God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.” (Gen 1:28 NIV)
From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. (Luk 12:48 NIV)
Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? (Rom 6:3 NIV)
To be baptized into Jesus Christ is nothing else than being joined to him and made part of him through holy Baptism. Being baptized into his death is also being made part of his death to then being raised up with him through his resurrection. All this happens in Holy Baptism. God grants this our immersion and inclusion into Christ’s death and resurrection through the most effective means of Holy Baptism. All those baptized into Christ by the triune God are therefore part of this most salvific union and organic communion. If we want to understand our divine connection, we need to concentrate on our initiation into the godly family by Holy Baptism. If we are looking for our fellowship with Jesus Christ, we need to focus onto the baptismal font and the procedure by which we were immersed into his life’s story and fate at that joyous occasion, which brought about the critical juncture of our life and future. Remember what happened in your baptism and recall, what your God has done to you there and then. There you were connected with Christ for good. In Baptism God made you part of his family and an heir of heaven. Our faith is based on God’s actions in Holy Baptism and what he did there for us. Without Holy Baptism we are at a loss and can’t really be convinced, that we are truly part of Christ and his eternal salvation. However in Holy Baptism he has granted us this safe and secure foundation of faith and Christian confidence. His word points us to this firm foundation. His word highlights the miraculous powers invested by him into Holy Baptism. That’s the sermon of his word – it praises the treasures inherent in this most holy and Christian Baptism. There are far too many looking for deep communion and fellowship with Christ, who just miss the fact that they have this all in their initial connection with him through Holy Baptism already.
Faithful and merciful God! We are yours thanks to our baptism in Jesus Christ. You have demonstrated your immeasurable love towards us by making us your children and heirs of heaven through this holy water sanctified by your holy word and promise. We thank you for your goodness and we ask you, bless us with the strength of baptism even as we enter this new day and prepare for the coming night. Disperse all bad thoughts from our hearts and grant that we are awake by your grace in truth and love to serve you and yours day in day out. We ask this in your most precious name, God Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Baptized into your name most holy, O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, I claim a place, though weak and lowly, Among your seed, your chosen host. Buried with Christ and dead to sin, I have your Spirit now within.
My loving Father, here you take me Hence forth to be your child and heir; My faithful Savior, here you make me The fruit of all your sorrows share; O Holy Ghost, you comfort me Though threatening clouds around I see.
O faithful God, you never fail me; Your covenant surely will abide. Let not eternal death assail me Should I transgress it on my side! Have mercy when I come defiled; Forgive, lift up, restore your child.
All that I am and love most dearly, Receive it all, O Lord, from me. Oh, let me make my vows sincerely, And help me your own child to be! Let nothing that I am or own Serve any will but yours alone. (Johann J. Rambach)
This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for the sixth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 257 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu! (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.
The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. (Psa 19:8 NIV)
Jesus said: “Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Mat 5:19 NIV)
The Lutheran Order of Service for the 6th Sunday after Trinity for the 7th July 2013 is available here in isiZulu and seTswana. Today it comes with a sermon based on God’s word from the prophet Isaiah 43,1-7 written by brother Rev. F.Mtshali (LC in Fernie, MP) and translated as usual into seTswane (wt1336130707 n Tr 6) by my father Rev. E.A.W.Weber DD (Welbedacht, KZN), who also wrote the sermon in isiZulu (wz1336130707 n Tr 6).
May you have a very blessed weekend and have time to meditate on the watchword for this Sunday: This is what the LORD says– he who created you: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” (Isa 43:1 NIV) The liturgical colour is green.
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.
Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. (1Pe 3:14-15 NIV)
If a person esteems his calling to suffering highly and if that resultant joy dominates his heart, then he is gifted with strength to face the dread and fear exerted by his enemies with some lighthearted disengagement too. The threats of his enemies don’t raise his ire anymore, but rather he’s at peace to listen to the baseless raving. They leave him unmoved as the cliffs are by the ferocious sea. Christians don’t flee the torment, but rather face it head-on. Christ the Lord keeps them amidst all conflict and strive – granting them peace that passes all understanding. Jesus Christ is far superior and more powerful and mighty than any enemy or worldly power. He is the holy one of God, who has all authority in heaven and on earth. The most brutal and violent foes can’t do much against him. They are rather like harmless waves against a firm and confident bastion. This is true evens during harshest battle and in most terrifying times. For when the world throws a tantrum and makes the biggest noise, its just like swirling dust – not very effective, but quite intimidating as it tries to block out the comforting goodness and grace of our Lord and savior. We are in danger of losing sight of the eternal foundation and heavenly haven as the temporal darkness threatens to take hold of our world. That’s when we should flee to God and put our hope entirely onto him. He will come to save us!
Oh, dear and most loving Father! You see how the world despises your wisdom and holiness. In your goodness you provided the world with all its power and might divine in abundance so that it would serve you faithfully at all times and in all places. However it would rather pit this against you and your kingdom. They are great, mighty and plenty. They pester, hinder, attack and attempt to destroy the little herd of your Church and would not bear its presence here on earth. Lord, please, grant conversion to them and protection to your people. Convert those, who still are to become your children and heirs of heaven, so that they would serve you in true faith and upright love. Resist all those, who would not desist from opposing your Church and kingdom. Throw them down from their lofty throne and destroy their evil plans and strategies. Amen.
Faithful watch o’er Israel – my soul rejoices in you. You know all sorrow of your dear Church. O watchman, you don’t sleep nor do you slumber. Keep your watch carefully over us!
We cry meek and poor, knocking at your grace’s door. We’re yours, bought at highest price. Turn away your father’s wrath that as a fiery furnace burns the world to ash. (Johann Heermann, 1585-1647)
This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Saturday after the fifth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 256 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu! (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.
I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you; I will praise your name, O LORD, for it is good. (Psa 54:6 NIV)
If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. (1Pe 4:11 NIV)
You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. (Isa 58:11 NIV)
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ. (Col 2:9-10 NIV)
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, liebe Brüder und Schwestern,
wahrscheinlich habe Sie auch von dem ethisch-theologischen Desaster des EKD-Familienpapiers gehört. Es hat erfreulich viele sachgerechte und kritische Stimmen dazu gegeben.
Eine etwas ausführlichere und grundsätzlichere Kritik von Prof. Dr. Reinhard Slenczka, Erlangen, möchte ich Ihnen hiermit weiterleiten. In ihr ist die Kritik verbunden mit entscheidenden Überlegungen zum Familienbegriff und zahlreichen historischen und biblischen Bezügen. Man kann sagen, die 17 Seiten von Prof. Slenczka sind ein mehr als hilfreicher Ersatz für die desorientierende EKD-Schrift.
Hier können Sie das pdf-Dokument “Aufklärung zur Ehe – Theologische Stellungnahme zur Orientierungshilfe des Rates der Evangelischen Kirche in Deutschland : „Zwischen Autonomie und Angewiesenheit. Familie als verlässliche Gemeinschaft stärken.” einsehen und ggf. herunterladen: http://www.ksbb-bayern.de/downloads/aufklaerungzureheekd2013.pdf Eine Weiterverbreitung ist durch den Autor ausdrücklich gestattet, bzw. erwünscht.
Herzlichst und Gott befohlen,
Ihr Andreas Späth
—
Kirchliche Sammlung um Bibel und Bekenntnis in Bayern e.V. (KSBB) Hauptbüro Postfach 1131 91502 Ansbach
Tel.: 0049-9871-444-956
Fax: 0049-9871-444-954
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? (1Pe 3:13 NIV)
This apostolic exclamation needs to be understood. Whoever pursues peace with God and all people is a joy to the angels and gladdening our savior. However this does not keep him from temporary dilemma. Hatred and evil still hound him like a dog. This is well know and I am sure even the apostle was well aware of this fact, that you don’t need to be bad to be hated by this world and you don’t have to do anything wrong for it to hound you either. Rather it is often the most shining virtues which rise the ire of others. As you do good and excel at it, jealousy, treachery and falsehood smell out a worthy bait. It is enough to just not be part of the worldly patterns to be discriminated and sidelined by it. Yes, God keeps those that belong to him safe and sound by guarding them with his merciful arm and shielding them with his gracious hand. Yet still it is common knowledge that God’s people travel roads that are lined with thorns and prickly issues, cares and sorrows. If the apostle asks “Who is going to harm you?” then this does not point to physical danger and harm, but rather the inviolability of our soul and new life in Christ. The true meaning of this sentence thus is that if you are eager to do good and remain faithful even in difficult times and through hard struggles, then nobody – not even the old evil foe and his dark cronies – can harm you permanently and forever. On the contrary. Suffering and harm work divine blessings and carry great promise as you can pass through them to eternal joy and happiness by God’s grace and mercy, who can create all out of nothing and is good beyond measuring out. Way beyond our wildest dreams!
O dear and loving God Father, Son and Holy Spirit! This live if full of sorrow and hardship leading us too often to the very brink of death. There’s so much danger all the way and even more insecurity and uncertainty too, so much faithlessness, deceit, cunning and treachery that we so quickly tire and desire our premature demise. Yet, you o God of peace and mercy, you know our weakness. Therefore help us to navigate these evils and troubles safely and without lasting harm. And when our time comes, grant us a blessed death and farewell from this world, so that we will not be too afraid and not despair at the sight of death and our end, but rather grant us a steadfast heart and a strong faith in you and your grace and goodness that forgives all our sin and heals all our diseases that we commit our body and soul entirely into your hands. Amen. (Dr. Martin Luther)
Lord, our God, don’t forsake those that in all their dire needs and hard times trust in you. Hear their calls for help which they bring before you night and day seeking mercy and deliverance.
Resist those that hate you and want to harm your Church. Let their powerful schemes come to naught. Turn yourself graciously to us poor people and have mercy on our weakness.
You are the victorious Lord and all else is subordinate. Stand by those, who trust in you and hope in your help alone, calling to you in Jesus name: Help savior and redeemer! Amen. (Johann Hermann 1585-1647)
This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Thursday after the fifth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 254 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu! (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.
But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? (Mal 3:2 NIV)
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. (Luk 2:10 NIV)
Wilhelm's space 