Herrenhuter readings for Wednesday, the 19th February 2014

Posted on February 19, 2014 by Wilhelm Weber

grapevine paintingI had planted you like a choice vine of sound and reliable stock. How then did you turn against me into a corrupt, wild vine? (Jer 2:21 NIV) and St. Paul writes: I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel– (Gal 1:6 NIV)

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Luther’s final words

Posted on February 18, 2014 by Wilhelm Weber

Luther_graveDr. Martin Luther died on the the 18th February 1546. Here’s what he wrote in Eisleben: “Virgil’s shepherd poems cannot be understood, except by one who has been a shepherd for five years. Virgil’s poetry about agriculture cannot be understood, except by one who has been a farmhand for five years. Cicero’s letters cannot be understood, except by one who has participated and lived within a large community for 25 years. The Holy Scriptures do not have a satisfactory taste for me or anyone else, unless he has spent 100 years ruling a community as the prophets Elijah and Elisha, John the Baptist, Christ and the Apostles. Don’t tempt the divine Odysee, rather worship her signs. We are beggars, that is true! (Die Hirtengedichte Vergils kann niemand verstehen, er sei denn fünf Jahre Hirte gewesen. Die Vergilschen Dichtungen über die Landwirtschaft kann niemand verstehen, er sei denn fünf Jahre Ackermann gewesen. Die Briefe Ciceros kann niemand verstehen, er habe denn 25 Jahre in einem großen Gemeinwesen sich bewegt. Die Heilige Schrift meine niemand genügsam geschmeckt zu haben, er habe denn hundert Jahre lang mit Propheten wie Elias und Elisa, Johannes dem Täufer, Christus und den Aposteln die Gemeinden regiert. Versuche nicht diese göttliche Aeneis, sondern neige dich tief anbetend vor ihren Spuren! Wir sind Bettler, das ist wahr; WA 48, S. 421)

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Herrenhuter readings for Tuesday, the 18th February 2014

Posted on February 18, 2014 by Wilhelm Weber

sheep along gravel roadWe all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isa 53:6 NIV) and When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. (Mar 6:34 NIV)

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Confession as Prolegomena for Dogmatics

Posted on February 17, 2014 by Wilhelm Weber

Luther rose VDMEWhy do we study the Confessions so seriously at LTS? For one it is as Dr. Edmund Schlink writes: “The theology of the Confessions is a prolegomenon for dogmatics neither as being an integral part of dogmatics nor as being a secular-scientific entranceway to dogmatics, but as being a part of that way which the Christian must traverse between his Baptism and his speaking in the church’s doctrinal office. Before one can be a father he must have been a child and a youth. No one can become a teacher who has not first become a pupil. It is as a pupil instructed by the church’s interpretation of Scripture that the theologian must himself interpret Scripture in the church and instruct the church. This pupil status is never at an end. Every teacher remains all his life a child of his mother, the church. The theology of the Confessions is, therefore, not a prolegomenon in a temporal sense, but in principle; even though in the schedule of theological training it may precede dogmatics, yet the Confession of the church remains through all of life the place from which our inquiring and teaching proceeds – a place that was given before we ever did any inquiring or teaching.” (Theology of the Lutheran Confessions. Translated by Koehneke & Bouman. Fortress Press, Philadelphia: 1961. Pg. 35)

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Herrenhuter readings for Monday, the 17th February 2014

Posted on February 17, 2014 by Wilhelm Weber

lighthouse bwYour wrongdoings have kept these away; your sins have deprived you of good. (Jer 5:25 NIV) and See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. (Heb 12:15 NIV)

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Herrenhuter readings for Sunday, the 16th February 2014

Posted on February 16, 2014 by Wilhelm Weber

prayerAnd everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved  (Joel 2:32 NIV in Luther this is Joel 3:5)  and Jesus says: Truly, truly, I say to you, if you shall ask the Father for anything, He will give it to you in My name. (Joh 16:23 NAS)

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Herrenhuter readings for Saturday, the 15th February 2014

Posted on February 15, 2014 by Wilhelm Weber

shepherd africaMy son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke (Pro 3:11 NIV) and Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them– not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; (1Pe 5:2 NIV)

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Herrenhuter readings for Friday, the 14th February 2014

Posted on February 14, 2014 by Wilhelm Weber

DSC_0197Thus says the Lord: “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication.” (Zec 12:10 NIV) and Jesus says: “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” (Joh 16:13 NIV)

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Lutheran Order of service in isiZulu/seTswana

Posted on February 13, 2014 by Wilhelm Weber

Workers in the Vineyard (1)The Lutheran Order of Service for the Sunday Septuagesima (16th February 2014) is available here in isiZulu and seTswana. Today it comes with a sermon based on God’s word from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans in the ninth chapter the verses 14-24 written by pastor F. J. Mtshali  (LC in Fernie, MP) in isiZulu (wz1415130216 Septuagesime) and translated as usual seTswana (wt1415140216 Septuagesime) by my father Rev. E.A.W.Weber DD (Welbedacht, KZN).

The readings for this Sunday are:

Old Testament:       Jeremiah 9:22-23

The Epistle:            1.Corinthians 9:24-27

The Gospel:            Matthew 20:1-16a

The liturgical colour is green.

May you have a very blessed weekend and have time to meditate on the watchword for this week: O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies. (Dan 9:18 KJV)

Here is a collect for this Sunday too: O Lord, graciously hear the prayers of Your people that we who justly suffer the consequence of our sin may be mercifully delivered by Your goodness to the glory of Your name; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever (LSB Altar Book Pg 863)

If you are called to preach this weekend, may the triune God give you joy and strength, enthusiasm and wisdom, knowledge and insight – and the true words and pictures to preach his holy will faithfully according to his most precious revelation of his will and promises in both the Old and New Testament! However if you are not preaching, but listening – then listen as if God is talking to you + His precious gospel is “the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” (Rom 1:16 NIV)

We thank the Lutheran Heritage Foundation for supporting the distribution of hard-copies of these orders of worship and sermons throughout Southern Africa. If you also want a copy please do not hesitate to subscribe by writing to EAWWeber@bundunet.co.za.

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Academic Devotional Service

Posted on February 13, 2014 by Wilhelm Weber

UP ChapelComing up next week: Our academic partners – the Theology Faculty of the University of Pretoria – is hosting its annual Academic Devotional Service and our graduate and post-graduate students are there together with their staff. Read more about this program here: UP Opening service

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