Northwoods Table Talk

Lection for Thursday after Trinity VIII 1 Samuel 20:1-23        Acts 28:16-31 The Lord’s Supper is the 5 th part of the Catechism. We have considered the first two points Luther suggests we consider: "what is the sacrament?" and, "what are its benefits?" What remains is considering "who is to receive it?" This we will pass on to you in the next couple days. Let us hear what Luther says.  Large Catechism —— Fifth Part: Of Sacrament of the Altar Of the Sacrament of the Altar. 33] Thus we have the entire Sacrament, both as to what it is in itself and as to what it brings and profits. Now we must also see who is the person that receives this power and benefit. That is answered briefly, as we said above of Baptism and often elsewhere: Whoever believes it has what the words declare and bring. For they are not spoken or proclaimed to stone and wood, but to those who hear them, to whom He says: 34]Take and eat, etc. And because He offers and prom...

Lection for Wednesday after Trinity VIII 1 Samuel 19:1-15       Acts 28:1-15 The Lord’s Supper is the 5 th part of the Catechism. Luther speaks of three points in regard to this sacrament. It is my intention to use those three points to give us three days of readings on it. We have looked at at the first point, the essence of the Sacrament, now we move to the second. Let us hear what Luther says.  Large Catechism —— Fifth Part: Of Sacrament of the Altar Of the Sacrament of the Altar. 20] Thus we have briefly the first point which relates to the essence of this Sacrament. Now examine further the efficacy and benefits on account of which really the Sacrament was instituted; which is also its most necessary part, that we may know what we should seek and obtain there. 21] Now this is plain and clear from the words just mentioned: This is My body and blood, given and shed for you, for the remission of sins. 22] Briefly that is as much as to say: For this...

Lection for Tuesday after Trinity VIII 1 Samuel 18:10-30        Acts 27:27-44 The Lord’s Supper is the 5 th part of the Catechism. Luther speaks of three points in regard to this sacrament. It is my intention to use those three points to give us three days of readings on it. Let us hear what Luther says.  Large Catechism —— Fifth Part: Of Sacrament of the Altar Of the Sacrament of the Altar. 1] In the same manner as we have heard regarding Holy Baptism, we must speak also concerning the other Sacrament, namely, these three points: What is it? What are its benefits? and, Who is to receive it? And all these are established by the words by which Christ has instituted it, 2] and which every one who desires to be a Christian and go to the Sacrament should know. For it is not our intention to admit to it and to administer it to those who know not what they seek, or why they come. The words, however, are these: 3] Our Lord Jesus Christ, the same nig...

Lection for Friday after Trinity VIII 1 Samuel 20:24-42       1 Corinthians 1:1-25 The Lord’s Supper is the 5 th  part of the Catechism. We have considered the first two points Luther suggests we consider: "what is the sacrament?" and, "what are its benefits?" What remains is considering the second part of "who is to receive it?" Let us hear what Luther says. Large Catechism —— Fifth Part: Of Sacrament of the Altar Of the Sacrament of the Altar. 53] Now, this is to be the first point, especially for those who are cold and indifferent, that they may reflect upon and rouse themselves. For this is certainly true, as I have found in my own experience, and as every one will find in his own case, that if a person thus withdraw from this Sacrament, he will daily become more and more callous and cold, and will at last disregard it altogether. 54] To avoid this, we must, indeed, examine heart and conscience, and act like a person who desires to ...

Lection for Monday after Trinity VIII 1 Samuel 17:48-18:9       Acts 27:9-26 A Brief Exhortation to Confession is the next portion of Luther's Large Catechism. Of course, this is not “confession of faith” confession, this is confession of sins. Confession is what it means to be a Christian. Let us hear what Luther says. Large Catechism  A Brief Exhortation to Confession {Here follows an exhortation to confession.  This section on confession was added first in the 1529 revised edition of the Catechism.  It was omitted in the Jena Edition of Luther’s works and in the German Book of Concord (1580), hence also in several later editions of the Catechism } 1] Concerning confession we have always taught that it should be voluntary and purged of the pope’s tyranny.   We have been set free from his coercion and from the intolerable burden and weight he imposed upon the Christian community.   Up to now, as we all know from experience,...

Lection for Saturday Trinity IX 2 Samuel 5:1-25       1 Corinthians 8:1-13 Luther’s Small Catechism was written to equip ‘the head of the household’ to teach the basics of the Christian faith. What we call the Six Chief Parts was intended also to be devotional, one part prayed on each day of the week to prepare for coming to the Sacrament on Sunday. So, today’s devotion is actually that which was intended to be read/prayed on Saturday – it focuses up the Sacrament of the Altar on the day before coming to the Table that Christ prepares to feed and nourish His saints. Today’s devotion is from Luther's Small Catechism Sacrament of the Altar AS THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY SHOULD TEACH IT IN A SIMPLE WAY TO HIS HOUSEHOLD What is the Sacrament of the Altar? It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink. Where is this written? The holy Evangelists Matthew, Mar...

Lection for Saturday after Trinity VIII 1 Samuel 24:1-22      1 Corinthians 1:26-2:16   The 14 th verse of that 2 nd Chapter of First Corinthians says, But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.  What is a “natural man?” First off, it is good to know that we are all born in this flesh as a “natural man.” What exactly does that mean? It is what we learn from the Psalmist, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.” (Ps. 51:5) Each is a natural man, for each is born in human flesh, flesh born in the image of our father, Adam. We are born in the fallen, sinful image we have inherited from our parents. It is because of this, because of our sinful human nature, that we, as natural man cannot come to know the things that are of the Spirit of God. Natural man loves to satisfy the flesh. Natu...

Lection for Trinity IX 1 Samuel 25:1-22        1 Corinthians 3:1-23   Luther wrote his  Small Catechism  to equip ‘the head of the household’ to teach the basics of the Christian faith. It was written in three sections (6 Chief Parts, Daily Prayers, and Table of Duties), with a fourth section added later (Christian Questions with Their Answers – for those about to go to communion). He intended that the first section, 6 Chief Parts, would be prayed each day – one part each day on Monday through Saturday, thereby being prepared for Sunday being the day for the Lord’s Supper.  Today’s devotion is:   Luther's Preface to the Small Catechism Martin Luther, to all faithful and godly pastors and preachers: grace, mercy, and peace be yours in Jesus Christ, our Lord. The deplorable, miserable conditions which I recently observed when visiting the parishes have constrained and pressed me to put this catechism of Christian doctrine ...