#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)

Divine Service Judica – March 17, 2024

Order of Divine Service, p.7   The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal
Hymn “We Sing the Praise of Him Who Died” LW 118, TLH 178
Readings:  Genesis 12:1-3, Hebrews 9:11-15, St. John 8:46-59
Hymn of the Day: “Lord Jesus Christ, True Man and God” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #24)
Sermon
Offertory: “Create in Me…”         p.18
General Prayer………                    p.19-20
Hymn: “O Jesus, Blessed Lord, My Praise” LW 245, TLH 309
Exhortation                                    p.21
Communion Service, p.144 (Lutheran Worship)
Communion Hymns: “Jesus, Your Blood and Righteousness” LW 362, TLH 371
“Jesus, Lover of My Soul” LW 508, TLH 345
“For Jerusalem You’re Weeping” LW 390

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: Judica-Divine-Service-for-Online-3-17-2024.pdf

https://vimeo.com/924336979?share=copy
Picture:  The Luther Bible 1534: Revelation 9:13-21 – The 6th Angel with the Four Killing Angels from Euphrates, #963

Matins St. Patrick, Bishop and Confessor – March 17, 2024

Order of Matins, p.208  Lutheran Worship
Versicles, Venite
Psalmody:  Psalm 110, 27, Exodus 15:1-18
Readings:  Hebrews 7:23-27, St. Matthew 25:14-23
Hymn of the Day “Look from Thy Sphere of Endless Day” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #81)
Sermon
Benedictus, LW p.217
The Prayers

Hymn “I Bind Unto Myself Today” LW #271

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: St-Patrick-Psalms-2024b-Online.pdf

Love Bible Study #5 – March 17, 2024

Bible Class #5:  March 17, 2024  Link to Live Stream

We continue to study the word Love in the Old Testament.
Handout 1: Love-Study-4.pdf
Handout 2: Love-Study-3.pdf
Handout 3: Book-of-Concord-on-Love.pdf

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

Picture: St. James Catholic Church in Perryville had two Christmas trees flanking the altar. Our congregation participated in a Christmas Country Church Tour on December 14, 2023.

 

After Preaching.

O God, I have heard Thy humble servant, who has sown Thy seed; do Thou give the increase, to the health of souls, the spread of Thy kingdom and Thy glory. All glory and honor be unto Thee, O God. Amen. (Oremus, 1925, p.139, adapted).

Catechesis for Judica/Lent Five – March 13, 2024

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 “Children of the Devil” (St. John 8:42-59), which is the Holy Gospel for the Fifth Sunday in Lent.

The teaching for Learn-by-Heart will include hymn “Lord Jesus Christ, True Man and God” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #24), Small Catechism, Christian Questions with their Answers, 1-9, and John 8:42.
–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).

Service Bulletin: Catechesis-Judica-3-13-2024.pdf
Responsive Prayer for Catechesis:    Responsive-Prayer-for-Catechesis-2023.pdf
Insert for Hymn: Judica-Insert-3-26-2023-omit-Gloria-Patri.pdf

https://vimeo.com/917740924?share=copy

#19 Reach Into Your Own Bosom and Find the Real Villain

We learn this important lesson from this occurrence: That we should love God and diligently hear and believe His Word, as these people in our text did; that then God will provide us with our daily bread. It may be that not all of the people then fed were truly pious; but since there were those among them who feared God with all their heart, and cared more about hearing His Gospel than about eating, the Lord provided also for their bodily wants and gave them food before they expected it. By this deed He intended to tell them that man should first seek the kingdom of God, hear His Word and believe in Him; but also that each one should do with diligence what His calling bids him do, and that, as to the rest, He would provide. Though we are not rich and cannot count our dollars by the thousand, we shall have what we need. We cannot eat money, nor gold and silver, neither stones and the like; we must have bread, the produce of the ground. If we are so situated that we cannot thus gather the food from the fields; if we have neither house nor garner, neither farm nor garden, we will nevertheless obtain enough bread, if we have but faith and trust in God. Such providential care is witnessed every day. Of a penniless scholar, who is diligent and pious, God often makes a great doctor; to a poor maidservant, who fears God and is faithful in the performance of her duties, He gives a good husband and home. Similar examples, of daily occurrence, teach us how God assists the poor, while they who do not fear Him nor love His Word, or are otherwise dishonest and indolent, remain miserable beggars and thriftless all the days of their life. (Luther’s House Postil, Sermon for Laetare, Volume 1, p. 285-286)

Love Bible Study #4 – March 10, 2024

We continue to study the word Love in the Old Testament.
Handout 1: Love-Study-4.pdf
Handout 2: Love-Study-3.pdf
Handout 3: Book-of-Concord-on-Love.pdf
Handout 4: Love-Study-2-English-b.pdf

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

Picture: Zion Lutheran Church in Perryville, Missouri.  The cross behind the altar was made of wrought iron by a member. Our congregation participated in a Christmas Country Church Tour on December 14, 2023.

 

Laetare Sunday – March 10, 2024

Order of Divine Service, p.7   The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal
Hymn “O Day of Rest and Gladness” LW 203, TLH 9
Readings:  Isaiah 49:8-13, Galatians 4:21-31, St. John 6:1-15
Hymn of the Day: “Christ the Life of All the Living” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #23, LW 94, TLH 151)
Sermon
Offertory: “Create in Me…”         p.18
General Prayer………                    p.19-20
Hymn: “O Living Bread from Heaven” LW 244, TLH 316
Exhortation                                    p.21
Communion Service, p.144 (Lutheran Worship)
Communion Hymns:
“Oh, Love, How Deep” LW 275
“Lord Jesus Christ, Life-Giving Bread” LW 248, TLH 312
“In the Cross of Christ I Glory” LW 101, TLH 354

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: Laetare-Divine-Service-for-Online-3-10-2024.pdf


Picture:  The Luther Bible 1534: Revelation 9:1-12 – The 5th Angel with the Key to the Bottomless Pit, #962

Before Preaching 1.

O LORD JESUS, Who hast done all things well, Who makest both. the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak: I beseech Thee, lay Thy hands upon our pastor, loose the string of his tongue, that he may speak plainly; open the deaf ears of Thy people, that they may hear the words which belong unto eternal life; Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. (Oremus, 1925, p.138, adapted for lay use).