Strange Eulogies from LutherQuest (sic)

Harrison misunderstood St. Paul's passage about becoming a fool. Every Synod President wannabee who kissed Pastor Otten's ring - kicked him in the ribs later.

Steve Schmidt (Sschmidt) Senior Member Username: Sschmidt Post Number: 1360 Registered: 3-2017

Posted on Thursday, December 10, 2020 - 1:12 pm:       I can’t help but notice the contrast between the uniform expressions of sympathy and esteem for Rev. McCain and his work for the church and the uniform experience of those who interacted with him online as being argumentative and generally unpleasant. After all, who ever heard of a Lutheran pastor being banned from a Lutheran theology blog! Most of us who conversed with Rev. McCain online did so because we recognized a knowledgeable pastor of high standing in the church who was eager to communicate. Quite a rarity. What often transpired for most, however, was heated, hardheaded disagreement if you didn’t see things his way, which was unfortunate. Rev. McCain was not one to make friends easily. And yet, in spite of all of his (and our) many personal failings, at the end of our lives, God welcomes us into eternal life, saying, “Welcome, good and faithful servant! I see none of your sins, but only the perfect faithfulness and righteousness of Jesus Christ, who clothed you with his salvation in baptism!” It is heartening to read the many outpourings of praise for the life and work of Rev. McCain, since these godly words reflect and confess the very view that Christ as our righteousness has of each of us sinners. What a fantastic witness!

Rolf David Preus (Rolf) Senior Member Username: Rolf Post Number: 10711 Registered: 5-2001

Posted on Thursday, December 10, 2020 - 3:25 pm:       When I applied for readmission to the clergy roster of the LCMS, I met with three DPs who, during our conversation, suggested that I talk to Paul McCain to be reconciled with him. I was a bit perplexed about that inasmuch as I could recall nothing we needed to reconcile. But I called him on the phone as I promised to do, and when I related to him what they said to me he was as perplexed as I was. Neither of us could recall the alleged breach between us. Paul spoke his mind. So do I. He was a faithful Lutheran theologian. He said what he believed without apology.

***

GJ - These two men seem unfazed that McCain linked plagiarized material on LQ (sic), verbatim, from The Catholic Encyclopedia, and never apologized for it.

Of course, LutherQuest (sic) did not apologize for their blindness or for misleading their readers.

They do not object to McCain's career-long repudiation of St. Paul's Gospel, which puts them in the same camp. Apparently, their precious world absolution - without faith or the Gospel - is especially potent for the unrepentant. 

What was the result of his work at CPH? 

1. Establishing Objective Justification in print, even destroying Luther's Small Catechism.
2. Giving the Rationalism of Seminex free reign in the Biblical department.

Richard Jungkuntz, you won on every front! LCMS publishes Seminex Biblical books! LCMS-WELS-ELS teach Objective Justification with ferocity and wrath. You even broke ground with the gay seminary at the portable school, where you were chairman of the Board: Christ Seminex and the Metropolitan Community Church. LCMS and WELS schools of higher education are now gayer than Shakespeare's sonnets. (Jungkuntz got in trouble at WELS Northwestern College for teaching the Historical Critical Method. Isn't reconciliation wonderful?)

One Month, Ten Days to Inauguration

One reader is sure that the inauguration of Present Trump for a second term will be used as point of contention forever. There is no reason to doubt that prediction. We still hear about the Florida recount in 2000, which took 37 days to solve, including numerous appeals to the Florida state supreme court and two trips to the Supremes themselves. The matter was simple - their state constitution required a recount of the entire state, not the just the two heavily controlled counties. Game over.

The House of Representatives receive the electors' names in January, and that is also where a solution can be found, with state delegations voting - one for each state. The Electoral College is balanced, with population and territory each counting toward the final outcome. The House has more Democrats in the total, but more state delegations which are majority GOP. In both cases, population alone does not determine the outcome. If it did, a few metropolitan areas would dominate control of the presidency. That is why the "popular vote" does not exist, except for  the TV Wheel of Fortune lit boards on Election Night. 

I kept explaining loudly to the TV on Election Night, "Your numbers are irrelevant!"

The big case (18 states) is going to the US Supreme Court. They should be deciding, based on the Supreme Law of the Land (the US Constitution) that the electors must be chosen according to that state's legislature. Nothing declared by state governors, secretaries of state, state judges, or local supreme courts can over-ride the state's own lawmakers. If state law says balloting stops at midnight, then that holds.

This is ultimately a case about the rights of each state to determine how voting can be accomplished legally. Although the fraudulent voting issue is obvious, that seems to be secondary - good for a lengthy study to prove everything. But - in order for the ballot box stuffing to work, a lot of illegal (lacking the state legislature) rules had to be instituted.

No one has ever won or lost the "popular vote," so the media simply show their own ignorance in perpetuating this folly. That is why people say, "But we already voted, and our candidate won. We don't need an Elector College." Wrong - everyone voted for their state's electors. There is no election so far and no "President Elect," let alone an "Office of the President Elect."

Lutherans should have no problem with this. The key factor keeping Luther out of the hands of the Pope was the fact of Frederick being an elector. The Spanish Emperor, Holy Roman Empire, was elected by five men, and Frederick's vote would un-elect him.

Of course this was by God's design. The next time you hear the strange title - Frederick the Wise, also known as  Frederick the Wise - remember that they too had electors during the Reformation and beyond.

Some of us give a hoot.

Second MidWeek Advent Service - Christ in the Old Testament

              Second MidWeek Advent Service

https://video.ibm.com/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

 Mid-Week Advent, Wednesday, 7 PM Central

Video for this service

The Hymn # 81                O Jesus Christ Thy Manger
The Order of Vespers p. 41
The Psalmody Psalm 2 on page 123
The Lections

Exodus 3

John 8

The Sermon Hymn #56     Jesus Came the Heavens Adoring

Christ in the Old Testament

The Prayers and Lord’s Prayer p. 44
The Collect for Peace p. 45
The Benediction p. 45
The Hymn # 558*          All Praise to Thee

* For the Education Expert: Healing, Strength, and Hope

In Our Prayers

• Luther's Galatians is in print, full color, at Lulu. I will be sending them out at my cost. Extra copies in black and white are available for distribution. Thank you Norma Boeckler, Alec Satin, Virginia Roberts, and Janie Sullivan.
• Walther, the American Calvin is next. Then Creation Flowers, then the Bible text and translations.
• In treatment - Christina Jackson, Mary Howell, Rush Limbaugh.
• Randy Anderson's leg scanned as cancer free!
• Doctor's care - Pastor Shrader, Pastor K, Dr. Lito Cruz.
• Pray for Lyne Cruz' retirement red tape to be removed.
• Our media ministries - Alec Satin, Norma Boeckler, Travis and Lauren Cartee, Pastor Jordan Palangyos.
• Our Education Expert, is being honored with her favorite hymn at Vespers, #558, "All Praise to Thee." She is recovering at home from heart disease.

Exodus 3 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

2 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

4 And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

7 And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.

10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.

11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

12 And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.

13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

14 And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.

John 8:52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.

53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?

54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:

55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.

56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?

58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

Christ in the Old Testament

I challenge Old Testament students to see Christ in the Old Testament and the abundance of Gospel Promises and Blessings there as well. This is enough for several volumes. So why do so many think in terms of the Law and Moses in the Old Testament, the Gospel and Jesus in the New Testament?

I attribute it to people claiming convenient verses here and there, others who make fractions out of the Biblical verses - not unity.

The Reformation leaders (the first Evangelicals and the first Protestants - as in positive witness, not protest) emphasized Christ in the Old Testament because the Bible is a unified Truth, not a series of quaint books. Luther certainly led the way with this perspective, which is the only correct one.

I was doing a Skype interview about some of this when I mentioned - the Lutherans who talk in terms of individual verses (out of context) sound very much like Calvinists, and yet those Lutherans say they are the true Lutherans.

Now the unified view is easier to understand, because we can link words, phrases, and graphics with material all over the world. I do that daily when I link definitions, articles, and books in a short blog piece. Linking a book as explaining what one phrase means in the Bible - that is what we can do and enjoy doing. That lets everyone learn that far more goes into the topic than a few word.

How is Christ in the Old Testament?

This starts with Genesis 1 where the Trinity is presented. The Father commands and the Holy Spirit hovers over Creation to be the witness. Where is the Son? He is the Creating Word. When God said, "Let there be light," the Son was and is the Creating Word fashioning that light. 

God through the Son as the Word of God created the entire universe in Six Days, and this is witnessed in the entire Bible. That is why the Biblical Creation, unlike all theories and mythologies, is so powerful today and infallibly bears witness to God's power. Creation is now slumbering for the winter, but everything will wake up in the right order to take care of all forms of life. Big fat bugs and earthworms are easily available when the baby birds need good protein to grow. The flowers bloom all through the spring and summer to provide food and beauty for everything and everyone. What we take for granted each day - and complain about - is the most elaborate Project Management exercise ever attempted, and it is self-healing and improves itself over time. Henry Gantt does not compare.

I have asked people, "Why are night-blooming flowers white and perfumed?" They think a while. The answer is - There is no color at night, and fragrance also draws the pollinators to the flowers.

The prejudice (among the rationalists) against the Gospel of John starts with Genesis 1 being explained further in John 1 and the Exodus being filled with Christ. And there is (in Exodus) the foreshadowing of His work, as elaborated in John (the serpent raised John 3:15; the water flowing John 4; the bread of life from heaven John 6; the innocent Lamb, the Passover, etc)

We have literally hundreds of hints that back up God's plan of the Virgin Birth, public ministry, atonement and resurrections. They are provided in abundance to strengthen our faith and show us what God in His mercy can do.

My Statement to a Gloomy Neighbor

Soon you will stop by and say, "You were right all along. Who was I to doubt?"

I will accept your concession graciously.

The supreme Law of the Land is the US Constitution.

Moving Toward Inauguration

George Washington at Valley Forge, by Arnold Friberg

"Before the Lord We Bow"
by Francis S. Key, 1779-1843

Tune - Darwall's 148th - linked here

1. Before the Lord we bow,
The God who reigns above
And rules the world below
In boundless pow'r and love.
Our thanks we bring,
In joy and praise
Our hearts we raise
To heav'n's high King.

2. The nation Thou hast blest
May well Thy love declare,
From foes and fears at rest,
Protected by Thy care.
For this fair land,
For this bright day,
Our thanks we pay--
Gifts of Thy hand.

3. May ev'ry mountain height,
Each vale and forest green,
Shine in Thy Word's pure light
And its rich fruits be seen!
May ev'ry tongue
Be tuned to praise
And join to raise
A grateful song!

4. Earth, hear thy Maker's voice,
Thy great Redeemer own;
Believe, obey, rejoice,
And worship Him alone.
Cast down thy pride,
Thy sin deplore,
And bow before
The Crucified.

5. And when in power He comes,
Oh, may our native land
From all its rending tombs
Send forth a glorious band,
A countless throng,
For aye to sing
To heaven's high King
Salvation's song!

Hymn #575
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Psalm 145:1
Author: Francis S. Key, 1832, alt.
Composer: John Darwall, 1770
Tune: "Darwall's 148th"

 Francis Scott Key
He freed his own slaves, Handbook, TLH, p. 531.

People begin with "What's next?" and the military asks, "What's last?" It is a good way to look at life, to consider the end and plan forward to the present. 

The fakes heroes brag and wear their pawn shop medals to impress everyone. The only person to tell me he was a Navy SEAL was a fake, who wanted to impress me. He lost from that moment on. I asked a distinguished veteran, who made many landings against the enemy, "What medals did you earn?" He laughed and said, "The usual bunch."

When one side plans from the end forward to the present, and the opponents plan from the present to a glorious future, there is often a double envelopment. A double envelopment means the hapless aggressors have seized the bait only to realize their folly. Wellington, of blessed memory, kept retreating from Napoleon's army, until he arrived at the perfect place to win - Waterloo. Napoleon's victory was a free trip to Saint Helena, where he died.

I only have this advice for the President's opponents, "Never play tag in a house of mirrors." I am confident that America will soon be a different country.

Chuck Yeager Died at Age 97 on Pearl Harbor Day

 

Chuck Yeager had a staggering record as a test pilot and fighter pilot.

One benefit of the Military Gardening Group is splitting the cost of used military books. One recent find came from Ranger Bob once reading the Yeager book, something he wanted to read again. The public library is open for one person at a time, by appointment.

We ordered the book for about $5, in great condition, hardback. No one can list or even absorb the spectacular feats of Yeager.

Some Legal Issues

Many lawsuits were directed at state judges before the election - I heard perhaps 300. The issue is this - the governor of the state, the secretary of state, and the state supreme court have no jurisdiction in  the presidential election.

I do not know the details of how they stop at the state supreme court to move up to the Supremes, but that is not the main issue.

The US Constitution gives authority to the state legislature concerning voting rules and the election of the president. They send or refuse to send the electors to the big vote. The other side of this issue is the US House of Representatives. The US House of Representatives have to receive and verify the number of electors sent to them by the state legislatures. If a crisis means the House voting, then each delegation has one vote, so Rhode Island has one vote and California has one vote, etc. 

So far, no one has been elected because the Electoral College has not met to vote (mid-December usually). There is no President Elect or Office of the President Elect. The new or old President takes over on Inauguration Day.

The Constitution does not have any deadlines except inauguration, Wednesday, January 20th, 2021.

Video of Complete Service - Hymns and Sermon

The Second Sunday in Advent - Complete Video Service.

The Service, Hymns, and Sermon

The Second Sunday in Advent, 2020.

The Second Sunday in Advent, 2020

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

https://video.ibm.com/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

Bethany Lutheran Church, 10AM Central Time

The Hymn # 58 – Gerhardt              O Lord  How Shall I Meet Thee  

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Thine only-begotten Son, so that by His coming we may be enabled to serve Thee with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual      Romans 15:4-13

The Gospel                           Luke 21:25-36 

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #71                            Watchman Tell Us    

Receive One Another, As Christ Also Received Us

The Hymn #314          Lord Jesus Christ, We Humbly Pray  - Henry E. Jacobs

The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Litany p. 110/Hymnal Blog; and Lord's Prayer
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn # 647                             O Little Town of Bethlehem 

In Our Prayers

• Luther's Galatians is in print, full color, at Lulu. I will be sending them out at my cost. Extra copies in black and white are available for distribution. Thank you Norma Boeckler, Alec Satin, Virginia Roberts, and Janie Sullivan.
• Walther, the American Calvin is next. Then Creation Flowers, then the Bible text and translations.
• In treatment - Christina Jackson, Mary Howell, Rush Limbaugh.
• Randy Anderson's leg scanned as cancer free!
• Doctor's care - Pastor Shrader, Pastor K, Dr. Lito Cruz.
• Pray for Lyne Cruz' retirement red tape to be removed.
• Our media ministries - Alec Satin, Norma Boeckler, Travis and Lauren Cartee, Pastor Jordan Palangyos.
• Our Education Expert, is being honored with her favorite hymn at Vespers, #558, "All Praise to Thee." She is recovering at home from heart disease.
• Advent Service, Wednesday, 7 PM Central Standard.

   

Second Sunday In Advent

Lord God, heavenly Father, who by Thy Son hast revealed to us that heaven and earth shall pass away, that our bodies shall rise again, and that we all shall appear before the judgment seat: We beseech Thee, keep us by Thy Holy Spirit in Thy word; establish us in the true faith, graciously defend us from sin and preserve us in all temptations, that our hearts may not be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, but that we may ever watch and pray and, trusting fully in Thy grace, await with joy the glorious coming of Thy Son, and at last obtain eternal salvation, 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.

KJV Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. 8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: 9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. 10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. 11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. 12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. 13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

KJV Luke 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. 29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; 30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. 31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. 32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. 33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. 34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Background for the Sermon on the Epistle, Romans 15:4-13

KJV Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

The first verse is worth a book, because so much is overlooked about the Old Testament. A professor on the Mark Levin TV show made the point that the science fraternity has moved from agnosticism to open contempt for all religion (or stay silent). That intrigued me more because that has happened with the mainline denominations (including all the Lutherans) at the same time. The Bible has morphed - in academic circles - into an interesting book about religion, not the unique revelation of God.

Once a book becomes unimportant, people pay less attention to it. They are not opposed as much as indifferent. Yet, all the blessings, warnings, and Promises of the Old Testament (3 times the size of the New Testament) are there for our learning, that we might have hope.

The Creation is a good example. The Creation itself is not as important as its meaning, because there are many Creation stories and theories - but only one Creation is true. The meaning of Creation comes from the power of the Word to fashion the entire universe in six days (not epochs). Also, the Creation in Genesis 1 and John 1 reveals the Trinity at work: the Father commanding, the Son as the Logos-Command, and the Holy Spirit hovering over Creation and recording it for our learning, patience, and hope.

Substitute creations are more like poor imitations, parodies, or even naughty tales. The essential truths are missing, so they miss at all levels. Many talk about Creation but do not teach the Creation, and they find substitutions to be more appealing to their refined and intellectual musing. So they gather the fragments of theories and tales and live with that, a patchwork quilt of thoughts rather than the Word of God.

Karl Barth and his lovely live-in mistress, Charlotte Kirschbaum, offered up a massive set of dogmatics where every point of the Scriptures was equivocated, with their tedious Yes and No on each topic. For example - "The Bible contains the Word of God but is not the Word of God." This gave their followers license to do the same, which is why we have an enormous gap between the great scientists of the past (Creationists) and global warmist salesmen of today (evolutionists). Besides that, this Barthian exercise in double-talk made clergy and professors worry about confessing the Genesis Creation and Flood, so those topics were side-stepped into oblivion.

As Luther said, the Old Testament holds Christ the way a cradle holds a baby. We may not always see or hear the baby in the cradle, but when the mother says, "The baby is in the cradle," we do not challenge her by yanking down the blanket and calling out the baby's name. (Some impulsive guests do.) In the same way, the Old Testament is a framework which deals with history since Creation and also encourages us with Gospel Promises and blessings. The warnings and condemnations of the Law are the contrast between God's mercy and our failings.

Peril and our sinfulness make us uncertain and afraid, but the elaborate framework of the Old Testament shows us God's power in protection and His power in mercy.

Receive One Another, As Christ Also Received Us

KJV Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Luther observed that the entire Bible is written for those who are afflicted, suffering from diseases, and at the end of life. Whatever was written in the past, in the Scriptures, were revealed for our learning - to give us patience, comfort, and hope. 

The great unity of the Scriptures, Old and New Testament, shows us that centuries before the public ministry of Christ, the Son of God was already at work among His people. How else to we explain the Angel of the Lord. Jacob wrestled with Him and called the place Peniel, the Face of God. If it was just an angel, why "the Face of God?"

Genesis 32:29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. 30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

Why did Jesus say "I AM" when people look for the predicate? 

Before Abraham was, I AM. John 8. That only makes sense if the speaker is the eternal Son of God, existing before Abraham and yet His earthly ministry foreseen by Abraham. Who lives in the past, present, and future - except God? Jesus responded to the Abraham claim by saying, in so many words, "Yes, and you are justified, forgiven, through faith in Me, the great I AM."

In the same way, why did the soldiers fall backwards when Jesus, being arrested, said, "I AM." The same reason - Jesus said "I AM" at His trial and the prosecutors screamed "Blasphemy! He calls himself God." (Mark)

Those are just some direct connections, across the centuries, between the Old Testament and the New Testament. Truly, anyone can make up anything from the texts - and they have done that - see the hundreds of useless volumes in the Biblical section of an academic library. But the only way to make sense of the plain Word of God is to see it as a whole, as the revealed truth of God. That Word creates and nurtures faith in Jesus Christ.

A layman with a faithful Bible (not the NIV, ESV, or EHV) knows more than most clergy with multiple degrees.

Luther's sermon for today addresses the baggage of Romanism and how the church of his day had to keep peace with so many people still clinging to that giant edifice of invented customs, required rules, and endless punishments. 

We can see the same thing today as people maintain a structure of anti-Christianity and insist on its truth in the face of basic Biblical doctrine. They must tear out the organ to make room for a coffee bar (in a former conservative church). They must have a praise band. They must have cell groups. They must look to the West, Pasadena, for guidance and wisdom. Their supposed good news can be found in all the mainline denominations - grace means everyone is saved. None of that is any good for the distressed, the addicted, the suffering, the people dealing with major medical issues.

Comfort comes from knowing God is so powerful that He can set down what will happen centuries in the future, in various citations clear and obscure,  and it will happen exactly as foretold through His Son, witnessed by the Holy Spirit.

All the pagan religions have man struggling to appease an angry god. But Christianity teaches God as the Good Shepherd, tending to His sheep and driving the predators away.

Christianity distinguishes between the wolf and the sheep. The wolf is to be rebuked and driven away, not praised and fed with mutton. The frightened, confused, and wounded sheep need the comfort of truth and a kindly manner. Beating the sheep for being wounded is utterly foolish, and it means they are simply being moved from one abusive flock to another.

5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

Many come from a smooth, sophisticated form of atheism, in a variety of settings. Some churches take the low church entertainment route, which can be popular for a short time. Others, disgusted by the circus atmosphere of entertainment, mandate all the Roman practices they can get away with, coveting Rome and often joining Rome with some of their flock. In both categories, it is a trust in gimmicks where trust in the Scriptures is lacking. The last stop for them is Atheism.

Likeminded means that when a congregation is gathered by the Gospel, everyone is bound to be different and have distinct perspectives, but the same Biblical doctrine. God is patient and comforting toward us, so that should be our guidance.

 

6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

As far as I know, everyone in this congregation has experienced the trials and difficulties of being expected to obey and practice what is non-Biblical. That includes my wife and me. Many of us have viewed a epic movie, watching everything fall apart in Lutherdom and other denominations. Paul would say - It is not where you have been but Who is God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. That is the source of unity in the midst of so many experiences and perspectives. 

That is easy for me to address, because we have people who do not know each other but nevertheless share the same love for good translations (not the NIV, ESV, or Living Bible) and for great hymns. We are the snow and flu church for some in the frozen North and the mountains. 

God does not work through buildings and programs, but through the Word alone.

7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

grant one access to one's heart; to take into friendship and contact: Romans 14:1; Romans 15:7; God and Christ are said προσλάβεσθαι (to have received) those whom, formerly estranged from them, they have reunited to themselves by the blessings of the gospel, 

Just as Christ has received us into His family, so should we welcome others into ours. People with the greatest needs often have special insights because of their lives, and they also have the greatest hunger and thirst for the righteousness of faith. Nothing speaks to the fallen nature of our country as the neglect of those with needs. Perhaps the supposed help of the government has made people think that is enough. However, a few experiences will show how many gaps are there. I hate bureaucracy as much as anyone, but I delight in helping people weave their way through it and win. Most of this consists of encouraging people to be patient and to go with them on their appointments. A trip to the food bank with those who use them is quite an eye-opening experience.

13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Believing (must be a good thing) fills us with all joy and peace. Joy is that happiness that comes without material means. Joy comes from friendships, shared burdens, shared pains. And peace in believing - they are linked together. Fear is the opposite of faith. Driving away faith is a good way to control people by making them afraid, blinded, shackled. "Faith makes us bold" as Luther said. 

If we feed our soul with good things provided by God - the Scriptures, faithful hymns and books, then we will have a feast that never ends. I try to keep up with The Lutheran Library Publishing Ministry, but that is like chasing a express train on foot as it picks up steam. That is a great feeling when I see people from all over the world write about how much they appreciate it (Facebook pages on Classic Lutheran Books and Free Books for Lutheran World Missionaries).