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 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
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
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
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.
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 (430 death) to Luther's (1546).
Rome controlled its power, language, and dogma through the Pope, cardinals, bishops, and priests, very much like the ancient Roman armies and punishments.
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)
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. So the only grace we have is by faith in Jesus.
Where are all therapeutic methods without faith in Him?
Where are the magical chemicals, guaranteed for success?
Where is peace when the storming billows fall around us?
