Northwoods Table Talk

Lection for Trinity XIV 2 Chronicles 32:1-22       Colossians 1:1-23   We are now on to the 2 nd Part of these articles.   This first article of the second part has often been called, “The article upon which the church stands or falls.” This is indeed rightly so! In fact, this is the heart of Christianity. All other religions…and all false versions of Christianity…believe that man’s works assist with his salvation. If I am trusting even a little bit in Todd for my salvation, I am in deep trouble.   But let us read how Dr. Luther explains it.   THE SECOND PART Treats of the Articles which Refer to the Office and Work of Jesus Christ, or Our Redemption.   Part II, Article I: The first and chief article. 1] That Jesus Christ, our God and Lord, died for our sins, and was raised again for our justification, Rom. 4:25.   2] And He alone is the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world, John 1:29; and God has laid upon Him the iniquities of us all, Is. 53:6.   3] Likewise: All have

    Lection for Saturday after Trinity XIII 2 Chronicles 31:1-21        Philippians 4:1-23   On Thursday we began a look at the Smalkald Articles. The church has always had to defend truth against error, so these articles were written to defend that truth against those who would teach falsehood in the Church, and if possible, lead some astray. Of course, there are some who teach falsehood and lead others astray, doing so in a well-intentioned manner, never realizing that their teachings are in error.   There are times however, when subtle error is more dangerous that blatant and obvious error. Obvious falsehoods are easily recognized. If Satan were to stand before you displaying his evil (as is often depicted in places); flames licking up and down his body, pitchfork in his hand, horns upon his head, and a spiked tail, you would flee immediately.   Subtle falsehood however is actually how the father of lies tries to creep into the church, trying to lead people down a path where they ar

  Lection for Friday after Trinity XIII 2 Chronicles 29:1-24        Philippians 3:1-21 Today is 19 years after the events of 9/11 (yeah, that one in 2001). Most people remember where they were and what they were doing. It was a time of turmoil and confusion. There were many who were scared, wondering what was coming next. As we remember that day, I remember a memorial service at which I preached a few weeks later.  I conducted that service with Rev. Steve Hyvonen three weeks after the horrific events of September 11, 2001, at St. James Lutheran Church. Both of us were serving as chaplains to the Shawano County Sheriff Department, and planned this special service for the emergency personnel of Shawano County. While this sermon I wrote was for a specific purpose, it has been requested by many as they deal with other traumatic life situations. It is placed here today as the devotion for this day. There are those who found comfort in these words then, and there are those who still find thi

Lection for Thursday after Trinity XIII 2 Kings 9:1-13; 10:18-29         Philippians 2:12-30   Ever there have been theological disputes, so in 1538, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther wrote this preface to the Smalkald Articles, a confession of the faith of those who were being called "Lutherans." The Smalcald Articles Preface 1538 by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther   1] Since Pope Paul III convoked a Council last year, to assemble at Mantua about Whitsuntide, and afterwards transferred it from Mantua, so that it is not yet known where he will or can fix it, and we on our part either had to expect that we would be summoned also to the Council or [to fear that we would] be condemned unsummoned, I was directed to compile and collect the articles of our doctrine [in order that it might be plain] in case of deliberation as to what and how far we would be both willing and able to yield to the Papists, and in what points we intended to persevere and abide to the end.   2] I have accordingly compiled

  Lection for Wednesday after Trinity XIII 2 Kings 6:1-23         Philippians 1:21-2:11 Jesus humbled Himself, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant. True God, took on human flesh. He took on the trappings of one of those He created, in order to serve the creatures. He humbled Himself, obedient to the point of death. In our text, God tells us through the pen of Paul, that your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.   What kind of attitude is it in Jesus that God says you should adapt? The attitude of obedience. Do you have that attitude? Think about it.   Do you always do exactly as the boss, your teacher, or your parents tell you to do? You are given the task or assignment, and you do it immediately and with a smile? Do you always follow all the traffic laws? You know, 55 in the 55 zone? 65 in the 65 zone? And that 8-sided red sign never gets the old tap-n-go or the slow-n-roll treatment?   What about obedience to God and His laws? That is the ob

Lection for Tuesday after Trinity XIII 2 Kings 5:9-27       Philippians 1:1-20   What is the fruit of righteousness? It is not a persimmon or a kumquat, nor an orange or a tangerine. Neither is it a pineapple or a pomegranate. So, what fruit is it? It is the good fruits that are the very life of the Christian. Yes, that’s what I said, the fruit of righteousness is the life of the Christian, the good fruits of the life of the Christian.   Some of you may be confused, for there are many Lutherans who have learned well what they have heard from Lutheran pulpits that it is not your good works which save you. They have learned well that Christians are saved by grace, apart from works of the Law. The doctrine of justification, by God’s grace, through His gift of faith, is indeed, as Luther says, the teaching upon which the church stands or falls.     Many then are the good Lutherans who have learned that they are forgiven for their sins, and this is indeed true. They have learned to revel an

    Lection for Monday after Trinity XIII 2 Kings 4:38-5:8       Ephesians 6:1-24 Have you ever wrestled with something? Tim was a high school wrestler, and pretty good at it, but that is not what I am talking about. Now he wrestles every day of his life.   You wrestle every day as well. But your wrestling is not a physical thing, done on a soft mat, in the gym either at school or elsewhere.   God tells us what kind of wrestling we do through Paul’s hand in our epistle lesson. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.   That, dear friends, in the daily struggle, is how you wrestle each and every day. You wrestle with your faith. Is God there? How come God does not do what I’d like? How come life is so tough? It seems I believe but nothing changes, why?   You wrestle with the teachings of scripture. Did God really create

  Lection for Trinity XIII 2 Kings 4:8-22, 32-37       Ephesians 5:15-33 I love how God works things. No, it is not a coincidence that this verse comes up today, the day after my son Timothy married his bride, Hana!   A quick shout out to them, God’s blessings! We love you and are proud of you! Our lesson from Ephesians is highly controversial, being so because so many people do not like verse 22: Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. Then there are those who are immediate to fly off the handle, “I am not going to submit to any man.” Or, “Now woman should have to submit to their husband.”   Usually they do not hear that part of the verse, “as to the Lord.”   Oftentimes, people have also not heard what this text says to the men: Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her. Christ went to the cross and died for His bride, the Church – in like manner, men are to be willing to die for their wives, sacrificing themselves for