#23 For Where Christ Is, There Is Forgiveness of Sins

This declaration is the Christian’s most effective consolation; for he who really believes that Christ gave His body for him, and that He shed His blood for the remission of his sins, cannot despair, no matter what sin, the world and the devil may say. He knows that this treasure wherewith his sins have been canceled is far greater than all his iniquities. But the consolation contained in this declaration stands not alone; Christ really gives us with the bread His body to eat, and with the wine His blood to drink, as the words plainly state, in spite of the devil. Each one that eateth and drinketh, receives for himself in this Sacrament the body and the blood of Christ as his own especial gift. Yea, this is the very truth which we must firmly hold: Christ suffered and died for me also, and not alone for St. Peter, St. Paul or other saints. To assure us of this truth Christ gave His Testament; for through it each one individually receives the body and the blood of Christ. It is therefore proper to say that through this Sacrament we obtain forgiveness of sins; for where Christ is, there is forgiveness of sins; here we have His body and blood, as the words declare; therefore he who eats and drinks, believing that the body of Christ was given for him, and that His blood was shed for the forgiveness of his sins, must surely have this forgiveness. Yet, it is not the act of going to the Sacrament, nor the eating and the drinking, whereby we gain this divine grace, as the Papists falsely teach concerning the performance of their mass; but it is the faith in us which believes the words of Christ when He says: I give you my body, given for you into death, and give you my blood, shed for you for the remission of your sins. Thus will our reception of the Sacrament tend to the strengthening of our faith, and the chief and greatest blessing of this Testament will be ours. (Luther’s House Postil, First Sermon for The Day of the Lord’s Supper. The Holy Sacrament 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Volume 2, p. 307)

Picture: Palm Sunday at Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL)

Holy Tuesday – March 26, 2024

Order of Divine Service, p.7   The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal
Readings:  Jeremiah 11:18-20, 1 Timothy 6:12-14, St. Mark 14:1-15:46
Hymn “Upon the Cross Extended” LW 121, TLH 171
Sermon
Hymn “Hail, O Once Rejected Jesus” LW 284, TLH 367

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: Holy-Tuesday-Divine-Service-for-Online-3-26-2024.pdf


Picture:  The Luther Bible 1534: Revelation 11:1-19 – The Two Witnesses and the Beast, #965

Holy Monday – March 25, 2024

Order of Divine Service, p.7   The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal
Readings:  Isaiah 50:5-10, 1 Peter 2:21-24, St. John 12:1-43
Hymn “No Tramp of Soldiers’ Marching Feet”  HS98 #826
Sermon
Hymn “Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed” LW 97

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: Holy-Monday-Divine-Service-for-Online-3-25-2024.pdf

https://vimeo.com/926856456?share=copy
Picture:  The Luther Bible 1534: Revelation 10:1-11 – The Angel and the Little Book John Ate, #964

#22 The Lord’s Supper is No Anger, but an Exceedingly Cheering Word

Tell me, is it not an exceedingly cheering word, when the Lord tells His disciples so graciously and kindly: “Take and eat, this is my body; take and drink ye all of it; this cup is the “New Testament in my blood, this do in remembrance of me,” and do it not only once, but repeatedly until the end of time? Our blessed Lord desired, by means of this Sacrament and Testament, to keep alive in us our remembrance of Him and our faith. He therefore instituted His Supper as a constant memorial of His death, through which we are delivered from our sins and eternal misery. In this we can see naught but condescension and love; there is no anger here nor vengeance; yea, parents could not deal more kindly with their children. Christ’s chief desire, as He Himself declares, is that we shall not forget Him. It is His earnest intention that our whole being shall be impressed with the memory of His passion, that we may never forget how He died for us upon the cross and rose again from the dead. It was His purpose that coming generations should know Him as their Lord, that they might be saved by Him; and therefore, also, He earnestly enjoined upon Christians to instruct the young in His word, and to keep His remembrance sacred, that those who come after them may also be induced to worship Him in the congregation of believers, and own Him as their Christ and only consolation. For this reason the Lord made His Testament, and we ought never to weary in the remembrance of it. Surely, when true friends meet it is no burdensome task for them to sit together in conversation throughout the night, forgetful of sleep and rest; why then should we grow weary of learning and of preaching the precious truth that Christ the Lord is our Redeemer? (Luther’s House Postil, First Sermon for The Day of the Lord’s Supper. The Holy Sacrament 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Volume 2, p. 306)

Picture: Palm Sunday at Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL)

#21 Our Only Comfort is The Possession of the Word and Its Power

Consider therefore, my dear children, what great advantage you have, if you willingly hear and learn the Word of God. Learn, first of all, that you are of God, having conquered the devil and hell, so that neither sin nor the judgment of God can terrify. You will also be enabled to endure calmly other annoyances which, though they be ever so trifling, make the world impatient and hopeless. It is true, the Christians must suffer much from the devil and the world, their bitter enemies. Their body and life, their possession and honor are often in great danger. How shall they endure all this with patience? In no other way than by clinging to the promises of God, so that they can exclaim: Let the world wag and do as it pleases, I am not of her, but of God, else would the world be my friend; but I prefer that she should hate and harass me on every side, to having her good will and then to be not of God. If the heart is thus minded, all tribulation and adversity will pass by as do the clouds in the sky or the birds in the air; we see them for a time and then no more. Our only comfort in this life must be the possession of the Word and its power, especially when the last hour comes, when death approaches. If we believe the Word with a childlike faith, death will be as a sleep to us. Yea, it will be as when one who journeys along in a dense mist is attacked and slain before he is aware of the presence of the murderer. The devil is indeed a murderer, who has determined upon our death; we know that well. But this his threat and sure attack shall not alarm us. We have the Word, to it we cling; that causes resignation, joy and courage in the presence of dire visitations, even of death. The confidence that through Christ we have in heaven a Father, kind and merciful, will give us strength and patience to endure with true fortitude all the trials of life to the end. This consolation we find in the Word, and nowhere else. (Luther’s House Postil, Sermon for Judica, Volume 1, p. 298-299)

Palm Sunday – March 24, 2024

Order of Divine Service, p.7   The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal
Palm Sunday Procession (Matthew 21:1-9)
Hymn “All Glory, Laud, and Honor” LW 102, TLH 160
Readings:  Zechariah 9:9-10, Philippians 2:5-11, St. Matthew 26:1-27:66
Hymn of the Day: “Lamb of God, Pure and Holy” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #25, LW 208, TLH 146)
Sermon
Offertory: “Create in Me…”         p.18
General Prayer………                    p.19-20
Hymn: “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” LW 106, TLH 161
Exhortation                                    p.21
Communion Service, p.144 (Lutheran Worship)
Communion Hymns: “Ride On, Ride On in Majesty” LW 105, TLH 162
“Grant, Lord Jesus, that My Healing” LW 95
“The Royal Banners Forward Go” LW 103, TLH 168

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin:  Palm-Sunday-Divine-Service-for-Online-3-24-2024.pdf


Picture:  The Luther Bible 1534: Revelation 12 – The Woman, the Child, and the Red Dragon, #967

Love Bible Study #6 – March 24, 2024

We continue to study the word Love (and Hate) in the Old Testament.
Handout 1: Love-Study-4.pdf
Handout 2: Book-of-Concord-on-Love.pdf

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

Picture: Church of the Immaculate Conception on Kaskaskia Island.  Although it is located on an island which in only accessible through bridge from Missouri, it is in Illinois.  It was founded by The Rev. James Marquette in 1675. Our congregation participated in a Christmas Country Church Tour on December 14, 2023.

Before the Holy Communion 7.

LORD, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst come under my roof, for it is desolate and ruinous, neither wilt Thou find within me place to lay Thy head; but since Thou hast not disdained to recline in a stable with the brute beasts, nor disdained to be the guest of Simon the Leper, neither hast spurned the woman, who like me, was a great sinner, nor abhorred the washing of her tears: So deign, O Lord, to receive me, the chief of sinners, to the participation of This immaculate and life-giving sacrament. Amen. (Oremus, 1925, p.142).

Divine Service for St. Joseph – March 19, 2024

Order of Divine Service, p.7   The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal
Readings: Ecclesiasticus 45:1-6, 2 Samuel 7:4,8-16, St. Matthew 1:18-21
Hymn of the Day: “In House and Home Where Man and Wife” ASBH #83
Sermon
Hymn “I Bind Unto Myself Today” LW 271

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: St-Joseph^J-Spouse-of-BVM-March-19-ASBH.pdf

#20 Gladly and Willingly Employ Your Bodily Members “to be of God”

… Christ says: “He that heareth not the words of God is not of God, but is the devil’s child.” The most deplorable circumstance in this connection is the infatuation, in which these defamers of God’s Word live, so that they do not perceive the error of their ways, but defend their conduct with bitter resolution. Thus did the Jews; they answered Christ: “Say we not well that Thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? A self-righteous devil, who thinks that he is always right, is the worst of all devils; and such an one was prompting the Jews. This is the first lesson taught in our Gospel, that they who will not hear the Word of God are not of Him, but of the devil. This, of course, does not mean that the devil created such persons with their body, mind and all they possess. No, God bestowed upon them these gifts, wherefore we must distinguish between the abilities of man and their use. The man who lies and cheats has a good tongue given to him by God, but the use which he makes of it is of the devil in whose service he abuses it against God. Thus also God may give to man beautiful and charming eyes, but their employment for lustfulness is of the devil. If the heart yearns after lewdness, falsehood and deceit, it is wicked and of the devil, in respect to its use, though it be good and of God as to its essence.

On the other hand, “to be of God” means to employ willingly and gladly the ears in hearing the Word of God, and to accept rebuke for that which is wrong. Thus we should also use the tongue to pray, to preach, to instruct and to give consolation. Ears and tongues thus engaged are of God and good; they accomplish the purpose for which they were given. The heart also, if it meditates upon that which is comely, upon what is beneficial for our fellow men, and does not give offense, is a creature of God as well as the ears and the tongue. It is of God, because it strives to follow the precepts of God, and loves to hear His Word, and shuns everything opposed to it. It may happen, alas! that we are overtaken unaware by our weakness; that we curse where we ought to pray, and give way to anger where we ought to manifest kindliness; but if we see our wrong and confess it, asking for mercy, we may then indeed have wavered, or even fallen, but we are not yet of the devil. If a man repents of his sins, and turns to God with the firm resolution to avoid that which is wrong, he will obtain mercy, and the devil is not his master. (Luther’s House Postil, Sermon for Judica, Volume 1, p. 296-297)