#45 Human Ordinances Can Be Useful But Have Only Natural Effects

Besides these external signs and holy possessions the church has other externals that do not sanctify it either in body or soul, nor were they instituted or commanded by God; but, as we said at length above, they are outwardly necessary or useful, proper and good—for instance, certain holidays and certain hours, forenoon or afternoon, set aside for preaching or praying, or the use of a church building or house, altar, pulpit, baptismal font, candlesticks, candles, bells, priestly vestments, and the like. These things have no more than their natural effects, just as food and drink accomplish no more by virtue of the grace the children say at the table, for the ungodly or rude folk who don’t say it, that is, who neither pray to God nor thank him, grow just as fat and strong from food and drink as Christians do. To be sure, Christians could be and remain sanctified even without these items, even if they were to preach on the street, outside a building, without a pulpit, if absolution were pronounced and the sacrament administered without an altar, and if baptism were performed without a font—as happens daily that for special reasons sermons are preached and baptisms and sacraments administered in the home. But for the sake of children and simple folk, it is a fine thing and conducive to good order to have a definite time, place, and hour to which people can adapt themselves and where they may assemble, as St. Paul says in I Corinthians 14 [:40], “All things should be done decently and in order.” And no one should (as no Christian does) ignore such order without cause, out of mere pride or just to create disorder, but one should join in observing such order for the sake of the multitude, or at least should not disrupt or hinder it, for that would be acting contrary to love and friendliness.  (Luther’s Works, v.41, p.173-174)

Picture:  St. Luke: “Fitit in Diebus Herodis Regis,” the Latin of Lk 1:5, “In the days of Herod king…”

Book of Concord, Bible Class #40: I. Original Sin & Introduction to II. Free Will

This Bible study examines Article I. Original Sin and introduces the topic of article II. Free Will.
Quiz #39 (Pink sheet): Quiz-39-for-June-28-2020-History-of-the-Formula-of-Concord.pdf
Overhead:  Formula-of-Concord-Epitome-I.-Original-Sin.pdf
Overhead 2: Overhead-June-28-2020.pdf
Article Cited: RC-Wanderer-on-Will.pdf
Handout(white sheet) & Overhead 3: Formula-of-Concord-Epitome-II.-Free-Will-and-Controversies.pdf
Overhead 4: Formula-of-Concord-Solid-Declaration-Article-II.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 #40

Divine Service for Trinity Three – June 28, 2020

Service Bulletin:  Trinity-Three-Divine-Service-for-Online-6-28-2020.pdf
Printed Sermon:  SRM1922-When-It-Is-Peaceful.pdf

0:00  Hymn “Lord, to You I Make Confession”  LW 233, TLH 326
3:00   Service Begins
9:15 Readings:  Micah 7:18-20, 1 Peter 5:6-11, St. Luke 15:1-10
13:30 Nicene Creed
15:10  Hymn “I Trust, O Christ, in You Alone” LW 357
18:50  Sermon “When Peaceful It Is Easy, But Not When Anxiety and Fright Come” Lk 15:6 (length 18:25 minutes)
36:15  “Create in Me…” LW p.143
37:00  The Prayer of the Church
42:50  Communion Liturgy
51:15 Communion Hymns:
“Jesus Sinners Will Receive” LW 229, TLH 324
“Your Table I Approach” LW 249, TLH 310
“Now I Have Found the Firm Foundation” LW 360, TLH 385
1.02:30  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 Video for Trinity Three
Note: The Bible class was also recorded and will be available at trinityh.org.

For the Church, General 3

O GOD, Whose throne endureth forever: Grant that Thy Church may be enriched by the excellent beauty of all virtues; while, nevertheless, she is far more glorious, through the indwelling of Thy ever-present Spirit; Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.  (Oremus, 1925, p.67).

#44 Where God Has Not Promised, We Receive Nothing

On the other hand, what good would it do you even if you went to St. James, clad in armor, or let yourself be killed by the severe life of the Carthusians, Franciscans, or Dominicans in order to be saved, and God had neither commanded nor instituted it? He still knows nothing about all this, but you and the devil invented them, as special sacraments or classes of priests. And even if you were able to bear heaven and earth in order to be saved, it would still all be lost; and he who would pick up the straw (if this were commanded) would do more than you, even if you could carry ten worlds. Why is that? It is God’s will that we obey his word, use his sacraments, and honor his church. Then he will act graciously and gently enough, even more graciously and gently than we could desire; for it is written, “I am the Lord your God; you shall have no other gods before me” [Exod. 20:23]. And, “Listen to him and to no other” [Matt. 17:5]. May that suffice on the church. More cannot be said unless each point is elaborated further. The rest must deal with different ideas, about which we want to speak too.  (Luther’s Works, v.41, p.172-173)

Picture:  St. Mark: “Initium Evangelii Jesu Christi,” the Latin of Mk 1:1, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ…”

Book of Concord, Bible Class #39: History of Formula of Concord

This Bible study examines the history of the Formula of Concord.
Quiz #38 (Yellow sheet): Quiz-38-for-June-21-2020-Introduction-to-Formula-of-Concord.pdf
Overhead:  Formula-of-Concord-History.pdf
Overhead 2:  Controversies-Following-the-Interim.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 #39

(Picture: Flower garden at our Learning Center)

Divine Service for Trinity Two – June 21, 2020

Service Bulletin:  Trinity-Two-Divine-Service-for-Online-6-21-2020.pdf
Printed Sermon:  SRM1921-The-Great-and-Glorious-Supper-of-the-Gospel.pdf

0:00  Hymn “To Your Temple, Lord, I Come”  LW 207, TLH 2
2:30   Service Begins
8:35 Readings:  Proverbs 9:1-10, 1 John 3:13-18, St. Luke 14:15-24
13:30 Nicene Creed
15:05  Hymn “O Lord, Look Down from Heaven, Behold” TLH 260
19:30  Sermon “The Great and Glorious Supper of the Gospel” Luke 14:16  (length 16:15 minutes)
35:45  “Create in Me…” LW p.143
36:35  The Prayer of the Church
42:00  Communion Liturgy
Communion Hymns:
“Lord Jesus Christ, You Have Prepared” LW 246, TLH 306
“Lord, Enthroned in Heavenly Splendor” LW 281
“Come unto Me, Ye Weary” LW 345, TLH 276
1.00:30  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 Video for Trinity Two
Note: The Bible class was also recorded and will be available at trinityh.org.

(Easter lilies planted at the parsonage.)

For the Church, General 2

ALMIGHTY God, Who hast sent Thine Only-Begotten Son, and hast revealed Him as Creator of all things, look upon this Vine, which Thy right hand hath planted, prune away the thorns from it, bring forth its branches in might, and give them the fruit of truth; through the same 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.67).

#43 If God Promised to Forgive Through the Picking Up of a Straw…

In summary, if God were to bid you to pick up a straw or to pluck out a feather with the command, order, and promise that thereby you would have forgiveness of all sin, grace, and eternal life, should you not accept this joyfully and gratefully, and cherish, praise, prize, and esteem that straw and that feather as a higher and holier possession than heaven and earth? No matter how insignificant the straw and the feather may be, you would nonetheless acquire through them something more valuable than heaven and earth, indeed, than all the angels, are able to bestow on you. Why then are we such disgraceful people that we do not regard the water of baptism, the bread and wine, that is, Christ’s body and blood, the spoken word, and the laying on of man’s hands for the forgiveness of sin as such holy possessions, as we would the straw and feather, though in the former, as we hear and know, God himself wishes to be effective and wants them to be his water, word, hand, bread, and wine, by means of which he wishes to sanctify and save you in Christ, who acquired this for us and who gave us the Holy Spirit from the Father for this work?  (Luther’s Works, v.41, p.172)

Picture: St. Matthew: “Liber generationis Jesu Christi,” the Latin of Mt 1:1, “A book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ…”

Divine Service for Trinity One – June 14, 2020

Service Bulletin:   Trinity-One-Divine-Service-for-Online-6-14-2020.pdf
Printed Sermon:  SRM1920-Love-Is-Impossible-Without-Faith.pdf

0:00  Hymn “Holy Spirit, Light Divine”  LW 166
2:10   Service Begins
8:40 Readings:  Genesis 15:1-6, 1 John 4:16-21, Luke 16:19-31
14:15 Nicene Creed
15:50  Hymn “Lord, You I Love With All My Heart” LW 413, TLH 429
20:10  Sermon “The Great and Glorious Supper of the Gospel” Luke 14:16  (length 16:25 minutes)
36:50  “Create in Me…” LW p.143
37:35  The Prayer of the Church
43:35  Communion Liturgy
Communion Hymns: “Thy Strong Word” LW 328, “Abide with Us, Our Savior” LW 287, “The God of Abraham Praise” LW 450, TLH 40
1.06:45  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 Video for Trinity One
Note: The Bible class was also recorded and will be available at trinityh.org.