For Grace to do One’s Work 2

O LORD, give us the grace of Thy Spirit, early to seek out, and evermore earnestly to follow, the work which Thou hast appointed us to do; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. (Oremus, 1925, p.25).

#15 In Christ’s Kingdom Judgment is Different

…But real trouble and woe arise when this invades spiritual affairs and when the devil plants his seed in Christ’s kingdom, so that it takes root both in doctrine and in life. The result in the area of doctrine is this: Although a man may have the assignment and commission from God to preach the Gospel, others arise, even among his pupils, who claim to know it ten times as well as he does. Thus it is the plague and misfortune of the Gospel to have everyone judging it, becoming a doctor of it on his own, and presuming to be a master in doctrine. This is what happened to Moses, when Korah and his mob rebelled against him and said (Num. 16:3): “Why do you exalt yourselves above the people of God? Are they not all holy? Shall God speak only through Moses and Aaron?” And nowadays they say: “Do we not have as much right to have the Spirit and to understand Scripture as others do?” Right away a different doctrine is served up, and sects are started. Then the judging and the criticizing begin, and particularly the shameful slandering, one party venomously accusing and misrepresenting the other, as we are experiencing right now. This brings on the deadly damage of dividing Christendom and undermining pure doctrine everywhere.  (Luther’s Works, v. 21, pages 211-212).

Septuagesima Divine Service – February 5, 2023

Order of Divine Service I, p.136  Lutheran Worship
Hymn “Through Jesus’ Blood and Merit” LW 369, TLH 372
Readings: Jeremiah 1:4-10, 1 Corinthians 9:24-10:5, St. Matthew 20:1-16
Hymn of the Day: “Salvation unto Us Has Come” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #16, LW 355, TLH 377)
Sermon
“Draw Near and Take the Body of the Lord” LW 240, TLH 307
“Seek Where You May to Find a Way” LW 358, TLH 383
“Dear Christians, One and All” LW 353, TLH 387

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin:  Septuagesima-Divine-Service-for-Online-2-5-2023.pdf

Picture: The Luther Bible 1534: Judges 15 – Samson’s Jawbone, #349

Lutheran Bodies in North America, Class #29 – February 5, 2023

Today we continue our study of the LCMS after 1981 within our study of The Lutheran Bodies in North America.

Handout 1: Part-9-after-1981-LCMS.pdf

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).

For the Holy Ghost.

HEAVENLY King, Paraclete, Spirit of Truth Who art everywhere present and fillest all things, the Treasury of good things and the Bestower of life: Come and dwell in us, and purify us from every stain, and save our souls, in Thy goodness; Who with the Father livest and reignest, ever one God, world without end. Amen. (Oremus, 1925, p.25-26).

The Presentation of Our Lord Divine Service – February 2, 2023

Order of Divine Service I, p.136  Lutheran Worship
Hymn “In Peace and Joy I Now Depart” (insert from Augustana #77, LW 185, TLH 137)
Readings: Malachi 3:1-4, Hebrews 2:14-18, St. Luke 2:22-32
Hymn “God Loved the World So That He Gave” LW 352
Sermon

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin:  The-Presentation-of-our-Lord-1-year-February-2-ASBH.pdf

Catechesis for Septuagesima – February 1, 2023

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 PM.

This service is designed to prepare God’s people for the theme of the upcoming Sunday Divine Service.  The dialog sermon explains the parable of the laborers in the vineyard (St. Matthew 20:1-16), which is the Holy Gospel for Septuagesima Sunday.

Learn-by-Heart will include “Salvation Unto Us Has Come(The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #16, LW #355, TLH #377), Small Catechism, Office of the Keys 1-3 and meaning, and 1 Timothy 2:3-4.

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).

Service Bulletin:  Catechesis-Septuagesima-02-1-2023.pdf
Responsive Prayer for Catechesis:    Responsive-Prayer-for-Catechesis-2023.pdf
Insert for Hymn: Septuagesima-insert-2-5-2023-ASBH-Final.pdf