Efficacy - The Cure That Dare Not Speak Its Name - 1 Thess 2:13 - "13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe."

The Smells and Belles bishops have left a profound, bad impression on ELCA, scattering the flock, electing more she-wolves, Liz Eaton even supplanting the bishop who was ahead of her Ken Sauer.

KJV 1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 δια τουτο (On account of this) και ημεις ευχαριστουμεν τω θεω (we also thank God) αδιαλειπτως (without ceasing)  οτι παραλαβοντες λογον ακοης (which when receiving the Word-of-hearing) παρ ημων του θεου εδεξασθε (you received of God from us) ου λογον ανθρωπων (not the word of man)  αλλα καθως εστιν αληθως (BUT as it truly is)  λογον θεου (the Word of God)  ος και ενεργειται (which is also effective - energized)  εν υμιν τοις πιστευουσιν (in you who are believers). Jackson Interlinear NT For Seminarians Who Slept Through Greek and Became Professors/Fuller Graduates.

    More than one person has told me, even among others, "I never heard of the efficacy of the Word until I came upon your blog." I was not shocked, because in searching for the disgusting origins of Church Growth, the efficacy of the Word was central and yet missing from Biblical and Lutheran scholarship. Although the words for efficacy are found repeatedly in the Greek New Testament - even giving us the origin of the word "energy" - the concept barely exists in all the literature, in Kittel or the dictionaries.

    Efficacy is not just a word-group, but a central doctrine of Bible - from Genesis 1 and Isaiah 55 - to John 16 and all references to the Spirit at work in the Word of God. Needless to say - but I will anyway - efficacy is absent in Calvinism and the Church of Rome. Those who have read and studied F. Pieper realize that he was a hybrid, a Calvinist adopting the words of Luther but adoring the soul of Halle Pietism (Calvinism for the ignorant).

    Luther, Melanchthon, Chemnitz, and the Book of Concord are saturated with the efficacy of the Word, simply because they were Biblical theologians, not dogma tyrants (Walther, Pieper, Waldo Werning, Otten, Hale). Hale even declares that I once embraced his beloved Objective Faithless Justification, dreaming of an apostasy that belongs to him and his crew alone.

    The Lutherans of various stripes, secret codes, and GA graduation will never get out of their spiraling abyss until they repudiate their shameful dogma. Some fly to Pasadena, others to 

monasteries where the quiet is profound and the monks handsy.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 17 - "One ought to give him sneeze-wort to purge his brain."

 

Complete Sermon on the Dropsical Man. Trinity 17.

10. And thus we should apply every law, even as love suggests, that it be executed where it is helpful to a fellow-man, and dispensed with where it does harm. Take a common illustration: If there were a housekeeper who made the rule in his home to serve now fish, then meat, now wine, then beer, even as it suits him; but perchance some one of his household took sick and could not drink beer or wine, nor eat meat or fish, and the housekeeper would not give him anything else, but say: No, my rules and regulations prescribe thus; I cannot give you anything else: what kind of a housekeeper would such an one be? One ought to give him sneeze-wort to purge his brain. For if he were a sensible man he would say: It is indeed true that my rules and regulations prescribe meat or fish for the table today, yet since this diet does not agree with you, you may eat what you like.

See how a housekeeper may adjust his own rules and make them conform to the love he entertains for his household. Thus all law must be applied as love toward a fellow-man may dictate.

11. Therefore, since the Mosaic law was not understood nor modified by love in the Old Testament, God promised the people through Moses that he would raise up a prophet who should interpret the law to them. For thus Moses says in Deuteronomy 18:15: “Jehovah thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall harken.” God raised up prophets from time to time to explain the law and apply it, not in its rigor, but in love. Of this Moses himself is an example. He led the children of Israel out of Egypt for forty years hither and thither through the desert. Abraham had been commanded in Genesis 17:12, to circumcise every male on the eighth day. This commandment was plain enough that all had to observe it, yet Moses neglected it and circumcised no one the whole forty years.

12. Now, who authorized Moses to violate this commandment, given to Abraham by God himself? His authority was vested in his knowledge of the law’s spirit; he knew how to interpret and apply it in brotherly love, namely, that the law was to be serviceable to the people, and not the reverse. For, if during their journey they had to be ready day by day for warfare, circumcision would have hindered them, and he therefore omitted it, saying in effect: Although this law is given and should be observed, yet we will apply it in the spirit of love, and suspend its operation until we come to the end of our journey. Likewise should all laws be interpreted and applied as love and necessity may demand. Hence the importance of a good interpreter.

13. It was the same in the case of David when he partook of the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for anyone to eat, except the priest, Samuel 21:6; as Christ himself makes use of this example in Matthew 12:3. David was not consecrated, nor were his servants. When he was hungry he went to Ahimelech and asked for himself and men something to eat. Ahimelech answered: I have indeed nothing to give; the shew-bread of the tabernacle is for holy use. Then David and his men helped themselves and ate freely of it. Did David sin in the face of God’s ordinance? No. Why not? Because necessity compelled him, seeing there was nothing else to eat. It is in this way that necessity and love may override law.

14. That is what Christ also does in our Gospel, when he heals the suffering man on the Sabbath, although he well knew how strictly the Old Testament required the observance of the Sabbath. But see what the Pharisees do! They stand by watching the Lord. They would not have helped the sick man with a spoonful of wine, even if they could have done so. But Christ handles the law even at the risk of violating it, freely helps the poor man sick with the dropsy and gives the public a reason for his action, when he says, in effect: It is indeed commanded to keep the Sabbath day, yet where love requires it, there the law may be set aside.

This he follows up with an illustration from everyday life, then dismisses them in a way they must commend, and they answer him not a word. He says: “Which of you shall have an ox or an ass fallen into a well and will not straightway draw him up on the Sabbath day?”

15. As if to say: Ye fools, are ye not mad and stupid! If you act thus in the case of saving an ox or an ass which may perhaps be valued at a few dollars, how much rather should one do the same to a neighbor, helping him to his health, whether it be the Sabbath or not! For the Sabbath, as he says elsewhere, was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. So that the son of man is lord even of the Sabbath, Mark 2:27.

16. Among the Jews there was a rigorous enforcement of the law, even their kings insisted on its strict observance. When the prophets came and explained the law in the spirit of love, saying: This is what Moses means, thus the law is to be understood, then there were false prophets at hand to side with the kings, insisting on the literal text and saying: There, so it is written; it is God’s Word; one must not interpret it otherwise. Thereupon the kings proceeded to kill one prophet after another. In the same way the Papists, priests and monks act now. If anyone says: We need not observe their laws literally, but we should rather interpret them in love; then they immediately cry, Heretic! Heretic!! and if they could they would kill him; yea, they do so already quite lustily.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 17 - "For if I love my neighbor, I help him, protect him, hold him in honor, and do what I would have done to me."

 

Complete Sermon on the Dropsical Man. Trinity 17.

8. Therefore we conclude that all law, divine and human, treating of outward conduct, should not bind any further than love goes. Love is to be the interpreter of law. Where there is no love, these things are meaningless, and law begins to do harm; as is also written in the Pope’s book: “If a law or ordinance runs counter to love, it will soon come to an end.” This is in brief spoken of divine and human laws. The reason for enacting all laws and ordinances is only to establish love, as Paul says, Romans 13:10: “Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.” Likewise verse 8: “Owe no man anything, save to love one another.” For if I love my neighbor, I help him, protect him, hold him in honor, and do what I would have done to me.

9. Since then all law exists to promote love, law must soon cease where it is in conflict with love. Therefore, everything depends upon a good leader or ruler to direct and interpret the law in accordance with love.

Take the example of the priests and monks. They have drawn up laws that they will say mass and do their praying and juggle with God in other ways at given hours according to the clock. If now a poor man should call and ask for a service at an hour when they were to hold mass or repeat their prayers, they might say: “Go your way; I must now read mass, must attend to my prayers,” and thus they would fail to serve the poor man, even if he should die. In this manner the most sanctimonious monks and Carthusians act; they observe their rules and statutes so rigorously that, although they saw a poor man breathing his last breath and could help him so easily, yet they will not do it. But the good people, if they were Christians, ought to explain the laws and statutes in harmony with love, and say: Let the mass go, let the sacraments, prayers, and the ordinances all go; I will dispense with works, I will serve my neighbor; love put in practice in serving my neighbor is golden in comparison with such human works.

10. And thus we should apply every law, even as love suggests, that it be executed where it is helpful to a fellow-man, and dispensed with where it does harm. Take a common illustration: If there were a housekeeper who made the rule in his home to serve now fish, then meat, now wine, then beer, even as it suits him; but perchance some one of his household took sick and could not drink beer or wine, nor eat meat or fish, and the housekeeper would not give him anything else, but say: No, my rules and regulations prescribe thus; I cannot give you anything else: what kind of a housekeeper would such an one be? One ought to give him sneeze-wort to purge his brain. For if he were a sensible man he would say: It is indeed true that my rules and regulations prescribe meat or fish for the table today, yet since this diet does not agree with you, you may eat what you like.

See how a housekeeper may adjust his own rules and make them conform to the love he entertains for his household. Thus all law must be applied as love toward a fellow-man may dictate.

Two More Months of Therapy - Hyperbaric O2 Treatments

 

Bob will have 8 weeks more of treatment, this time with oxygen.

1972 Graduation - Waterloo Lutheran Seminary, Ontario. WLS Is Now Martin Lutheran University College

Waterloo Lutheran Seminary graduates and faculty members in the Seminary chapel. Left to right, back row: Delton Glebe (d. 2011), Eric Howes, Dr. David Granskou (d. 2016), Dr. Ragnar Teigen, Dr. Eduard Riegert (d. 2022) and Richard Crossman. Centre row: Greg Jackson and Gil Scharf (d. 2004). Front row: Guenter Dahle, Laurie Van Kleek, Paul Schweitzer, Bill Wade, Ronald Mulberger (d. 2011) and Dave Hardy. Dr. Aarne Siirala is not in this photo (d. 1991).

ELCA in Canada broke off in 1986 to become ELCiC. Susan Johnson attended WLS and became a staffer for the Eastern Canada Synod. She was voted in as ELCiC bishop in 2007. 

The WLS Chapel is used for Doggy Drop-In

Lo, A Great and Effective Sword Is Aimed Against Entertainment Evangelism, Gimmicks, Door Prizes, Soft Drinks and Popcorn, Pagan Music, Lupine Pastors and Jennies!

 

The Sword of the Holy Spirit 

in the Word

KJV Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

The Sword of the Holy Spirit in the Word is powerful and effective against all false doctrine and false teachers.

Many clergy lick their lips as they dine sumptuously every day with their belly-bursting friends. The money wasted confirms their self-esteem and extends the Left Boot of Fellowship.

What belongs to God alone the Holy Spirit taking from the Father and the Son and teaching them to us through the Scriptures and faithful pastors. The dogmaticians - not just Bishop Stephan, founder of the LCMS - chase their girlfriends around the study and pretend they have Christianity in a package. Many clergy follow the same idea with their "community churches" and subsequent lawsuits.

The wolves (lupine) and jennies (female pastors) are happy to avoid the cross of Christ. They also want, and even demand, that their followers shun the old-fashioned ideas of the King James Bible. The franchise owner of Willow Creek Community Church would not allow a Bible in his cross-less church unless it was a gen-oo-wine feminist version.

The modern Bibles are excellent in their inclusion of all ideas except for the truth. The Virgin Birth of Christ in Isaiah 7 has the evil king asking for miracle directly from God Himself. 

KJV 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

The wizards of modern Bibles do whatever they want, even zig-zagging on the Virgin Birth in the main text or the footnote, or reversing which is the main one. Their stance on the Scriptures show us that they are farces, especially the paid-for scholars of the NIV, ESV, RSV, NRSV, Beck, and other abominations. 

CEB

Therefore, the Lord will give you a sign. The young woman is pregnant and is about to give birth to a son, and she will name him Immanuel.

CJB

Therefore Adonai himself will give you people a sign: the young woman* will become pregnant, bear a son and name him ‘Immanu El [God is with us].

ERV

But the Lord will still show you this sign: The young woman is pregnant and will give birth to a son. She will name him Immanuel.

ERV

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign; the young woman, pregnant and about to bear a son, shall name him Emmanuel.

For this reason the Lord himself will give you a confirming sign. Look, this young woman is about to conceive and will give birth to a son. You, young woman, will name him Immanuel.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. NIV [but "a young woman" in the footnote]

A jenny is a female donkey.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 17 - "Thus the Gospel is very universal, but the true laying hold of it is very rare."

 

Complete Sermon on the Dropsical Man. Trinity 17.

4. We notice this here in the man afflicted with dropsy. He had heard of the kindness of Jesus to others and now believes that he will show the same to him. Had he not believed, it would have been impossible to help him. The Gospel resounds in all the world, but it is not heard by everybody. The Pharisees also sat there; they saw these things with their own eyes and failed not to notice what a friendly man Jesus was, but they believed not; hence the Gospel could neither reform them nor give them help and comfort. Thus the Gospel is very universal, but the true laying hold of it is very rare. So much in regard to faith.

5. Later we have here pictured to us also the love in Christ that goes forth and bears fruit, not for itself but for others, as is the nature of true love to do. This is now said on the first part of to-day’s Gospel.

6. However, this Pericope especially teaches us in the second place a necessary doctrine we must possess, if we are to make use of the laws that order the outward and temporal matters and affairs, which the church is to observe. Here we must act wisely and gently, if we wish to do the right thing, especially when weak and timid consciences are concerned. For there is nothing more tender in heaven and on earth, and nothing can bear less trifling, than the conscience. The eye is spoken of as a sensitive member, but conscience is much more sensitive. Hence we notice how gently the Apostles dealt with conscience in divers matters, lest it be burdened with human ordinances.

7. But as we cannot live without law and order, and as it is dangerous to deal with law since it is too apt to ensnare the conscience, we must say a little about human laws and ordinances and how far they are to be observed. The proverb says: “Everything depends upon having a good interpreter.” That is particularly true here where human ordinances are concerned. Where there is no one to interpret and explain the law rightly it is difficult and dangerous to have anything to do with it. Take, for example, a ruler who acts like a tyrant and abuses his authority. If he makes a law and urgently insists on the law being executed, he treats conscience as if he had a sword in his hand and were intent on killing. We have experienced this in the tyrannical laws of popery, how consciences were tormented and hurled into hell and damnation. Yea, there is great danger where one does not know how to temper and apply the laws.

8. Therefore we conclude that all law, divine and human, treating of outward conduct, should not bind any further than love goes. Love is to be the interpreter of law. Where there is no love, these things are meaningless, and law begins to do harm; as is also written in the Pope’s book: “If a law or ordinance runs counter to love, it will soon come to an end.” This is in brief spoken of divine and human laws. The reason for enacting all laws and ordinances is only to establish love, as Paul says, Romans 13:10: “Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.” Likewise verse 8: “Owe no man anything, save to love one another.” For if I love my neighbor, I help him, protect him, hold him in honor, and do what I would have done to me.

Your Thrivent Dollars at Work - Uniting WELS, LCMS, and ELCA

 

"Pastor Jeff was ordained in 1990 and is the fourth pastor to serve University Lutheran Chapel of Berkeley, the Lutheran Campus Ministry at CAL. He is a member of the Boards for SHARE El Salvador, Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries, and the LuMin Network for ELCA Campus Ministries; on the Steering Committee for the Faith Alliance for a Moral Economy; a member of the East Bay Interfaith Immigration Coalition, and serves on the Spiritual Care Team at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary.  Prior to his ministry at the Chapel, Pr. Jeff was the pastor of First United Lutheran Church in San Francisco’s Richmond District. He was married in 2014 and lives in Oakland’s Piedmont District in a 1920’s stucco bungalow with his husband, J Guadalupe (Pepe) Sánchez Aldaco. He enjoys working around the house, mystery novels, watching movies, genealogy, cooking and dinner parties, visiting family, studying Spanish, playing piano, and salsa dancing."

Jeff Johnson elected bishop of the ELCA Sierra Pacific Synod

9/17/2023 12:00:00 AM

​CHICAGO — The Rev. Jeff R. Johnson, Berkeley, Calif., was elected Sept. 17 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Sierra Pacific Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly, Sept. 15-17, at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport in Burlingame, Calif.

Johnson was elected on the fifth ballot, with 226 votes to 168 votes for the Rev. John Keuhner, pastor of Unity Lutheran Church in South San Francisco and bridge pastor of St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in San Mateo, Calif. Johnson is the first openly gay man to be elected bishop in the synod.

The bishop-elect has served as pastor of University Lutheran Chapel of Berkeley and as a member of the Spiritual Care Team at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Berkeley, since 2013. Previously he served as pastor of First United Lutheran Church in San Francisco (1990-1999), as a mission developer for Lutheran Lesbian and Gay Ministries in San Francisco (1990-1995), as HIV education director for Lutheran Social Services of Northern California (1988-1989), as assistant night minister for San Francisco Night Ministry (1987-1988), and was an intern at the Lutheran Office of Public Policy and at First English Lutheran Church in Sacramento (1986-1987).

Johnson received his Bachelor of Arts in history and Bachelor of Arts in German from California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, in 1984, and his Master of Divinity from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in 1988. Johnson was ordained in 1990. Pacific is one of seven ELCA seminaries.

Johnson's installation details are yet to be determined.

Information about the Sierra Pacific Synod is available at spselca.org/

Bishop Rohrer was kicked out by fellow radicals in ELM and removed as bishop.

Yale Divinity School - 50th Anniversary - The Gold Medal Class of 1973

YDS Chapel - below the hill was the congregation where I worked for the year.

Sterling Library is now even more glorious inside (no mouse-scented card catalogues.

 Harkness Bell Tower is perhaps a substitute for Gothic buildings.

I have the best memories of YDS and the students. Someone who attended later wrote to me, "You had the best professors. They were gone when I went there."

An official, paid guide for our anniversary gathering sent a poorly organized memory page to help make up the book. My only comment - "I am very disappointed in what YDS has become."

I have told others that I would not suggest even a 100% paid tuition for someone to attend now. To make things worse, they are completing an eco-planet- friendly new building that is already an eyesore.

Nils A. Dahl was my New Testament professor and the leader of his department, world known and highly regarded.

Ethics professor Paul Holmer was so good that I went back to take a summer course from him.

Does the Illinois Ponzi Scheme Apply in Columbus Ohio and in Schwanland?

 

Marvin Schwan - Just Asking.

ALPB On and Offline

I'm going to borrow this from the LutherQuest site. (?!)

Messiah Lutheran Church, an LCMC church in Joliet, IL, received over $750,000 in offerings from a member who has been convicted of running a Ponzi scheme. In August, a state court ordered the congregation to repay $487,000 of that money by the end of October.

I've donated to help the congregation pay this debt. Please keep them in your prayers.

https://abc7chicago.com/messiah-lutheran-church-joliet-ponzi-scheme-kenneth-courtright/13750195/

https://www.savemessiah.org

Sunday Service - Improving the Timing

 

Yesterday I had the broadcast set-up done and pushed the wrong button. I did not see the error because it looked fine in the chapel. That led to a delay.

From now on - God willing - I will make sure the initial music is live at 9:30 AM, to start the service at 10 AM Central. If nothing is showing, pressing F5 on your keyboard will refresh the screen. I leave the cell phone out and silent in case someone calls. Yes, I can see its screen light up.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Dropsical Man - "We must know that God is kindly disposed toward us and has sent his Son from heaven to help us."

 

Complete Sermon on the Dropsical Man. Trinity 17.

Text: Luke 14:1-11. And it came to pass, when he went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees on a sabbath to eat bread, that they were watching him. And behold, there was before him a certain man that had the dropsy. And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath, or not? But they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him and let him go. And he said unto them, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a well, and will not straightway draw him up on a sabbath day? And they could not answer again unto these things.

And he spake a parable unto those that were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief seats; saying unto them, When thou art bidden of any man to a marriage feast, sit not down in the chief seat; lest haply a more honorable man than thou be bidden of him, and he that bade thee and him shall come and say to thee, Give this man place; and then thou shalt begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest place; that when he that hath bidden thee cometh, he may say to thee, Friend, go up higher; then shalt thou have glory in the presence of all that sit at meat with thee. For every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

1. This Gospel offers us two leading thoughts; one is general and is found in all our Gospel lessons, the other is peculiar to this one. First, in its general character, it shows who the Lord Jesus is and what we may expect of him, and in this is exhibited both faith and love.

2. Faith is here set forth in that this man, sick with the dropsy, looks to Christ and firmly believes he will help him. This faith he had as the result of his previous acquaintance with Jesus. He knows him as a kind, friendly and sympathetic man who always helps everyone and lets none go away uncomforted. Had he not heard such reports about the Lord he would not have followed him, even into the house. He must indeed have had some gospel knowledge and believed the wonderful things spoken about him.

3. And this is the Gospel, as I said, that must be preached and heard before there can be faith. We must know that God is kindly disposed toward us and has sent his Son from heaven to help us. This the conscience must hear and believe; for if God were unfriendly and unmerciful toward us, it would avail little to know that all his creatures sympathize with us. If God is satisfied with us, no creature can do us any harm, as St. Paul says in Romans 8:31: “If God is for us, who is against us?” Let death, devil, hell and all creation rage; we are safe. Therefore it is the Gospel that must present to us the God-man as merciful. This is the fountain from which our heart can draw faith and a friendly confidence toward God that he will help both the dying and the living in every distress.

The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity, 2023. The Widow's Son Raised.

Jan Verhas  (1834–1896) 

The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity, 2023

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

Bethany Lutheran Worship

Vimeo Link to the Worship Service - 

The Widow's Son Raised

Hymn #428        I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus    

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

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

For Thou, Lord, art good and ready to forgive: 

and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee.

Psalm. Bow down Thine ear, O Lord, hear me: 

for I am poor and needy.

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

Collect

Lord, we pray Thee that Thy grace may always go before and follow after us and make us continually to be given to all good works; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual       

Gradual

The heathen shall fear the name of the Lord: 

and all the kings of the earth Thy glory.

V. When the Lord shall build up Zion: 

He shall appear in His glory. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: He is their Help and their Shield. Hallelujah!

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed             p. 22

Sermon Hymn #341       Crown Him with Many Crowns

Jesus - The Source of Grace and Compassion

Communion Hymn # 313      O Lord We Praise Thee

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
Hymn #657             Beautiful Savior   

                    Prayers and Announcements

• In our prayers - Randy Anderson, Sarah Buck, Lori Howell, Pastor Jim and Chris Shrader, Dr. Lito Cruz.
• Dr. Kermit Way - 84th birthday.
• Next Sunday, Memory - Carl Roper's birthday, 

 

                     Luther's Sermon on the Epistle, Ephesians 3:13-21        

KJV Ephesians 3:13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. 14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power [dynamis, dynamite, Holy Spirit] that worketh [energy, efficacy] in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

KJV 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.

SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Lord God, heavenly Father, who didst send Thy Son to be made flesh, that by His death He might atone for our sins and deliver us from eternal death: We pray Thee, confirm in our hearts the hope that our Lord Jesus Christ, who with but a word raised the widow's son, in like manner will raise us on the last day, and grant us eternal life: through Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

Jesus - The Source of Grace and Compassion

KJV 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.

The Gospels have three examples where Jesus raised the dead - the widow's son, the young girl, and Lazarus. Jesus Himself rose from death, and that is His ultimate victory, and the miraculous continues to this day.

The Age of Rationalism began with opposing the miraculous. Halle University was established to promote Pietism - individual holiness - and became a scholarly source for mockery about Jesus Christ. 

This rationalism continued and grew from the ordained mocking the Scriptures and picking only those passages they favor. People add to it with their personal preferences. What was rejected before becomes accepted, and the scoffers are called great scholars.

The best antidote to the loss of faith is a knowledge of the Scriptures. The Word of God always has the power to build faith, as it says in Isaiah 53 and Romans 10. "Faith comes by hearing [the Word of the Gospel].

Jesus combined the power of His preaching with the proof from His miracles.

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. 

This verse is very touching, because the woman lost her husband and now only had a son to help her - and he was being carried out for burial. As Luther said, she might have been content to still have a wage earner, but that was suddenly gone. Women had very little earning power, and she was now alone and lonely. Some disciples and many people followed Jesus to that city gate. Besides that, the people of the city came out with the casket to support the widow in her sorrow. 

The scene reminds me of the future in the Gospels, with city people coming to meet Jesus at the gate of Jerusalem and guests from the funeral following, so He was surrounded by those who heard about Lazarus and those who saw him live again.

13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

Luther:

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.

The more we see through God's eyes, the more we understand faith in Jesus Christ. He is all grace and mercy, so He does not demand merits to make us worthy of His miracles. He is all kindness and forgiveness. 

Looking back, we can see the blessings that came from difficult and painful times. 

Luther:

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. 

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.

This is a demonstration of the miraculous. No one asked Jesus but He responded to her sorrows. We have three recorded examples of Jesus giving back the lives of people, witnessed by many people, scoffed at when the young woman was about to be raised from the dead. Perhaps there were many more, certainly many more miracles so the Holy Land was filled with examples and filled with people who either witnessed them or heard about them. And yet people could easily be fickle instead of steadfast (like the Steadfast Lutheran who started a group by that name and was the first to run away). Other equally amusing names and titles are used today.

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 

(ο λογος ουτος ) of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.

This one miracle spread across the entire region, just as the Gospel of the Risen Christ spread across the world.

Another Life

I have been thinking about people who talk about losing a life, losing a person, especially in light of the widow's son. She doubtless had great blessings from that second life as a continuation of his first life.

If we believe in Jesus Christ and His Gospel, there are two lives, from a point of view. There is certainly sorrow, pain, and a kind of insanity which is unlike anything else. I doubt whether any believer feels normal - or sane - after a loss.

However, there is another life for the Christian believer which is even more glorious than our mortal lives. God gives us a memory which repeats our happy times and blessings, as much as we want. The difficult moments are also tinted with the feelings of everything wonderful and transcendent. 

For no cost at all, we bring up - in our memories - impossibly great events that had to have come from God's guidance and circumstances. And they pop up as well, part of that jumble of memories arriving like spring flowers.