Luther's Sermons - Volumes 1-8, plus Gems. Giant PDF

Click on the link below for all eight volumes of Luther's Sermons, plus the Gems volume at the end - 3438 pages in all.

I asked Janie Sullivan if she could edit them all into one PDF file, and she did.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/nq59uy1vjttifwk/Luthers%20Sermons%20Volume%201-8%20%2BGems.pdf?dl=0

Let me know how this works for you. I highly recommend using the free DropBox software, which you can download here -

https://www.dropbox.com

You can invite friends to download and do other DropBoxy things to earn more free storage space. With all I have done in sharing Moline photos and sending book versions around, I have used only 4 gigs of 16 gigs of free storage.

DropBox is a great way to back up documents off-site (as they say) and also to send large documents. The only way I can send a finished book with illustrations is through DropBox.

The software duplicates itself with Explorer on Windows, so I use my Lenski folder (read from the DropBox files) to look up volumes and get instant access to each book.

We tried to make the whole set in one Kindle. No joy.
Janie Sullivan is working on a fix.

Now Sending Out - Gems Mined from Luther's Sermons and the Complete Nine Volume Set

I am ordering Gems Mined for various people in the congregation, also for friends who take a great interest in doctrine.

I am also ordering the complete set - Eight Volumes of Luther's Sermons plus the Gems. All of them are illustrated by Norma A. Boeckler. The Sermons are in black and white; the Gems are full color.

It takes time to set up the book orders, so they have already begun and should be placed in the next three weeks.

The complete nine volume Luther set, at the author's price, is $70 with shipping and taxes.

The Gems Mined volume alone is $15 with taxes and shipping.

Those who want to order can send a check to 1104 Letha Drive, Springdale, AR 72762. PayPal works too.

The Kindle versions are very inexpensive but the later ones are not being listed - they are done. I am working on that now.

Warren Malach - Review of Volume I, The Sermons of Martin Luther - Advent to New Year's Day

Norma A. Boeckler is a prolific artist with a number of her own books. She had artwork for each volume before it was done. How? She looked the sermons up online and planned the art for each sermon. 

Although I already mentioned above Dr. Jackson's additional volume GEMS MINED FROM THE SERMONS OF MARTIN LUTHER, it was only when I examined the individual volumes of the SERMONS that I learned that the GEMS MINED from each individual volume of the SERMONS are offered as an Introduction to each volume, an "appetizer" of what will be found in the SERMONS as well as an overview of the theology of Dr. Luther himself. Dr. Jackson introduces the GEMS with this challenging statement about Luther: "Luther is discussed too much, studied too little." This statement is an indictment of the state of Luther scholarship within the Christian Church, but especially within the Lutheran Church itself. The summary statements for the individual GEMS in this volume demonstrate how Dr. Luther challenges the orthodoxy of those claiming to be "Lutherans" regarding the fundamental doctrines of the Lutheran Church, e.g. "Not All Are Justified"--"Faithless Teachers"--"Where Do We Find Christ?--In the Scriptures." In "The Reason for the Church Postils," Dr. Jackson tells us the history of the Church Postils and how Dr. Luther himself regarded THE SERMONS OF MARTIN LUTHER as "the best of all his books."

GJ - As she read and edited the volumes, Virginia Roberts kept saying, "I found a gem!" and then "Another gem!" My wife and I did this years ago for volumes 1-4 and put them in Megatron, the Database. They were the heavy artillery - dropped on the foes of the efficacy of the Word in the Means of Grace. I said, "We have to feature the Gems in the front," and then "Let's also do a separate volume, full color."

Volume I of THE SERMONS OF MARTIN LUTHER contains the Sermons for the first part of the Church Year, from the First Sunday in Advent through the Festival of the Epiphany.  It includes the Sermons for the festivals of Christmas, Second Christmas Day, Third Christmas Day, St. Stephen's Day, the Day of St. John the Evangelist, and New Year's Day.  Helpful outlines are provided for each Sermon to guide the reader in his study.


I must mention the physical appearance of this large, softbound volume, with its fine illustrations by Norma A. Boeckler, especially the cover illustration of Luther writing the Sermons.  Once again, I must mention how comfortable the volume is to hold and read, with its ease of holding open and its large print.  The volumes in the set of THE SERMONS OF MARTIN LUTHER are designed for regular individual and family use, and not simply to be put on a library shelf in a pastor's office or church library.


What did Luther teach?  Rather, what does the Bible teach, as Dr. Luther explains?  Study THE SERMONS OF MARTIN LUTHER and you will not be misled by those claiming to be "Lutherans" but who do not teach what Luther taught from the Bible about such fundamental Christians doctrines as the Inspiration of Scripture and Justification by Faith Alone!  
--Warren Malach

***

GJ - One reader has already suggested publishing More Gems later.

Warren Malach - On Luther's Sermons, Gems, and the Goldmine

A Lutheran pastor for forty-five years, the Rev. Dr. Gregory L. Jackson (STM Yale, PhD Notre Dame ) spent a year revising the Lenker translation of the CHURCH POSTILS of Dr. Martin Luther, written in the 1520s.  These sermons on the historic Epistle and Gospel Lessons for the Church Year fill eight large softbound volumes whose typesetting makes them as easy to read as the volumes are to hold open.  In addition, the volumes are profusely illustrated by renowned Christian artist Norma A Boeckler.  In re-introducing these volumes to the public, Dr. Jackson has performed a great service to the Christian Church by responding to the sectarianism and apostasy of our day with the pure Word of God as taught by Dr. Martin Luther to the members of his congregation.

In addition to THE SERMONS OF MARTIN LUTHER, as part of his long study of Dr. Martin Luther's writings Dr. Jackson has also compiled the additional volumes

• GEMS MINED FROM THE SERMONS OF MARTIN LUTHER and 
• THE LOST DUTCHMAN'S GOLDMINE: LUTHER'S BIBLICAL DOCTRINE OF THE WORD.  

 The color version of Gems is the one sent to everyone.
This black and white version was planned at the last minute as a good way to introducepeople to Luther's Sermons without selling the rose farm. This is often included free in orders.

GEMS is the fruit of Dr. Jackson's editorial work on THE SERMONS OF MARTIN LUTHER in which Dr. Jackson distills for the reader the contents of the eight individual volumes in quotations drawn from the sermons, for which Dr. Jackson has supplied titles which are included in the table of contents for easy topical reference.  The quotations drawn from the sermons are generally more extensive than those found in E. Plass' WHAT LUTHER SAYS, which traditionally was searched by students of Luther for useful quotations from Dr. Luther's vast writings, and therefore GEMS is a more comprehensive compendium of extracts from Dr. Luther's writings as a theologian who was also a pastor.

In THE LOST DUTCHMAN'S GOLDMINE Dr. Jackson presents Dr. Luther's doctrine of the Word of God as drawn directly from Luther's own writings, the Lutheran Confessions, and the writings of orthodox Lutheran teachers.  In an age in which the inspiration and authority of God's Word are under constant attack and false doctrine is rampant, Dr. Jackson in his Luther editorial work as well as in his own writings and online blog  (http://ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com) seeks to follow the mandate of Jude 3 to "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" and presented by Dr. Luther in these Sermons, especially the glorious doctrine of Justification by Faith.

These volumes are only the latest publications of Martin Chemnitz Press (martinchemnitzpress.blogspot.com) which also publishes the theological writings of Dr. Jackson covering a wide variety of subjects both of Christian doctrine and of practice.  You are warmly encouraged to search for these books online, and follow Dr. Jackson's Amazon author's page (https://www.amazon.com/Pastor-Gregory-L.-Jackson/e/B00MDC6S4U?ref_=pe_1724030_132998060). 
--Warren Malach

 All the covers and interior illustrations came from our
artist-in-residence, Norma A. Boeckler.

Luther - On Paul's Portrait of False Teachers

False Teachers Use Work of Others

J-635.1

"Note the master hand wherewith Paul portrays the character of false teachers, showing how they betray their avarice and ambition. First, they permit true teachers to lay the foundation and perform the labor; then they come and desire to do the work over, to reap the honors and the benefits. They bring about that the name and the work of the true teachers receive no regard and credit; what they themselves have brought—that is the thing. They make the poor simple-minded people to stare open-mouthed while they win them with flowery words and seduce them with fair speeches, as mentioned in Romans 16:18. These are the idle drones that consume the honey they will not and cannot make." Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VII, p. 110. Second Sunday in Lent. 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9; Romans 16:18.

False Doctrine Tolerated

J-636.1

"And such false teachers have the good fortune that all their folly is tolerated, even though the people realize how these act the fool, and rather rudely at that. They have success with it all, and people bear with them. But no patience is to be exercised toward true teachers! Their words and their works are watched with the intent of entrapping them, as complained of in Psalm 17:9 and elsewhere. When only apparently a mote is found, it is exaggerated to a very great beam. No toleration is granted. There is only judgment, condemnation and scorn. Hence the office of preaching is a grievous one. He who has not for his sole motive the benefit of his neighbor and the glory of God cannot continue therein. The true teacher must labor, and permit others to have the honor and profit of his efforts, while he receives injury and derision for his reward."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VII, p. 110f. Second Sunday in Lent. 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9. Psalm 17:9.

God Punishes Ingratitude by Allowing False Teachers

J-637.1

"In the second place such teachers are disposed to bring the people into downright bondage and to bind their conscience by forcing laws upon them and teaching works-righteousness. The effect is that fear impels them to do what has been pounded into them, as if they were bondslaves, while their teachers command fear and attention. But the true teachers, they who give us freedom of conscience and create us lords, we soon forget, even despise. The dominion of false teachers is willingly tolerated and patiently endured; indeed, it is given high repute. All those conditions are punishments sent by God upon them who do not receive the Gospel with love and gratitude."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VII, p. 111. Second Sunday in Lent. 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9. John 5:43.

False Teachers Flay Disciples to Bone

J-638.1

"In the third place, false teachers flay their disciples to the bone, and cut them out of house and home, but even this is taken and endured. Such, I opine, has been our experience under the Papacy. But true preachers are even denied their bread. Yet this all perfectly squares with justice! For, since men fail to give unto those from whom they receive the Word of God, and permit the latter to serve them at their own expense, it is but fair they should give the more unto preachers of lies, whose instruction redounds to their injury. What is withheld from Christ must be given in tenfold proportion to the devil. They who refuse to give the servant of truth a single thread, must be oppressed by liars."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VII, p. 111f. Second Sunday in Lent. 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9.

Avarice in False Teachers

J-639.1

"Fourth, false apostles forcibly take more than is given them. They seize whatever and whenever they can, thus enhancing their insatiable avarice. This, too, is excused in them."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VII, p. 112. Second Sunday in Lent. 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9.

They Lord It Over Us

J-640.1

"Fifth, these deceitful teachers, not satisfied with having acquired our property, must exalt themselves above us and lord it over us...We bow our knees before them, worship them and kiss their feet. And we suffer it all, yes, with fearful reverence regard it as just and right. And it is just and right, for why did we not honor the Gospel by accepting and preserving it?"
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VII, p. 112. Second Sunday in Lent. 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9.

We Are Dogs and Foot-Rags

J-641.1

"Sixth, our false apostles justly reward us by smiting us in the face. That is, they consider us inferior to dogs; they abuse us, and treat us as foot-rags."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VII, p. 112. Second Sunday in Lent. 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9.

False Teachers Are Peacocks

J-642.1

"The peacock is an image of heretics and fanatical spirits. For on the order of the peacock they, too, show themselves and strut about in their gifts, which never are outstanding. But if they could see their feet, that is the foundation of their doctrine, they would be stricken with terror, lower their crests, and humble themselves. To be sure, they, too, suffer from jealousy, because they cannot bear honest and true teachers. They want to be the whole show and want to put up with no one next to them. And they are immeasurably envious, as peacocks are. Finally, they have a raucous and unpleasant voice, that is, their doctrine is bitter and sad for afflicted and godly minds; for it casts consciences down more than it lifts them up and strengthens them."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, II, p. 642.

Dragons and a Few Lizards Slain - Now Sending Out Luther's Sermons and Gems Mined from Luther's Sermons

 The Enthusiasts are sending more readers this way.
Here is my bio, which they posted.

I put off a number of things while finishing Luther's Sermons. New ones appeared at the same time, from medicine costs to other matters, all neatly entangled. Last Monday featured $500 stolen from my account, which I had to retrieve - and did.

I even had to decode the Amazon author's page for sending out titles at my cost. They do not assume a nine volume set is going to be listed.

Here is the short version on ordering Luther's Sermons and the Gems.

The 8 Volume Luther's Sermons are by default in black and white, which allows them to be priced at $5 each, without shipping and taxes.

The Gems Mined from Luther's Sermons (from all 8 volumes) is in color, because it is smaller: $10 without shipping and taxes.

Together, the cost is $70 at my cost, including the shipping and taxes: 8 volumes of Sermons, the complete Lenker set, plus some of the best quotations from each volume.

Kindle E-Books - most of the Kindle Sermons are 99 cents now. I am working with the finishing editor to keep those prices down to the lowest possible level. I thought I could get them to zero, but I am not sure. There will be a unified file of all 8 plus the Gems, God willing - free. All other books I publish, past and future, will be priced the same way on Kindle - the lowest possible.

My purpose is to distribute traditional Lutheran material as inexpensively as possible. Neglect of Luther is simply shameful today. The results are clear, from Fuller adoration to pilgrimages to Willow Creek to worshiping with Andy the Apostate Babtist. Didn't see that coming? Look at his daddy's marital record and discipleship under Dave (nee Paul) Y. Cho.

Luther's Sermons - Updates

Most of the work is done on my end. Glitches develop in dealing with HAL, so I am addressing them. When they are solved in a day or two, I will start sending out volumes.

In the meantime I had to deal with excessive medicine charges, insulin being the worst. I applied for relief from that company and faxed 25 pages in support. I have done that before with another company, only to be turned down twice, approved, then faced with the challenge of even more of the same. I gave up on them. The genius of this approach is to make billions of dollars and then say, "But we have a program for people."

So I did that for insulin and also took a secondary approach to the whole problem. The doughnut hole in MediObamaCare came early, insulin costs zoomed, needs went up. My guess is that ObamaCare, which merged all plans into a gigantic taxation scheme, is still wound around all prescriptions and gives every company a green light to overcharge.

Years ago, a member was out of insulin on a trip, went to a pharmacy, got what he required (no prescription needed) and paid a modest charge. Pepperidge Farm and I remember.

So that was a side adventure, plus a new platform to learn for online teaching. Done.

Publishing Projects

 Norma A. Boeckler

I am finishing up some details on Luther's Sermons. Two volumes need to be set free.

 Norma A. Boeckler

I am waiting for HAL to respond, so I started on the next two projects:

1. The Gospel of Faith: St. John’s Gospel Explained in English and Greek;
2. An Ichabod Lutheran Lexicon.

The first book will have the KJV text and the Stephanus Greek text, with English explanations. I started the introduction and first chapter tonight. The title needs some help. I often think about the title for months. The subtitle might be better as St. John's Gospel Explained in English, Using the Greek Text. Opinions and suggestions are welcome.

The lexicon will build on the Icha-slang efforts of early blogging, but most of it will be short discussions about correct Lutheran terminology.

Norma A. Boeckler

Good Question - The Best Way To Order Luther's Sermons and Other Books

Dr. Jackson,

Congratulations on completing the Luther books.

What is the best way for our congregation to purchase a complete set (8 volumes) of Luther's Sermons, including the Gems in paperback form?  Should we go through Amazon or through you?  Let me know at your convenience.  It will be a great addition to our little library. 

Answer

It is always best to order directly from me, because I get them at the author's price. One black and white volume is $20 retail on the Amazon website, but I get it for $5 or so. 

Color volumes are $60 each on their website, $30 at the author's price.

All the sermons - 8 volumes, black and white, will be roughly $40 from me, plus $10 for the Gems in color.

I estimate the entire cost at $70 delivered. I can be more precise when I have all the prices, but that is close.

How to order? Send me an email and mail me a check. I will order them to be sent to that address or wherever designated. One person has already ordered 6 copies of volume 8.

email - greg.jackson.edlp@gmail.com

Address for check - 1104 Letha Drive, Springdale AR 72762

I also use PayPal, if that is convenient for you.

To send them - I fill out an author's price form and have them shipped to the address you list.

 The 8 volume set varies wildly, from $50 to $400. They are very compact, which makes them unreadable for older eyes - presbyoptia.

PS - I consider it an enjoyable task - to post a Luther sermon to Ichabod and also to Facebook - each time we have a service. I use that sermon and Lenski as the basis for my sermon, quoting from and linking them.

 John N. Lenker graduated from little Hamma Divinity School, no longer in existence, but his work lives on in Luther's Sermons.

Progress in Publishing. Volume 8 of Luther's Sermons Is Available. Gems Is Close.

All Kindle ebook versions will be free, starting with the Sermons and Gems.

Volume 8 of Luther's Sermons is done, color, black/white, plus the Kindle ebook.

Now Janie Sullivan is getting the Gems Mined from Luther's Sermons completed for Amazon and Kindle.

Discussions with Amazon/Kindle led me to decide on making all the Kindle editions free of charge. That will start with all the Sermons and the Gems. The rest of the titles will set as "free" over time.

Reasoning? Publishing is just part of the teaching done through Bethany Lutheran Church. Those who want research tools today would like them available on the computer and portable, from one device to another. Making them available for free will end any obstacles for college and seminary students who want a bigger library.

When I write Creation Gardening articles, I start with Kindle ebooks for quick quoting and citing. Kindle includes the citation with the material marked to copy and paste.

But Wait - There's More
I will create a free DropBox folder for pdf. The folder will be a little library of publications. Duplicating the titles has some advantages -

1. It provides another copy.
2. Finding something on a PDF is fast and easy. 
3. Some people may like easy access to some quotable material from a PDF. 
4. Thy Strong Word, like many of my books, has the complete citation with each quotation. 

Alternative sources for free distribution will be considered, too. Lulu.com does that, and I have freebies there.

 Copy and paste Luther, Melanchthon, and Chemnitz -
not Groeschel, Osteen, and Kelm.

Breaking News - Volume 8 of Luther's Sermons Is Finished at Amazon. The Gems Mined from Luther's Sermons Will Be Sent to the Finishing Editor Today

When I see this Veterans Honor rose in the garden, I recall the funniest story told by my wife's cousin Peter. He was on KP duty for some reason, but was forced to keep potato peeling and cleaning for an extremely long day. Peter was short and about 110 pounds. The sarge came in and wanted to keep him working hours more. Peter got excited about that and began yelling and waving his little potato knife in the process.

The sarge reported him for attacking him with a knife. When Peter repeated the entire experience to the officer, the man could not help but laugh about Peter being a threat, waving a little potato peeler and yelling in frustration at this big muscular sargeant. Peter was judged innocent, and he had us doubled over in laughter about the whole story.

Publishing is like that, because there may be a jealous someone who wants to make something out of nothing. But nevertheless, the Sermons are done and the Gems are finishing today. Certain events have made me decide to make all the published books free online, although I am not sure about the platform. Q may need to liberate Kindle before this is all done, but there are many, many options for ebooks, including DropBox.

Rest in Peace, Peter Ellenberger, one of five family members born in Europe,but having served in the US military.

Worship and Books

 Norma A. Boeckler

Our next worship service is Good Friday, 7 PM Central Daylight.

Easter Sunday is our Holy Communion service,10 AM.

The Greek class based on Romans will start after April 11, because pastors are often on vacation right after Easter.

Volumes 6 and 7 of Luther's Sermons are done, both having glitches - minor but causing delays. Volume 8 is ready for the finishing editor, Janie Sullivan. The Gems volume will be done fairly soon for illustrating by Norma A. Boeckler.

I did a quick mock up of the Gospel of John book. I will be working on that and some Luther material once Gems is done.

Gems Mined from Luther's Sermons will be about 90 pages, in full color, with paragraph selections fully cited from the Church Year, first from the Gospel Sermons, second from the Epistle Sermons.

More Luther - From Volume 8, The Sermons of Martin Luther

Fuller Seminary! Wheee.
Synod helps pay tuition.

41. Christians, however, though obliged to live among swine and to be at times trampled underfoot and rooted about, have nevertheless surpassing glory; for they can look up and intelligently behold their Lord and his gifts. They are not of the pen of swine intended only for slaughter; they know themselves children of God, adorned by him with gifts and graces not merely temporal. They are conscious that, having given them body and life — for these they realize are not of their own obtaining — he will also supply their further needs, providing for them forever.

Luther's Sermons, Volume 8,Tenth Sunday after Trinity

Greatness of God Unequaled

43. Regarding the baptizer — who may be a woman even — and the baptized, we certainly can see nothing wonderful. The humanity in the case does not effect any great work; the work is wrought by him who is God, Lord and Spirit. It is he who gives to the office power and greatness above that of all emperors, kings and lords, however inferior the instrumentality — the occupants of the sacred offices. By these ministrations souls are won from the devil, snatched out of hell and transformed into saints blessed forever. Person and office may be apparently inferior, but the office is of God and God is no inferior being. His greatness cannot be equaled by a hundred thousand worlds. He accomplishes things incomprehensible to the world and impossible to angels. The combined efforts of all creation could not produce baptism. Were the world to unite in baptizing an infant, the infant would receive no good therefrom unless God the Lord commanded the deed.

Luther's Sermons, Volume 8,Tenth Sunday after Trinity

Glory Which Every Preacher May Claim

9. It is a glory which every preacher may claim, to be able to say with full confidence of heart: “This trust have I toward God in Christ, that what I teach and preach is truly the Word of God.” Likewise, when he performs other official duties in the Church — baptizes a child, absolves and comforts a sinner — it must be done in the same firm conviction that such is the command of Christ.

Twelfth Sunday after Trinity

If the Doctrine of Faith in Christ Be Left Out…

In short, there can be no New Testament preached if the doctrine of faith in Christ be left out; the spirit cannot enter into the heart, but all teaching, endeavor, reflection, works and power remain mere “letters,” devoid of grace, truth, and life. Without Christ the heart remains unchanged and unrenewed. It has no more power to fulfill the Law than the book in which the Ten Commandments are written, or the stones upon which engraved. “For the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”

#36, Twelfth Sunday after Trinity

Efficacy and Bearing Fruit

20. Not only preachers, but all Christians, should constantly entreat the God who grants knowledge to grant also efficacy; should beseech him that the Word may not pass with the utterance, but may manifest itself in power. The prevailing complaint at present is that much preaching obtains, but no practice; that the people are shamefully rude, cold and indolent, and less active than ever, while at the same time they enjoy the strong, clear light of revelation concerning all right and wrong in the world. Well may we pray, then, as Paul does here. He says, in effect: “You are well supplied: the Word is richly proclaimed to you — abundantly poured out upon you. But I bend my knees to God, praying that he may add his blessing to the Word and grant you to behold his honor and praise and to be firmly established, that the Word may grow in you and yield fruit.”

Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity

Where the Spirit Is, Faith Must Obtain

36. A third answer to our enemies is: We are certain that wherever the Word of God is proclaimed, the fruits of the same must exist. We have the Word of God, and therefore the Spirit of God must be with us. And where the Spirit is, faith must obtain, however weak it may be. Though visible evidence may be lacking, yet inevitably there must be some among us who daily pray, while we may not be aware of it. It is reasonably to be expected that our enemies should judge erroneously, because they look for outward evidences of Christianity, which are not forthcoming. The Word is too sublime to pass under our judgment; it is the province of the Word to judge us. The world, however, while unwilling to be judged and convicted by us, essays to judge and convict the Word of God. Here God steps in. It would be a pity for the worldly to see a godly Christian, so God blinds them and they miss his kingdom.

Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity

Creating Discord - Walther's UOJ and Election without Faith

18. One of the wickedest offenses possible to commit against the Church is the stirring up of doctrinal discord and division, a thing the devil encourages to the utmost. This sin usually has its rise with certain haughty, conceited, self-seeking leaders who desire peculiar distinction for themselves and strive for personal honor and glory. They harmonize with none and would think themselves disgraced were they not honored as superior and more learned individuals than their fellows, a distinction they do not merit. They will give honor to no one, even when they have to recognize the superiority of his gifts over their own. In their envy, anger, hatred and vengefulness, they seek occasion to create factions and to draw people to themselves. Therefore Paul exhorts first to the necessary virtue of love, having which men will be enabled to exercise humility, patience and forbearance toward one another.

Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity

The Christian Treasure

14. The Christian has indeed inestimable treasure. In the first place he has the testimony of the Word of God, which is the word of eternal grace and comfort, that he has a right and true conception of baptism, the Lord’s Supper, the Ten Commandments and the Creed. In addition, he has the sure refuge of God’s promise to deliver us from every trouble in which we shall call upon him, and to give us, as he promised by the prophet Zechariah 12:10, the Spirit of grace and of prayer. And the Christian, by virtue of his enlightened understanding, can wisely discern what are good works and what callings are pleasing to God; on the other hand, his judgment is equally true as to unprofitable and vain works and false services. Before, we had not this wholesome knowledge. We knew not what we believed, or how we prayed and lived. We sought comfort and salvation in self-devised trivialities, in penances, confessions and satisfactions, in self-righteous works of monkery and in obedience to the commands of the Pope. We believed such works to be fully satisfactory and, indeed, the only things that were holy; the pursuits of common Christians we considered worldly and dangerous.

Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity

Whose Fault?
28. And so Paul, when here extolling the Corinthians, has not an eye to the contentious, the Epicureans, or to those who give public offense, as the man that “had his father’s wife;” but the apostle looks to the fact that a few remain who have the pure Word of God, faith, baptism and the sacrament, though some hypocrites be among them. Because of these few — and few indeed there may be — we recognize the presence of that inestimable treasure of which the apostle speaks. It is found as well where two or three are gathered together as with thousands. Neither the Gospel nor the ministers nor the Church is to be blamed that the multitude miss this treasure; the multitude have but themselves to blame, for they close their ears and eyes.
Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity

The Devil Builds His Taverns and Kitchens

2. Well, we cannot altogether prevent inharmony in the Church. Paul says (1 Corinthians 11:19), “For there must be also factions among you, that they that are approved may be made manifest among you.” Wherever the Word of God has a foothold, there the devil will be. By the agency of his factions he will always build his taverns and kitchens beside God’s house. So he did at first, in Paradise. In the family of Adam he entrenched himself, establishing there his church. And such has been his practice ever since, and doubtless will ever be. He who takes offense at differences in the Church, who when he sees any inharmony at once concludes there is no Church there, will in the end miss both the Church and Christ. You will never find any congregation of such purity that all its members are unanimous on every point of belief and teaching and all live in perfect harmony.
Luther's Sermons, Volume 8, Tenth Sunday after Trinity

Luther on the Seditious Leaders and Self-Secure Spirits

Ah, these seditious leaders and other self-secure spirits are poor, miserable people, who know nothing at all of this conflict! They drown in their own imaginations, and think they are perfect. And some of them are so shameless and without fear as to blaspheme, saying that God himself could not take their virtue from them. The devil simply strengthens them in these thoughts, and hardens them the more. This very thing is a sign that they do not yet know the devil; they are already blinded and taken captive by him, so that he can ruin them when he pleases.
#77. Third Sunday after Trinity, Luther's Sermons, Volume 8

And in the same sermon -

82. When the devil plagues and assails thee with his manifold temptations, refer him to Christ, with whom to dispute about the severe temptations, the death struggle, the anguish of hell, etc. Comfort thyself that thou art one of a great company of sufferers, past present and future. O beautiful, glorious company! All under one lord and head, who took from the devil his power and hellfire. In short, thy affliction cannot prove so great that thou wilt not find it paralleled in the lives of the apostles, prophets, patriarchs and all the saints, especially of Christ himself; with whom, if we suffer, let us not doubt, says Paul, that we shall “be also glorified,” Romans 8:17.

Progress - The Sermons of Martin Luther , Volume VII , Finished for Printing

Back cover, Volume VII

Yes, I skipped the Volume VI cover on top of the page because  Volume VII is done already, and VIII is being edited. That has been the normal state since this began. My brain keeps saying, "Out of memory, not enough for this function, reboot now."

To finish VIII and the Gems faster, I will send out expected volumes when they are also done. Exceptions are those who earned a dedication for a given volume.

From abandoning the Chief Article

Observe that these volumes are non-synodical, non-political. They are being published simply to highlight and support the primary office of the clergy - preaching.

From Luther's preaching came his insightful Bible studies, his faithful hymns, and the confessional material found in the Book of Concord.

Back cover, Volume VI

Answered Questions - Lenker versus Lloyd Dougland: Both from Hamma Divinity

Lloyd C. Douglas became one of the best known writers of his era, starting as a Lutheran pastor and becoming a Congregationalist minister. He graduated from Hamma in 1903.

My latest research began with a question - How could tiny Hamma Divinity School (ULCA, LCA) turn out John N. Lenker and Lloyd C. Douglas? Lenker produced the enormously useful Sermons of Martin Luther. Douglas left the Lutheran Church, became a Congregationalist, and wrote best-sellers in his spare time, four of them turning into Hollywood movies.

I puzzled over this because my PhD dissertation actually began at Hamma Divinity's library, when the librarian gave me a box of books and a lead for a topic.

I always had a fondness for Lenker's Luther Sermons, as readers might have guessed. His ability to gather translators - including Lenski - was quite impressive. In those days, Lutheran academics could be united around Luther's preaching. Today they are united by scolding Luther or ignoring him altogether. They are only united in teaching against Justification by Faith.

Both men got involved in publishing. Lenker started his own publishing house - Lutherans in All Lands - was quite accomplished as a parish pastor. He taught at the Danish American seminary.

I ordered the Douglas autobiography and the second part, which his daughters wrote, about his adult career. Douglas received a call to Luther Place Memorial in Washington DC - considered a plum in those days. He a crisis of faith, which was never entirely explained, and resigned abruptly, taking a campus job, more of a social director for the YMCA. Later he got the itch to serve a parish again and became a Congregationalist minister.

Douglas was quite successful in Ann Arbor and in Akron, Ohio. However, in California, his liberal ways did not go over well with an elderly congregation. In those days, Congregationalists were not pan-religionists and social justice warriors as they are today in the merged United Church of Christ.

He gave away his lack of Confessional Lutheran loyalty when he paid for school playing the organ at Masonic Hall services (Wittenberg College and Hamma) and also in another location to boost his income. They paid "very well."

The two books about Douglas are a fascinating glimpse at the past,

 John Nicholas Lenker also graduated from Hamma in 1880 - and studied at Leipzig.