Something from ... Luther's "The Bondage of the Will" (Entry #11)

INTRODUCTORY NOTES:  During the life of Martin Luther, Dutch scholar Desiderius Erasmus, was urged by Roman Catholic Church leaders to challenge Luther’s teachings and to condemn him.  Although Erasmus would rather have kept the peace in the Church, Erasmus was finally goaded into attacking Luther.  Erasmus intended to defend the official Roman Catholic teaching that God’s grace was needed to do the works by which man could then merit additional grace.  Luther’s response to Erasmus is known as The Bondage of the Will (De Servo Arbitrio).  Although Luther had published a myriad of writings in his career, he did not consider them worth preserving.  Luther regarded The Bondage of the Will as a rare exception to that rule.  In it, Luther writes at length that “free will” in spiritual matters is a lie, and that, if man actually has free will, then God loses such attributes as grace, omnipotence, and even his right to be God.

            The quotations from Luther in this blog post come from The Bondage of the Will translated by J. I. Packer and O. R. Johnston, Baker Academic: Grand Rapids, MI. © 1957.

            The following are thoughts concerning Luther’s arguments, urging us to LET GOD BE GOD.  Something from Luther’s The Bondage of the Will.

LET GOD BE GOD: Let God be gracious.


            One of the arguments Erasmus made about man’s free will and his ability to either come to God or to do the works God desires is that there must be something in those who are saved which sets them apart from those who are not.  Erasmus argued that this distinction is found in man’s free will.  Man uses his free will either to do the works God desires or to rebel against him.  It seems sensible.  Those who are saved are worthy; those who perish deserved it because of their willful rebellion.

            This may seem sensible, but it is not scriptural.  We are all dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1).  We are all, by nature, hostile to God (Romans 8:7) and his enemies (Romans 5:10).  We cannot make the move toward God.  In the same token, we cannot even do the works God wants to see in us.  Rather, “it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)  So, God creates the faith in us.  God works that faith in us to want to do good works.  And God works those good works in us and through us.  It is all God’s working from beginning to end.

            St. Augustine once commented that God makes willing ones out of the unwilling.  It is not man whose will does these things; it is God who converts our will and continues to work in us.  This is all about God’s grace, that salvation is God’s work through and through.  Luther urges us to let God be gracious in every part of our salvation.  Here is something from Luther on our sinful impotence and God’s gracious, life-giving work:

            “'Who' (you say) 'will try and reform his life?'  I reply, Nobody!  Nobody can!  God has no time for your practitioners of self-reformation, for they are hypocrites.  The elect, who fear God, will be reformed by the Holy Spirit; the rest will perish unreformed.  Note that Augustine does not say that a reward awaits nobody's works, or everybody's works, but some men's works.  So there will be some who reform their lives.

            “'Who will believe' (you say) 'that God loves him?'  I reply, Nobody!  nobody can!  But the elect shall believe it; and the rest shall perish without believing it, raging and blaspheming, as you describe them.  So there will be some who believe it.

            “You say that a flood-gate of iniquity is opened by our doctrines.  So be it.  Ungodly men are part of that evil leprosy aforementioned, which we must endure.  Nevertheless, these are the very doctrines which throw open to the elect, who fear God, a gateway to righteousness, an entrance into heaven, and a road to God!” (page 99)

Sermon -- The Festival of St. Michael and All Angels (September 29, 2019)

REVELATION 12:7-12

LET YOUR HOLY ANGEL BE WITH ME THAT THE WICKED FOE MAY HAVE NO POWER OVER ME.

In the name + of Jesus.

     In Martin Luther's Small Catechism, there are morning and evening prayers for Christians to pray.  Each of those prayers offers this petition: “Let your holy angel be with me that the wicked foe may have no power over me.”  We begin the day asking for God to send his angels to watch over us, and we begin the night with the same request.  This is what God has given his angels to do, as the Scriptures declare: "Are (the angels) not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14)  
     We often fail credit angels with the work they do.  I'm sure you've heard it said, and maybe you have said it yourself: “I know that Grandma is watching over us.”  Or you credit some loved one who died unexpectedly or died young.  I suppose it is emotional attachment that leads us to do this, but there is nowhere in Scripture which suggests that the saints who have gone before us are watching over us.  The Bible tells us that they rest from their labors.  They are not given new assignments.  The angels, however, have been assigned to watch over you.  The Psalms state plainly: “He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” (Psalm 91:11)  
     It is also fairly common for people's fascination with angels to lead to idolatry.  Whether people want to communicate with the angels for special aid or to worship them with prayers or vows, this is idolatry.  Angels are creatures—created by God for his purpose.  Now, the purpose God gives them is to defend and protect his people.  We call upon our God to have them to just that: “Let your holy angel be with me that the wicked foe may have no power over me.”  We thank God for them, but we do not worship them.   Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.
     St. John reminds us of what is at stake regarding the angels and their service: “Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon.  And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.” (Revelation 12:7-8)   God did not have to use angels for this purpose, but he chose to.  In the same way, God does not have to use parents to bring people into the world, but he does.  He uses mothers to feed and to nurture children.  He uses fathers to discipline and protect children.  For this, we give God thanks, but we do not worship parents for this.  It is the same with the angels.  And just as we dare not undervalue parents for the service they give to their children, so also we do not want to undervalue the angels whom God uses to serve us.
     The Lord employed St. Michael and all the angels to drive Satan out of heaven.  That means when we finally enter heavenly glory, we will be forever free from all of the temptation, affliction, and destruction the devil plots against us.  We will be forever free from all enemies and will enjoy uninterrupted peace and rest.  For, there (is) no longer any place for them in heaven. (Revelation 12:8)  It is not so on earth.  “Woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” (Revelation 12:12)  That is why we pray every morning and every night: “Let your holy angel be with me that the wicked foe may have no power over me.” 
     When we pray for the angels' protection against the wicked foe, we ask God to send his angels to protect us from all that would harm us in body and soul.  We probably think more about protection for our bodies.  We want to be delivered from illness and injury and protected from loss of property and possessions.  But even when the angels deliver us from injury, it is done mainly to protect our souls from harm.  Consider the case of Job.  When the devil wanted to afflict Job, it was not merely to see his portfolio get drained. Satan stripped Job of all that was valuable to him—killing flocks and herds, almost all his servants, and all ten of his children.  Later, Satan afflicted Job's body, leaving him a shriveled man with sores from head to toe.  The point was not merely to make Job miserable.  Granted, Satan wanted to afflict Job with loss, but he stated the reason why.  “Stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” (Job 1:11)  
     Losing your possessions or your health cannot damn you.  But if, in your anger or because of misplaced trust, you abandon the Lord, you forfeit his mercy, forgiveness, and salvation.  That's ultimately what Satan desires.  He does not care about you.  He will continue to harass, afflict, and tempt you.  He will also accuse you—for that is what Satan means, accuser—so that your guilt will consume you.  And that is all the more reason to plead to God: “Let your holy angel be with me that the wicked foe may have no power over me.”  
     Now, for as much as the angels do for you, they do not save you.  They serve you, but they do not save you.  That is done only by the Lord Jesus.  When Jesus came to the world, he did not come as an angel.  He became a man.  The angels marvel at what the Lord has done to save you.  The angels do not need to be saved.  They are confirmed in holiness.  Still, the angels marvel at the grace that God has upon sinners, that he would become a man to unite himself with you.  Jesus took upon himself all of your sins.  Every accusation that Satan could hurl at you, Jesus took for you.  And when Satan had a chance to kill God the Son, he could not help himself.  For, Satan knew that if he could kill off Jesus, he could claim the whole world for himself.  If God in the flesh could not overcome sin, death, and the devil, then all flesh is lost.  Not even the angels could fix that. 
     For you, Jesus gave himself into death with your sins upon him.  He let the grave swallow him up.  But on the third day, Jesus rose from the grave.  All sins have been paid for by his death, and every accusation of Satan is overruled.   Your are forgiven.  All the charges are dropped.  No accusations stick.  By Jesus' resurrection, death and the grave are overcome.  Salvation belongs to our God.  The authority to forgive sins and deliver from death belong to Jesus.  He has done all of these things for you.  For, St. John speaks of the saints: “They have conquered (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” (Revelation 12:11)  Whenever Satan would harass you with your sins or accuse you of your faults, flee to Jesus.  The word of his testimony silences the devil.  Flee to the altar; for the blood of the Lamb purifies you of all sin.  The wicked foe has no power over you; for you are Christ's.
     The day will come when we will depart from this world.  On that day, the angels will carry us to Jesus' presence in heaven.  And there, we will be forever free from all of Satan's accusations, from his harassment and temptations and afflictions.  For St. Michael the archangel and all the other angels have driven the devil and his minions out, “and there (is) no longer any place for them in heaven.” (Revelation 12:8)  This is why the heavens rejoice, and all who live in them.  And then, in that heavenly joy, we will join together with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven to laud and magnify the Lord for his grace and his glory. 
     Meanwhile, the angels and archangels and all the company of heaven already join with us in our songs of praise: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” as we come to the altar to partake in the blood of the Lamb for our salvation.  The angels rejoice not because they need God's grace, but because God has acted to save us.  They marvel at how good God is.  They rejoice over even one sinner who repents, and they rejoice over you.  More than that, they rejoice in serving you—in obedience to God and for the good of his people.  God sends them in answer to your prayer: “Let your holy angel be with me that the wicked foe may have no power over me.”  Thanks be to God—the angels are with you.  Satan has no power over you.  For, “the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come.” (Revelation 12:10)  Because Jesus lives, we too will live.  And all of God's holy ones—saints and angels—rejoice together. 

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen. 

Lutheran Satire and the Festival of St. Michael and All Angels

Sunday, September 29 is the Festival of St. Michael and All Angels.  Good Shepherd will be observing this festival and pondering God's good gifts of the angels he has created and employs for the benefit of his people.

Sadly, we have learned more about angels from Hollywood than we have from the Scriptures.  Unsurprisingly, the way we envision the angels is usually wrong.

Lutheran Satire offers a brief video to help clarify one common misconception about the way we think of angels.  This should clear a few things up, anyway.  Enjoy!

Update from Good Shepherd (September 26, 2019)

Greetings!

REGULAR SCHEDULE RESUMES 

        Divine Services are Sundays at 10:00 AM.

        Sunday School is on Sundays at 8:45 AM.

        Adult Bible Class is on Sundays at 8:45 AM and Wednesdays at 6:30 PM.

        Adult Bible Class will be working our way through the books of 1 & 2 Samuel, seeing how God continued to preserve his plan of salvation.  We will give special attention to the prophet Samuel and to the kings, Saul and David.  NOTE: Sunday morning and Wednesday evening are the same class.

LOOKING AHEAD

        There are a number of noteworthy dates to get on your calendar for the remainder of September and October.  Please note these.

        >  Sunday, September 29 -- The Festival of St. Michael and All Angels

        >  Sunday, October 6 -- Octoberfest

               5:00 PM  -- Vespers

               5:30 PM  -- Bratwurst Dinner

               6:30 PM  -- Luther Lecture ("Free Will--Who Really Has It?")

        >  Sunday, October 13 -- HVL Sunday at Good Shepherd, featuring the HVL Choir

        >  Sunday, October 20 -- Mission Festival, featuring our guest preacher and presenter, Rev. Guy Marquardt.  Dinner to follow the Sunday service.  Look for a Sign Up Genius page in early October.

        >  Sunday, October 27 -- Welcome Home Sunday

        >  Sunday October 27 -- Reformation Rally at HVL (4:00 PM)

STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING
        The main focus of our Stewardship Committee currently is to improve the bonds of fellowship among our members.  We also are striving to expand this to have members more aware of their role in the synod and to find ways to demonstrate Christian love to our community.  We will be meeting to make plans to strive toward these goals at our meeting Sunday, September 29 at 11:15 AM.  All members are encouraged to participate in our Stewardship efforts to help Good Shepherd be a vibrant, caring congregation. 
        Items up for discussion: Octoberfest plans (Oct 6); Trunk or Treat plans (Oct 19); Mission Festival meal and presentation (Oct 20); ways to serve in the community; fellowship activity in November (what and when TBD).

NOTES from Huron Valley Lutheran High School (HVL)

Upcoming Events:

Sept 19-21     HVL Rummage Sale

Join HVL’s Mailing List - Go to HVLHS.org and click on “Sign up for Newsletter” or call or email the school office at mail@hvlhs.org to be added.

The Festival of St. Michael and All Angels
Lutheran worship is liturgical.  While that often refers to an order of worship, it can also refer to the calendar of the Church Year.  The Church Year includes major festivals, such as Christmas, Epiphany, Easter, Pentecost, etc...  September 29 is a minor festival, the Festival of St. Michael and All Angels.
      At this festival, we praise God for his servants, the angels.  God employs angels to watch over his people (Psalm 91:9-12; Hebrews 1:14).  When we survey the Scriptures, we see that angels do much more.  They proclaim God’s praise and they point us to Christ as the Savior of all mankind.  On Sunday, September 29, we will heed the angel’s words, giving our attention to the grace God has poured out on all the world through Christ.

Support Our Collegiate Students (SOS)

After church on Sunday, October 13, the Ladies of Good Shepherd will be meeting to discuss upcoming events and package eleven SOS packages.  This should not take too much time.  Your interest/involvement in these opportunities is appreciated by so many.  We also are accepting your financial support.  Hope to see you there.  If you have any questions, please contact Cathy Mowers, cmowers@comcast.net  or Georgene Kinsman, gjkinsman@sbcglobal.net

OFFICE HOURS
        Regular office hours at Good Shepherd will be Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM. While there may be some flexibility to this schedule, we will try to keep it as regular as possible. 

DO YOU LIKE US?

Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook.  Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings.

God bless you.

In Christ,

Pastor Schroeder

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SUNDAY SCHOOL -- Sundays at 8:45 AM.

ADULT BIBLE CLASS -- Sundays at 8:45 AM and Wednesdays at 6:30 PM.

DIVINE SERVICES -- Sundays at 10:00 AM

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE

www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG
www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com

Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church
41415 W. Nine Mile Road
Novi, Michigan  48375-4306
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Divine Services -- Sundays at 10:00 AM

The Festival of St. Michael and All Angels -- September 29

Lutheran worship is liturgical.  While that often refers to an order of worship, it can also refer to the calendar of the Church Year.  The Church Year includes major festivals, such as Christmas, Epiphany, Easter, Pentecost, etc...  On Sunday, September 29 we recognize a minor festival, the Festival of St. Michael and All Angels.

At this festival, we praise God for his servants, the angels.  God employs angels to watch over his people (Psalm 91:9-12; Hebrews 1:14).  When we survey the Scriptures, we see that angels do much more.  They proclaim God’s praise and they point us to Christ as the Savior of all mankind.  At this festival, we will heed the angel’s words, giving our attention to the grace God has poured out on all the world through Christ.

We will join our voices with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven to laud and magnify our Lord in song of heaven ("Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty"), even as they will join with us to sing the song of saints on earth ("Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord").

NOTE:  The Hymn of the Day is a fairly new hymn, entitled "Christ, the Lord of Hosts, Unshaken." (726, Christian Worship Supplement)  It sings like a fight song; and indeed, it is.  Spend a few minutes before the service to read through the lyrics to appreciate how it vividly depicts the overthrow of Satan by our Victor, Jesus Christ, who wins the battle for us and who wins us for eternal salvation.

Something from ... Luther's "The Bondage of the Will" (Entry #10)

INTRODUCTORY NOTES:  During the life of Martin Luther, Dutch scholar Desiderius Erasmus, was urged by Roman Catholic Church leaders to challenge Luther’s teachings and to condemn him.  Although Erasmus would rather have kept the peace in the Church, Erasmus was finally goaded into attacking Luther.  Erasmus intended to defend the official Roman Catholic teaching that God’s grace was needed to do the works by which man could then merit additional grace.  Luther’s response to Erasmus is known as The Bondage of the Will (De Servo Arbitrio).  Although Luther had published a myriad of writings in his career, he did not consider them worth preserving.  Luther regarded The Bondage of the Will as a rare exception to that rule.  In it, Luther writes at length that “free will” in spiritual matters is a lie, and that, if man actually has free will, then God loses such attributes as grace, omnipotence, and even his right to be God.

            The quotations from Luther in this blog post come from The Bondage of the Will translated by J. I. Packer and O. R. Johnston, Baker Academic: Grand Rapids, MI. © 1957.

            The following are thoughts concerning Luther’s arguments, urging us to LET GOD BE GOD.  Something from Luther’s The Bondage of the Will.

LET GOD BE GOD: Let God be pure.


            Some have abandoned Christianity on the charge that all the wars in the world have been over religion.  While it is true that some Christians have done horrible things in the name of Christianity, they were certainly not done by the command of Jesus.  He has told us to put the sword away.  The only sword Jesus gives us the wield is the sword of the Spirit, that is preaching the word of God.  As for the Christians who have done horrible things in the name of Jesus, we call their actions for what they are—acts of wickedness.  We call such people to repent of their actions.  If they refuse, we excommunicate them and tell them that their sins cling to them.  Christians do not call anything good just because the name of Jesus was attached to it.  We call things good which God’s word defines as good.

            But the charge that all the wars of the world have been over religions is grossly overstated.  It is just an excuse to despise Jesus and his Church while attempting to sound noble while doing so.  But since people want to seem noble, they feel the need to find excuses for despising God and his word.  Jesus tells us why this happens: “The light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.  For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.” (John 3:19-20) 

            Only God is pure.  His word tells us what is good.  It also shows that we are not.  In an effort to defend ourselves, we can decide that God asks too much and that we know better.  But God is good, and only God is good.  His word is pure, and it shows us that we are not.  Rather than rebel, it is right to repent.  Rather than tell God to conform to our will, it is right to conform ourselves to his.  Only God is pure.  But man still rebels against his purity, further increasing their own sins.  Here is something from Luther on letting God be pure:

            “Yet now that the gospel is come, men start blaming the world's wickedness on it!—when  the truth is, rather, that the good Gospel brings the world's wickedness to light; for without the gospel the world dwelt in its own darkness.  So do the uneducated blame education for the fact that, as education spreads, their own ignorance becomes apparent.  Such are the thanks we return for the word of life and salvation!” (page 94)

Sermon -- 15th Sunday after Pentecost (September 22, 2019)

LUKE 14:1,7-14

THE LOWEST PLACE YIELDS THE HIGHEST HONOR.

In the name + of Jesus.

     When Jesus was invited to feast at the home of a prominent Pharisee, he could not help but notice the jockeying that went on among the dignitaries who had shown up.  Jesus lived in a society that was driven by honor.  As the Proverbs declare: “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.” (Proverbs 22:1)  If you were disgraced, it was more than an embarrassment; it was a condemnation.  The Pharisees were the experts in God's law.  Among them were men of varying degrees of prestige and importance.  So, when they arrived at the feast, they had to size up who was there to determine who was the most important and who got the most important places.  The apostles struggled with this mentality too, having arguments among themselves about which of them was the greatest.
     Jesus, therefore, told a parable about people who finagle their way to the most important seats at a wedding banquet.  Those who scheme to get the places of greatest importance clearly think they deserve them.  Few are so bold as to claim a spot in the VIP seating who know they don't really belong there.  If you do claim a spot there and the VIP shows up whose spot you are in, you would be escorted to the cheap seats.  Once again, in a culture that is based on honor, getting moved to the lowest place is not merely embarrassing, it is a sentencing.  It shows you where your honor has dropped to.
     However, the lower place would yield the higher honor.  For, Jesus said, “When you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’  Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you.” (Luke 14:10) 
     Now, Jesus was not offering up political savvy when he said this.  Granted, some may have schemed this way, hoping to get themselves exalted in front of the other guests.  But  if you would take it upon yourself to sit in the lowest place, you had better be prepared to stay there.  Jesus did not say that the master of ceremonies is obligated to move you up.  Jesus is not into political games or social jousting.  He wants people of self-importance to recognize their place.  And that is why he warns: “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11)
     This is a theme that runs throughout the Gospel of Luke.  It began with the Virgin Mary when she sang her song of praise: “He has shown the strength of his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate.” (Luke 1:51-52)  The Lord does not have much mercy for those who boast how great, how important, and how much more valuable they are than others.  Before God, we all share equal value—sinners.  On earth, we all have the same end result—the grave.  There is no difference.
     Even if God has granted you a position of great importance, you don't need to flaunt it over anyone.  If you do, you spend no time loving and serving your neighbor.  You only want to exalt yourself over your neighbor at his expense.  There is a story about a corporal in the War of the American Revolution who was giving orders to a squad of privates to move wood in order to prepare a bridge to cross a river.  While he was barking out orders, an old man came up to him and suggested, “It looks like those men could use a little more help.”  The corporal turned to the old man and forcefully explained that he was in command and his job was to see that the privates do the work that was assigned to them.  He was not about to lower himself to do the work of privates.  The old man said nothing more and joined in with the men moving the wood around.  Not much later, another soldier came up to the corporal and asked, “Why is General Washington doing the work?”  One man took pride in his supposed importance.  The other sought to serve, regardless of his importance.
     Jesus teaches us to order our lives with similar humility.  We do not need to concern ourselves with our own prestige or the prestige of others.  We simply love our neighbor and serve him in his need—especially if he is needy.  After warning the Pharisees, Jesus also addressed his host.  Rather than sharing his blessings with those who were already richly blessed, the man was told, “When you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you.” (Luke 14:13-14)  
     In Jesus' day, those who were poor, crippled, lame, or blind did little to contribute to society.  They were stuck in their difficult condition, often through no fault of their own.  Since they had little to contribute to society, they were judged as having little value and no importance.  The Lord disagrees.  Granted, they cannot pay you back for the time, effort, and money you spend on them.  But they are not to be loved because of what they can give; they are to be loved because of what they need.  And they need it more than most.  By serving them, you share a concern and a common place with them.  You are both sinners.  You are both dying.  You are both in need of God's mercy.  And if you can reflect God's mercy in your compassion for the needy and the lowly, it is all the better for them.  Demanding your respect and flaunting your importance does nothing for your fellow man.  In the kingdom of God, the lowest place yields the higher honor.
     The lowest place of all was taken by our Lord Jesus.  Jesus is God Almighty who possesses all majesty, glory, and honor.  Yet, he put aside his glory to become man.  He did not come to live in palaces or flaunt his royal divinity.  Jesus did not merely become a human being, he took a lowly place among human beings.  The only time Jesus was found in a palace was when he was on trial.  The only time Jesus was adorned as a king was when the soldiers put a robe on him and a crown of thorns to mock him.  When Jesus did use power, he did it to serve the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 
     More than that, Jesus took the lowest place.  He put aside his honor to take up our shame and sin.  He gave up his innocence to take on our guilt.  And he went to the cross which was the lowest place of all.  It was more than an agonizing death by crucifixion.  It was Jesus suffering the curse of the Father for the sins of the world.  It was the damnation for the sin of every sinner of all time.  Jesus was accounted guilty on behalf of the whole world and was condemned for sins he had never committed.  Therefore, because Jesus took the lowest place, God the Father exalted him to the highest honor—that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every mouth confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:10-11)  The lowest places yields the highest honor.
     Jesus took the lowest place so that you would be exalted.  He has taken away your sins, and he exalts you to a new status.  Instead of declaring you to be a sinner who has not kept his commands, he declares you to be a saint who has been cleansed of all unrighteousness.  You are now a child of the Most High God.  And if you are a child of God, you are an heir of the heavenly kingdom.  Jesus took the lowest place, but in doing so, he has given you the high honor of forgiveness of sins, new life, and salvation.  Jesus did not do this because you have produced something valuable that he wanted to get out of you.  Rather, your value is found in what God gave to redeem you—that Jesus willingly gave up his holy, precious blood to save you.  He did not save you because you were great or important or highly exalted.  He saved you because you needed it and because he loves you.  And that is what highly exalts you.
     As long as we live in this world, we do well to remember our place in it.  We are but dust and breath.  We are sinners who live among other sinners.  We are no more special or important or valuable than anyone else.  The world may value people based on what it can get our of them.  But in the kingdom of God, one's value is based on what Jesus has done for them.  Therefore, we love and serve our neighbors in their need, and especially those who truly need it.  The lowest place yields the highest honor.  Humble service will be highly honored by our God.  For he has exalted you for the sake of Jesus to be his own, and he will bestow on you everlasting honor at the heavenly banquet.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen. 

Update from Good Shepherd (September 19, 2019)

Greetings!

REGULAR SCHEDULE RESUMES 

        Divine Services are Sundays at 10:00 AM.

        Sunday School is on Sundays at 8:45 AM.

        Adult Bible Class is on Sundays at 8:45 AM and Wednesdays at 6:30 PM.

        Adult Bible Class will be working our way through the books of 1 & 2 Samuel, seeing how God continued to preserve his plan of salvation.  We will give special attention to the prophet Samuel and to the kings, Saul and David.  NOTE: Sunday morning and Wednesday evening are the same class.

LOOKING AHEAD

        There are a number of noteworthy dates to get on your calendar for the remainder of September and October.  Please note these.

        >  Sunday, September 29 -- The Festival of St. Michael and All Angels

        >  Sunday, October 6 -- Octoberfest

               5:00 PM  -- Vespers

               5:30 PM  -- Bratwurst Dinner

               6:30 PM  -- Luther Lecture ("Free Will--Who Really Has It?")

        >  Sunday, October 13 -- HVL Sunday at Good Shepherd, featuring the HVL Choir

        >  Sunday, October 20 -- Mission Festival, featuring our guest preacher and presenter, Rev. Guy Marquardt.  Dinner to follow the Sunday service.  Look for a Sign Up Genius page in early October.

        >  Sunday, October 27 -- Welcome Home Sunday

        >  Sunday October 27 -- Reformation Rally at HVL (4:00 PM)

EVANGELISM COMMITTEE MEETING

        In order to make the most of opportunities to proclaim the Gospel in our community, we need to budget our expenses and our time.  We will be meeting to determine our plans and to pray that God will bless them.  Our next Evangelism Committee meeting will be Sunday, September 22 at 11:15 AM.  All members are encouraged to participate in our Evangelism efforts, whether on the committee or not.  But we do need people who are willing to be on the committee to plan.

NOTES from Huron Valley Lutheran High School (HVL)

Upcoming Events:

Sept 19-21     HVL Rummage Sale

Join HVL’s Mailing List - Go to HVLHS.org and click on “Sign up for Newsletter” or call or email the school office at mail@hvlhs.org to be added.

The Festival of St. Michael and All Angels
Lutheran worship is liturgical.  While that often refers to an order of worship, it can also refer to the calendar of the Church Year.  The Church Year includes major festivals, such as Christmas, Epiphany, Easter, Pentecost, etc...  September 29 is a minor festival, the Festival of St. Michael and All Angels.

At this festival, we praise God for his servants, the angels.  God employs angels to watch over his people (Psalm 91:9-12; Hebrews 1:14).  When we survey the Scriptures, we see that angels do much more.  They proclaim God’s praise and they point us to Christ as the Savior of all mankind.  On Sunday, September 29, we will heed the angel’s words, giving our attention to the grace God has poured out on all the world through Christ.

OFFICE HOURS
        Regular office hours at Good Shepherd will be Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM. While there may be some flexibility to this schedule, we will try to keep it as regular as possible. 

DO YOU LIKE US?

Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook.  Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings.

God bless you.

In Christ,

Pastor Schroeder

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SUNDAY SCHOOL -- Sundays at 8:45 AM.

ADULT BIBLE CLASS -- Sundays at 8:45 AM and Wednesdays at 6:30 PM.

DIVINE SERVICES -- Sundays at 10:00 AM

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE

www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG
www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com

Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church
41415 W. Nine Mile Road
Novi, Michigan  48375-4306
+   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +
Divine Services -- Sundays at 10:00 AM

Octoberfest -- Sunday, October 6

Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church

(41415 W. 9 Mile Road, Novi) invites you to join us for our annual

Octoberfest

Sunday, October 6

5:00 PM  Vespers

5:30 PM Bratwurst Dinner

6:30 PM  Luther Lecture

This year’s Luther Lecture will be:

“Free Will – Who Really Has It?”

Luther and Erasmus: A Theological Smackdown

The Bondage of the Will. (1525)

“The Holy Spirit is no skeptic, and the things He has written in our hearts are not doubts or opinions, but assertions—surer and more certain than sense and life itself.”

— Martin Luther, 

The Bondage of the Will, December, 1525 

We hope that all guests of our Octoberfest celebration will gain a greater appreciation for the confessors and the confession of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
There is no cost for Octoberfest, but we will have a free-will offering to offset any expenses incurred from our festival.
In order to be sure that we will have enough food for all who attend, please RSVP to Good Shepherd at (248) 349-0565 or at welsnovi@aol.com.  Be sure to include how many will be in your party.

Something from ... Luther's "The Bondage of the Will" (Entry #9)

INTRODUCTORY NOTES:  During the life of Martin Luther, Dutch scholar Desiderius Erasmus, was urged by Roman Catholic Church leaders to challenge Luther’s teachings and to condemn him.  Although Erasmus would rather have kept the peace in the Church, Erasmus was finally goaded into attacking Luther.  Erasmus intended to defend the official Roman Catholic teaching that God’s grace was needed to do the works by which man could then merit additional grace.  Luther’s response to Erasmus is known as The Bondage of the Will (De Servo Arbitrio).  Although Luther had published a myriad of writings in his career, he did not consider them worth preserving.  Luther regarded The Bondage of the Will as a rare exception to that rule.  In it, Luther writes at length that “free will” in spiritual matters is a lie, and that, if man actually has free will, then God loses such attributes as grace, omnipotence, and even his right to be God.

            The quotations from Luther in this blog post come from The Bondage of the Will translated by J. I. Packer and O. R. Johnston, Baker Academic: Grand Rapids, MI. © 1957.

            The following are thoughts concerning Luther’s arguments, urging us to LET GOD BE GOD.  Something from Luther’s The Bondage of the Will.

LET GOD BE GOD: Let God speak for himself.

            Jesus had warned that his teaching would result in division, in fact, in bitter opposition.   “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth.  I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (Matthew 10:34)

            Erasmus desired peace within the church.  He longed for a church that was free from strife, division, and hostility.  Who wouldn't?  That is still the desire of Christians today.  No one rejoices in a fractured church.  But, as is the case now, so it was then.  The way man wants to achieve this peace is to cast God's word aside wherever it creates divisions among men.  People argue that it is more important to be kind than to be right.  Love is championed above doctrine—as if these were opponents!

            Luther chided Erasmus for his desire for peace.  He recognized that peace could be achieved, but only by silencing God's word.  Temporal peace could certainly be gained ... at the cost of eternal peace.  The conflict which came from opposing teachings could be put down if it was agreed to be silent on the issue—that is, to refuse to confess God's word on the issue so that it would become a non-issue.  But what Christian would agree to give up confessing God's word?  What would be commendable about attaining peace among men by having God keep silent?  

            Something from Luther who insisted on letting God speak for himself.  And if an outbreak of bitterness, anger, and even bloodshed should result, so be it.  These are momentary troubles.  Let God's word, which alone is eternal, be heard.

            “These things, I say, being temporal, may be endured with less harm than inveterate evil ways, which will inevitably ruin all souls that are not changed by the Word of God.  If the Word were removed, eternal good, God, Christ, and the Spirit, would be removed with it.  How much better, then, is it to lose the world than to lose God, the world's Creator, who can create countless worlds afresh, and is better than infinite worlds!  For what are temporal things besides eternal?  We should, therefore, endure this leprous outbreak of temporal evils, rather than keep the world at peace and free from these upheavals; for the price of that peace would be the blood and ruin of all souls, who would then be destroyed and damned for ever!  For the whole world is not of value enough to redeem a single soul.” (pages 92-93)

Sermon -- 14th Sunday after Pentecost (September 15, 2019)

LUKE 13:22-30

JESUS IS THE NARROW DOOR.

In the name + of Jesus.

     As Jesus was making his way to Jerusalem to suffer and die for sinners, “someone said to him, 'Lord, will those who are saved be few?'” (Luke 13:23)  We can only guess at the motive behind this question, but based on Jesus' response, it seems that it was not asked out of concern for others.  Rather, it seems that the man who asked it had an air of superiority over others while he presumed he himself was certainly saved.
     This is not all that unusual for Christians either.  We tend to consider the actions of other people and question whether or not they are really among God's people.  For example, we will question the faith of others based on who they vote for in elections: “A real Christian would not vote for that person.”  Or when we listen to discussions about the social issues of the day, we presume that everyone who holds to one view must be among God's people and that those who hold the opposite view are probably not.  Sometimes we do not even give them the benefit of the “probably.”  Should there be a border wall?  Should all guns be banned?  How do we react to women who say they now identify as men?  I bet we all have answers to those questions, and I bet that we make judgments on those who answer differently.
     Jesus changes the focus on the question.  “Someone said to him, 'Lord, will those who are saved be few?'  And he said to them, 'Strive to enter through the narrow door.  For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.'” (Luke 13:23-24)  Rather than be concerned about whether others are saved, Jesus urges you to be concerned about yourself.  After all, your opinion of others does nothing to determine whether or not they are saved.  Nor does anyone's opinion of you change God's judgment.  Your enemies cannot produce your damnation, and your friends cannot concoct your salvation.  Not even do the saints in heaven have any pull.  There is only one who will come to judge the living and the dead.  All judgment has been entrusted to Jesus, and salvation is found only in Jesus.  Jesus is the narrow door into the kingdom of God. 
     The door to the kingdom of God is narrow; therefore, only a few will enter it.  Unbelievers will not.  For the Bible states clearly, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16)  The question Jesus was asked, however, came from someone who thought he was a believer, so we will limit our focus to those who call themselves Christians for the remainder of the sermon.  After all, in the warning Jesus issued, those who ended up standing outside the narrow door and pounding on it were convinced they were among God's people.  They call him “Lord;” for they “knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us’” (Luke 13:25)  They claim familiarity with Jesus; for they will say, “We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’  But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from.  Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’” (Luke 13:26-27)  So, some who do not enter through the narrow door are convinced they will, perhaps like the man who asked the question.
    Jesus is the narrow door into the kingdom of God.  There is no other way in.  But if, in an attempt to make Jesus more attractive, we change who Jesus is, what he does, or what he teaches, we end up losing Jesus.  This has become increasingly popular today, as we see entire church bodies overturning God's word at denominational conventions.  Sadly, this overthrow of God's word is all done in the name of love.  This is deceptive, because we know what the Bible teaches: “God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” (1 John 4:16)  But a worldly definition of love is that no one should ever feel bad about themselves for anything, ever.  This is why the world despises God's word.  As Jesus said, “It hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil.” (John 7:7)
     Just recently, there was a Christian group (I think it was Focus on the Family) who urged Christian children to bring their Bibles to school.  This was met with outrage by some who said they did not want a book which promotes hate to be brought to school.  Sadly, some Christians quickly apologized, assuring the world that Christianity is about the acceptance of all people.  In an effort to be loved and respected by the world, some Christians have confessed a Jesus who would never make anyone feel bad about themselves.  They are ashamed to preach what God has revealed.  They apologize to sinners for God's word and insist, “He didn't mean what it says.”  Understand this: If you want the world to love and respect you, you will have to abandon God's word.
     We also adopt this attitude when we love our family more than we love God.  If our loved ones adopt sinful choices, do we give the impression that it is perfectly acceptable to us?  To avoid our own shame, we may even lash out at those who would expose the sin so that people would repent.  It is true that God is love, but God loves his word.  He gave it to us because it is good.  He does not apologize for it, withdraw it because it hurts people's feelings, or submit it for editing because it is 2019 or some other silly reason.  If we reject God's word, we reject the God who gave it—no matter how much we would appeal to him on the Last Day.  Now, it is true: There are more people on the outside of the narrow door than who will pass through it.  They all invoke the size of the group to prove who is right—“Right side of history” and all that.  But you will find no comfort if you are shut out of the heavenly banquet.  For, “in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Luke 13:28)
     Jesus said, “Strive to enter through the narrow door.  For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” (Luke 13:24)  Jesus is the narrow door into the kingdom of God.  There is no other way in.  Just as rejecting God's word to deny sins will keep you out of the narrow door, so will pride.  The man who asked Jesus the question likely assumed that his place in God's kingdom was set because he was better than others.  So also, we might commend ourselves because we are not like others who have rejected God's word.  We might think, “Of course we are saved.  We are better.”  But no one enters through the narrow door with such a big head.
     Jesus is the narrow door into the kingdom of God.  There is no other way in, because there is no other Savior.  In order to enter through that narrow door, we come with nothing.  We make no boasts.  We offer no excuses.  We have nothing but a Savior who takes away from us all sin and wickedness.  We don't find excuses for our wickedness or reasons that we are not really guilty.  Jesus does not bargain with us about what qualifies as a damnable sin and what does not.  Instead Jesus takes from us all sin and guilt.  He removes from us every trespass, every mark on our record.  He carries it all to the cross with him where he suffered and died for everything.  Jesus died for sins that you feel badly about and sins you don't think of at all.  The Father gave Jesus the cup of his wrath to consume, and Jesus consumed it all. 
     And now Jesus gives you a different cup.  This cup does not contain wrath or judgment, but rather life and blessing.  The cup of the Lord gives you the blood of Jesus which takes away all sin and cleanses you, just as you were cleansed of all guilt in your baptism and clothed in Jesus' righteousness.  All that you need for your salvation is given to you through Jesus and only through Jesus.  He is the narrow door into the kingdom of God.  Only Jesus removes your sin from you.  You and I can't take away our sin by denying what is actually sin.  Jesus did not die for fake sinners, only real ones.  He has taken away all your sin from you.  Only Jesus gives you the righteousness you need to enter the heavenly feast.  You and I can't make ourselves righteous by claiming to be better than others.  Only Jesus gives you the very innocence you need to recline at the heavenly banquet.
     Jesus is the narrow door.  He is the only way into the kingdom of God.  He puts an end to the weeping of frightened sinners.  He ends the gnashing of teeth by converting our minds to recognize that every word of God is good, right, and salutary—to be confessed, protected, and observed in our lives.  And while we pray that those who are saved will be more rather than few, the door into the kingdom of God will never become wider by altering God's word.  Our focus is limited to Jesus and his word.  This alone saves.  It is the only way into God's kingdom.  And even if it is narrow, it is open to you.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.