every day I hear people longing for mammon to solve their problems and soothe their nerves. The lotteries are the perfect example of mammon, because - even in their minds - mammon will solve all their woes and increase their friendships. People live by "if only I could..." Luther said that about Baby Jesus. He quoted people saying, "If only I could hold the Holy Child in my arms!" He said, "Why not hold your neighbor's baby and change his diapers? Jesus is your neighbor's baby."

Lazarus is the parable's example. He received no food or clothing, the stray dogs licking his wounds. He was lower than a dog, getting his only comfort from them. His faith was honored in that story while the anonymous rich man suffered eternal agonies.

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?

Jesus teaches clearly that anxiety about the basics of life is sin, because God will always provide. Christianity in America is a prime example. When the pastors and leaders had faith, they built churches to hold the services and classes. Now there is no faith in Jesus Christ - only a burning lust to have impressive numbers. But lo, how the leaders reward themselves with enormous salaries and benefits. And they lord it over the others, promoting their relatives to cushy positions. 

The LCMS-ELS-WELS have one thing in common. Now that Marvin Schwan's ice cream trucks are Yelloh! - the millions of dollars in grants seem rather weak. The seminary dorms and chapel are gilded but mostly empty. In a touch of irony - reminding us of the Reformation and Rome having people pay for sins, the synod leaders absolved Marvin Schwan of his sin because of the money he gave to honor his name and keep them happy.

 Veterans Honor is the ultimate red rose.

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.

It is only fitting that Jesus, the Lord of Creation, has given us birds and flowers as examples to cure our anxieties! I took a vase of roses to the IV clinic, where various potions are dripped into one's body to prevent major infections and other maladies. The nurses got all excited about the splash of color at the desk - Enchanted Peace, Veterans Honor, Picote Crepe Myrtle, Alium, etc.

1. Where did you get them? Your garden?
2. You have a book about them?
3. I want to start roses some day!

A lot of thoughts, essays, and books are based upon almost total ignorance of Creation. Nothing teaches better and faster than sitting or kneeling or standing on the soil and working a garden. Layers of soil and roots show up. Earthworms wonder who turned on all the lights as they dive back into their cool, dark soil. 

Jesus Christ taught in clear, simple ways, and also gave us countless examples of Creation providing for us - food, restoration of the land, beauty, peace, fragrances, and the interplay of so many aspects of His work. 

Luther called the birds professors, because they teach us by getting up for Matins and singing their hearts out, even though they have to look for food on an empty stomach and feed their noisy, famished young'uns. When the robins did not like their front door security light (warm but not hot) they moved to the backdoor one.

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?

People can read this as harsh criticism or gentle irony. I think of it as irony because we all experience this anxiety. Doubtless we are far more secure than most generations, but the changes are demanding and instant. A trucking firm locally dissolved their company of 30,000 truckers all at once. A message was sent to me by R2 D2, "We are consolidating classes," which told me nothing. However, everything remained the same. 

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 [the righteousness of faith in Him]; and all these things shall be added unto you.

History has shown that the Christian Faith is content with living frugally and working hard. There is no easier way to make plenty of money than by spending only when necessary. Work can be difficult and unrewarding but the same work over time can move mountains. Faith in Jesus Christ means that He will provide far more than we can imagine and in many ways we cannot foresee. 

The Spirit is often used as a parallel with the Church, because the Gospel is conveyed to us through the visible and invisible Word. If people would only follow John 16, they would realize that the primary work of the Spirit is to condemn the world of sin, "because they do not believe on Me."

It is easy to spend a lot of effort on carnal sin, but Jesus Himself emphasized faith in Him. That is the source of grace (Romans 5). Secondly, faith in Jesus Christ means we have a friend, guide, and Good Shepherd who smites the wolves and nurtures the sheep and lambs. 

Enchanted Peace is six or seven feet tall, encouraged by hard-working earthworms.