#34 Other Outward Signs(Fruits of Faith) that Identify The Church

In addition to these seven principal parts there are other outward signs that identify the Christian church, namely, those signs whereby the Holy Spirit sanctifies us according to the second table of Moses; when he assists us in sincerely honoring our father and mother, and conversely, when he helps them to raise their children in a Christian way and to lead honorable lives; when we faithfully serve our princes and lords and are obedient and subject to them, and conversely, when they love their subjects and protect and guard them; also when we bear no one a grudge, entertain no anger, hatred, envy, or vengefulness toward our neighbors, but gladly forgive them, lend to them, help them, and counsel them; when we are not lewd, not drunkards, not proud, arrogant, overbearing, but chaste, self-controlled, sober, friendly, kind, gentle, and humble; when we do not steal, rob, are not usurious, greedy, do not overcharge, but are mild, kind, content, charitable; when we are not false, mendacious, perjurers, but truthful, trustworthy, and do whatever else is taught in these commandments—all of which St. Paul teaches abundantly in more than one place.

We need the Decalogue not only to apprise us of our lawful obligations, but we also need it to discern how far the Holy Spirit has advanced us in his work of sanctification and by how much we still fall short of the goal, lest we become secure and imagine that we have now done all that is required. Thus we must constantly grow in sanctification and always become new creatures in Christ. This means “grow” and “do so more and more” [II Pet. 3:18].  (Luther’s Works, v.41, p.166)

Picture: The Baptismal Font

Adoration. 2

BLESSED be God, the Only God, Three Persons in one Eternity of Love.
Blessed be God, the Lover of men, their Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier.
Blessed be God, the Fount of human love, Whence all earthly intercourse is fructified.
Blessed be God for all that He is.
Blessed be God for all that He has done.
Blessed in His Church on earth, and blessed in the height of Heaven: blessed in the Fellowship of the Redeemed; and blessed amid all the Celestial Host; blessed by all the chorus of humanity, and blessed by the whisper of each single soul.
Blessed from everlasting, blessed now, and blessed for evermore.
Blessed be God. Amen.  (Oremus, 1925, p.21).

#33 The True Seven Principle Possessions of The Church

These are the true seven principal parts of the great holy possession whereby the Holy Spirit effects in us a daily sanctification and vivification in Christ, according to the first table of Moses. By this we obey it, albeit never as perfectly as Christ. But we constantly strive to attain the goal, under his redemption or remission of sin, until we too shall one day become perfectly holy and no longer stand in need of forgiveness. Everything is directed toward that goal. I would even call these seven parts the seven sacraments, but since that term has been misused by the papists and is used in a different sense in Scripture, I shall let them stand as the seven principal parts of Christian sanctification or the seven holy possessions of the church.

  1. The Holy Word of God
  2. The Holy Sacrament of Baptism
  3. The Holy Sacrament of the Altar
  4. The Office of the Keys
  5. The Ministers Who Administer
  6. Prayer, Praise and Thanksgiving
  7. The Sacred Cross of Affliction

(Luther’s Works, v.41, p.165-166)

Picture:  The Victorious Savior Window

Book of Concord, Bible Class #28: Ap. IX, X, XI and XIII. The Number and Use of the Sacraments

This Bible study examines Apology, articles IX. Baptism, X. The Holy Supper, XI. Confession and XIII. The Number and Use of the Sacraments.

Quiz #27 (tan sheet): Quiz-27-for-Apr-12-2020-Apology-VII-and-VIII.pdf
Text of the Apology IX, X, XI and XIII:  Apology-IX-X-XI-and-XIII.pdf

Review for Quiz #27: Apology-VII-and-VIII-b.pdf

Note 1: A Matins 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 Class #28

Matins for Easter Sunday April 12, 2020

Service Bulletin:  Easter-Sunday-Matins-for-Online-4-12-2020.pdf
Printed Sermon:  SRM1908-The-Forever-Festival.pdf

0:00 Hymn #127 “Jesus Christ is Risen Today” (with trumpet)
3:00 Order of Matins, p.208
3:45 Venite with Easter Invitatory, p.209
5:45 Hymn #124 “Christ Is Arisen”7:45
7:00 Psalm 118
14:30 Readings:  Job 19:23-27, 1 Corinthians 5:6-8, Mark 16:1-8
17:15 Responsory for Easter, p.213
18:40 Sermon “The Forever Festival” 1 Cor 5:7-8  (length: 16 minutes)
34:40 Benedictus, p.217
37:10 Prayers
42:30 Paschal Blessing, p.244
47:50 Te Deum, p. 246
Hymn #123 “Christ Jesus Lay in Death’s Strong Bands”
51:10 total time

–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 Easter Matins
Note: The Bible class was also recorded and will be available at trinityh.org.

For Confirmands.

O GOD, Whose Spirit multiplies and rules the whole body of the Church, conserve in those who have dedicated themselves to Thy service, the grace of sanctification, which Thou alone dost impart; so that, renewed in body and mind, they may serve Thee zealously in the unity of the faith; 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.76).

For Peace

O GOD, our Refuge and Strength, be present with us in all our troubles, that every adverse sword may be sheathed and every heart may be enriched with the blessings of peace; so that in tranquility we may behold Thee, and beholding Thee may possess Thee forever; 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.63).

#32 The Victory of Christ Is Utterly Certain

We must look at this image and take hold of it with a firm faith. He who does this has the innocence and the victory of Christ, no matter how great a sinner he is. But this cannot be grasped by loving will; it can be grasped only by reason illumined by faith. Therefore we are justified by faith alone, because faith alone grasps this victory of Christ. To the extent that you believe this, to that extent you have it. If you believe that sin, death, and the curse have been abolished, they have been abolished, because Christ conquered and overcame them in Himself; and He wants us to believe that just as in His Person there is no longer the mask of the sinner or any vestige of death, so this is no longer in our person, since He has done everything for us.

Therefore if sin makes you anxious, and if death terrifies you, just think that this is an empty specter and an illusion of the devil—which is what it surely is. For in fact there is no sin any longer, no curse, no death, and no devil, because Christ has conquered and abolished all these. Accordingly, the victory of Christ is utterly certain; the defects lie not in the fact itself, which is completely true, but in our incredulity. It is difficult for reason to believe such inestimable blessings. In addition, the devil and the sectarians—the former with his flaming darts (Eph. 6:16), the latter with their perverse and wicked doctrine—are bent on this one thing: to obscure this doctrine and take it away from us. It is above all for this doctrine, on which we insist so diligently, that we bear the hate and persecution of Satan and of the world. For Satan feels the power and the results of this doctrine.  (Luther’s Works, v.26, p.284-285)

Picture: The Risen Christ

Vespers for Good Friday April 10, 2020

I UPDATED THIS VIDEO TO NORMALIZE THE AUDIO. –11 pm 4/10/20
Service Bulletin 1: Good-Friday-Vespers-for-Online-4-10-2020.pdf
Printed Sermon:  SRM1907-The-Deeply-Despised-Shall-Be-Highly-Exalted.pdf

0.00 Hymn LW #113 “O Sacred Head Now Wounded”
4:50 Order of Vespers, p.224
5:40 Psalm 22
13:45 Readings:  Isaiah 52:13-53:12, 2 Corinthians 5:14-21, St. John 18:1-19:42
33:10 Responsory for Lent, p.226-227
34:15 Hymn LW #117 “Sing, My Tongue”
37:35 Sermon “The Deeply Despised Shall Be Highly Exalted” Jn 18:8-9  (length: 14 minutes)
51:30 Magnificat, p.228
54:10 Prayers
Three Collects for Good Friday
“Prayer in contagious epidemics and plagues”
Collect for Vespers & Collect “At this hour”
Collect for Peace
1.01:25 Hymn #121 “Upon the Cross Extended”
1.04:00 Hymn #110 “Go To Dark Gethsemane”
1.06:30 total time

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

That One’s Prayer be Heard.

O CHRIST, Who didst exclaim from the cross to the Father, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me ?”-Who by Thy cross didst redeem lost man, and didst give Satan to be bound in eternal chains: We beseech Thy mercy, that Thou wouldst never forsake us who believe in Thee, never repel us who confide in Thee; but that when we cry in the day-time Thou wouldest hear, and in the night-season also Thou wouldest receive our prayer;  Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.  (Oremus, 1925, p.64-65).