What s the Hang Up? Matthew 22:34-46

Size: px
Start display at page:

Download "What s the Hang Up? Matthew 22:34-46"

Transcription

1 Garrett Vickrey Reformation Sunday What s the Hang Up? Matthew 22:34-46 Woodland Baptist Church San Antonio, TX A blogger from Dallas who is a lay person in the church wrote to the editor of the Baptist Standard this week asking columnists to respond to a question. It s the question posed to Jesus by the rich young ruler What must I do to be saved? Since, I am one voice in the Voices Column of the Standard I was asked to respond. But, before I get to my response I want to share a story with you from my father-in-law who was in town this week. He told a story from his childhood recently in a sermon. George attended a Lutheran school growing up. His mother s family was Lutheran but they attended a baptist-like Evangelical denomination called the Free Church. The church, like most baptist churches put a lot of emphasis on being born again by making a profession of faith. If you prayed the sinner s prayer and believed in Jesus, you can be saved. One day in school a religion teacher wrote a spiritual equation on the chalkboard: Grace + = Salvation. George s hand shot up in the air he had the answer. Typical, for us preachers; we love to have the answers. FAITH! he said. Grace plus faith equals salvation. Turns out it wasn t a question, though. It was a statement. 1 The blank wasn t there to be filled in; it was there to signify nothing. So the question from the rich young ruler and the rich young blogger in Dallas, What must I do to be saved? Nothing. And this question is connected to the question of the lawyer in Matthew 22. What must I do to be saved and, And what is the most important commandment these are both ways of asking what this whole thing is about? Give us your summary of faith. Or for us today what does it mean to be Christian? When I hear this conversation or this debate between Jesus and the pharisees, I think, things haven t changed much. We still try to pin each other to positions based on how we answer these questions. Based on how we fill in the the blank (Grace + = Salvation). 1

2 There s so much we can get hung up on in order to fill that blank. Whatever it is the reformers of 500 years ago had a name for it works righteousness. The work we do to make ourselves righteous before God. And reformers like Martin Luther, Calvin and the later radicals like the early baptists emphasized the grace of God. 500 years ago this Tuesday an Augustinian monk named Martin Luther posted his 95 theses on door of a church in Wittenberg, Germany. His intent was not to condemn the Catholic Church and start a new church. His intent was to reform the practices of the church. The church had become big business a power player on the international scene. It was basically selling assurances of salvation in order to finance its vast building projects. The church sold indulgences which were certificates issued by the church that promised forgiveness of sins for a price. You could even buy indulgences for deceased family members to shorten their stay in purgatory. Luther challenged this despicable practice on October 31, And the result was the Protestant Reformation. The church was trying to add something to the grace of God. Grace and the favor of the church make for salvation. Grace + indulgence; grace + the blessing of the pope. We are always trying till in that blank. Luther took on an empire to keep that blank blank. He risked everything to remove the barriers propped up to direct us to a certain kind of salvation. There was another who did that. He took on an empire, laid down his life, and won. God has kept that blank empty, but we keep trying to fill it up. The best way to keep that blank blank is by loving God and loving neighbor. If you do that then you re leaning on grace. And grace is all we ve got; the good news is it s all we need. Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6, the Shema as it is known in Judaism. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. Like any good Jew (or any good baptist) Jesus goes straight to scripture. And he adds a second scripture verse to it from Leviticus 19, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The Shema already was the central verse around which the rest of the commandments were defined. And other Rabbis of this time had said 2

3 similar summations of the law. Jesus highlighting of these 2 verses along with his statement On these 2 commandments hang all the law and the prophets this makes these commandments the lens through which the rest of scripture is to be read. Essentially, Jesus is saying love is the test of one s true understanding of the law. And if we had any doubt about his credentials, the second half of this passage we read today shows Jesus mastery of scriptures. He stumps the Pharisees, and notice the Sadducees are quiet too. He gives his summation of the life of faith (the great commandment on which it all hangs) and then he exhibits his scriptural skills. Jackie Moore spoke this past Monday night at a ceremony honoring her mother Babs and the Baugh Foundation as they were given the Founders Award by Baptist New Global. Most of the people in the room were baptists from this church and others and from baptists organizations around the country who have benefited from the generosity of the Baugh Foundation. But, Jackie wanted to say something to the non-baptists in the room. She wanted to let them know what kind of baptists we were talking about. She talked about baptist principles and the she said to summarize, We want to default to the love of Christ, the red letters, always. On this hangs all the commandments. What kind of love are we talking about here? The link between these two scriptures quoted by Jesus gives us a clue. Loving God is central. It s, of course, at the heart of our tradition. But, let s be honest for a moment. We haven t always portrayed God as good. We ve portrayed God as just, wrathful, hating sinners. Martin Luther used to spend as many as 8 hours a day sometimes in confession confessing every sin he could think of; at times even confessing for sins he had accidentally committed and forgotten. Why? Because he never thought he was good enough for God. He had heard that God was good, even graceful. But, all his focus was on God s wrath, and God s righteousness that far surpassed his own. He couldn t escape feeling like he needed to DO something to earn God s grace. Maybe this same perspective was around in Jesus day. If so, then maybe these words from Jesus are meant to reorient our whole understanding of the history of God and God s people. If 3

4 this is your thinking that God is a God of wrath and justice; I encourage you to rethink your image of God s wrath and justice. Don t get hung up on these things. Instead, remember that God is a God of love. And that we were born out of that love. Jesus gives us the great commandment so that we can live the way he dreams for us to live, but also so that we can better understand God and scripture. So, now that we have this commandment we need to look at the whole of the bible through the lens of God s love revealed in Christ. Our 5 year-old likes for Cameron to tell her bible stories at bed time. But, she doesn t call them bible stories; she says, Tell me a story about what happened up in heaven. She tells her the story of creation most nights. But, she tells it through the lens of the Triune God revealed in Jesus. Before God created the world, God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit were best friends, and they thought that they would really love to have more friends to share their love with. So first they created a place to put them, and then oceans and water, mountains and beaches for them to play in. Then they thought flowers and birds and butterflies. And then came the cows and ducks and bugs. And finally came you and me. 1 John answers the question of why should we love God by saying because, He loved us first. And this is the reason why: we were made to share in the life of God Father, Son, and Spirit. Maybe that s why Jesus links loving God and loving neighbor because part of loving God is loving what or who God loves. I was talking to one of our members who lives in a skilled nursing care facility this week. When she first got there last year she found out that a friend of hers who is Catholic needed prayer. So she went to the priest and deacon of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church that come by every week to do visits and she asked them to come and pray with her friend Beverly. And then for the next few weeks she would go throughout the halls and she would find anyone who was Catholic and needed prayer. Then she would go to the priest and the deacon to tell them who they should visit, and who needed prayer. It got to the point where the first thing the priest and the deacon would do when they got to the nursing home was to go see this old baptist woman. She was 4

5 basically the unofficial Bapto- Catholic" chaplain of the skilled nursing facility. Because she knows that the love of God is a love that seeks, finds, and covers us no matter where we go. Several years ago a father was standing on the train platform waiting on the subway in New York City. He was standing there with his two young daughters who were 4 and 6. When all of a sudden a man a few steps away began to have a seizure and his body was convulsing out of control. It shook the man so intensely that he fell onto the tracks. And the father looked down the track and he saw the headlight of the oncoming train. It was coming fast. He had to make a split second decision. And so he jumped down on the tracks and laid on top of the man pinning him to the ground to stop his convulsing. There wasn t time to get him off of the track, so the father just covered him and laid down between the tracks as the train rumbled just inches over their heads. The train s breaks screeched to a stop. Five cars rolled overhead before the train stopped, the cars passing inches from his head, smudging his blue knit cap with grease. We re O.K. down here, he yelled, but I ve got two daughters up there. Let them know their father s O.K. The father said later that he didn t feel like he did anything spectacular. He said, I just saw someone who needed help I did what I felt was right. 2 And he said upon thinking back on that moment, When I jumped down there on the tracks and I covered that man. As the train rumbled over my head I felt like something was covering me. I felt like I was covered. Truth is there was nothing there. Nothing + grace. 5

6 1 George Mason, Just Faith, 15 October 2017, sermon from Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas, TX Cara Buckley, Man Is Rescued by Stranger on Subway Tracks, The New York Times, 3 January 2007, 6

their moral character but the quality of their music. It was good music. It was music they could be proud of and the name stuck. 1

their moral character but the quality of their music. It was good music. It was music they could be proud of and the name stuck. 1 George A. Mason 500-year Anniversary of the Reformation Wilshire Baptist Church 15 October 2017 Third in a series, The Legacy of Luther Dallas, Texas Just Faith Romans 1:16-17, 5:1-3; Ephesians 2:8-9 If

More information

This is not all bad. The truth is, the Reformation habit of splitting has been good for the

This is not all bad. The truth is, the Reformation habit of splitting has been good for the George A. Mason World Communion Sunday Wilshire Baptist Church 1 October 2017 First in a series, The Legacy of Luther Dallas, Texas The New One John 17:1-3, 20-26; Ephesians 4:1-6 For the first thousand

More information

Essential Question: What caused the Protestant Reformation? Warm-Up Q: Look at this image: What is the main idea of the Protestant Reformation?

Essential Question: What caused the Protestant Reformation? Warm-Up Q: Look at this image: What is the main idea of the Protestant Reformation? Essential Question: What caused the Protestant Reformation? Warm-Up Q: Look at this image: What is the main idea of the Protestant Reformation? During the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church was the dominant

More information

The Greatest Commandments Matthew 22: 34-46, by Marshall Zieman, preached at PCOC

The Greatest Commandments Matthew 22: 34-46, by Marshall Zieman, preached at PCOC The Greatest Commandments Matthew 22: 34-46, by Marshall Zieman, preached 10-29-2017 at PCOC Today we think back to that day in 1517 in Wittenberg, Germany, when the Catholic priest, Martin Luther, published

More information

Among You The Lord s Prayer, Luke 17:20-21

Among You The Lord s Prayer, Luke 17:20-21 Garrett Vickrey 2.18.15 The Prayer Jesus Taught Us to Pray, Part 2 Pentecost 13+ Among You The Lord s Prayer, Luke 17:20-21 Woodland Baptist Church San Antonio, TX I. If you want to know what a person

More information

Learning Goal 3: Describe the major causes of the Reformation and the political, intellectual, artistic, economic and religious effects of the

Learning Goal 3: Describe the major causes of the Reformation and the political, intellectual, artistic, economic and religious effects of the Learning Goal 3: Describe the major causes of the Reformation and the political, intellectual, artistic, economic and religious effects of the Reformation. (TEKS/SE s 1D,5B) New Ideas of the Renaissance

More information

hristian Beliefs and Modern History

hristian Beliefs and Modern History hristian Beliefs and Modern History Let s Break It Down Scriptures Beliefs Denominations Practices Old Testament v. New Testament Old Testament Basically the TaNaKh or Hebrew Bible New Testament The Four

More information

Lesson 3: Who Are Protestants?

Lesson 3: Who Are Protestants? STANDARD C - WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A PART OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD? Introduction Lesson 3: Who Are Protestants? Most Christians are in agreement on basic beliefs. Most accept the Apostles Creed and the Nicene

More information

Reformation and Counter Reformation

Reformation and Counter Reformation Reformation and Counter Reformation The Reformation was a time of great discovery and learning that affected the way individuals viewed themselves and the world. The Beginning of the Reformation The Catholic

More information

! CNI. Martin Luther - passionate reformer

! CNI. Martin Luther - passionate reformer ! CNI Martin Luther - passionate reformer At last meditating day and night, by the mercy of God, I began to understand that the righteousness of God is that through which the righteous live by a gift of

More information

The Holy Church: Baptists and the Sanctity of the Church 1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10; Matthew 13:24-30

The Holy Church: Baptists and the Sanctity of the Church 1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10; Matthew 13:24-30 George A. Mason Reformation Sunday Wilshire Baptist Church 25 October 2015 Third in a series, the Once and Future Baptist Church Dallas, Texas The Holy Church: Baptists and the Sanctity of the Church 1

More information

THE REFORMATION. Outcome: Martin Luther and the Reformation

THE REFORMATION. Outcome: Martin Luther and the Reformation THE REFORMATION Outcome: Martin Luther and the Reformation Constructive Response Question 4. Identify the reasons that drove Martin Luther to write the 95 Theses and describe the outcome of the action.

More information

The importance of Faith

The importance of Faith 1 Galatians 3:6-14 The importance of Faith The early church had a saying, In essentials, law, in non-essentials, liberty, in all things love. Three Tiers: Dogma (Essentials) Doctrine (Non-essentials) Opinion

More information

The Reformation is the Gospel. Four hundred and ninety-one years ago this coming Friday, a 34-year-old Augustinian monk

The Reformation is the Gospel. Four hundred and ninety-one years ago this coming Friday, a 34-year-old Augustinian monk Reformation Day (Observed), October 26, 2008 Church of the Reformation Lutheran, Affton, MO Text: John 8:31-36 The Reformation is the Gospel Four hundred and ninety-one years ago this coming Friday, a

More information

The Good Samaritan Program No SPEAKER: JOHN BRADSHAW

The Good Samaritan Program No SPEAKER: JOHN BRADSHAW It Is Written Script: 1265 The Good Samaritan Page 1 The Good Samaritan Program No. 1265 SPEAKER: JOHN BRADSHAW Wesley Autrey was standing on the platform of a subway station in New York. With him were

More information

Sharing the Gospel doesn t always lead to favorable responses, but God works through our faithfulness. Acts 4

Sharing the Gospel doesn t always lead to favorable responses, but God works through our faithfulness. Acts 4 Sharing the Gospel doesn t always lead to favorable responses, but God works through our faithfulness Acts 4 Introduction We observe the responses of those who witness Peter and John s healing and Gospel

More information

But I wonder if that's what Jesus was really saying in that parable.

But I wonder if that's what Jesus was really saying in that parable. You might remember a few years ago an amazing thing happened in New York City. A construction worker named Wesley Autrey was standing on a subway platform with his two young daughters, ages four and six,

More information

TEKS 8C: Calculate percent composition and empirical and molecular formulas. The Protestant Reformation Begins

TEKS 8C: Calculate percent composition and empirical and molecular formulas. The Protestant Reformation Begins The Protestant Reformation Begins Objectives Summarize the factors that encouraged the Protestant Reformation. Analyze Martin Luther s role in shaping the Protestant Reformation. Explain the teachings

More information

The Reformation Begins

The Reformation Begins Chapter 17, Section 3 The Reformation Begins (Pages 633 641) Setting a Purpose for Reading Think about these questions as you read: How did Martin Luther s ideas change the Church? What did John Calvin

More information

FIRST (SCOTS) SERMONS ALWAYS BEING REFORMED ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF GOD

FIRST (SCOTS) SERMONS ALWAYS BEING REFORMED ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF GOD FIRST (SCOTS) SERMONS ALWAYS BEING REFORMED ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF GOD Scripture Lessons: Exodus 20:1-17; Matthew 22:34-40 This sermon was preached by Dr. L. Holton Siegling, Jr. on Sunday, October 28,

More information

Topeka Performing Arts Center Topeka, Kansas

Topeka Performing Arts Center Topeka, Kansas 1 Reformation Sunday October 29, 2017 John 8:31-36 President Peter K. Lange Circuit 6 LCMS Kansas District Topeka Performing Arts Center Topeka, Kansas Dear fellow redeemed by the blood of Jesus, brothers

More information

Luther. Servant of God. Student Book. Corbis

Luther. Servant of God. Student Book. Corbis Luther Servant of God Student Book Victor Paulos Corbis Contents 1. Why Study about Martin Luther? 5 2. Luther s Birth and Boyhood 10 3. High School and College Days 14 4. Brother Martin, Augustinian Monk

More information

Post tenebras lux After darkness, light

Post tenebras lux After darkness, light Page 1 AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION Post tenebras lux After darkness, light October 31, 1517 Reformation Day October 31, 2017 500 th Anniversary PURPOSE OF THIS LESSON 1. Provide an understanding

More information

Mark 12:28-34 Letting Your Faith Show 11/4/18-am All Saints Sunday

Mark 12:28-34 Letting Your Faith Show 11/4/18-am All Saints Sunday Mark 12:28-34 Letting Your Faith Show 11/4/18-am All Saints Sunday Our passage from the Gospel of Mark today records a time when the Pharisees were trying to trip up Jesus with their questions - The topic

More information

Martin Luther THEOLOGIANS PASSIONATE REFORMER

Martin Luther THEOLOGIANS PASSIONATE REFORMER THEOLOGIANS Martin Luther PASSIONATE REFORMER At last meditating day and night, by the mercy of God, I began to understand that the righteousness of God is that through which the righteous live by a gi!

More information

Ephesians 2:1-10 August 27, To All the Nations Spreading the Good News, Part 4

Ephesians 2:1-10 August 27, To All the Nations Spreading the Good News, Part 4 Scott Meador First UMC Ephesians 2:1-10 August 27, 2017 To All the Nations Spreading the Good News, Part 4 I The main thing that God asks for is our attention. This quote has been said by a number of people.

More information

The Reformation Protestant protest

The Reformation Protestant protest The Reformation The church had fallen into ritualism, superstition and lifeless theological scholasticism. Some church leaders even suggested that salvation could be earned or bought. Giving the church

More information

The Reformation Begins

The Reformation Begins The Reformation Begins I N T E R A C T I V E S T U D E N T N O T E B O O K What factors led to the weakening of the Catholic Church and the beginning of the Reformation? P R E V I E W Your school s principal

More information

October, 2017 Florida Hospital Seventh-day Adventist Church Romans 1:16-17 Pillars of the Reformation: By Faith Alone (Sola Fide) by Andy McDonald

October, 2017 Florida Hospital Seventh-day Adventist Church Romans 1:16-17 Pillars of the Reformation: By Faith Alone (Sola Fide) by Andy McDonald 1 October, 2017 Florida Hospital Seventh-day Adventist Church Romans 1:16-17 Pillars of the Reformation: By Faith Alone (Sola Fide) by Andy McDonald The difference one week can make. Last Sunday morning

More information

Questioning the Church and the response from the Catholic Church. The Reformation, Counter- Reformation, and societal impacts

Questioning the Church and the response from the Catholic Church. The Reformation, Counter- Reformation, and societal impacts Questioning the Church and the response from the Catholic Church The Reformation, Counter- Reformation, and societal impacts 1500-1700 Fundamental Christian Question: How can sinful human beings gain salvation?

More information

Explanation of the series

Explanation of the series Explanation of the series We are pausing our study in the book of Acts - which is ancient church history, 1950 years ago - and we are now going to be looking at some more recent church history, a mere

More information

Reformation Sunday By Rev. Sharon MacArthur For Berkeley Chinese Community Church Sunday October 29, 2017

Reformation Sunday By Rev. Sharon MacArthur For Berkeley Chinese Community Church Sunday October 29, 2017 Reformation Sunday By Rev. Sharon MacArthur For Berkeley Chinese Community Church Sunday October 29, 2017 Jeremiah 31:31-34 31 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant

More information

THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION

THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION Essential Question: p. 58 What caused the Protestant Reformation? Warm-Up: Look at this image: What is the main idea of the Protestant Reformation? During the Middle Ages, the

More information

Who Are You? Philippians 3:1-11

Who Are You? Philippians 3:1-11 1 Natalie W. Bell September 24, 2017 Who Are You? Philippians 3:1-11 As we continue this sermon series through Paul s letter to the Philippians, I encourage you to sit back and hear chapter 3 read aloud

More information

Reformation. The Story

Reformation. The Story Reformation The Story Close your eyes. Pretend you lived in a time with no T.V., no computers, no cars, airplanes, or trains, no electricity, no movies, and no video games. Your life would be very different.

More information

In the Fall, we made it from approximately 10,000 BC to the 1500s. Next up: 1500s-today

In the Fall, we made it from approximately 10,000 BC to the 1500s. Next up: 1500s-today In the Fall, we made it from approximately 10,000 BC to the 1500s. Next up: 1500s-today Finishing Unit 6- Changing Ideas: Renaissance & innovations in Europe Revolutions! People revolt around the world

More information

Today is the day we set aside every year to celebrate the Reformation. We sing the old

Today is the day we set aside every year to celebrate the Reformation. We sing the old 1 Sermon 10.26.14 Reformation Sunday, Year A Jeremiah 31:31-34 Psalm 46 Romans 3:19-28 John 8:31-36 Today is the day we set aside every year to celebrate the Reformation. We sing the old hymns, we talk

More information

The Protestant Reformation Of the 16 th Century

The Protestant Reformation Of the 16 th Century The Protestant Reformation Of the 16 th Century Background Before the Protestant Reformation there was considered to only be one Church, the Catholic Church 1515 Pope Leo X gave indulgence for those who

More information

SOLA FIDE FAITH ALONE Sermon preached by Pastor C. John Steer Autumn Ridge Church October 14-15, 2017

SOLA FIDE FAITH ALONE Sermon preached by Pastor C. John Steer Autumn Ridge Church October 14-15, 2017 1 SOLA FIDE FAITH ALONE Sermon preached by Pastor C. John Steer Autumn Ridge Church October 14-15, 2017 No. 3: Sola Power Scripture: Romans 5:1-11 Solar power is one of the great hopes for meeting our

More information

CAUSES OF THE REFORMATION

CAUSES OF THE REFORMATION CAUSES OF THE REFORMATION The Renaissance caused people to start thinking for themselves Renaissance: period in European civilization immediately following the Middle Ages conventionally characterized

More information

The Reformation in Europe. Chapter 16

The Reformation in Europe. Chapter 16 The Reformation in Europe Chapter 16 16-1 THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION What Caused the Reformation? In Northern Europe Christian humanism begins People want to change the Catholic Church Desiderius Erasmus

More information

THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION 500 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OCTOBER 31, OCTOBER 31, 2017

THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION 500 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OCTOBER 31, OCTOBER 31, 2017 THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION 500 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OCTOBER 31, 1517 - OCTOBER 31, 2017 The Reformation October 31, 1517 What had happened to the Church that Jesus founded so that it needed a reformation?

More information

I gave myself to the Lord

I gave myself to the Lord Location: St George Page: 1 of 16 I want you to hear one man s story: When I was quite young I gave myself to the Lord. I then drifted away from the church and from Jesus and ended up walking in a wilderness

More information

2. Early Calls for Reform

2. Early Calls for Reform 2. Early Calls for Reform By the 1300s, the Church was beginning to lose some of its moral and religious standing. Many Catholics, including clergy, criticized the corruption and abuses in the Church.

More information

The Renaissance and Reformation

The Renaissance and Reformation The Renaissance and Reformation Renaissance The Renaissance was a period of rebirth in Europe after the Middle Ages Renaissance After years of war and the plague, many city-states in Italy began exploring

More information

The Protestant Reformation. Prologue The Printing Press: developed in the 1440 s by Johannes Gutenberg in Germany

The Protestant Reformation. Prologue The Printing Press: developed in the 1440 s by Johannes Gutenberg in Germany The Protestant Reformation Prologue The Printing Press: developed in the 1440 s by Johannes Gutenberg in Germany The Protestant Reformation Prologue The Printing Press: developed in the 1440 s by Johannes

More information

Martin Luther and the Doctrine of Justification

Martin Luther and the Doctrine of Justification Martin Luther and the Doctrine of Justification 2017 The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod 1333 S. Kirkwood Road St. Louis, MO 63122 888-THE LCMS lcms.org/ctcr This work may be reproduced by a churches and

More information

How Did the Presbyterian Church Get Started? Session 1

How Did the Presbyterian Church Get Started? Session 1 How Did the Presbyterian Church Get Started? Session 1 Ephesians 2:1 10; Romans 4:13 25; Romans 5:1 11 Session Objective In this session, participants will learn about the rich history of the Presbyterian

More information

This is certainly a strange text for the lectionary to hand down to us for World

This is certainly a strange text for the lectionary to hand down to us for World First Scripture Reading 1 Corinthians 1.10-18 Second Scripture Reading Mark 10:2-16 This is certainly a strange text for the lectionary to hand down to us for World Communion Sunday. Our Gospel lesson

More information

Since the past 15 years I have taught courses about the Book of Concord in an ELCA seminary.

Since the past 15 years I have taught courses about the Book of Concord in an ELCA seminary. A FORMULA FOR PARISH PRACTICE BY TIMOTHY WENGERT pages 1-10 (I have omitted pages 11-15, which discusses the organization of the book, scholarly sources for the book, and discussion questions.) INTRODUCTION

More information

Reading Essentials and Study Guide

Reading Essentials and Study Guide Lesson 1 The Protestant Reformation ESSENTIAL QUESTION What conditions can encourage the desire for reform? Reading HELPDESK Academic Vocabulary fundamental basic or essential external outward or observable

More information

Printing Press Quiz with Target Sheet - on half sheet paper.

Printing Press Quiz with Target Sheet - on half sheet paper. Printing Press Quiz with Target Sheet - on half sheet paper. 1. In what year was the Printing Press invented. 2. How old was Gutenberg when he invented it? 3. Who was Gutenberg s mother? 4. In what year

More information

gathering for reformation

gathering for reformation OCTOBER: gathering for reformation PART 1 g n i t get ady re A Youth Ministry Curriculum ramping up for the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering This month we observe the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. (Martin

More information

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God Psalm 46:1-11; Romans 1:16-17

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God Psalm 46:1-11; Romans 1:16-17 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God Psalm 46:1-11; Romans 1:16-17 Message by Michael J. Barnard October 29, 2017 Teaching Aim: To explore the events leading to the Protestant Reformation. To study the life of

More information

FIRST (SCOTS) SERMONS HOW ARE WE BEING REFORMED?

FIRST (SCOTS) SERMONS HOW ARE WE BEING REFORMED? FIRST (SCOTS) SERMONS HOW ARE WE BEING REFORMED? Scripture Lessons: 2 Chronicles 34:14-21, 29-33; Romans 3:19-28 This sermon was preached by Dr. L. Holton Siegling, Jr. on Sunday, October 29, 2017 at First

More information

Every Sunday Is Reformation Sunday

Every Sunday Is Reformation Sunday Every Sunday Is Reformation Sunday Bob Setzer, Jr. Pastor Knollwood Baptist Church Winston-Salem, North Carolina www.knollwood.org October 29, 2017 John 8:31-36 Will Willimon was, for many years, Dean

More information

Matthew , The Rev. Dr. Mary Abram; St. James' Episcopal Church, Pewee Valley KY Morning Prayer: July 27, 2014

Matthew , The Rev. Dr. Mary Abram; St. James' Episcopal Church, Pewee Valley KY Morning Prayer: July 27, 2014 Matthew 13 31-22, 44-52 The Rev. Dr. Mary Abram; St. James' Episcopal Church, Pewee Valley KY Morning Prayer: July 27, 2014 Long ago I saw a movie about a town where all the people were blind. I was very

More information

The Church: Early (33ad - 400s) Middle Ages (500s 1400s) Reformation (1500s s) Modern (1700s - Today)

The Church: Early (33ad - 400s) Middle Ages (500s 1400s) Reformation (1500s s) Modern (1700s - Today) The Church: Early (33ad - 400s) Middle Ages (500s 1400s) Reformation (1500s - 1600s) Modern (1700s - Today) The Church: Early (33ad - 400s) Middle Ages (500s 1400s) Reformation (1500s - 1600s) Modern (1700s

More information

10/16/17, Encountering Jesus- John the Baptist: John 1, 3

10/16/17, Encountering Jesus- John the Baptist: John 1, 3 1 10/16/17, Encountering Jesus- John the Baptist: John 1, 3 Todd and I traveling to Dallas for Marriage Ministry Conference. Met Flight Attendant, Diana. Conversation Diana had many encounters with religion

More information

Christianity. The Basics I

Christianity. The Basics I Christianity The Basics I Goals Basic Background Story of John the Baptist Jewish Society Story of Jesus The Birth and Spread of Christianity Christianity Splits Background 2 billion followers 1 billion

More information

SOLA SPRIPTURA (Mark 7:5-8)

SOLA SPRIPTURA (Mark 7:5-8) SOLA SPRIPTURA (Mark 7:5-8) INTRODUCTION In April 1521 Martin Luther, a monk of the Augustinian order in Wittenberg, Germany, was summoned to appear before Charles V, the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire,

More information

Spirit Shaped Acts 2:1-21

Spirit Shaped Acts 2:1-21 Garrett Vickrey 11.15.15 The Great 8 - Part 7 Pentecost 25 Spirit Shaped Acts 2:1-21 Woodland Baptist Church San Antonio, TX We have two more stories left in this adventure we are on through the Great

More information

A vote of no confidence

A vote of no confidence We are continuing our study of the book of Philippians and I would like to begin by telling you a story I heard a while back. This lawyer was walking along the beach one day when he saw this bottle that

More information

I simply taught, preached, and wrote God s Word; otherwise I did nothing. And while I slept, or drank Wittenberg beer with my friends the Word so

I simply taught, preached, and wrote God s Word; otherwise I did nothing. And while I slept, or drank Wittenberg beer with my friends the Word so I simply taught, preached, and wrote God s Word; otherwise I did nothing. And while I slept, or drank Wittenberg beer with my friends the Word so greatly weakened the papacy that no prince or emperor ever

More information

Reformation. With people all over the world, we ve been commemorating the fall day in 1517 when

Reformation. With people all over the world, we ve been commemorating the fall day in 1517 when SERMON TITLE: Saved By Grace: Our Way to Life SERMON TEXT: Ephesians 2:1-10 PREACHER: Rev. Kim James OCCASION: October 8, 2017, at First UMC INTRODUCTION For the past several weeks, we ve been celebrating

More information

Sentence: Introduction to Romans. Scripture: Romans 1:1-07 Date: 10/04/2016 Name: Michael Brumpton Location: St George & Dirranbandi Page: 1 of 10

Sentence: Introduction to Romans. Scripture: Romans 1:1-07 Date: 10/04/2016 Name: Michael Brumpton Location: St George & Dirranbandi Page: 1 of 10 Location: St George & Dirranbandi Page: 1 of 10 Today we begin our new series. A few weeks ago, someone asked me if I d ever preached a sermon on a certain passage in Romans, and I said, I can t remember,

More information

TODAY SALVATION... James S. Currie. Luke doesnʼt tell us. After all, it seems pretty critical to the story. Zaccheus sees Jesus,

TODAY SALVATION... James S. Currie. Luke doesnʼt tell us. After all, it seems pretty critical to the story. Zaccheus sees Jesus, Psalm 119:137-144!!!!!! First Presbyterian, Pasadena Luke 19:1-10!!!!!! October 30, 2016 (Reformation Sunday) TODAY SALVATION... James S. Currie! I wish I knew what went on over lunch in Zaccheusʼ house

More information

Bell Ringer Read Protestant Reformation: The Basics worksheet in your groups. Answer questions on the back together.

Bell Ringer Read Protestant Reformation: The Basics worksheet in your groups. Answer questions on the back together. Bell Ringer 10-16-13 Read Protestant Reformation: The Basics worksheet in your groups. Answer questions on the back together. The Protestant Reformation The Division of the Church into Catholic and Protestant

More information

Sola Gratia (Deuteronomy 9:1-6 and Romans 5:12-21) There s Bibles in front of you and you should have a sermon outline to write

Sola Gratia (Deuteronomy 9:1-6 and Romans 5:12-21) There s Bibles in front of you and you should have a sermon outline to write Sola Gratia (Deuteronomy 9:1-6 and Romans 5:12-21) 22-Oct-2017 1 This is the 4 th of a 5 part series on the Protestant Reformation as we celebrate and remember the Reformation which began 500 years ago.

More information

Defending Justification by faith

Defending Justification by faith 1 Defending Justification by faith Gal. 3:6-14 TODAY S MESSAGE IS ON DEFENDING JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH. ST. BERNARD OF CLAIR VAUX WROTE, Concepts Today: I believe though I do not comprehend, and I hold

More information

The Five Solas Of The Reformation

The Five Solas Of The Reformation The Five Solas Of The Reformation THE REFORMATION AT 499 Martin Luther Nailed It (Oct 31, 1517) The Reasons For Luther s Protest Indulgences = contribute to a worthy causes and the church of Rome offered

More information

The Way to Heaven A Sermon for Reformation Sunday

The Way to Heaven A Sermon for Reformation Sunday The Way to Heaven A Sermon for Reformation Sunday Rev. Michael D. Halley October 28, 2018 Suffolk Christian Church Suffolk, Virginia Twenty-Third Sunday After Pentecost Reformation Sunday ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

More information

What is the Reformation and Why Does it Matter?

What is the Reformation and Why Does it Matter? 1 2 What is the Reformation and Why Does it Matter? One of the most pivotal moments in the history of the world was the Reformation. The reformation began with a young Roman Catholic monk named Martin

More information

The Reformation began in Germany in the 16 th Century to try and reform (Change or Improve) the teachings and practices in the Catholic Church.

The Reformation began in Germany in the 16 th Century to try and reform (Change or Improve) the teachings and practices in the Catholic Church. The Reformation began in Germany in the 16 th Century to try and reform (Change or Improve) the teachings and practices in the Catholic Church. It led to a divisionwithin the Church. The Church was ruled

More information

The Protestant Reformation

The Protestant Reformation The Protestant Reformation Gutenberg s Printing Press The Gutenberg Printing Press led to a rise in literacy throughout Europe and the mass printing of the Bible More European Christians could then read

More information

Imprinting and Other Impersonations Colossians 1:15-28

Imprinting and Other Impersonations Colossians 1:15-28 Garrett Vickrey 7.10.16 Pentecost +8 Imprinting and Other Impersonations Colossians 1:15-28 Woodland Baptist Church San Antonio, TX A college friend gave a toast at my wedding. He glowingly boasted that

More information

Buddhism: Buddha Christianity: Christ/God Islam: Mohammed Hinduism: Shiva etc... Judaism: God. Sikh Shintoism

Buddhism: Buddha Christianity: Christ/God Islam: Mohammed Hinduism: Shiva etc... Judaism: God. Sikh Shintoism What is religion? What is religion? Something people believe in e.g. a god, gods, godesses, prophets Rules Organised groups, communities, organisations Place of worship Feast days, celebrations, rituals

More information

Catechism Test Review

Catechism Test Review Catechism Test Review Answer Key Our catechism test will be based on 80 total points. 24 of those points will be designated to a fill in the blank of the Apostle s Creed (1/2 point for each blank). 14

More information

The Protestant Reformation CHAPTER 1 SECTION 3

The Protestant Reformation CHAPTER 1 SECTION 3 The Protestant Reformation CHAPTER 1 SECTION 3 From Renaissance to Reformation 1500s, Renaissance ideas spark a religious upheaval The Protestant Reformation = People start to question the Church! Why

More information

Following Jesus means learning all we can about him. Bible Verse

Following Jesus means learning all we can about him. Bible Verse Nicodemus Comes to Learn From Jesus Lesson 5 Bible Point Following Jesus means learning all we can about him. Bible Verse For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone

More information

Protestant Reformation

Protestant Reformation Protestant Reformation WHII.3 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the Reformation in terms of its impact on Western civilization by a) explaining the effects of the theological, political, and economic

More information

Sermon for April 12, 2015 (2 Pascha, Year B) Offered by Nathan Ferrell at The Episcopal Church of Saint Mary

Sermon for April 12, 2015 (2 Pascha, Year B) Offered by Nathan Ferrell at The Episcopal Church of Saint Mary Sermon for April 12, 2015 (2 Pascha, Year B) Offered by Nathan Ferrell at The Episcopal Church of Saint Mary Texts: 1 John 1:1-2:2; Psalm 133; John 20:19-31 Title: Good News Worth a Laugh Seeing is believing,

More information

A gentle shepherd cares for his flock on a hillside. The shepherd picks up his flock and

A gentle shepherd cares for his flock on a hillside. The shepherd picks up his flock and 1 A gentle shepherd cares for his flock on a hillside. The shepherd picks up his flock and drops them in the middle of a pack of wolves. The snarling wolves sink their teeth into the flock, making them

More information

The Protestant Reformation

The Protestant Reformation The Protestant Reformation 1517-1648 The Protestant Reformation Caused by a questioning (protest) of the Church in Northern Europe i. The selling of indulgences a. $$$ for pardoning of sins Purgatory during

More information

What questions will we answer today and next time?

What questions will we answer today and next time? What questions will we answer today and next time? What is the Reformation? What are the causes of the Reformation? How was the Catholic Church changed forever? Who are the different leaders of the Reformation?

More information

Five Talks The Reverend Ross Royden. The 500 th Anniversary of the European Reformation

Five Talks The Reverend Ross Royden. The 500 th Anniversary of the European Reformation Five Talks The Reverend Ross Royden The 500 th Anniversary of the European Reformation These are the transcripts of five talks originally broadcast on RTHK Radio 4: Minutes that Matter in March, 2017 The

More information

The Bible Meets Life

The Bible Meets Life The Point Love everyone unconditionally. The Passage Matthew 5:43-48 The Bible Meets Life Love may be the most overused word in the English language. We apply love to everything, but the intensity of our

More information

Advent Evening Service, year B. The scripture text is taken from Romans 3:21-26

Advent Evening Service, year B. The scripture text is taken from Romans 3:21-26 Advent Evening Service, year B. The scripture text is taken from Romans 3:21-26 As the year 2017 comes to a close, does the Reformation which started in Germany 500 years ago still matter? Do we still

More information

499 Years, 363 Days, 95 Theses! John 17: Hyattstown Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Reformation Sunday October 29, 2017

499 Years, 363 Days, 95 Theses! John 17: Hyattstown Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Reformation Sunday October 29, 2017 499 Years, 363 Days, 95 Theses! John 17:20-26 Hyattstown Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Reformation Sunday October 29, 2017 (preface the sermon with a reading of John 17:20-26) During my days in

More information

Martin Luther Reformed Faith

Martin Luther Reformed Faith Martin Luther Reformed Faith 1. Luther s World Martin Luther was born on November 10th, 1483 in Germany Luther's father was keen for him to get a proper education and sent him for schooling in Latin (the

More information

Session 3. I. Length: 1:20 hour. Goal: To help participants become familiar with Church History.

Session 3. I. Length: 1:20 hour. Goal: To help participants become familiar with Church History. Session 3 I. Length: 1:20 hour II. Goal: To help participants become familiar with Church History. III. Objectives: By the end of Session 3 participants will: A. Know Martin Luther s relationship to the

More information

IT IS WRITTEN GALATIANS 3:6 14 OCTOBER 15, 2017

IT IS WRITTEN GALATIANS 3:6 14 OCTOBER 15, 2017 IT IS WRITTEN GALATIANS 3:6 14 OCTOBER 15, 2017 1. [SERIES] This month marks the 500 th anniversary of an event in Europe that changed the face of Christianity. Does anybody know what that event was? a.

More information

Loving God and Others: The Heart of True Faith

Loving God and Others: The Heart of True Faith Loving God and Others: The Heart of True Faith Kay Arthur, David & BJ Lawson PRECEPT MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL LOVING GOD AND OTHERS: THE HEART OF TRUE FAITH PUBLISHED BY WATERBROOK PRESS 12265 Oracle Boulevard,

More information

Brothers and sisters in Christ, I stand before you this 500 th Reformation Sunday to affirm three simple but crucially important things:

Brothers and sisters in Christ, I stand before you this 500 th Reformation Sunday to affirm three simple but crucially important things: REFORMATION SUNDAY, preached at St. Ignatius Loyola Roman Catholic Church October 29, 2017, The Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost Matthew 22: 34-40 Michael L. Lindvall, The Brick Presbyterian Church

More information

100 Years War and Black Death Scientific Advances which contradicted the Church The Corruption within the Catholic Church

100 Years War and Black Death Scientific Advances which contradicted the Church The Corruption within the Catholic Church 100 Years War and Black Death Scientific Advances which contradicted the Church The Corruption within the Catholic Church Prior to the Reformation all Christians were Roman Catholic The [REFORM]ation was

More information

The Mercy and Grace of God Luke 7:36-50 Dan Hoffman June 17, 2012

The Mercy and Grace of God Luke 7:36-50 Dan Hoffman June 17, 2012 1 The Mercy and Grace of God Luke 7:36-50 Dan Hoffman June 17, 2012 In 1984 twenty-two year Jennifer Thompson identified Ron Cotton as her rapist. [She pointed directly at him in court and told the judge

More information

Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation. Mr. Booth s World History CE

Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation. Mr. Booth s World History CE Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation Mr. Booth s World History 1300 1500 CE 2 OBJECTIVES TODAY 1. We will learn about Catholic Church Hierarchy. People were I.M.A.D! 2. Martin Luther s Protestant

More information

Capital Bible Church January 28, 2018 Sermon Notes Pastor AJ Miller Step One, Step Two: Mark 12:28-34

Capital Bible Church January 28, 2018 Sermon Notes Pastor AJ Miller Step One, Step Two: Mark 12:28-34 1 Capital Bible Church January 28, 2018 Sermon Notes Pastor AJ Miller Step One, Step Two: Mark 12:28-34 Step one, Step two Read Mark 12:28-34 Our story begins with one of the scribes coming over to Jesus

More information

The Protestant Movement and Our English Heritage. revised English 2327: American Literature I D. Glen Smith, instructor

The Protestant Movement and Our English Heritage. revised English 2327: American Literature I D. Glen Smith, instructor and Our English Heritage Time Line overview 1517 Martin Luther publishes The Ninety-Five Theses 1530 John Calvin breaks from the Roman Catholic Church 1536 John Calvin publishes his first volume: Institutes

More information

REFORMATION 500. Sola Gratia

REFORMATION 500. Sola Gratia REFORMATION 500 Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. NOTE FOR LEADERS

More information