The Twelfth Sunday after Trinity - 2024.

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The Hymn #343           How Lovely Shines the Morning Star

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

Make haste, O God, to deliver me: 

make haste to help me, O Lord.

Let them be ashamed and confounded: 

that seek after my soul.

Psalm. Let them be turned backward and put to confusion: 

that desire my hurt.

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

Collect

Almighty and merciful God, of whose only gift it cometh that Thy faithful people do unto Thee true and laudable service, grant, we beseech Thee, that we may so faithfully serve Thee in this life that we fail not finally to attain Thy heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual

Gradual

I will bless the Lord at all times: 

His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

V. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: 

the humble shall hear thereof and be glad. 

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. Sing aloud unto God, our Strength: 

make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob. Hallelujah!

       

The Gospel              

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

The Sermon Hymn #8     Father Who the Light This Day 

         Miracles Happen - All the Time

The Communion Hymn #297    The Gospel Shows the Father's Grace - Loy          

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
Closing Hymn #283       God's Word Is Our Great Heritage

  

 Norma A. Boeckler

In Our Prayers and Announcements

• Medical Treatment - Maria Way - stents, Alicia Meyer, Norma Boeckler, Dr. Lito Cruz' family, Sarah Buck, Lori Howell,  Pastor Jim Shrader and Chris Shrader.  
•  August 22 is the third anniversary of Christina Jackson's transition to Heaven.
• Bathroom renovation will continue on Monday.

                        

KJV 2 Corinthians 3:4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. 11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

Covenant or Testament 

Lenski 2 Corinthians 3:3

p. 921

The Revised Versions’s translation “3. new covenant” (“testament” in the margin) is not an advance on the A. V.’s “a new testament.” Commentators also waver. See the author’s exposition of I Cor. 11:25, from which we repeat only the main point: the Hebrew berith is “covenant,” which is rendered diatheke, “testament,” by the LXX which thus conserves the main idea of one-sidedness: this covenant is like every testament that is made by God to Israel and is not a mutual agreement between equals. Its substance was promise, Christ fulfilled the promise, and this fulfillment is now laid down in a testament. All believers are named as the heirs who're to be paid out with all the gospel blessings. We may call the ministers of God the administrators (I Cor. 4:1), yet they themselves are heirs. So in the New Testament diatheke = “testament.” And we should render, not “ministers of a new testament,” but as one concept: “new testament ministers.” The newness lies in the fulfillment of the former covenant promises by Christ.

KJV Mark 7:31 And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. 32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. 33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. 35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. 36 And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; 37 And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

Twelfth Sunday After Trinity

Almighty and everlasting God, who hast created all things: We thank Thee that Thou hast given us sound bodies, and hast graciously preserved our tongues and other members from the power of the adversary: We beseech Thee, grant us Thy grace, that we may rightly use our ears and tongues; help us to hear Thy word diligently and devoutly, and with our tongues so to praise and magnify Thy grace, that no one shall be offended by our words, but that all may be edified thereby, 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.

Miracles Happen - All the Time

KJV Mark 7:31 And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. 

We know from the second verse that this is a miracle, and Mark's Gospel is packed with miracles from the Savior. People may wonder why so many miracles are revealed in a relatively short Gospel, one after another, bunches of them. Already in Mark 1, Jesus is described as wanting to be alone to pray and His hurried disciples said, "Come on, we have work to do!"

KJV Mark 1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. 36 And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. 37 And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.

There are two basic responses to miracles from our skeptical generation of Bible scholars. 

1) Doubt that this ever happened. 

2) This came from other sources, such as the claims of that pagan era, filled with improbable stories. One of the great Halle University professors published a book where he called them "Fish stories." He did not put his name on the book. Pietism shifts into rationalism quickly, just as Calvinism does. But the real message is faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus made this clear in John's Gospel, 10:38 - "If you do not believe in My Word, at least pay attention to My miracles."

John 10:37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.

When we put these two passages together, as edited and established by the Holy Spirit, it is clear that the Fourth Gospel makes the Gospel of Mark clear. And the Second Gospel lists one miracle after another to remind us of the Savior's compassion and our trust in Him. Almost every "scholar" in the last 200 years has mocked the Gospels, and many of the books have become best-sellers. Those efforts have established skepticism and Anything Goes interpretations, leading to lack of faith in the general population. 

32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. 

This double problem left the man helpless in his society, so his friends/relatives brought him to Jesus to take him out of his health straight-jacket, where he could not talk and could not hear. Luther's point in his sermon on this text is the faith of those who brought him. They knew enough about Jesus to bring the man to Christ. They trusted in His saving Word. They could not make their friend believe because, as Luther says, the Christian Church is a mouth and an ear church. The Word is spoken and it is heard, the work of the Holy Spirit. People understand it because the Bible is so clear and forceful in its effect. Romans 10 explains what the Fourth Waltherian sects deny - 

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? [Isaiah 53 - the Report is the sacrifice of Jesus, crucified for the sins of the world.] 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. 

Starting with the thesis that the Son of God can do anything, why these strange things laid upon the deaf-mute person?

1. Took him aside from the multitude - The press of the crowd was likely a roar because they could see Jesus beginning a miracle. That was like trying to speak to a friend at an Alabama football championship (whether for or against). This let the man become calm and also provided his own spoken witness when Jesus cured him.
2. Fingers in his ears - Jesus did not try yelling at him, but began with compassion, revealing the healing of the man's hearing.
3. Spit and touched the man's tongue - Jesus indicated for the man and the crowd, that He was going to heal that hopeless tongue.
4. Looked to heaven and said Be Opened - Jesus indicated His Father above, which showed the man and the crowd the miracle from above. 

These actions benefited the man, his friends, and the crowd. We have watered down "a sign" so much that people say a color, a number, or anything hopeful is "a sign." A better translation, that is derived from the text is - a miracle, something only God can do. That does not apply to someone passing a calculus exam or a driving test.

35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.

Three miraculous events came together, the ultimate gain being his ability to speak plainly when it was impossible before. This brought great joy to the man, his friends, and the crowd. One can only imagine how quickly each event took place. Why not today? The issues today are:

1. Faulty fake "Bibles" as money machines for denominations.

2. Inventing and preserving false doctrine, leading people - even ordained pastors - astray.

3. Ignoring the effectiveness of the Gospel Word and the Instruments (Means) of Grace.

36 And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; 37 And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

The effect - from hoping to healing - was so great that Jesus could not keep them all from sharing this miracle to more and more people. Jesus knew that faith was spreading but also that people would turn away and mock Him when He was in the grips of soldiers and priests.

Let the Miracles Continue

The spiritual blessings come directly from the Bible, from the beginning until end of time. Our biggest weakness is worrying about the present, and worrying affects everyone. That is our normal attitude, and it should be suppressed, but it is difficult. One can be flattened by all kinds of trouble, small and large. Luther's formula is very clear in one sermon.

1. Our job is not to worry but to do God's work in whatever we do - jobs, parenting, helping others. 

2. God's job is to take away our fears, anxieties, and burdens. Faith in the Savior means erasing the past. I have a number of students who write about how they have messed up their lives and deeply regret those things, but they are establishing lives of faith in the Good Shepherd. I encourage them to remember that faith in Jesus Christ means God's grace - drowning our sins in the ocean of God's love (ending of Micah) - not flagellating themselves.

3. We have a treasure chest that has great potential for the future - honoring parents and grandparents, laying it on thick, as they deserve. We have their DNA and the enormous memory of all they learned and taught and accomplished. We do not appreciate them fully until they are gone to their reward - and then they inhabit our minds. I went over the favorite teacher list of my grade school, Garfield in Moline, now a condo (really!). At least 100 Garfielders listed favorite teachers from 70 years ago. We remembered those teachers more vividly than all the teachers afterwards. 

4. The mundane things in life are greater treasures than we imagine. God is behind all of it and gives us a path to follow.

KJV Psalm 119:105 - 105 Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton Says - If Hell Exists, ‘I Think It’s Empty’

 

“I think that doubt is just an intensifying of one’s relationship with God” — Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, in “Face to Faith” podcast. | Tim Boyle / Sun-Times

Top Lutheran bishop: If Hell exists, ‘I think it’s empty’

On the first day of 1988, ELCA officially consummated the merger of the Lutheran Church in America, the American Lutheran Church, and Seminex (AELC). Time flies but apostasy moves slowly, like a slug, munching on what is alive, chewing holes wherever possible, leaving a slime trail.

One must have served time before the merger - to realize the depravity of ELCA, each part welded into place before people could grasp the great swindle. We were gone from ELCA before it happened, but discovered that WELS, Missouri, and the ELS were kissing the cloven feet of ELCA. 

And why not? They got to share in the goodness of Thrivent Insurance (another merger - LB and AAL), the National Council of Gay Churches, Fuller Seminary, and Marvin Schwan's wife problems.

Each ELCA executive was worse than the previous one, each year dragging down the numbers (it's all about the numbers) and losing money.

Former Presiding Bishops

The Rev. Mark Hanson served as presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America from November 2001 to October 2013. 

Brief Biography






The Rev. H. George Anderson served as presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America from November 1995 to October 2001.

Brief Biography




The Rev. Herbert W. Chilstrom served as presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America from its inception in 1987 to October 1995. 

Brief Biography 

+++

These three are out-going, or rather going out, each one worse than the previous one. Are millions of Lutherans not able to support the efficacy of the Word in the Means of Grace?

Isn't it appropriate - with squeals, giggles, and belches - to blend openly with ELCA? As Chemnitz wrote in his Examination of the Council of Trent, "The devil always leaves a foul stench behind when he leaves the room."

 

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 12 - "For by those who here bring the deafmute to the Lord, the office of the ministry is meant. Ministers and the Apostles lead the poor consciences of men to God. This is done in three ways, by preaching, by a godly life, and by intercession. With the Word and preaching, they are brought to God; a godly life serves to show the Word so much the mightier in its power. But the Word itself leads to Christ, though it be preached by a sinner."

 

Twelfth Sunday after Trinity, Mark 7:31-37. 

Concerning Faith and Love

PART 2. THE SPIRITUAL MEANING.

20. The people bring the poor man to the Lord, the Lord takes him to a special place, lays his fingers into the man’s ears, spits, and touches his tongue with the spittle, looks up toward heaven, and sighing, says, Ephphata, that is, Be opened! This is a lovely picture, and its meaning is good. For by those who here bring the deafmute to the Lord, the office of the ministry is meant. Ministers and the Apostles lead the poor consciences of men to God. This is done in three ways, by preaching, by a godly life, and by intercession. With the Word and preaching, they are brought to God; a godly life serves to show the Word so much the mightier in its power. But the Word itself leads to Christ, though it be preached by a sinner. Yet, a good life serves as an emphasis and a furtherance of the Gospel; while a wicked life dulls its edge. Their third duty, to pray for the people, likewise leads them on the road both to faith and to works.

21. Now if the Word go on its way in this threefold manner, it cannot fail to bring forth fruit, as God says, Isaiah 55:11: “My Word, that goeth forth out of my mouth, shall not return to me void.” This is indicated by the action of the pious persons who carry the mute into Christ’s presence; this signifies the ministers, who bring forward the sinner; then God appears, giving growth and increase, as Paul says, 1 Corinthians 3:7, He opens the sinner’s eyes, ears, and mouth. This happens in a wink of the eye, for God’s Word is like lightning, which in a moment passes from sunrise to the ends of the earth. Thus when such persons are brought to God, he gives them grace to believe.

22. This is signified by the act of laying his fingers into the man’s ears; through the Word he breathes the Holy Spirit into him, making the heart believing, decent, chaste, and holy; for the finger signifies the Holy Spirit.

23. Again, the spittle that is laid on the man’s tongue, typifies the Word of God; this is put into his mouth in order that he may be able to speak it. And this spittle, the Word of God, is a noble thing, but very bitter to the Old Adam.

24. Then they praise God, saying: “He hath done all things well, he has made the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak.” For wherever there is true faith, there the Spirit will not allow you any rest; you will break forth, become a priest, teach other people also, as we read  Psalm 116:10: “I believe, for I will speak.” There the heart is full, and the mouth must run over. Then when they are persecuted, they will not care.

25. But the part of the story, that Christ took the man apart from the others, looks up to heaven, has this meaning: If God does not take me alone to a separate place, and give me the Holy Spirit, so that I cling to the Word which I have heard, then all preaching is in vain. But why does this require so much that he looks up to heaven and makes use of divine power, calling upon God’s grace to come and to act? By this he teaches us that such power must come from heaven, working in the heart of man by divine strength; then help comes to him. Again the spittle which is the Word of God is a noble thing for the Old Adam. Then they go forth to praise and glorify God.

26. Thus have you learned, from the story and from its spiritual or secret meaning, that we must first hear the Word of God and thus, through the intercession of Christ, obtain a faith of our own, and then we come out, confessing this and praising God forever. May this be sufficient on this Gospel lesson. Let us pray to God for grace.

Some Synod Managers May Want To Purchase This

 

Remodeling Continues

 

Tile has been broken away, drywall will be coming today.

Future branch managers.

Odors of the Upcoming Great Collapse - Clowns Already at Work

The Faithless Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) - they want everyone's gold, silver, and jewels, but they have no use for the Gospel of our Savior.

Every day, without fail, another large church emerges from its Stygian source to boast the efficacy of its Barnum and Bailey circus splendor. They have 5,000 members plus - and add to their boasting, "Watch us grow!"

KJV Exodus 32:6 And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.

That happened when the people of Israel, after receiving the Ten Commandments, gathered their precious metals and jewels to fashion pagan idols. Aaron joined in the fun, until Moses appeared in his wrath.

The Faithless Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) - have gathered around Aaron and his golden calf for many decades. The analogy is clear - God has given us the Traditional Old Testament Hebrew text and the Traditional Greek New Testament text (in short, the KJV). But the Faithless Five worship the atheists at Fuller Seminary, Trinity Divinity, Willow Creek, and more - unified by their hatred of Jesus' Promise - Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My Words will never pass away.

KJV 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

Going back a few decades, the mega-church concept was isolated and rare. Now there is a rush in all denominations: multi-campus, supersized, fun, food-courts, hip Bibles, and adulterous. One "growther" wrecked his LCMS congregation, moved his proclivities to WELS, and nestled into a big, old church, the blind leading the blind.

These Synagogues of Satan drive faithful members away. 

One ELS-LCMS pastor told me I should publish against the Church Growth Movement, but he never did. 

The greatest joke of all from these apostates is being very sensitive about ELCA, not wanting to offend those clowns who own so much real estate. They were sure - one expert told them - that the new ELCA would donate an enormous group of dissenters that would join LCMS (laughing), WELS (gagging), the mini's puking. They Four Waltherian Cults also declined because they drank from the same River Styx. Or perhaps - the real life Cloaca Maxima, the Roman Empire's sewer.

Cloaca Maxima

ELCA Presiding Bishop Liz Eaton canned the first tranny bishop, Megan Rohrer. ELCA seminaries have been producing gay women, men, and undecided since 1987 (and before - let's be honest). The Four Waltherian Cults - LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) only object to Justification by Faith and the Means of Grace.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 12 - "Therefore it is not within our power to pray in strong confidence; the Holy Spirit does it. Whenever we pray for anyone and are able to add, “It will be done,” then it will certainly be done; but whenever we pray, we must add, “Thy will be done.” If, then, I must let it go according to his will..."

 

Twelfth Sunday after Trinity, Mark 7:31-37. 

Concerning Faith and Love

16. But to pray powerfully is not within our strength; for the Spirit does not always vouchsafe to us to pray with power. Paul prayed that all Israel might be saved, Romans 9:1f; why did it not come to pass? The difference lies in the faith, for the Spirit did not give it to him; had he been able to add this faith, it would surely have come to pass. For if Paul had said, “I pray for all Israel,” and had believed and said: “Lord, I am certain that thou wilt do it,” then it would certainly have come to pass. But though he often prayed for them from his heart, the Spirit did not vouchsafe, to him that he should confidently believe it. Therefore it is not within our power to pray in strong confidence; the Holy Spirit does it. Whenever we pray for anyone and are able to add, “It will be done,” then it will certainly be done; but whenever we pray, we must add, “Thy will be done.” If, then, I must let it go according to his will, I cannot suggest to him either the person, or the time, or the manner, but must freely leave it all to him; then, indeed, I am sure of it. In this manner Christ acted also, who himself prayed thus: “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away from me,” but at once added: “Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Matthew 26:39.

17. Therefore, when I am to pray for an entire city or community, I ought to say: “O Father, I pray for all of them.” Nevertheless, however, I must give honor to his name or will, and say: “Dear Father, I pray for these; I know it is thy will, that I should pray, that I should not despise prayer; but thy will shall be done always; for I might ask something for some one who is not worthy of it before thee; or again, I might possibly cast aside some one who is worthy; therefore do thou act according to thy divine will, for thou wilt certainly do better than I could ever conceive.” Thus you see that we cannot always add these words: It will be so. But if we are certain in our hearts that we may add: “It will be certainly so,” then it will come to pass.

18. This we see in our text. These people approach the Lord in strong confidence, praying for the poor man, and their prayer is also heard. In the same manner, when baptism is performed we see this take place in the children’s faith. There are the infants, bare and naked in body and soul, having neither faith nor works. Then the Christian Church comes forward and prays, that God would pour faith into the child; not that our faith should help the child, but that it may obtain a faith of its own. If it has faith, then after that whatever it does is well done, whether it suckle its mother’s breast, or whether it soil itself, or whatever it may please to do. But if it does not obtain faith, our faith is of no value to the child.

19. Therefore my faith can help you in no way except that it may assist you to obtain a faith of your own. Hence, to sum up all, everything depends upon personal faith, as strong as it is, so much does it need the faith and prayer of other people in order to increase in strength. Now you can easily judge, that those people were the greatest fools, who held masses and vigils with the brotherhoods; for the wise virgins have sufficient oil only for themselves, and scarcely have enough. This is a simple explanation of the story of the Gospel lesson. Now let us briefly consider the meaning which our Lord puts into it.

PART 2. THE SPIRITUAL MEANING.

Alt-Church Growth in the Missouri Synod - Games! Games! Games!They Sit Down To Eat And Rise Up To Play!

 

Covering topics on creation and stewardship, unity, perseverance, and overcoming obstacles, this series seeks to help congregants discover “how these games offer insights into faith, community, spiritual growth, and redemption.”

Notably, guests can also win one of two Xbox video game systems by entering a draw.

"Exploring Christian principles that can be found in Minecraft, Super Mario Kart, Tetris, and Frogger."

Snippet of Lutheran church (LCMS) pastor preaching during their video-game sermon series 'Game On'. See the story https://protestia.com/2024/08/15/lutheran-church-lcms-puts-on-video-games-themed-service/

Whee! Who needs the NIV when we can play games at church?
The Faithless Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic)

They love being alt-ELCA and stealth Fuller.

Progress on the Bathroom Renovation

 

Progress on the Bathroom Renovation

The drywallers came to assess the bathroom and left to get the supplies. If all goes well, I expect the original plumbers to come as soon as they can, which is probably tomorrow.

I will not try to schedule a Reformation Seminary lecture until everything is done, because of loud noises, questions asked, phone calls, etc. Everyone has been helpful, friendly, and faster than I could have imagined.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - "Therefore say: I must neither rely upon your works nor you upon mine; but I will, by my own faith, pray God to give you a faith of your own. This is what is said, that we all are priests and kings, that we, like Christ himself, may intercede for one another before God, praying for personal faith."

 

Twelfth Sunday after Trinity, Mark 7:31-37. 

Concerning Faith and Love

12. Likewise, if I were to give you a written declaration saying: “Go forth, this is my work; this shall be yours”; yet it will not help you a whit, but it will carry you into hell. In what way, then, will it help you? If I do, as these men do, who come to Christ and say: “O Lord, help this poor man, that he may receive his speech?’ They do not say: “We will hear and speak in your stead,” but they pray that Christ himself would give him speech. Likewise, if you take my part, and use your faith in such a way that it may help me to a faith of my own, this might help me; thus! thus it must be! God be thanked! Otherwise, no work nor any brotherhood, will avail.

13. Therefore say: I must neither rely upon your works nor you upon mine; but I will, by my own faith, pray God to give you a faith of your own. This is what is said, that we all are priests and kings, that we, like Christ himself, may intercede for one another before God, praying for personal faith.

Thus, if I happen to notice that you have no faith of your own, or a weak faith, I go and ask God to help you to obtain faith, not by giving you my faith and my works, but your own faith and your own works; so that Christ may give him all his works and salvation through faith, as he hath given them to us by faith.

14. That is the meaning of the saying of Christ, John 16:26-27: “I say not unto you that I will pray the Father for you; for the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came forth from the Father.” This is a beautiful addition, as though he would say: I have prayed for you, and have entreated God that he would give you what is mine. Therefore know my name. For through my prayer he has accepted you and has given you faith, so that henceforth you may pray for yourselves, and I need not do it; provided that you do it in my name. Here he has crowned us, dedicated and anointed us with the Holy Spirit, so that we all are priests in Christ, and may exercise the priest’s office, go before God and pray for one another. This is what St. Peter means in writing thus in his First Epistle, 1 Peter 2:9-10: “Ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that ye may shew forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light, which in time past were no people, but now are the people of God; which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”

15. Hence we may all say: Christ was my priest, who prayed for me and purchased faith and the Spirit for me; therefore I am also a priest, and must go on praying in the world, that God may give faith also to this and that person. So we conclude, that we shall obtain whatever we earnestly pray for in the true faith, as the Lord says, John 16:24: “Ask, and ye shall receive.”

Delays Continue in the Bathtube Renovation Project

 

I wonder if The Faithless Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic), can spell Jakob Spener and explain how they fell into the Slough of Despond.

First I was hearing the schedule of Monday-Tuesday, which accomplished a lot. However, that was only half the project. Next is drywall and various other items, such as replacing some hardware. That is likely today, but not official. Likely things will be done today (drywall) and Friday (putting everything back together). I can put together two Reformation Seminary lectures on John either on Friday or Saturday, God willing.

I enjoy doing the lectures and appreciate your responses.

Fuerbringer - Walther's nephew - got it right. Notice that the date is five years before the disastrous Brief Statement of 1932, which included and welded Objective Justification into the Synodical Conference. Gausewitz' Small Catechism was published in 1927. 

"These presidential posts obviously received much attention when obituaries had to be written in 1927 for this outstanding leader in our Lutheran circles, who died suddenly in the Grace sacristy just before the Holy Communion service on Sept. 4. More important, however, then and especially later was the service Gausewitz rendered through work on the synodical Catechism. The first special Catechism project that engaged the attention of Carl Gausewitz was working on a Synodical Conference committee charged with the responsibility of editing Luther’s Small Catechism. The committee was busy at the turn of the century.13"

Carl Gausewitz: Church Man and Catechist
By Edward C. Fredrich

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 12 - "But it may effect this, that it will assist you to obtain a faith of your own, which will help you. Furthermore, even if Christ did die for us, and pledged and gave his body and life, blood and flesh for us, and became our advocate; yet it would avail nothing, unless we believe in him."

 

Twelfth Sunday after Trinity, Mark 7:31-37. 

Concerning Faith and Love

9. Therefore, by all means beware of the preachers whom you have often heard among the monks, who approach a dying person and say: “Behold, my brave fellow, do not despair; if you have committed sins, be sorry for them; but in order that you may fare so much the better, I will make you a present of my righteous life and my good works.” If now, the dying person accept such a gift, he is as much a fool as the other, and with all these works, he 'will go to the devil'. Therefore, beware of such consolation, and say: If you are willing to serve me with your good works, approach God and speak thus: O heavenly Father, by thy grace I am now believing; therefore, I pray thee, my God, give also unto this poor man a faith of his own. This might help me; but that you would give me your own faith, this you cannot do, neither would it help me. You will have enough to do to be saved by your own faith.

10. This you may see in the case of the foolish virgins, who, when their lamps went out, said unto the wise virgins: “Give us of your oil; for our lamps are going out.” Then did the wise ones answer and say: “Peradventure there will not be enough for us and you.” Matthew 25:8-9. In that case I am in need even of more faith for myself; how then could I share it with another? For my own faith must stand before God’s judgment, and must fight so hard and cleave so firmly to God’s mercy, that the sweat will run down its face, if it is to prevail. That is the true meaning of St. Peter’s words, 1 Peter 4-18: “The righteous is scarcely saved, where then shall the ungodly appear?” For when death makes its onslaught, then such fear and agony will seize him, that he can scarcely with all his strength, stand for himself and be kept in faith. Hence it is greatly to be deplored that they have established so much deception, putting monks’ cowls upon the dead, and inventing other foolish things, by which they led poor souls straightway to perdition. Beware of them.

11. Now this I say, that you may know how far the faith of others may be of use to us, and how your own faith can help you. Other people’s merits will help you to attain a merit of your own, and nothing more. And though all the angels, yea, the mercy of God itself, were ready to stand for you, it would avail you nothing, unless you cleave unto it with a faith of your own. But it may effect this, that it will assist you to obtain a faith of your own, which will help you. Furthermore, even if Christ did die for us, and pledged and gave his body and life, blood and flesh for us, and became our advocate; yet it would avail nothing, unless we believe in him. But he can assist us in this way, that he appears before the Father and says: “O Father, this have I done for mankind; do thou give them faith, in order that they may enjoy it.” This then, will help us, if we feel assured that his works and merit are our own. In the same manner one should also speak of the other saints, that no saint’s intercession and merit avail unless we ourselves believe. You observe this also in our lesson. There lies the poor man, unable either to speak or to hear. They who bring him to the Lord can speak and hear. But they cannot make him speak by their hearing and speaking, and even though they all had come near him and said: “We will speak and hear for you”; yet he would, in spite of this, have remained speechless and deaf continually, and would never have been able to speak.

Two Kinds of Polls - Be Sure To Keep Them Straight

 

One of the political science guys explained polls this way, so listen up.

Published polls are broadcast solely to influence people. Any live poll-taker can ask questions like, "Does Trump frighten you?" In fact, one of these experts at Forbes did not even do any research. He made up the questions and the "votes."

Internal polls are the research the politicians have paid for. The internal polls are not given out to the media or the public, so the candidates do not get confused by their own dreams and the phony statistics.

The soi-disant Lutheran synods are exactly the same. The managers know what is going on, but they publish future statistics, dreams, and hopes to distract the members from the disaster. They caused it with Objective Faithless Justification and mocking the Augsburg Confession.

"Those lovable ELDONUTs!"

Would someone develop a simple list of The Faithless Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) numbers? A banker would not last long, if his numbers were as bad as the Lutherans for so many years. The poorly educated presidents/bishops/presiding bishops should be ashamed to grab so much money and fail to teach Biblical doctrine, faith in Jesus Christ and the efficacy of His Word.

No Reformation Seminary Lecture Today - Due To Very Loud And Unpredictable Repairs

 

No Reformation Seminary Lecture Today - Due To Very Loud And Unpredictable House Repairs.

Tomorrow should be good.