mclclititz

The season of Advent begins soon. On this second to last Sunday of the Church Year, we focus on the return of Christ as Judge of all. The Lord Jesus will return in glory on the Last Day with all His holy angels. “Before Him will be gathered all the nations . . . And He will place the sheep on His right, but the goats on the left” (Matt. 25:31–33). Those on His left will be cast into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels while those on His right will inherit the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world. We await Christ’s coming, conducting ourselves in godliness, knowing that this fallen creation will soon pass away. We look forward to “new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13).

Martin Chemnitz, Pastor and Confessor – Martin Chemnitz (1522–1586) is regarded after Martin Luther as the most important theologian in the history of the Lutheran Church. Chemnitz combined a penetrating intellect and an almost encyclopedic knowledge of Scripture and the church fathers with a genuine love for the church. When various doctrinal disagreements broke out after Luther's death in 1546, Chemnitz determined to give himself fully to the restoration of unity in the Lutheran Church. He became the leading spirit and principal author of the 1577 Formula of Concord, which settled the doctrinal disputes on the basis of the Scriptures and largely succeeded in restoring unity among Lutherans. Chemnitz also authored the four volume Examination of the Council of Trent (1565–1573), in which he rigorously subjected the teachings of this Roman Catholic Council to the judgment of Scripture and the ancient church fathers. The Examination became the definitive Lutheran answer to the Council of Trent, as well as a thorough exposition of the faith of the Augsburg Confession. A theologian and a churchman, Chemnitz was truly a gift of God to the Church.

On All Saints’ Sunday we gather to remember those in our midst who have died in the faith in the past year. We recount that they have fought the good fight of faith and now rest from their labors and pray also that we might be faithful unto death. We renew our fight here as the church militant. We thank the Lord for all the saints that He has preserved through this vale of tears, and how He is preserving us through His Word & Holy Sacraments. And when the fight is fierce, the warfare long, Steals on the ear the distant triumph song, And hearts are brave again, and arms are strong. Alleluia! Alleluia! (LSB #677.5—For All the Saints)

This rite is intended for the burial of a stillborn child of Christian parents or a child of Christian parents who died before Baptism could be administered. According to the circumstance, the rite may be conducted either publicly or privately at the church, funeral home, hospital, or the family home. With adaptation, the entire rite may also be held at the graveside. Where there is no body present, the Committal is omitted.

Romans 3 says, "Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin." Join us this Sunday as we consider the truths recovered at the Reformation, and are renewed again in the true teaching and knowledge of our sin, and the true hope that is found only in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Philipp Nicolai, Johann Heermann, and Paul Gerhardt, Hymnwriters- Philipp Nicolai (1556–1608) was a pastor in Germany during the Great Plague, which took the lives of 1,300 of his parishioners during a six-month period. In addition to his heroic pastoral ministry during that time of stress and sorrow, he wrote the texts for “Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying” and “O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright,” known, respectively, as the king and queen of the Lutheran chorales. Johann Heermann (1585–1647), also a German pastor, suffered from poor health as well as from the ravages of the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648). His hymn texts are noted for their tenderness and depth of feeling. Paul Gerhardt (1607–1676) was another Lutheran pastor who endured the horrors of the Thirty Years' War. By 1668 he lost his pastoral position in Berlin (for refusing to compromise his Lutheran convictions), and endured the death of four of his five children and his wife. He nevertheless managed to write 133 hymns, all of which reflect his firm faith. Along with Martin Luther he is regarded as one of Lutheranism's finest hymn writers.

In Bible Class today we will continue to hear Solomon’s words about godly living in Ecclesiastes chapter 7. Come learn why the laughter of fools is like the crackling of thorns underneath a pot.

This Sunday we hear Jesus’ Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. He was forgiven much, but loved little. Our gracious God gave His only begotten Son for our transgression. It is not about what we do, give, or offer, but about the salvation He willingly and freely gave to us. He releases us from the enormous debt of sin against Him. As partakers of His grace and recipients of Christ, we need not imprison our fellow sinners with our refusal of forgiveness, but pray that our love and affection to those who have sinned against us may about more and more, that we might walk humbly with our God.

In Bible Class we will discuss Ecclesiastes 7, a section on miscellaneous wise advice that God gives us from the lips of the wise man Solomon.

Jesus says to the nobleman whose son was deathly ill, "Go; your son will live" (John 4:46-54), and in the very hour Jesus spoke, the nobleman's son was made well. The Word of Christ still accomplishes what it says. In baptism, absolution, and the Lord's Supper, He declares His life-giving forgiveness to you, and it is so. This saving Word of God is the sword of the Spirit by which you are able to fight off all the onslaughts of the devil (Eph. 6:10-17). "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm."

Philip, also called the Evangelist (Acts 21:8), was one of the seven men appointed to assist in the work of the twelve Apostles and of the rapidly growing early church by overseeing the distribution of food to the poor (6:1–6). Following the martyrdom of Stephen, Philip proclaimed the Gospel in Samaria and led Simon the Sorcerer to become a believer in Christ (8:4–13). He was also instrumental in bringing about the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch (8:26–39), through whom Philip became indirectly responsible for bringing the Good News of Jesus to the people on the continent of Africa. In the town of Caesarea he was host for several days to the Apostle Paul, who stopped there on his last journey to Jerusalem (21:8–15).

Jesus tells a parable to us this Sunday about the invitation mankind receives to attend the wedding feast. We receive that invitation to partake of the riches of His kingdom, yet many are not interesting in coming though the result is to merit God’s judgment. We are encouraged to repent and to seek the Lord while He may be found. Let us redeem the time, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This week we will study Ecclesiastes chapter 6, “Enjoying our goods—one of God’s great gifts in this life.”

Abraham (known early in his life as Abram) was called by God to become the father of a great nation (Genesis 12). At the age of 75 and in obedience to God's command, he, his wife Sarah, and his nephew Lot moved southwest from the town of Haran to the land of Canaan. There God established a covenant with Abraham (15:18), promising the land of Canaan to his descendants. At the age of 100 Abraham and Sarah were finally blessed with Isaac, the son long promised to them by God. Abraham demonstrated supreme obedience when God commanded him to offer Isaac as a burnt offering. God spared the young man's life only at the last moment and provided a ram as a substitute offering (22:1–19). Abraham died at the age of 175 and was buried in the Cave of Machpelah, which he had purchased earlier as a burial site for Sarah. He is especially honored as the first of the three great Old Testament Patriarchs—and for his “righteousness before God through faith” (Romans 4:1–12).

In Adult Bible Class we will study Ecclesiastes chapter 6, “Enjoying our goods—one of God’s great gifts in this life.”

Jesus heals the paralytic but first deals with his greatest problem as He forgives the man’s sins. The Lord still has power on earth to forgive sins. In holy absolution He raises up the new man and bestows the healing medicine which will bring about our resurrection on the Last Day. “Son,” Jesus said to the man (and to us), “Be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven you.” (Matthew 9:2)

We live in “a time of trouble” (Dan. 12:1), in the midst of great tribulation; for Satan and his wicked angels have been thrown out of heaven and have come down to earth “in great wrath,” with woeful “temptations to sin” and with constant accusations (Rev. 12:8–12; Matt. 18:7). Even so, we are encouraged by the presence and protection of St. Michael and the holy angels, whom God sends to help us in the strife (Dan. 10:11–13). By “the authority of his Christ,” His holy angels guard and keep us in body and soul. These heavenly servants of God preserve His human messengers on earth, the ministers of “the blood of the Lamb,” against all the power of the enemy; for by “the word of their testimony,” the Church is saved and the devil is defeated (Rev. 12:10–11; Luke 10:18–19). By their preaching and Baptism of repentance, the old Adam and the old evil foe are “drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matt. 18:6); and as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, so are His people delivered and raised from the dust of the earth through the forgiveness of their sins (Dan. 12:1–3).

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus bids us look at the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. God provides for them. He will not forget about us. Though we are of little faith and are full of worry and anxiousness with our undue focus on the things of the world, Jesus calls us to repentance and to return to trust in our loving Heavenly Father who will care for all of our needs. He who feeds the birds and clothes the flowers will certainly provide for our daily needs. He has clothed us with Christ's righteousness in Baptism, feeding us His body and blood for our forgiveness. We are worth more to Him than sparrows. He will not neglect us.

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus bids us look at the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. God provides for them. He will not forget about us. Though we are of little faith and are full of worry and anxiousness with our undue focus on the things of the world, Jesus calls us to repentance and to return to trust in our loving Heavenly Father who will care for all of our needs. He who feeds the birds and clothes the flowers will certainly provide for our daily needs. He has clothed us with Christ's righteousness in Baptism, feeding us His body and blood for our forgiveness. We are worth more to Him than sparrows. He will not neglect us.

St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist - Our Ascended Lord gives gifts to His Church. In particular He gave apostles and evangelists like St. Matthew, prophets like Ezekiel, and still gives pastors and teachers (Eph. 4:8, 11). All are for the common good, empowered by the same Spirit (1 Cor. 12:7, 11). They speak Christ’s truth in love to wind- and wave-tossed children so that the saints may be equipped, served, and built up as the body of Christ (Eph. 4:12–15). Christ is not only the Head of this body; He is her Good Physician (Matt. 9:9–13). He has come not for the well but for the sick, not for the righteous, but for sinners—even notorious tax collectors like Matthew. Christ’s team of spiritual physicians must serve faithfully. Their instrument is “Thus says the Lord God,” to be spoken “whether they hear or refuse to hear” (Ezek. 3:11). To those stubborn, rebellious patients who believe they need no physician, the Word of lamentation, mourning, and woe must be fearlessly spoken: God’s Law calls to repentance. To those who recognize their trouble and sickness, the salve of the Gospel is to be applied. So Christ works to save us, as Matthew’s Gospel records.

The ten lepers cried out from a distance, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” Jesus said, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." As they went, they were cleansed. So too, we walk by faith and not by sight, being confident of Jesus' help before we see any evidence of it, trusting that Jesus' cleansing words of forgiveness will restore us to wholeness in the resurrection. For Jesus bore our infirmities in His sacrifice at Calvary. His words are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross - Sir, we wish to see Jesus! (John 12:21). Then look to His Holy Cross. For just as Moses lifted up the bronze serpent in the wilderness, so Jesus, when He is lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Himself (v. 32). He humbled Himself and became obedient even to the death of the cross to save us (Phil. 2:8). Everyone who is bitten by the ancient serpent’s venom of sin, when he sees Christ shall live (Num. 21:8). The true Holy Cross is lost to history, and we cannot return to Calvary to find our salvation. So Christ brings the New Testament in His Blood to us. We preach Christ crucified . . . the power of God and the wisdom of God, though foolishness to the unbelieving world (1 Cor. 1:23–24). It pleases God through the folly of the cross we preach to save those who believe (v.21). We find the fruit and benefit of this Holy Cross poured out in Holy Baptism, spoken in the preaching of Holy Absolution, and delivered in the Body and Blood given and shed there for us. Thus are we strengthened to take up our crosses, sanctified by His (John 12:25–26).

Join us in Bible Class this Sunday where we take up various sections in Solomon’s book of wisdom, Ecclesiastes. We will study “Loneliness & Its Cure,” (4:7-12), “The Foolish King,” (4:13-16), “The Fear & Worship of God,” (4:17-5:6), and “Government as a Necessary Evil,” in (5:8-9).

We rejoice this Sunday to hear and consider Jesus’ famous story, “The Parable of the Good Samaritan,” from Luke 10:23-37. We consider our Lord who, the true Good Samaritan, came down to us in our lost and dying condition, pouring on the oil and wine of the Sacraments. He placed us on His own animal, bearing our sin and brokenness in His body on the cross to restore us. Jesus brought us to the inn, that is, the Church, and gave the innkeeper two denarii, that His double forgiveness might continue to be ministered to us. In this way the Lord, by whose Law we are torn and stricken, heals us and revives us by His Gospel and raises us up with Himself.

Zechariah and Elizabeth were “righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord” (Lk 1:6). Zechariah, a priest in the Jerusalem temple, was greeted by the angel Gabriel who announced that Zechariah and Elizabeth would become parents of a son. Initially Zechariah did not believe Gabriel's announcement because of their old age. For his disbelief, Zechariah became unable to speak. After their son was born, Elizabeth named her son John. Zechariah confirmed his wife's choice and his ability to speak was restored. In response, he sang the Benedictus, a magnificent summary of God's promises in the Old Testament and a prediction of John's work as forerunner to Jesus (Lk. 1:68–79). Zechariah and Elizabeth are remembered as examples of faithfulness and piety.