Celebration for Reformation Sunday - Final Version

 

Hymn # 262      A Mighty Fortress         

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual       

The Gospel              

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

The Hymn #387     Dear Christians One and All            

Luther's Protest - 

Meaning a Positive (pro) Testimony (test)

 See below.

The Communion Hymn #267   If God Had Not Been on Our Side                    

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 #259  Flung to the Heedless Winds 

Prayers and Announcements

• Lori Howell; Pastor Jim Shrader and Chris Shader; mourning the loss of Glen Kotten's father.

           

KJV Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

KJV Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. 15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Romans 5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Collect

O almighty, eternal God: We confess that we are poor sinners and cannot answer one of a thousand, when Thou contendest with us; but with all our hearts we thank Thee, that Thou hast taken all our guilt from us and laid it upon Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and made Him to atone for it: We pray Thee graciously to sustain us in faith, and so to govern us by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may live according to Thy will, in neighborly love, service, and helpfulness, and not give way to wrath or revenge, that we may not incur Thy wrath, but always find in Thee a gracious Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

Luther's Protest - 

Meaning a Positive (pro) Testimony (test)

Sermon Part 1 - Grape Press to Gospel Miracle

Martin Luther (b. 1483) that sums up the role of the printing press in the Protestant Reformation: “Printing is the ultimate gift of God and the greatest one.” (History.com)

England and Germany got into printing very slowly because the numbers were so small. But Luther's 95 Theses printed over 5,000 copies in two weeks (1517) Luther's prolific German established his language instead of clinging to Latin, which was the norm of scholars. 

The two countries expanded printing into more languages, and more presses came from more broadsheets (one page), books, and customers. I used to ask college students about the Renaissance era highway signs and books they had at home - they didn't!

Thousand-Year Effect on the Christian Faith

Medieval communication was very limited and extremely expensive, provided only for a few volumes and mostly one language - Latin. That era can be covered from Augustine's death in 430 to Luther's death in 1546.

Rome controlled its power, language, and dogma through the Pope, cardinals, bishops, and priests, very much like the ancient Roman armies and its punishments. Augustine said about a debate, "Rome has spoken; the case is closed."

Part 2

The hippies, then and now, seldom offer positive testimonies. Luther was an unusual man with great capabilities. He was trained at first to serve as a lawyer, town magistrate. But Luther was caught in a terrible storm (1505) and thought he would die. He prayed to be sent into the priesthood and he was soon welcomed into the very strict Augustinian order which comforted him in many ways. 

Luther's father did not want a priest for his father, and later made a point about his son having children. (Luther thought about having children and Katherine von Bora sealed the bargain, 1525.)

The early Luther (monk and priest) immersed himself in obeying the Church of Rome and becoming obedient to its demands. But he was also among many who compared the Scriptures against the Vatican, raised at Wittenberg University into the professor's job of teaching the Bible itself rather than a thousand years of fog and disorder.

Justification by Faith in Jesus Christ

Many of us - though not enough - have labored to teach Lutherans what the so-called leaders have tried to force - the truth of the Apostle Paul and Luther against the ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC...and some other sects. All of them insist - one way or another - that the entire world has been absolved of all sin, without faith, in Jesus Son of God.

The Apostle Paul was furious, as he wrote, that

Galatians 3:5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

What about forgiveness? Is forgiveness there without the Good Shepherd, without the flock trusting, believing, loving the Savior? And yet clergy are shocked that they are without a genuine Gospel, without members!?  

Nothing is more comforting than forgiveness through faith in Son of God. People can go through great turmoil with humility and trust in Jesus. In most cases, one person asks for forgiveness, which makes the other partner ask forgiveness as well.

An abundance of forgiveness rests upon the Lord Himself, because 

5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

I said it before - "Everyone wants access," and that was more than two thousand years ago. The grace we have is by faith in Jesus. 

Where are all the methods, without faith in Him?

Where are the magical chemicals, guaranteed for success?

Where is peace when the storms fall around us?

God provides.

The Lamb of God - From Tom Fisher

 

The Lamb of God

America is in desperate need of prayer as the planned communist terrorism unfolds. Leftist traitors in Congress and the Senate intentionally shut down our government to trigger a violent communist takeover of America. These leftist traitors even refused to pass a bill that would allow essential government workers to be paid such as air traffic controllers, law enforcement, our military, and other essential workers. Socialism for 43 million food stamp recipients will end abruptly on November 1 triggering massive riots, and forced closures of grocery stores due to smash and grab mobs stealing food. 

Pray that God will help President Trump and all government officials to quell this planned violent communist takeover of America. 

Be prepared. Begin to stock up on essential food and supplies. As winter approaches I always stock up on food and essential supplies because the roads in the country often drift shut for days. Use some common sense. It is always good to have extra food on hand for surprise emergencies and winter snow storms. Even the tiny ants, squirrels, and chipmunks store food for the coming winter.

6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Proverbs 6:6-9

24 There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:

25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;

26 The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; Proverbs 30:24-26

In Christ,

Tom Fisher

Tom Fisher And Luther

 

Dear Pastor Jackson,

Christ and Luther always give true comfort and certainty. I experience true relief and comfort when I listen to Christ and Luther.  Luther is especially skilled in providing vivid illustrations and examples that amplify the true and certain comfort of Christ Words. 

Our sins and the cares and worries of this life often weigh us down with dejection and sadness. We feel our sins and the threats of this life. As true Christians we are sorry for our sins, but the voice of Christ and Luther brings us eternal relief and comfort. The world mocks us for being sorry and sad over what it considers petty insignificant sins. No sin is petty. All sin no matter how petty wars against our souls. Luther says that we daily sin much and deserve only wrath and punishment. 

The voice of Christ and Luther will not allow us to wallow in dejection and sadness over our sins and the threats of this life. I experienced this last night while reading the Words of Christ and Luther in John 6:37

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. John 6:37

Last night I was especially sad and dejected over my sins, worries and fears of that day. I could not sleep so I began to read Luther's explanation of John 6:37 in Luther's Works, CPH, vol. 23, page 48:

"When you come, just believe, and you will not want. Your shortcomings and failures will not harm you." This we learn from Romans 14:22 and 15:1. A believer has forgiveness of sin, and Christ will not cast him out. Sin will ever remain part of the Christian's flesh, as seen, for instance, in evil desires referred to in Romans 6-8. "But as long as a man comes to Me in faith, even though he should stumble, I shall see to it that this does not harm him."  His sinful flesh will have no dominion over him; there is no condemnation for those who are incorporated into the body of Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1 ), although they are not yet entirely pure, and their flesh is not completely mortified."

Luther then gives us a wonderful illustration and example:

"Thus even if you fall and sin, Christ will not cast you out. A mother will not put a soiled, mangy, or sick child out of the house. A son or a daughter often does wrong, but they are not disinherited and ejected from the house because of this."

As I listened to the voice of Christ and Luther, my dejection and sadness lifted and was replaced by true Christian cheerfulness. Yes, I am that sinful, soiled, sick child that Christ my good Shepherd forgives and cleanses from ALL sin.

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 John 1 

The comforting voice of Christ and Luther is our pearl of great price this reformation day. It stands alone in stark contrast to the troubling voices of ALL other religions that ADD the preparations of 'free will' to justification by faith. These preparations of 'free will' are not recognized as works righteousness. For example these works righteousness salesmen require that you must 'make a decision for Christ' or 'ask Jesus into your heart', or 'put Christ first', or 'go forward to the alter', or 'dedicate your life to Christ', or 'do wonderful things for Christ', or have an emotional conversion, or speak in tongues, or go on a pilgrimage.  All of these false religions add their own works to justification by faith. They are called Christian, but they add their own works to justification by faith.  They all reject God's work in Baptism in favor of their own flavor of works righteousness. They are enemies of the gospel of Christ because they add their own works to justification by faith. The Catholics, Baptists, Christian Reformed, Greek Orthodox, Calvinists, Presbyterians, Methodist, Turks, Jews, Amish, Objective Justification Cultists, Pentecostals, etc. all add their own works to justification by faith. They are NOT Christian at all. This is troubling because many of our relatives and loved ones follow the teachings of these false churches. They need the comforting voice of Christ and Luther so we must do our best to help them.

Christ is our Good Shepherd. No one is able to pluck us out of His hands.

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

30 I and my Father are one. John 10:27-30

In Christ,

Tom Fisher