Reformation Sunday

Psalm 46,etc. - Reformation Sunday - October 30, 2016
The Everlasting Gospel

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This morning we celebrate the Lutheran Reformation.  The Lutheran Reformation is arguably the most significant historical event since Pentecost.  Both events turned the world upside down. 

On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit alighted on the chosen disciples with tongues of fire on their heads, and gave them power to preach the forgiveness of sins in Jesus’ name.  Many believed the gospel and were saved.  Many did not.  Those who believed found God’s favor in the full and free forgiveness of sins which they so dearly needed.  They feared God.  God turned to them a Father’s heart and gave them his Holy Spirit.  By faith they laid hold of the redemption that God freely offered in his Son Jesus Christ who had drowned their sins in the depth of the deepest sea. 

Those who did not believe continued to trust in their own works to earn God’s blessing.  They did not fear God.  They remained in their sin despite the fact that Jesus died and rose to remove them.  Remember how the older brother resented his father for receiving back his prodigal son?  In the same way, those who despised the grace of God also resented the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for receiving sinners to himself. 

Augustana

Nehemiah 8:1-2, 5-6, 9-13, 1 Timothy 6:11-16, Matthew 10:26-33

Augustana Service - St. Paul Lutheran Church, Bennett, IA - June 25, 2016

The Joy that Is Set before You

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The joy of the Lord is your strength.  These words from Nehemiah 8 are one of those beautiful Bible passages that are very easily marketed.  So much can be said in such a short pithy statement.  Years ago, I was given a coffee mug with this verse on it.  I still like it.  What a wonderful thing to read or hear – that even when you are weak, your strength is found in the joy you have in the Lord who saves you!  There is no other strength you need. 

But like with many one-liner Bible passages, if it can fit on a coffee mug or a bumper sticker, it is liable to be taken way out of context.  As you no doubt heard last Sunday, the words of Jesus, “Judge not, and you will not be judged,” have a wildly different meaning than what most people assume.  We should beware of when Bible passages are used as clichés in order to contradict what the Bible actually teaches us, “for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain”  (Ex. 20:7). 

Reformation Sunday

John 8:31-36 - Reformation Sunday - October 26, 2014
Jesus Sets Us Free

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you remain in My word, you are truly My disciples. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s seed, and have never been enslaved. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”

Jesus answered them, “Amen amen I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. Therefore if the Son frees you, you shall certainly be free.”

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When Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves by executive order in 1863, the opponents of slavery rejoiced.  Though the war was not yet over, they had won the day.  They had fought against the institution of slavery for so long and finally the institution was crumbling.  Those who had been held against their will and forced to labor under a heavy burden were pronounced free to reap the fair value of their work.  No longer would they be held captive, but would work for wages as free agents.  No longer would they be bred like cattle so that their sons and daughters could be sold and forced to work for someone else’s profit.  They were free and so were their children. 

So what did they do?  Did they all draft up resumes and get well-paying jobs?  Did they begin to open up their own businesses and pull themselves up by their bootstraps?  No!  Most of them continued to work for their former masters.  That’s all they knew.  Sadly, the legal declaration of their freedom achieved very little in reality.

Reformation Sunday

Matthew 11:12-19 - Reformation - October 28, 2012
Preaching the Kingdom

A mighty fortress is our God, a trusty shield and weapon.  Those who trust in Him will not be disappointed.  God cannot suffer violence, after all, and so nothing can happen to God that could possibly render Him unable to keep His promises. 

We find God, that is, we flee to God, not by figuring out where He’s hiding, but by knowing where He comes to us – where He reveals Himself as our mighty defender.  God comes to us in His word and sacraments. And so we flee to Him by fleeing to these.  This means that when trouble comes, when sickness strikes and cancer spreads, when children worry us and cause heartache, and when money runs out – whatever it is – we flee to God precisely by fleeing to the forgiveness of sins.  It may not seem like the answer at the time, but that’s because we’re sinners.  And so, like the paralytic lying stuck on his back, it is the answer we need from Jesus: “Child, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven.”  And that’s what we need: good cheer, boldness and confidence toward God.  When we know the God who forgives us our sins, then we know the God who concerns Himself with all our earthly problems as well. 

Reformation Sunday

John 8:31-36 - Reformation - October 30, 2011 

  God's Word Sets Sinners Free

On the Eve of All Saints’ Day (Halloween) in the year 1517, Martin Luther posted 95 Theses on the doors of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany.  These theses were intended to serve as an outline for debate concerning the selling of indulgences for the remission of sins.  The sale of indulgences was a fundraiser in Germany designed by the papacy to finance the construction of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.  “When the coin in the coffer rings, a soul from Purgatory springs.”  This absurd claim was the catch-phrase that was used in selling these worthless promises.  People longed for freedom from the bonds of hell.  And they were willing to pay to free their loved-ones from the imaginary prison of Purgatory.  And so these poor sinners clung in desperation, not to the words of Jesus, but to the words of the Pope in Rome.  It was a shameless racket.  But it was a successful one, because these poor souls didn’t know any better.  They didn’t know the truth, and so they remained enslaved to lies. 

Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  Martin Luther sought the truth in the word of God.  And so according to this clear and certain promise of Jesus, not only did he discover the liberating light of the Gospel for himself, but through him, God brought it back to the Church that had lived in darkness for so long.  St. Paul’s admonition to Timothy and to all pastors has rung true now for countless generations, and we have seen it: “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1 Tim. 4:16).  Luther not only saved himself, but now nearly 500 years later, thanks to his faithful service to the Church we continue to hear the Gospel that saves us too.