Author Archive: luther

#2 Despite Persecution, Greatly Gladdened by the Word’s Small Successes

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Therefore I could not refrain from visiting you in the spirit with this letter to tell you of my joy. For I can truthfully boast that the condemnation and persecution of the pope and all the world do not offend and sadden me as much as I am strengthened and delighted when I hear that a person grasps and praises the tender truth. How much more it comforts me when I discovered and daily do discover that this truth has been recognized so zealously by you and others of your class, and is openly confessed. God mercifully permits me to see that his Word does not go forth in vain, as he declares in Isaiah 44 [55:11], in order to comfort me so that my faith will grow stronger and so that I will not have only sadness. He also informs me that all the world opposes this, as he says in Matthew 24 [:9], “You must be hateful to all nations for my name’s sake.”  (Luther’s Works, v.43, p.61-62)

Picture: At the top of the etching, a dove is hovering with seven rays extending down to the seven branches of the lampstand.  Above the dove are the words, “The Spirit of God is yours/for you.’  Each of the seven rays is designated with the words:
To receive eternal life (Romans 5:16)
To strengthen (Ephesians 3:16)
To satisfy (Romans 14:7)
To comfort (Romans 15:12)
To sanctify (Romans 1:4)
To enlighten (1 Corinthians 12)
To ignite (Romans 12:11)
[All of the pictures for this year’s posts are from an etching entitled “Augsburg Confession” by Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677) and found in the Royal Collection Trust.]

#73 Our Church’s Doctrine is Pure, While Our Life is Not Yet

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This we say about doctrine, which must be pure and clean, namely, the dear, blessed, holy, and one word of God, without any addition. But life, which should daily direct, purify, and sanctify itself according to doctrine, is not yet entirely pure or holy, so long as this maggoty body of flesh and blood is alive. But as long as it is in the process of purification and sanctification, being continually healed by the Samaritan and no longer decaying in its own impurity, it is graciously excused, pardoned, and forgiven for the sake of the word, through which it is healed and purified; thus it must be called pure. This is why the holy Christian church is not a whore or unholy, because it continues to hold to and remain with the word (which is its holiness) without blemish and with strength. “You are already made clean (says Christ in John 15 [:3]) by the word which I have spoken to you,” not on your own account. (Luther’s Works, v.41, p.218)

Divine Service for Advent One – November 29, 2020

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Service Bulletin:  Advent-One-Divine-Service-for-Online-11-29-2020.pdf
Printed Sermon:   SRM1955-You-Preach-Let-Me-Be-in-Charge.pdf

0:00  Hymn “The Advent of Our God” LW 12, TLH 68
2:05   Service Begins with Introit
4:10   Litany, p. 279-283
10:45 Readings: Jeremiah 23:5-8, Romans 13:8-14, St. Matthew 21:1-9
17:35  Hymn “Savior of the Nations, Come” LW 13, TLH 95
20:25  Sermon “You Preach and Let Me Be in Charge” St. Matthew 21:2 (length 11:20 minutes)
31:45  “Create in Me…” LW p.143
32:35  The Prayer of the Church
36:35  Communion Liturgy
45:20 Communion Hymns:
“O Lord, How Shall I Meet You” LW 19, TLH 58
“Jesus Christ, Our Blessed Savior” LW 236, TLH 311
“Hark the Glad Sound” LW 29, TLH 66
56:00  Service ends

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL)
This post is the audio, if you want the video CLICK HERE –> Vimeo Advent One
Note: The Bible class was also recorded and will be available at trinityh.org.

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First Vespers for Advent One – November 28, 2020

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Service Bulletin:  Cover Bulletin and Psalms for Vespers
Sermon:  SRM1954-Weapons-of-Light.pdf

0:00  Hymn #13 “Savior of the Nations Come”  LW 13, TLH 95
3:00  Versicles, Lutheran Worship p. 224
4:15   Psalmody:  Psalm 24, 50, 85, 143, 145
27:15 Readings:  Romans 13:8-14
29:45   Office Hymn “Creator of the Stars of Night” WS98 #703
32:50  Sermon “Weapons of Light” Romans 13:12  (length 15:10 minutes)
48:00  Magnificat, LW p.228
50:50  The Prayers, p.231
54:00  Service ends

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL)
This post is the audio, if you want the video CLICK HERE –>   Vimeo First Vespers

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Matins for Thanksgiving Day – November 26, 2020

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Service Bulletin: Cover Bulletin  and Psalms for Thanksgiving
Sermon:  SRM1953-A-Course-in-Thanksgiving.pdf

0:00  Versicles, Venite, Lutheran Worship p. 208
3:10   Office Hymn “All People That on Earth Do Dwell” LW 435, TLH 14
6:10   Psalm 100 (See Insert)
Hymn LW 403 “Praise and Thanksgiving”
Psalm 121 (See Insert)
Hymn LW 500/TLH 575 “Before You, Lord, We Bow”
Psalm 67 (See Insert)
18:20 Readings:  1 Timothy 2:1-8, Luke 17:11-19
22:00  Sermon “A Course in Thanksgiving” Psalm 100:4  (length 15:45 minutes)
37:45  Te Deum, LW p.214
41:30  The Prayers
48:25  Hymn “Christ by Heavenly Hosts Adored” LW 499, TLH 566
50:45  Service ends

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL)
This post is the audio, if you want the video CLICK HERE –> Vimeo Thanksgiving

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Miriam’s Sunday School Study Class #5: The Paternal Love of God Toward Mankind

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Today’s class continues to examine the first Old Testament account, as we look at the Paternal Love of God toward Mankind. (Genesis 1:1-2:3).
Handout 1:  Text-for-Genesis-1-.pdf
Handout 2:  Creation-Love-of-God.pdf

Note 1: A Divine Service was also video recorded and is available at trinityh.org, under the tab, Sermons
Note 2: This is the audio only post.  The vimeo video is also available.   Click here –>  Vimeo Video for #5
–Pastor Michael D. Henson, Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL)
–PDF documents are available at trinityh.org under the tab “Bible Studies.”

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#70 The Word Must Be True to Guide Unto Eternal Life

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If the word were to be sinful or untrue, after what would or could men guide their lives? Then, no doubt, a blind man would lead a blind man, and both would fall into the pit [Matt. 15:14]. If the plumb line or the T-square were false or crooked, what kind of work would or could the master-builder produce? One crooked thing would make the other crooked, without limit or measure. Life too can be sinful and untrue in the same way—unfortunately life is indeed very untrue—but doctrine must be straight as a plumb line, sure, and without sin. Therefore nothing must be preached in church except the sure, pure, and one word of God. Where that is missing, we no longer have the church, but the synagogue of the devil [Rev. 2:9], just as a godly wife (an example the prophets always use) should not listen to any other word in her house or in her bed than that of her husband, and if she does listen to the word of someone who does not belong in her husband’s bed, she is certainly a whore. (Luther’s Works, v.41, p.216-217)

Before Reading Holy Scripture.

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O EVERLASTING God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, grant me Thy grace that I may study the Holy Scriptures diligently, and, with my whole heart, seek and find Christ therein and through Him obtain everlasting life; through the Same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. (p.27, Oremus: Collects, Devotions, Litanies From Ancient and Modern Sources, Edited by Paul Zeller Strodach, Augsburg Publishing House, 1925).

For One’s Children. 2

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ALMIGHTY, Everlasting God, Merciful Father, since only the regenerate can see Thy kingdom and nothing is pleasing to Thee that hath not Thy Spirit: We beseech Thee that Thou wouldest grant to this child, who is Thy creation, Thy Holy Spirit of adoption, and seal and make sure his heart with the same, according to the promise of Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ; so that the inward renewal and regeneration of the Spirit through holy baptism may at all times be given him through Thy Divine working, and that he may be baptized into the death of Jesus Christ, be buried with Him and through Him be raised from the dead to walk in newness of life to the praise of the Glory of God and the good of his neighbor; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. (Oremus, 1925, p.80).

#1 The Word of God Makes Bold Under Persecution

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We wish you, kind sir and dear friend in Christ, the favor and peace of God the Father and of our Lord Jesus Christ. Two of your letters, the one to His Imperial Majesty, the other to the mendicant orders, came to my attention and were read by me with great joy.  I thank my God for the favor and gift of the knowledge of Christian truth bestowed on you and in addition for your delight and active love for it. Moreover, one certainly senses that your words well forth from the bottom of an ardent heart, giving proof that the word of God does not just dwell lightly on your tongue or flit past your ears, as is true of many, but that it resides earnestly and enduringly in your heart. You have been so imbued with it that it has made you ready and bold to extol and to confess it, not only with your lips, but with your deeds and in writing, before and against all the world, and, above all, before exalted and clever minds. But the unusual measure of such a gift cannot be duly esteemed by any other than by him who is endowed with the Spirit that reveals what has been given us and teaches us to interpret spiritual truths spiritually, as St. Paul says in I Corinthians 2 [:14], “The unspiritual man does not perceive this.”  (Luther’s Works, v.43, p.61)

Picture:  At the top of the etching is a hovering dove with the words, “Spirit of God is yours/for you.”  [All of the pictures for this year’s posts are from an etching entitled “Augsburg Confession” by Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677) and found in the Royal Collection Trust.]