Gospel Reset Bible Class, Pt. 2: Inspiration and a Young Earth

First, we finished up the one-page handout (from last week) which gave an overview of the book “Gospel Reset: Salvation made Relevant,” (2018).  The book proposes the church engage in pre-evangelism, demolishing the wrong foundation of evolution, and teach apologetics.  We will examine these proposals as the study progresses.  We noted that the book’s terms are sometimes vague or not what we think.  I have often use the term pre-evangelism to refer to those gimmicks, which are used to get people to come to church.  He uses the term pre-evangelism for the teaching of the law which comes before (pre-) the Gospel (Evangel).

Second, we answered two questions.  1.  Does the Holy Scriptures teach a young earth, literal six-day creation?  and 2. Is God’s Word inerrant and truthful in every point (history, etc.)?  The answer to both of these questions is yes.  The book of Genesis (1:1-2:3) teaches the creation of the world in six normal days, followed by a rest day.  Holy Scripture is the sole source from which all doctrine is drawn. Not just in “spiritual” things, but whenever the Scripture speaks it is correct.

Note: The first three minutes are an introduction to our website Trinityh.org

Handout 1: Gospel-Reset-Overview.pdf
Handout 2: Gospel-Reset-class-Two-March-24-2019.pdf
Screenshots of our website: Web-site-pages.pdf

#23- Marriage A Blessed Estate Above All Others And Richly Supplied

208 God has therefore most richly blessed this estate above all others and, in addition, has supplied and endowed it with everything in the world in order that this estate might be provided for richly and adequately. Married life is no matter for jest or idle curiosity, but it is a glorious institution and an object of God’s serious concern. For it is of the highest importance to him that persons be brought up to serve the world, promote knowledge of God, godly living, and all virtues, and fight against wickedness and the devil.

209 Therefore I have always taught that we should not despise or disdain marriage, as the blind world and the false clergy do, but view it in the light of God’s Word, by which it is adorned and sanctified. It is not an estate to be placed on a level with the others; it precedes and surpasses them all, whether those of emperor, princes, bishops, or anyone else. Important as the spiritual and civil estates are, these must humble themselves and allow all people to enter the estate of marriage, as we shall hear. 210 It is not an exceptional estate, but the most universal and the noblest, pervading all Christendom and even extending throughout all the world. (Large Catechism Sixth Commandment, Tappert, p. 393).

Gospel Reset Bible Class, Pt. 1: Introduction

Secular humanism teaches a progressive philosophy of life using only human reason and free inquiry. By that definition, God, religious dogma, and the supernatural are rejected while naturalism and a commitment to science is embraced in determining ethics and self-fulfillment. The adherence to the theory of evolution is one example of how the secularization of culture has become a problem in the church and in the church’s proclamation of the Gospel for those outside the church. The book “Gospel Reset: Salvation made Relevant,” (2018) written by Ken Ham presents a case for beginning with the Creator and the Genesis account of creation, which teaches the reality of sin and death, before presenting the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ.

This study will examine the premises and conclusions of the book “Gospel Reset.” It will also use the topics addressed as a springboard to speak about related doctrines and practices.

Handout 1: Gospel-Reset-Overview.pdf

#22- Marriage A Divine And Blessed Estate to Beget and Bring Up Children

206 Inasmuch as this commandment is concerned specifically with the estate of marriage and gives occasion to speak of it, let us carefully note, first, how highly God honors and glorifies the married life, sanctioning and protecting it by his commandment. He sanctioned it above in the fourth commandment, “You shall honor father and mother”; but here, as I said, he has secured it and protected it. 207 Therefore he also wishes us to honor, maintain, and cherish it as a divine and blessed estate. Significantly he established it as the first of all institutions, and he created man and woman differently (as is evident) not for lewdness but to be true to each other, be fruitful, beget children, and support and bring them up to the glory of God. (Large Catechism Sixth Commandment, Tappert, p. 393).

16A Creation: The Fall into Sin

“This is the battle that began in the Garden 6,000 years ago, a war between God’s Word and man’s word. It’s a battle over two starting points that puts people on two different roads. The starting point of God’s Word puts one on the road that leads up to the message of the Cross.  The starting point of man’s word puts one on a road that leads only to destruction (Mt 7:13). One is narrow and the other is wide (Mt 7:13-14)” (Gospel Reset by Ken Ham, p.99).

God’s Word is questioned and ignored:  The serpent said to the woman, “Has God really said you shall not eat of every tree of the garden” (Gen 3:1).  The woman took of the fruit and did eat, and also gave to her husband with her, and he did eat  (Gen 3:6).

15A Creation: Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden

“Through the Answers in Genesis ministry, we are challenging generations today by helping them understand that many of them are on the wrong road {evolution- based}, and we want to do our best to get them on the right road.” (Gospel Reset by Ken Ham, p.102).

#21- Parents Reprove Evil

274 So you see that we are absolutely forbidden to speak evil of our neighbor. Exception is made, however, of civil magistrates, preachers, and parents, for we must interpret this commandment in such a way that evil shall not go unpunished. We have seen that the Fifth Commandment forbids us to injure anyone physically, and yet an exception is made of the hangman. By virtue of his office he does not do his neighbor good but only harm and evil, yet he does not sin against God’s commandment because God of his own accord instituted that office, and as he warns in the Fifth Commandment, he has reserved to himself the right of punishment. Likewise, although no one has in his own person the right to judge and condemn anyone, yet if they whose duty it is fail to do so, they sin as much as those who take the law into their own hands without such a commission. 275 Necessity requires one to report evil, to prefer charges, to attest, examine, and witness. It is no different from the situation of the physician who, to cure a patient, is sometimes compelled to examine and handle his private parts. Just so, magistrates, parents, even brothers and sisters and other good friends are under mutual obligation to reprove evil where it is necessary and beneficial.  (Large Catechism Eighth Commandment, Tappert, p. 401).

Catechesis on Epiphany Five (St. Matthew 13:24-43)

On Wednesday nights, Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL) offers to both children and adults an opportunity for teaching with Learn-by-Heart at 6:30 PM and a catechetical service at 7:00.

In this video from January 30, 2019, we learned stanza 5 of “To the Name of Our Salvation” (The Lutheran Hymnal #116), questions one and two of Confession and the meaning from Luther’s Small Catechism.  This service is designed to prepare God’s people for the theme of the upcoming Sunday Divine Service.  The dialog sermon explains the Wheat and the Tares (St. Matthew 13:24-43), which is the Holy Gospel for the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany.

The service concludes with “Responsive Prayer for Catechesis” (pdf link below).    [Length: 1 hour and 3 minutes]

Bulletins: Catechesis-Epiphany-5-1-30-2019.pdf
Responsive Prayer:  Responsive-Prayer-for-Catechesis-2019.pdf

#20- The Power, Right and Authority to Marry

18 For one thing, it is taught among us with regard to those who desire to marry that all those who are not suited for celibacy have the power, right, and authority to marry, for vows cannot nullify God’s order and command. 19 God’s command in 1 Cor. 7:2 reads, “Because of the temptation to immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.” 20 It is not alone God’s command that urges, drives, and compels us to do this, but God’s creation and order also direct all to marriage who are not endowed with the gift of virginity by a special act of God. This appears from God’s own words in Gen. 2:18, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”

(Apology XXVII, Tappert, p. 73).

Theology Summary Bible Class Pt. 39: Kingdom of Glory

The subjects of the kingdom of glory are the same as that for the kingdom of grace–believers and holy angels.  The kingdom of grace is governed by means of the Word and sacraments administered by the pastoral office.  The subjects of the kingdom of grace are translated into the kingdom of glory either at death or on the last day.  The kingdom of glory is ruled by the Triune God directly. There is a difference in the mode of knowledge and conditions of their members.  In the kingdom of grace, believers receive by faith through the Word the revealed knowledge of God, while in the kingdom of glory believers experience the beatific vision of the glory of God. While in the kingdom of grace believers experience cross and tribulation, but in the heavenly kingdom will share in Christ’s glory.

Handout 1: The-Third-Genus-King-p25-26-only.pdf
Handout 2: Kingdoms-Definitions.pdf