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Topical Index: Law/Gospel |
Confirmand Confessional Service
April 24, 2005
Pastor: Wayne C. Eichstadt
Hymns: 189; 196; 409; 732
WELCOME to worship in the name of Jesus, our Good Shepherd. This morning our seven confirmands will present the Gospel to us under the theme: THE LORD IS MY SHEPEHERD. Throughout the morning the confirmands will recite sections from Luther’s Small Catechism and presentations they have prepared. Though their words we will hear God’s Word teach us about our Good Shepherd.
Pre-Service devotion: Psalm 23
Pre-Service prayer: Hymns 5 and 287
Lord, open Thou my heart to hear
And through Thy Word to me draw near;
Let me Thy Word e’er pure retain,
Let me Thy child and heir remain.
Hymn 426 ~ The Lord My Shepherd Is
Jesus, our Good Shepherd, is the shepherd who lay down His life for us, the straying sheep. God’s Law is the portion of His word which reveals that we are straying sheep. God’s Law establishes what is right and wrong, what is pleasing and displeasing to Him. When we compare our lives to God’s Law we see where we fail in keeping His law.
In the first portion of our service this morning, the confirmands will use examples from Bible History to illustrate the 10 Commandments, to show God’s will for our lives, and then also to see that we too stray from God’s Will.
As Moses was on top of the mountain getting the two tablets of testimony, the people saw that Moses had not come down from the mountain. They told Aaron that they wanted a new god for they did not know what became of Moses and the God who had delivered them from Egypt. Aaron told them to break off all the gold they had and bring it to him. They did as he told them and he fashioned a golden calf and said, “This is the god who has brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” Then the next morning, as the people were worshipping their idol, the Lord told Moses to go down off the mountain for the people had corrupted themselves. As Moses came near the camp, he saw the calf and he saw the people dancing around it. Angry, Moses threw down the tablets of testimony breaking htem. And then he took the calf and burnt it in the fire.
We can apply this story to our own lives. God wants us to put Him above all, and we tend to do things our way by putting things before God that we think are more important. God does not want us to fall from our faith. He wants us to strengthen our faith by listening to His Word. Because His Son died to save us from all sin, we are saved from eternal suffering. For this we should praise Him above all things and put our complete trust in Him.
In the Second commandment God protects His name—We should not misuse His name. God’s name is everything He has revealed about Himself to us through His Word. Martin Luther said we should not curse, swear, practice witchcraft, or use His name to lie or deceive; but we should call upon His name in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks. The story of the ten lepers illustrates a positive use of God’s name on the part of the one leper who came back to thank Jesus. Ten lepers asked Jesus for help. He healed them and only one of them came back to give thanks, but that one leper recognized that Jesus was the Son of God and came back to give Him glory and thanksgiving for the healing Jesus had given. That is a proper use of God’s name and we pray that the Lord would enable us as well to properly use His name in all things.
In the Old Testament the Sabbath Day was Saturday. God made the earth in six days and on the seventh day He rested. Sabbath comes from the Hebrews word which means rest. In the Old Testament a man went outside on the Sabbath Day to pick up sticks. God commanded that the man be stoned to death. Death was his punishment for working on Sabbath Day. The rule for no work was a picture of Jesus, our Savior who would come. IN the New Testament, things dramatically changed. Jesus died on the cross to save us. He saved us from our sin and the guilty conscience that comes with it. We no longer need the “no work” rule because Jesus came to set us free from our sins. The congregation of believers chose Sunday as our worship day. Remember the Sabbath Day to keep in holy and worship, pray, praise, and give thanks to Jesus Christ our Savior.
Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we do not despise His Word and the preaching of it; but we should regard God’s Word as holy and gladly hear and learn it.
Absalom was trying to turn the town against his father, King David. Absalom would stand at the gate and talk to the people who came to see the king. HE would tell the people that he should be king and not his father. Then Abasalom went to Heron and raised a powerful army to fight for the kingship. During this fight, Absalom got on a mule and rode off on a path that ended up leading to a dark forest. As Absalom headed down the path on the mule, his hair became tangled in the tree’s branches and his head was caught between two brances of a tree. He was hanging there when Joab came down the path with three heavy spears which he stuck right through Absalom’s heart. Upon hearing the news of his son, King David wept, crying out and saying “My son, oh my son, if only I had died instead of you!”
God says that we should not disobey our parents, dishonor them, or hurt them in any way. When Absalom was trying to become king and turn the town against his father, he was disobeying him. Absalom should have told his father, King David, what the problem was and helped him instead of trying to fight him.
Every day children should honor and obey their parents in the best possible way.
You shall honor your father and your mother that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we do not despise nor anger our parents or superiors; but we should honor, serve, and obey them, and give them love and respect.
You should not murder. In the story of John the Baptist, Herod made a foolish promise and broke the fifth commandment. Herod took his brother Philip’s wife, Herodias. Because John the Baptist told Herod it wasn’t lawful for him to marry her, Herod and Herodias were angered by John and Herod put John into jail. When Herod’s birthday came, Herodias’s daughter danced before Herod and pleased him. He then promised with an oath to give her whatever she wanted. By her mother’s wishes she told Herod she wanted the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Herod was then sorry for the oath he had made, but still had John beheaded and given to her on a platter. Herod broke the fifth commandment by beheading John because of a foolish promise which he have should have taken back. In the 5th commandment, God protects all living humans therefore hurting or harming, hating, murder, suicide are all breaking the fifth commandment. Instead of doing these we should help and be a friend to all.
The Sixth Commandment tells us that we should not commit adultery. We should live a pure and decent life and husbands and wives should love and honor each other. Marriage is one man and one woman joined together for a lifetime. God started marriage when He gave Eve to Adam. We should not say awful jokes about marriage or the gifts that God gives in marriage.
The story of Isaac’s marriage is a good example about the sixth commandment. Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac. Abraham’s servant went to Abraham’s homeland to find a wife so that Isaac would not marry a heathen woman. The servant prayed that God would lead the right woman to him. God led Rebekah to him. Rebekah agreed t marry Isaac. After they were married, God says that Isaac loved Rebekah. Isaac and Rebekah honored marriage and treated each other as a gift from God.
One of God’s commandments is the seventh. It tells us we should not steal. It tells us we should not take our neighbor’s money, possessions, or property but we should help him to improve and protect them. One man who broke this commandment (and many others) was King Ahab. Ahab wanted Naboth’s vineyard but Naboth would not sell it. The vineyard had been in Naboth’s family for many generations and God’s Law forbid Naboth to sell it. Since Naboth would not sell the vineyard, Ahab went home and did not eat. His wife asked him what was wrong and he told her. She told him to cheer up because she had a plan. She had two men accuse Naboth of cursing God and the king. He was convicted and stoned to death. At once Ahab took hold of the vineyard. God was angry at this and told Elijah to tell Ahab that dogs would lick up his blood just as they had done with Naboth’s. God does not want us to take or steal but rather we should be happy with what we have. God says in Ephesians 4:28, “Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with is hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.”
The Bible story of Judas betraying Jesus illustrates the breaking of the eighth commandment. In the eighth commandment God forbids lying about our neighbor, betraying our neighbor, or doing anything to ruin our neighbor’s reputation even if what we say is true. God wants to protect our neighbor’s reputation.
Judas Isacriot, one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, offered to betray Jesus by leading His enemies to capture Him. After Jesus administered the first Lord’s Supper, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane, where he was betrayed by a kiss from Judas. Judas, after betraying Jesus, felt guilt, and in despair hung himself.
Judas should have stayed away from the temptation of betraying Jesus. When the chief priests said they would give him 30 pieces of silver, Judas should have walked away. In our lives we should efend our neighbor.
This commandment applies to our lives because whether it be gossiping, lying, betraying, or doing anyting out of a false heart, we can easily ruin our neighbor’s reputation.
You shall not commit adultery.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we live a pure and decent life in words and actions, and that husband and wife love and honor one another.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him, or say anything that might ruin his good name and reputation; but we should defend him, speak well of him, and explain all his words and actions in the best possible way.
In both the ninth and tenth commandments, God forbids coveting. Coveting is a sinful desire. In the story from Bible History that Ethan told of Ahab and Naboth, Ahab first coveted Naboth’s vineyard and then proceeded to steal it through his wife, Jezebel. Coveting comes from a discontent with what God has given to us. A simple desire or wish for something is not coveting, but it becomes coveting if God has demonstrated that His answer is “no” and we still desire it and are not content with His answer. We are able to covet things such as our neighbor’s house, but we are also able to covet people such as our neighbor’s wife and workers. Coveting is very much a sin of the heart and does not always show itself externally, but is still very much a sin.
Pastor: As we examine our lives in the light of all ten commandments we find that we capable of sinning against every one of htem in our hearts and thoughts and in our words, and in our actions. We therefore come confessing our sins ot our Savior.
I ask you now as you consider these ten commandments and God’s law and His expectation for your life in holiness of thought, word, and action. Do you confess that you have sinned against God in thought word and deed—sinning against all of these commandments and therefore by right are under his just wrath; and do you come to your lord confessing these sins and seeking his forgiveness? If so, acknowledge this by answering: YES.
As you come confessing these sins and put your trust in Jesus your savior for their forgiveness, I assure you that your sins are all forgiven. Through Jesus your savior who died on the cross to pay the penalty for every one of your sins you have redemption and eternal life. I forgive you all of your sins in the name of the father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Hymn 295 ~ The Law of God is Good and Wise
Pastor: Jesus our Good Shepherd has indeed saved us, the straying sheep. In the second portion of our worship service this morning, the confirmands will present to you truths from Scripture to help us understand our Shepherd and His Word. We begin with the Shepherd’s Word. Meredith Friedrichs will speak to us concerning the Shepherd’s Word and what it means to us.
What is the shepherd’s Word?
The Shepherd’s Word is the Word of God. The Word of God is what is written in the Bible.
How do we know the Bible is God’s True Word and verbally inspired?
Everything that is written in the Bible is true. Things that are in the Bible are clearly fulfilled. The Bbile has proven it’s power in our hearts. All of the Bible is God-breathed. This “verbal inspiration” means that God gave the Bible word-for-word to His writers. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (Timothy 3)
In the Bible there are two doctrines—Law and Gospel. What is the Law?
The Law is the Word of God that tells us what to do and what not to do and the punishment for breaking the Law. The Law shows us our sins. These passages are about the Law: “I would not have known sin except through the Law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet” (Romans 7:7). “For by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20).
What is the Gospel?
The Gospel is good news and shows our Savior. The Gospel is the good news about the love of God in Christ Jesus. Jesus died on the cross to save all people from their sins. This passage will tell us a little more about the Gospel. For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:16).
How do we use the Law and the Gospel?
The law is what guides us through life by showing us what is pleasing to God. The Gospel is what saves people from their sins.
Pastor: Jesus is our good shepherd, but who is Jesus. Lexi Tolzmann will give us further information on the Shepherd’s Identity.
Who is the Good Shepherd?
Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd, true God and true Man.
How do we know that Jesus is true God and true man?
We know that Jesus is true God because of the miracles He has performed. If HE wasn’t true God, he would not have been able to help blind men see, turn the water into wine, or heal. Jesus rose from the dead which also shows us that HE is true God. We know He is true Man because he was born and He died. Jesus slept, wept, ate, and drank like a human being. Jesus told us Himself that He was true man.
Why did Jesus need to be both God and man?
Jesus needed to 100% God to save us from our sins and keep the law p erfectly. He was the holy sacrifice for us. If HE wasn’t 100% God we wouldn’t be saved from sin.
However, HE also had to be 100% man. Jesus had to be put underneath God’s laws and authority and keep all of the laws. He also had to die.
How can Jesus be both God and Man?
The Holy Spirit conceived Jesus in Mary, a virgin. The Holy Spirit is part of the Triune God. Mary was a human being who gave birth to Jesus. This miracle joined the Son of God and man to Jesus.
Congregation:
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
Pastor: What does this mean?
Confirmands:
I believe that God has created me and all creatures. He has given me my body and life, eyes, ears, and all my bodily members, my mind, and all my senses and still keeps them for me. God also preserves me by richly and daily providing clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, spouse and children, land, animals, and all my property and all I need to support this body and life. He protects me from all danger. He guards and defends me from every evil. God does all this because He is my good and gracious Father in heaven, not because of anything I have done to earn or deserve it. For all of this it is my duty to thank, praise, serve, and obey Him. This is most certainly true.
Congregation:
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
Pastor: What does this mean?
Confirmands:
I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the virgin Mary, is my Lord. He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sin, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and His innocent suffering and death. He did this that I should be His very own, live under Him in His kingdom, and serve Him in eternal righteousness, innocence, and joy; just as He is risen from death, lives and reigns in eternity. This is most certainly true.
Congregation:
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the Holy Christian Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
Pastor: What does this mean?
Confirmands:
I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him.
But the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified, and kept me in true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian Church He daily and richly forgives all sins to me and all believers. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead and give to me and all believers in Christ eternal life. This is most certainly true.
Hymn 15 ~ From All that Dwell Below the Skies
Pastor: Jesus our good shepherd calls sheep into his fold. Sierra Kellogg will tell us how our Shepherd identifies His sheep.
How does Jesus know His sheep?
Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and am known by my own…amy sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me, and I give them eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall anyone snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10)
How does Jesus’ knowledge of His sheep lead to their blessing?
Jesus daily provides for us and protects us. He knows our weaknesses and needs and restores our souls and leads in the path of righteousness. David says in Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”
In what way does Jesus hear His sheep calling?
Jesus will hear all who call upon Him in truth. He will also fulfill the desire of those who fear Him, and He will hear their cry and save them. He promises, “Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver you and you will glorify me.”
Pastor: The Gospel is the means that God uses to call sheep into his fold and keep them there. Jimmy Brandt will explain how God uses the Gospel in His Word to call His sheep.
How does Jesus Call His Sheep?
Jesus calls His sheep with His Word. His Word is in the Bible. “So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17)
How do we hear and learn Jesus’ Word?
We hear and learn His Word in Christian schools, in church, in Sunday School, from parents, teachers, and from other Christians. We can learn about Jesus from our own Bible Study and devotions. “..from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15).
Who does Jesus want to speak His Word?
Jesus wants all believers to speak His Word. He says, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). When a believer speaks God’s Word, it is as if Jesus was speaking Himself. “HE who hears you hears me, HE who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” (Luke 10:16).
Pastor: The Gospel is also active in Baptism. Jenna Timm will speak of the Shepherd calling us through Baptism.
What is Baptism?
Baptism is a sacrament which is done with water, but it’s not just plain water, it’s used by God’s command and connected with God’s Word. God’s Word in Baptism is His command to Baptize sinners in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The Word Baptize means to wash. Baptism uses water to show that it accomplishes the washing away of sin. Ephesians 5:25,26 Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word.
Baptism was started by Jesus and can be done by any believer. The water is used as the earthly element in connection with God’s Word. Through Baptism the Holy Spirit gives us faith, forgives sin, and makes us members of God’s family. 1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.
Why Are Baptisms done?
God gives spiritual blessings through Baptism. In Baptism, the forgiveness of sins is given. It delivers is from death and the devil. God also gives us eternal live through Baptism. Mark 16:16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved. Believers are the ones who receive the benefits of Baptism. The Gospel in baptism is the Means Of Grace which the Holy Spirit uses to create faith and bring these blessings to believers.
What is Baptism?
Baptism is not just plain water. It is water used by God’s command and connected with God’s Word.
What is that Word of God?
Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Matthew, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).
What are the benefits of Baptism?
Baptism works the forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe, as the words and promises of God declare.
What are these words and promises of God?
Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Mark, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark l6:l6).
Hymn 751 ~ God’s Own Child I Gladly Say It
Pastor: Not only is the Gospel used in Word and Baptism to call sheep into the fold of the Good Shepherd, but He also strengthens His sheep by using the Gospel in the Word and the Lord’s Supper. Jarrod Schreyer will explain how The Shepherd strengthens His sheep in the Sacrament of the Altar.
Many blessings come through Communion. But what is Communion and what blessings come through it?
First of all, Communion is a Sacrament. It is a sacrament because Christ instituted it, it’s a sacred act, it includes earthly elements, it’s connected with God’s Word, and it offers spiritual blessings.
A “Communion” is defined as “coming together into one.” There are three different communions within the Lord’s Supper. The first is the coming together of the bread and wine with the body and blood of Christ. The second is communion between the communicants and Christ. The third is communion with other Christians which is part of Christian fellowship. Christian fellowship expresses unity in a congregation.
Our faith is strengthened with the spiritual blessings we receive through Communion. We receive the blessings of Christ’s death through Communion, which provides life and salvation. Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “In Christ we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” God assures us of forgiveness of sins through Communion.
Communion has the power to give these blessings through the Word of God, ultimately Jesus’ words, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins…”
We practice Close Communion. Close Communion is using the Lord’s Supper carefully according to God’s Word and allowing those who have examined themselves and are properly prepared to receive the Sacrament. We do this because if an individual is not properly prepared or is unsure and not ready for Communion, he can harm himself spiritually. Paul says in 1st Corinthians, “Therefore whoever eats this bread and drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord…for he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.”
We want to be unified with others in the same belief before we express this unity in the “coming together” of the Lord’s Supper. We should avoid attending Communion with others of different beliefs because the unity of fellowship is not present.
In conclusion, when we prepare ourselves properly and when we have faith in Jesus’ words, “given and shed for you” we receive all the blessings God gives through Communion.
What is the Sacrament of the Altar?
It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, given to us Christians under the bread and wine to eat and to drink, as it was instituted by Christ Himself.
What is the benefit of this eating and drinking?
The words, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins,” show us that God gives forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation through the Sacrament. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.
When is an individual properly prepared to receive this Sacrament?
Customs in connection with eating and clothing are indeed a fine preparation. However, a person is truly worthy and well‑prepared who has faith in these words, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” Whoever does not believe these words or doubts them is unworthy and unprepared. The words, “for you,” require nothing but believing hearts.
Pastor:
As we consider our status as straying sheep and hear God’s Word that announces to us that our Good Shepherd has called us with the Gospel and made us part of His fold. AS we consider the promise of eternal life in heaven, our hearts and our souls are lightened from the burden of sin. We are able to rejoice and to stand in awe at God’s grace; for how amazing is a love that so loved us that saved us as straying sheep. When we consider the amazing truth of the Gospel message that our sins are totally wiped away through the love of God in Christ Jesus, we can stand in further awe to realize that the Gospel message is entrusted to us.
Amazing as it is, the Shepherd entrusts His Gospel to the sheep. If we were the ones deciding the messenger of the Gospel and applied human logic to the situation we would likely find someone else other than sinners to carry our words. For are we not imperfect> Do we not at times fail to speak the word properly and at the opportune time? Are we not frail sheep? Why would God choose us? Yet, God in His grace and mercy and love does choose us. He entrusts His Gospel to us, Paul says, as a treasure in earthen vessels (cf. 2 Corinthians 4:7). Paul compares us to clay pots that so easily shatter, that don’t look like much but to us God has given that precious glorious, amazing truth of the Gospel. Are we perfect in bearing this treasure? No. But God has given this treasure in earthen vessels so that His glory will shine forth. “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that he excellence of the power may be of God and not of us” (2 Corinthians 4:7).
When we consider that we are mere sinners entrusted with the very Gospel of salvation we underwstand that when a soul is saved it is not because I brought God’s Word to him. When a soul si rescued from the grip of sin and death and hell it is nothing that I have done. The power and the glory is God’s! He has entrusted it to us the sheep, but all fo the effect, all of the work, all of the blessing is His and His alone.
The Bible refers to the Gospel as the “mysteries of God” and God has made us stewards of those mysteries—caretakers. “Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God” (1 Corinthians 4:1). We think back to Jesus’ ministry in which He encourages us to let our light shine (cf. Matthew 5:14ff). Jesus used the example of lighting a lamp. We wouldn’t light a lamp and then put it under something—or in our age we wouldn’t turn on a lamp and hten cover it up with a box. We want the light to shine and give light to the whole room and illuminate what is there. We can apply this as we think of our role as having been entrusted with the Gospel. We are the stewards, the caretakers, of the Gospel. We have been given the life saving message of Gods’ Word, what do we do with it? Do we simply tuck it into the back part of our lives and bring it out when it seems appropriate? Or do we use Gods’ Word daily in our devotions and in everything we do? In our conversations are we talking and acting as sheep who have been entrusted with the Gospel, or do we tuck it away and only bring it out on special occasions such as Christmas and Easter? We have been entrusted with the life giving message of Gods’ Word. It is a light to shine in the path of sinners. It has the power to call straying sheep to be the Lord’s. Why would we ever keep that hidden or tucked away?!
As individual sheep and children of God who have been entrusted with this message of salvation, you have an incredible gift, an incredible privilege, and an incredible opportunity. With the Gospel you have the opportunity to cheer sin burdened hearts. God entrusts each of His sheep with the Gospel so we can take it to other sheep who are limping along, or who are sorrowful, or those who may not even yet be sheep of the fold and are walking in darkness. God has entrusted you with the Gospel for that privilege, for that opportunity, for that blessing of bringing the word of salvation to those who need it and use it with one another to strengthen, comfort, and uphold.
Within this stewardship of the Gospel we have the authority to forgive sins. Jesus on Easter evening breathed on His disciples and said, “Whoever’s sins you forgive they are forgiven them and whoever’s sins you retain they are retained” (cf. John 20:23). AS one child of God to another we have the authority to forgive one another’s sins, to assure one another that in Christ Jesus our sins are washed away. This takes place in each worship service when the pastor announces to you—the congregation—that he is forgiving your sins. He has that authority as one child of God to another to pronounce the forgiveness won by Christ.
It is not only in these public settings and a called servant announcing forgiveness where this authority exists. It also takes place in the privacy of our own homes and our own rooms. If a fellow Christians comes to us burdened by sin, confessing those sins, and putting trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of sisn, you as a sheep entrusted with the Gospel have the authoriuy to say: I Forgive you your sins.” Likewise, if we have sins that are troubling us we can seek out a fellow Chistiana—perhaps a pastor, but not necessarily—a fellow shepe of the good shepherd, confess our sins, and they can forgive us and give us the assurance that yes, indeed our sins are washed away.
The shepherd entrusts you, the sheep with the Gospel. What blessed privilege and a blessed opportunity. May the Lord enable each of us to see every opportunity to use His Gospel message to the fullest.
What is the Office of the Keys?
The Office of the Keys is the special power Christ gave to His Church on earth to forgive the sins of penitent sinners and to retain the sins of the impenitent as long as they do not repent.
Where is this written?
The holy evangelist John writes in chapter 20: “[Jesus] breathed on [His disciples] and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained’” (John 20:22,23)
How does a Christian congregation use the Keys?
A Christian congregation, with its pastor, uses the keys according to Christ’s command, either by forgiving those who repent of their sins and are willing to change, or by excluding those who are obviously impenitent from the Christian congregation. These actions are as valid and certain in heaven also as if Christ our dear Lord were dealing with us Himself.
Hymn 772(1-4) ~ On Galilee’s High Mountain
Pastor: Ethan Gibson will conclude the presentations this morning by assuring us that not only does our shepherd speak to us through his word, but he also listens to his sheep.
What is Prayer
Prayer is special heart-to-heart talk with God. We should pray with adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. What does all this mean? Adoration means we should adore God for all the wonderful things He has blessed us with. Confession is when we should tell God our sins and ask for His forgiveness. Thanksgiving is thanking God for what we have and telling Him who grateful we are for His wonderful blessings. Supplication is to ask God humbly for what we need in prayer and not ask in greediness. Whatever we pray for, we should pray in Jesus Christ’s name for without Him we could not approach God.
To whom should we pray?
The Triune God is the only true God and the only God that can answer our prayers. We should not pray to idols, saints, or the virgin Mary. Asking anyone else to answer our prayers would be a waste of time. “There is one God and one Mediator between God and man, the man Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:5).
Does Christ answer His Sheep?
Christ answer the prayers of God’s children each and every day. He listens to all who believe in Him. Christ answers our prayers and may answer back at any time and may answer in a way different than we might have asked. God wants us to come to Him with all our problems and let Him solve them. We should leave all our worries with Him. We pray because God asks us to pray. Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and it will be open to you” (Matthew 7:7). God does not always give us what we want, but rather He gives us what we need.
What kind of attitude should we have when we pray?
We should come before God boldly and humbly just as children come before their father. We should not come to Him in doubt, but rather confidently for we are talking to our heavenly Father.
The Address
“Our Father, who art in heaven.”
What does this mean?
With these words God tenderly encourages us to believe that He is our true Father and we are His true children, so that we may ask Him boldly and with complete confidence as dear children ask their dear father.
The First Petition
“Hallowed be Thy name.”
What does this mean?
God’s name is certainly holy all by itself, but we pray in this petition that we also keep it holy.
How is God’s name kept holy?
God’s name is kept holy when the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we as children of God also live a holy life according to it. Help us do this, dear heavenly Father.
But whoever teaches and lives contrary to the Word of God dishonors God’s name among us. Keep us from doing this, heavenly Father.
The Second Petition
“Thy kingdom come.”
What does this mean?
God’s kingdom certainly comes all by itself, even without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it also come to us.
How does the kingdom of God come?
God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and live a godly life here in time and hereafter in eternity.
The Fifth Petition
“And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
What does this mean?
We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look on our sins or deny our prayer because of them. We are not worthy of things for which we are asking, neither have we deserved them. However, we ask that our Father would by His grace give us what we ask; even though we sin often every day and indeed deserve nothing but punishment. We, too, will from our hearts gladly forgive and do good to all those who sin against us.
The Sixth Petition
“And lead us not into temptation.”
What does this mean?
God indeed tempts no one; but we pray in this petition that He would guard and keep us so that the devil, the world, and our flesh do not deceive us or lead us into misbelief, hopelessness, or any other shameful or sinful acts; and, although we are tempted by them, we ask that we win in the end and keep the victory.
The Doxology
“For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.”
What does “Amen” mean?
“Amen” means that I should be certain that these petitions are really heard by the Father in heaven; for He Himself has instructed us to pray in this way and promised that He will hear us. “Amen! amen!” that is, “Yes, indeed, it shall be so!”
Hymn 457 ~ What A Friend We Have in Jesus
Offering of Thankful Hearts
Prayers
Lord’s Prayer
Benediction
Hymn 47 ~ Savior, Again to Thy Dear Name We Raise
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Immanuel Lutheran Church 421 North Second Street Mankato, Minnesota 56001 |
Church Office: (507) 345-3027 Pastor Nolting: (507) 387-7035 Pastor Eichstadt: (507) 344-0898 |