Rich was asked to preach at the Reformation Rally held at St. John's Lutheran Church, Farmville, VA, November 3, 2013.
Reformation Day – Oct. 31, 2010
Reformation Presentation
Farmville, VA – November 3, 2013
Theme: - to every nation, tribe, language and people
Text:
Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people.
Please pray with me:
Lord, May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing in your sight, Amen.
In July, 1990, I had the privilege of visiting Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Germany. One memory from that day is walking up to the bronze doors of the All Saints' Church, commonly referred to as Schloßkirche ("Castle church") and seeing the 95 Theses inscribed in Latin. As I stood in front of those doors my mind wandered back through history.
I could see myself in 1517, struggling with the challenges of providing for my family and wondering what the future would hold. The hardships of earthly life contrasted with what I was told about the glory of heaven. More than anything I wanted to be sure that I would spend eternity in heaven.
So I would attend worship services, go to confession and try to live a good life.
Then I received word of another way I could insure eternal life - Johann Tetzel, a Dominican priest, was selling something he called “indulgences” – all I had to do was purchase one of these documents and I was guaranteed heaven – I would work hard to make the money needed for not only me, but my whole family.
I would be sure to bring my paper to confession, making sure the priest knew he had one less sinner to worry about.
But in Wittenberg, the priest was Martin Luther.
I could picture Martin Luther, outraged, upset and frustrated by the sale of indulgences, sitting at his desk composing his thoughts, organizing his arguments and wanting to debate penning the document, “Disputation of Dr. Martin Luther Concerning Penitence and Indulgences”.
On the eve of All Saint's Day, October 31, 1517, he nailed his document on the door of the Castle Church challenging all to a debate.
Although written in Latin, appealing to a scholarly debate, by January, just two months after they were posted, the Ninety-Five Theses had been translated into German, printed and distributed for all to read.
Luther asked for a debate, but aided by the printing press, he started a Reformation.
His hammer blows still reverberate today – calling us to the message of eternal salvation:
Grace Alone:
God loves the people of the world, even though they are sinful, rebel against Him and do not deserve His love. He sent Jesus, His Son, to love the unlovable and save the ungodly.
What a comfort that is to me – for I daily sin and rebel against God. I get a small glimpse of this grace when I look at Carol. For there are time when I am short with her, yet she loves me in spite of what I do or say. Her love for me pales in comparison to the love God has for me, what a comfort that is!
Faith Alone:
By His suffering and death as the substitute for all people of all time, Jesus purchased and won forgiveness and eternal life for them. Those who hear this Good News and believe it have the eternal life that it offers. God creates faith in Christ and gives people forgiveness through Him – not works, indulgences, or other man-made devices.
It is like our bank balance is negative and Christ bank balance is $1 million. He doesn’t just give us enough money to get back to zero, He swaps out His $1 million for mine!
Scripture Alone:
The Bible is God's inerrant and infallible Word, in which He reveals His Law and His Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ. It is the sole rule and norm for Christian doctrine.
What a comfort that is to me, especially when I hear about “new” gospels or hidden books, I know that the scriptures are all I need – period!
Today, as we remember those hammer blows of Martin Luther, we are faced with a world filled with people who struggle with the challenges of providing for family and wondering what the future holds.
The world is racked with an uncertain future – economic crisis grip every continent, governments topple and rise, families go to bed not knowing what tomorrow will bring.
Those facing uncertain earthly futures seek something bigger than them – a message of hope, a message of a future - the eternal gospel.
But not everyone hears the message of the eternal Gospel – just like in 1517, many voices shout out a message that seems to be one of comfort, but will disappoint.
Today many people place their hope and future in something other than Grace alone, Faith alone and Scripture alone.
The world is filled with those who pile up good deeds, trying desperately to earn eternity with good living. – Who comes to your mind?
There are many who trust in creating their own version of faith – picking and choosing from many belief systems much like a religious buffet – “I’ll have the peace of a Buddhist, the heaven of a Christian, a god of love without hell or judgment, and I’ll worship nature, because it is so much better than being in a building.” – Who comes to your mind?
A growing number of people today reject all forms of religion – claiming there is no god, there is no afterlife – what I have now is it. They live for the moment – eating, drinking and making merry today – for tomorrow they die and it is all over. – Who comes to your mind?
Each day thousands will die and unless they know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, they will perish eternally – and so it is time to once again start a movement, a cultural reformation – one in which every Christian speaks the Gospel message.
The message is simple: Grace alone, Faith alone, Scripture alone.
It is in the sharing that we often falter. We may fear we don’t have the right words, or we will be rejected, or we will be persecuted, or … fill in the blank.
Luther gives us insight in how we can and do share the Gospel message. He calls it “OUR VOCATION”
Luther defines vocation as the situation in history and society in which we find ourselves – if we are a parent, that is our vacation; if we are employed, that is our vocation; if we are a son or daughter, that is our vocation; if we serve the needs of others, that is our vocation.
Luther further explains that vocation is a "mask of God." God is hidden in vocation. We see the milkmaid, or the farmer, or the doctor or pastor or artist. But, looming behind this human mask, God is genuinely present and active in what they do for us.
Story of New Minden and farmer - food
Of course, that vocation is a mask of God means that God also works through you and me in our various callings. That God is hidden in what we do is often obscured by our own sinful and selfish motivations. But that does not prevent God from acting.
Visiting jail in Juarez
Thus it is that we share a saving Gospel as we live our life – our vocation.
Armed with this knowledge our words, deeds and whole life become a witness to the saving Gospel of Jesus.
We are placed in a specific time, in a specific place to share the Good News to those around us.
Among those around us are our families, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and people on the street and in the stores we visit. Today we are surrounded by those who need a saving Gospel.
We take comfort that we are not alone in sharing a witness.
Luther used his voice and his voice was multiplied by others using the technology of the printing press.
Today we have the opportunity to combine our voices together - multiplied by technology – to reach every nation, tribe, language and people.
You are not alone:
The Lutheran Hour radio program is heard across the United States and throughout the world.
Lutheran Hour Ministries has APPS that share the Gospel message.
Alongside the APPS we can use social media – Facebook, Twitter, Yourtube, Pinterest and Instagram to share a Gospel message. – Who comes to mind?
In my life I have a family member that could use a Gospel message – perhaps one of you will reach him as you share the Gospel with a friend, who shares with a friend, etc. until my family member hears the saving Gospel.
And just maybe I might reach the person who are thinking of – how cool would that be?
Today we can work together and bring the message of the saving gospel to every nation, tribe, language and people.
May God bless us in our efforts.
Amen.
May the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Amen.
Farmville, VA – November 3, 2013
Theme: - to every nation, tribe, language and people
Text:
Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people.
Please pray with me:
Lord, May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing in your sight, Amen.
In July, 1990, I had the privilege of visiting Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Germany. One memory from that day is walking up to the bronze doors of the All Saints' Church, commonly referred to as Schloßkirche ("Castle church") and seeing the 95 Theses inscribed in Latin. As I stood in front of those doors my mind wandered back through history.
I could see myself in 1517, struggling with the challenges of providing for my family and wondering what the future would hold. The hardships of earthly life contrasted with what I was told about the glory of heaven. More than anything I wanted to be sure that I would spend eternity in heaven.
So I would attend worship services, go to confession and try to live a good life.
Then I received word of another way I could insure eternal life - Johann Tetzel, a Dominican priest, was selling something he called “indulgences” – all I had to do was purchase one of these documents and I was guaranteed heaven – I would work hard to make the money needed for not only me, but my whole family.
I would be sure to bring my paper to confession, making sure the priest knew he had one less sinner to worry about.
But in Wittenberg, the priest was Martin Luther.
I could picture Martin Luther, outraged, upset and frustrated by the sale of indulgences, sitting at his desk composing his thoughts, organizing his arguments and wanting to debate penning the document, “Disputation of Dr. Martin Luther Concerning Penitence and Indulgences”.
On the eve of All Saint's Day, October 31, 1517, he nailed his document on the door of the Castle Church challenging all to a debate.
Although written in Latin, appealing to a scholarly debate, by January, just two months after they were posted, the Ninety-Five Theses had been translated into German, printed and distributed for all to read.
Luther asked for a debate, but aided by the printing press, he started a Reformation.
His hammer blows still reverberate today – calling us to the message of eternal salvation:
Grace Alone:
God loves the people of the world, even though they are sinful, rebel against Him and do not deserve His love. He sent Jesus, His Son, to love the unlovable and save the ungodly.
What a comfort that is to me – for I daily sin and rebel against God. I get a small glimpse of this grace when I look at Carol. For there are time when I am short with her, yet she loves me in spite of what I do or say. Her love for me pales in comparison to the love God has for me, what a comfort that is!
Faith Alone:
By His suffering and death as the substitute for all people of all time, Jesus purchased and won forgiveness and eternal life for them. Those who hear this Good News and believe it have the eternal life that it offers. God creates faith in Christ and gives people forgiveness through Him – not works, indulgences, or other man-made devices.
It is like our bank balance is negative and Christ bank balance is $1 million. He doesn’t just give us enough money to get back to zero, He swaps out His $1 million for mine!
Scripture Alone:
The Bible is God's inerrant and infallible Word, in which He reveals His Law and His Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ. It is the sole rule and norm for Christian doctrine.
What a comfort that is to me, especially when I hear about “new” gospels or hidden books, I know that the scriptures are all I need – period!
Today, as we remember those hammer blows of Martin Luther, we are faced with a world filled with people who struggle with the challenges of providing for family and wondering what the future holds.
The world is racked with an uncertain future – economic crisis grip every continent, governments topple and rise, families go to bed not knowing what tomorrow will bring.
Those facing uncertain earthly futures seek something bigger than them – a message of hope, a message of a future - the eternal gospel.
But not everyone hears the message of the eternal Gospel – just like in 1517, many voices shout out a message that seems to be one of comfort, but will disappoint.
Today many people place their hope and future in something other than Grace alone, Faith alone and Scripture alone.
The world is filled with those who pile up good deeds, trying desperately to earn eternity with good living. – Who comes to your mind?
There are many who trust in creating their own version of faith – picking and choosing from many belief systems much like a religious buffet – “I’ll have the peace of a Buddhist, the heaven of a Christian, a god of love without hell or judgment, and I’ll worship nature, because it is so much better than being in a building.” – Who comes to your mind?
A growing number of people today reject all forms of religion – claiming there is no god, there is no afterlife – what I have now is it. They live for the moment – eating, drinking and making merry today – for tomorrow they die and it is all over. – Who comes to your mind?
Each day thousands will die and unless they know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, they will perish eternally – and so it is time to once again start a movement, a cultural reformation – one in which every Christian speaks the Gospel message.
The message is simple: Grace alone, Faith alone, Scripture alone.
It is in the sharing that we often falter. We may fear we don’t have the right words, or we will be rejected, or we will be persecuted, or … fill in the blank.
Luther gives us insight in how we can and do share the Gospel message. He calls it “OUR VOCATION”
Luther defines vocation as the situation in history and society in which we find ourselves – if we are a parent, that is our vacation; if we are employed, that is our vocation; if we are a son or daughter, that is our vocation; if we serve the needs of others, that is our vocation.
Luther further explains that vocation is a "mask of God." God is hidden in vocation. We see the milkmaid, or the farmer, or the doctor or pastor or artist. But, looming behind this human mask, God is genuinely present and active in what they do for us.
Story of New Minden and farmer - food
Of course, that vocation is a mask of God means that God also works through you and me in our various callings. That God is hidden in what we do is often obscured by our own sinful and selfish motivations. But that does not prevent God from acting.
Visiting jail in Juarez
Thus it is that we share a saving Gospel as we live our life – our vocation.
Armed with this knowledge our words, deeds and whole life become a witness to the saving Gospel of Jesus.
We are placed in a specific time, in a specific place to share the Good News to those around us.
Among those around us are our families, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and people on the street and in the stores we visit. Today we are surrounded by those who need a saving Gospel.
We take comfort that we are not alone in sharing a witness.
Luther used his voice and his voice was multiplied by others using the technology of the printing press.
Today we have the opportunity to combine our voices together - multiplied by technology – to reach every nation, tribe, language and people.
You are not alone:
The Lutheran Hour radio program is heard across the United States and throughout the world.
Lutheran Hour Ministries has APPS that share the Gospel message.
Alongside the APPS we can use social media – Facebook, Twitter, Yourtube, Pinterest and Instagram to share a Gospel message. – Who comes to mind?
In my life I have a family member that could use a Gospel message – perhaps one of you will reach him as you share the Gospel with a friend, who shares with a friend, etc. until my family member hears the saving Gospel.
And just maybe I might reach the person who are thinking of – how cool would that be?
Today we can work together and bring the message of the saving gospel to every nation, tribe, language and people.
May God bless us in our efforts.
Amen.
May the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Amen.
