Northwoods Table Talk

   Lection for Friday Trinity X 1  Kings 1:1-4, 15- 35      1 Corinthians 12 :14-31 Paul is talking about body parts. What body part is the most important? What part of your body is less important than any other part? Can the parts of your body do whatever they want? For example, when it come to the end of the day, can the mouth just decide to take off and head out to the local establishment for a barley pop with the foam on top? Of course not! You are a part of the body of Christ, just as are all who confess the name of Christ with you, just as I am. Which of us is the most important in that body? Pastors? They have their role, but without those who need their care... Yeah, I think you get it!  When it comes to Sunday mornings, it appears that he is the most important - he leads the service, pronounces the absolution, reads the Scripture lessons, preaches the Gospel, administers the Sacrament of the Altar, pronounces the benediction whereby God's name...

  Lection for Thursday Trinity X 2  Samuel  12:1-25      1 Corinthians 12 :1-13 In Paul’s day, there was a problem in Corinth. They were arguing about which was the better gift, the more important gift of the Holy Spirit. Actually, it was all about the individual, showing off – who was better and more important. Their argument was not really about the gifts, and more importantly, it was not about the giver of the gifts. Instead, their discussion about these gifts was about the individuals themselves, it was all about prestige and who was greater and more important. It was a, “My dad’s bigger than your dad,” game they were playing.    As there were problems then, so it is also true today. I am sure that you have heard people discuss, or may even have you ever been asked about, the gifts of the Holy Spirit? There are some who will say that there are specific gifts of the Spirit all Christians should have. What is interesting is that usually, it will...

Lection for Wednesday Trinity X 2  Samuel 11:1-27      1 Corinthians 1 1:17-34 Have you ever really paid attention to verse 27 of the text from 1 Corinthians 11? OK, here it is again. Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. (1 Cor. 11:27)   Why do I bring it up? Good question! I bring it up because again and again I talk with people, including even long-time Lutherans, who when the topic of the Lord’s Supper comes up will ask, “You don’t really believe that you eat the very flesh of Christ and drink His very blood?”   “Yes, as a matter of fact I do! Jesus said that it “IS” is body and it “IS” His blood, why would I think otherwise? Jesus declares it to be so! He gives it to me to eat and to drink! In this meal He delivers to me the forgiveness He purchased upon the cross.” If it is not Christ’s body and blood, then why does God declare though Paul’s pen in ...

   Lection for Tuesday Trinity X 2  Samuel 7:18- 29      1 Corinthians 10:2 3-11:16   In later editions of Luther’s Small Catechism there appears a set of twenty questions “for those who intend to go to the Sacrament.” These questions reflect the teaching of 1 Corinthians which suggests that a man “should examine himself” before he eats or drinks at the Lord’s Supper. (1 Cor. 11:23-32 specifically vs. 28). I like to use these questions and answers myself, usually on Sunday mornings before the first service, but sometimes even on Saturday evening before going to bed.   I pray that you find them useful in your regular devotional life.   Christian Questions with Their Answers   Prepared by Dr. Martin Luther for those who intend to go to the Sacrament [The “Christian Questions with Their Answers,” designating Luther as the author, first appeared in an edition of the Small Catechism in 1551, five years after Luther's death.]   After con...

  Lection for Monday Trinity X 2  Samuel 7:1-17        1 Corinthians 9:24-10:22 Luther’s Small Catechism was written to equip ‘the head of the household’ to teach the basics of the Christian faith. After the “First Section” of the Catechism, what has come to be called “the Six Chief Parts,” we come to the second section entitled, “Daily Prayers.”   The next section is called “Table of Duties,” which is really Luther’s way of taking the Scripture and using it as the manner to explain the vocational responsibilities of people in their various vocations. Johnny may be a welder as the means by which God has given them the talent to feed and care for his family – however, each of us has more vocations than the one by which we “earn a living.”   Read through Luther’s Table of Duties and see your various vocations and how God would like you to live your life in each of them.   Table of Duties Certain passages of Scripture for various holy orders and...