Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Mid-Week Lenten. The Good Shepherd John 10

After - Link to the Saved Service, which works well on older computers and slower Internet speeds.

Mid-Week Communion Service

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

Look for the Live Stream Vimeo Player here. Press F5.

The Hymn #263 O Little Flock Fear Not Thy Foe
The Confession of Sins p. 15
The Absolution
The Lenten Reading

The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Communion Hymn #388 Just As I Am (Elliot)

I AM the Good Shepherd

The Sermon Hymn #316 O Living Bread from Heaven

The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn # 50 Lord Dismiss Us

By Norma A. Boeckler

Prayers and Announcements

For healing, strength, and patience - Kermit and Marie Way, Pastor Jim Shrader, Chris Shrader, Callie and Peggy, C.
For our country and DEP Trump, as the major trials continue.
The sound went out, perhaps via the mouse, so we are repeating the sermon and communion tonight.
KJV books are arriving at listener's homes. Ask by email if yours is on the way.

The Sunday Readings

KJV Galatians 4:21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the .other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

KJV John 6:1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. 4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. 5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, 9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? 10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. 12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. 15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

Fourth Sunday In Lent

Lord God, heavenly Father, who by Thy Son didst feed five thousand men in the desert with five loaves and two fishes: We beseech Thee to abide graciously also with us in the fullness of Thy blessing. Preserve us from avarice and the cares of this life, that we may seek first Thy kingdom and Thy righteousness, and in all things perceive Thy fatherly goodness, through Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God world without end. Amen.

I AM the Good Shepherd

KJV John 10:11 I AM the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14 I AM the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. 19 There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. 20 And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? 21 Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind? 22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. 24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. 25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. 26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and my Father are one. 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. 34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? 35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; 36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I AM the Son of God? 37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. 39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand, 40 And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode. 41 And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true. 42 And many believed on him there.

The first few words define the chapter, with I AM the Door being the introduction, and the Good Shepherd giving His life for the sheep as the overall theme. One kind of teaching and preaching Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior is to describe and explain His miracles – nature miracles (stilling the storm, walking on water, changing water into wine, multiplying the loaves and fish), healing miracles (the blind, the deaf, the lepers, the crippled and palsied), and greatest of all - death conquering (the widow’s son, the young girl, Lazarus called out from his tomb). Another significant part of teaching and preaching Jesus Christ is to describe Him as He is, from the beginning, as the Son of God, the Creating Word (Logos), Messiah or Christ, the Son of David, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

The I AM sermons define Jesus so clearly that we can see the miracles promoting and sustaining faith in Him, but knowing Jesus as He teaches about Himself is the most productive way we can think about Him, meditate about Him, pray to Him, and rely on Him in all the miraculous, sad, joyous, challenging, and painful parts of our lives. Jesus Himself made this clear in the Gospel of John. The miracles confirm His divinity, and yet those who were there to see and even taste the miracles (wine, bread, fish) were not all converted. Many wanted even more. His teaching about Himself as the Son, as the Voice, Will, and Face of God – that is the most powerful of all.

Does anyone wonder why the rationalists and apostates hate the Fourth Gospel and try to omit it from the New Testament? The Son of God focuses the terror of the apostates and rationalists, thereby showing us the way out of their Castle of Doom (Pilgrim’s Progress). The miracles are very important, because they show us the Son of God at work. Even more important is the nature of the Son of God as the Good Shepherd, which will be the introduction of the sermon book when these are completed – all the connections from the Old Testament: 23^rd Psalm, Isaiah 40 and 53, Creation in Genesis 1, etc.

I AM the Good Shepherd means, in the original Greek, I AM (God’s own Name)

· the Shepherd above all Shepherds,

· the Noble Shepherd,

· the Highest and Best Shepherd,

· the ideal Shepherd.

Centuries of illustrations and stained-glass windows have given us the image of the Shepherd holding the lamb and guiding the mother. To clarify His divine role, Jesus also describes two other personalities in Christendom. One is the wolf inside the flock, killing and scattering and wounding the flock. Luther said, “People like wolf-preaching.” There should be no surprise to see a glittering but empty cathedral when the wolf is done. Reversing Luther’s famous quotation – That wherever a cathedral is built, the devil builds a chapel, now we see that wherever a chapel is built, even a spare room in a rented house, the devil builds a cathedral.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd because He laid down His life for the flock. There are many parallels to raising sheep in this chapter and other places, but never did an earthly shepherd give up his own life for a sheep. As great as every single miracle is, the greatest miracle is God’s own Son taking on the sins of the world to stir up faith in our hearts and receive His righteousness. So that is why He is the Good Shepherd, so when we are full of doubts, uncertainty, fears, and qualms, we know – He gave up His life for me. He fashioned the path to eternal life for believers in Him, so we can follow Him in eternal life as we did in this life.

The other character is also familiar in Christendom. He is the hired hand, who connects his pay to the work he has to do. If he wants a pension, a health plan, and the friendship of other hired hands, he does what he is told. He is easily frightened by lupine threats and runs away for safety. He sells gadgets mocking the Christian Faith to show how cool he is, and nobody seems to mind. The crowd likes the weak and timid hired-hand minister, because he is no threat to their mistaken view of Christianity.

14 I AM the Good Shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Verse 14 should quash doubts more than a thousand miracles might. Jesus us knows us by our Christian names. When we are baptized, our baptismal names become our identity. As one famous LCMS professor said, “Every soul has a name.” The baby and toddler eating ice cream – Jesus knows them, and they know Jesus by the visible Word of Holy Baptism and the teaching and preaching they hear.

Adults explain miracles into oblivion, but children simply declare their faith in Jesus. How did Jesus enter a locked room? Answer from a child – “He is God. He can do anything.” There is more faith in a believing child than in an entire conference of professional Biblical scholars, especially the Vaticanus-Sinaiticus text salesmen.

Verse 15 is not the plan for the World Council of Churches, though they would like to think so. Many have scattered their flocks by saying they must be in one organization, where everyone must believe in the newest fads the ecumenical groups. As Herman Melville saw so long ago, the radical Left churches set Europe and America up for the radical Left politics we see in government and education today. When I argued against them in the 1970s at the local pastors’ conferences, they clergy looked on me with pity and scorn.

17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

John’s Gospel repeatedly shows us that God the Father and God the Son teach and command together. The Father commands and yet the Son acts willingly. This reinforces the idea of the Atonement not being forced upon Jesus but willingly accepted the role. Even then, His life was not taken away from Him, but he laid it down and took it up again.

19 There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. 20 And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? 21 Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?

As the sectarians say, “Doctrine divides.” Jesus had a great following, among the common people and among the religious nobility. Some came to mock and to oppose. Others came to hear the voice of the Messiah. Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea were believers from the upper class, and they risked their lives for Jesus.

Sunday, March 27, 2022

Laetare, 2022, Lent 4.

Laetare Sunday, The Fourth Sunday in Lent, 2022

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

Look for the Vimeo Player here. Press F5.

The Hymn #263 O Little Flock Fear Not Thy Foe
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Rejoice ye with Jerusalem and be glad with her: all ye that love her.

Rejoice for joy with her: all ye that mourn for her.

Psalm. I was glad when they said unto me:

Let us go into the house of the Lord.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of Thy grace may mercifully be relieved; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual

The Gospel
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #316 O Living Bread from Heaven

I AM the Good Shepherd

The Communion Hymn #388 Just As I Am (Elliot)
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn # 50 Lord Dismiss Us

By Norma A. Boeckler

Prayers and Announcements

For healing, strength, and patience - Pastor Jim Shrader, Chris Shrader, Callie and Peggy, C.
For our country and DEP Trump, as the major trials continue.
The camera came late Wednesday and needs one item for sending sound through the integrated signal to the encoder.
KJV books are arriving at listener's homes. Ask by email if yours is on the way.

KJV Galatians 4:21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

KJV John 6:1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. 4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. 5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, 9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? 10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. 12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. 15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

Fourth Sunday In Lent

I AM the Good Shepherd

I AM the Good Shepherd means, in the original Greek, I AM (God’s own Name)

· the Shepherd above all Shepherds,

· the Noble Shepherd,

· the Highest and Best Shepherd,

· the ideal Shepherd.

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

I AM the Door

Bethany Lutheran Worship, 7 PM Central StandardTime

Vimeo Player Below

The Hymn #159 Go to Dark Gethsemane
The Order of Vespers p. 41

The Psalmody Psalm 23 p. 128
The Lections The Passion History

The Sermon Hymn #149 Come to Calvary's Holy Mountain

The Sermon – I AM the Door

The Prayers

The Lord’s Prayer

The Collect for Grace p. 45

The Hymns #552 Abide with Me

Prayers and Announcements

· Greater knowledge of Luther’s works and faithful translations; i.e., the KJV is the English (Tyndale) version of Luther’s German Bible. They established their modern languages in England and Germany by virtue of the power of their work. Nobody ever admits this about the KJV, that it comes from Luther via Tyndale who died for translating the Scriptures from Hebrew and Greek into English.

The KJV book has arrived, and so has the camera.
Prayers for Pastor Jim Shrader, Chris Shrader, Callie and her mother Peggy, C., those with long-term illnesses.

I AM the Door

John 10 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. 7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

So many love the next I AM sermon, about the Good Shepherd, that it is relatively easy to overlook this one. This is quite powerful, but offends the wealthy, lazy, global elite who want one world, one “faith”, one ruler. This I AM the Door is repulsive to the ecumenical movement, which was the beginning of the National (Federal) Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches (left-wing) which absorbed and digested the more conservative World Missionary Council, so the latter no longer exists.

This comparison is based upon the common knowledge of raising sheep at that time, which also connects to the Passover Lamb from the Exodus. We have very little of this in our culture now, but it was a major part of Biblical Judaism. Sheep from various flocks or one flock were kept in pens for safety. They were a valuable commodity (part of Australia’s “Waltzing Matilda” national song) and objects of predators, human and lupine.

We think of modern doors, but this door was an opening in the pen guarded by the so that only the shepherd could enter. This is the foundation for the shepherd section that follows. The one who climbs over the fence is clearly a thief, a robber. The shepherd comes in the one door.

3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

The typical shepherd, which they all knew about, was recognized by the guard at the door or opening and allowed in. The sheep all know the voice of their shepherd. He goes out before them and leads them, very much like Psalm 23. This chapter is central to the entire Bible, which is recognized today in stained glass windows and art.

When I have to go to an appointment, Sassy stays home and is quiet, but when I arrive, she barks sharply from the inside and comes to the door to complete her guard duties for the moment. Sassy is very willful on our walks, but she follows me and responds to my voice, especially when I get firm. She asks permission to meet people and to go a different way (sometimes tricking me into another route as she pivots and grins).

As everyone knows, pastor is Latin for shepherd, and it is a good title since all ordained ministers are men who are subordinate to the Good Shepherd. Just as sheep follow the voice and the walk of the shepherd, so believers follow only the voice of the
Good Shepherd.

5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

This verse is especially important, because there is a direct relationship between the true believers and the true pastor. When the leader is false, the believers flee instead of compromising. They know the voice of the Shepherd and run from strangers. We see this carried out in reverse where Joel Osteen refused, years ago, to say that Jesus is the only way of salvation (hint – Gospel of John and everywhere else). He admitted he was an evil shepherd, with no consequences. Likewise, Rev. Andy Stanley (a favorite in the Wisconsin Synod – Ski, Glende, Parlow and 5 more of them going to one expensive conference and worshiping with Stanley – so cool.) Stanley denounced the “Jesus of ancient documents” in favor of his “Jesus for today.”

“The Christian faith doesn’t rise and fall on the accuracy of 66 ancient documents. It rises and falls on the identity of a single individual: Jesus of Nazareth.” Andy Stanley, WELS mentor and hero. Christian Post, https://www.christianpost.com/voices/andy-stanleys-tweet-about-the-bible-is-seductive-and-harmful.html

This is the argument used by false prophets, who make it possible to invent a new Messiah according to their wishes. It is certainly a pity that people flock – or rather bleet – rushing to such heretics. But it was predicted in letters to Timothy, that people will pile up false teachers to teach what their itching ears want to hear.

6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. 7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Although they did not understand this parable at first, it was remembered via the Holy
Spirit to be recorded in the Fourth Gospel, passed down to us through the Majority or Traditional/Byzantine Text. Jesus is the One Entrance to salvation, which we see vividly described in Romans 5:2 – faith in Christ is access to God’s grace. There is one way – faith – not access to universal grace without even knowing there is a door (WELS-LCMS-ELCA position).

Jesus is the door of salvation, the only way to enter. So strange that people try to teach otherwise, but do not listen to His voice. This shows how resisting the truth makes us unable to see and hear the truth, no matter how smart we appear to be. The great and wise of today do not know how to view Jesus as a child does. No, they are sophisticated and highly education experts.

Jesus came that we might have life in abundance, the lead to I AM the Good Shepherd.

Sunday, March 20, 2022

Oculi, 2022

Oculi Sunday, The Third Sunday in Lent, 2022

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Standard Time

The Vimeo Player is here:

After the service, a link will be below this. The link works best with older Internet or computer systems.

The Hymn #175 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord:

for He shall pluck my feet out of the net.

Turn Thee unto me and have mercy upon me:

for I am desolate and afflicted.

Psalm. Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul:

O my God, I trust in Thee; let me not be ashamed.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

We beseech Thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of Thy humble servants and stretch forth

the right hand of Thy majesty to be our defense

against all our enemies; through Jesus Christ,

Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual Ephesians 5:1-9
The Gospel Luke 11:14-28
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #524 In Thee Lord Have I Put My Trust (alt tune #177)

Real Opposition to the Gospel

The Hymn #315:1-5 I Come O Savior To Thy Table

The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #568 We Praise Thee O God

Alternate tune for this hymn #177

Prayers and Announcements

Treatment and recovery - Kermit Way, Pastor Jim Shrader, Chris Shrader, Peggy and her daughter Callie, C.
Pray for our country and DEP Trump.
Wednesdays - Vespers at 7 PM, Understanding Luther's Galatians - PDF, Chapter 4.

Norma A. Boeckler

KJV Ephesians 5:1

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. 3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

KJV Luke 11:14

And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered. 15 But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. 16 And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house against a house falleth. 18 If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. 19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. 20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: 22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.

23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. 24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. 25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. 26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

27 And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. 28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Before Abraham Was, I AM

KJV John 8:45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. 46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. 48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? 49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. 50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. 51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. 52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. 53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? 54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. 59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

This dialogue is the battle between two kingdoms – Truth, the Kingdom of Grace, and Lies, the Kingdom of Satan. Jesus the Son of God, the Creating Word (John 1:3), is the one and only message of forgiveness and salvation. One is either within the Kingdom of God by faith, or the Kingdom of Satan by denying the Truth, compromising the Truth, and cleverly forging a joint partnership of Truth and Satan’s lies.

The first part, Truth, is easy, in one sense, and yet denied by many who carry on as great leaders and examples of Christ Himself. They want to make people Happy Campers so they speak the Name of the Jesus often, but they subtly deny the cross and say “Follow us, not Him.” The compromisers are those who call themselves Biblical scholars and use that position to tell people “the Scriptures are not really the direct revelation of God, and they can tell people how to sort out the kernel of truth (which is their own doctrine) while denying the complete counsel of God. Paul wrote -

Acts 20: 27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

Paul gave a perfect description of Protestantism from the 1800s on,

· looking for a better Bible for “today’s believers,”

· taking over Christian education to make it more modern and harmonious with Evolution, the new religion

· teaching “spirit guides,” expelling faithful ministers, installing their favorite false teachers.

47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

Antagonism toward God’s Word is a perfect test for whether people follow Jesus Christ or deny Him. Once a pastor, professor, or bishop has driven away the believers, those remaining will only listen to falsehood. They will bristle at the sound of sound (healthy) doctrine, as James wrote – “They believe but their hides bristle.” (KJV James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.) That is why someone can be godly outwardly, even more than others, with smells and bells, fishhats and large sticks to carry, and yet inwardly and deviously deny the Word of the Gospel. If the equipment is primary, the Gospel is secondary.

48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? 49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. 50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. 51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

Jesus clearly angered the opposition, because they insulted Him twice over – as a Samaritan and as a devil. Some might see the Parable of the Good Samaritan in this. That was the worst personal insult because of ages of similar but different interpretations of the Old Testament. The Samaritan in that parable is Jesus, not a social activist who would “make the road to Jericho safe” (a Social Gospel pivot). The worst insult is the one assigned to that parable, the role of Jesus as the despised one who helps others in their dire need.

The worst barb for the opposition is “If a man keep (or guard) my saying, he shall never see death.” Knowing what is in their hearts, Jesus aims for the center, and they respond.

Abraham Rejoiced

53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? 54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

By exciting the Pharisees, Jesus helped the truth to come out in the open, for others to hear– first in His own declarations and secondly in the opposition giving away what they really thought, their disbelief in the Messiah, even though His countless miracles told the population otherwise.

Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

What many miss, after watching The Ten Commandments movie too many times, is the place of Abraham in the New Testament. He is the Father of Faith, based on Genesis 15:6 and the tremendous narrative in Genesis. Paul’s argument for Justification by Faith alone, is based on Abraham being justified, forgiven, through faith “that it might be by grace.”

Logic – The Fallacy of Emphasis

The subtle serpents of today will allow Justification by Faith, but only when they phrase it their way, which is called a fallacy of emphasis. It works this way – Someone says, “I thought it was going to rain.” They are looking at a cloudburst through the window. “You THOUGHT it was going to rain” suggests it was a stupid idea. “YOU thought it was going to rain” is blaming.

So the modern serpents use the right words but imply the wrong meaning when they say “Justified by Grace, through faith” which ca-a-a-a-a-an be understood correctly (WELS) but scholars are divided (“we want to confuse you about the truth”). The fallacy is that everyone is Justified by Grace (WELS, LCMS youth leader, Valleskey, Bivens, Brenner, Harrison) and they believe this universal absolution.

The opponents knew that Jesus was divine by His miracles, and they imagined that they could distract the crowd with another fake shock of amazement.

57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM.

This is where we see that Jesus confesses Himself to be God, the Angel of the Lord, speaking from the Burning Bush in Exodus 3. The Name of God is I AM. The Son of God is the One they seek to kill, because they fear the response of the Roman legions and the loss of all their perks and privileges. When the LCA and later the ELCA were formed, the Old Guard was kept in place a few years, to keep the peace, and then booted out with tear-stained nostalgia and praises shoveled down to their Father Below.

This is what the Gospel of John wants to convey - the battle between Truth and Against-Truth. The first is unified. The second is divided into many different forms but ends up with the same goals and so-called victories.

When we pray to Jesus and through Jesus, naming Him, we are speaking to God Himself. He is the Light of the World, the one Truth that illuminates all of man’s wisdom and tests whether some concept is God’s Truth or a mirage.

59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

The reaction proves the accuracy of Jesus’ words. His Two Natures are revealed in His humanity, His appearance as an ordinary man, and His ability to pass through the angry mob because it was not yet His time. If we deny His ability to be in the elements of Holy Communion, we deny His ability to pass through the crowds (more than once), enter the barred door (twice), and leave the tomb without needing angels to roll the stone away.

The segment of I AM teaching reveals the truth of Jesus as the face and voice of God, and our forgiveness and salvation come from that power.

Lutheran Worship and Resources

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Mid-Week Lenten. The Good Shepherd John 10

Sunday, March 27, 2022

Laetare, 2022, Lent 4.

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

I AM the Door

I AM the Door

Sunday, March 20, 2022

Oculi, 2022

Before Abraham Was, I AM

Abraham Rejoiced

Logic – The Fallacy of Emphasis