This Side of the Pulpit » Theology
A Rant which May not Impress You, if Read Correctly
“How many of us have actually ever read through the Bible? We get bits and pieces of it, but never read through chapter-by-chapter.” A layperson said this to me the other day. The more I think about it, the more upset I get. I get upset with myself for not reading Scripture devotionally as often as I should. But I get really upset with others if its true. Is it true? Are you all completely ignoring the Word of God to such an extent that your only exposure to it is the readings on Sundays and the bits and pieces and verses you might read in The Witness or the occasional Bible study you attend? Seriously? You call it the Word of God, the eternal Truth, the Revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, … Read entire article »
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Law/Gospel Outlines?
I preached an unusual sermon Sunday. It was the infamous Law/Gospel outline. You probably have heard thousands of these. I’ve preached my fair share. Here’s the way they usually go: Here’s the Word of God. Oh, there’s law. God says you should be doing such and such. You don’t. You need Jesus to forgive you. Conclusion. It’s not a horrible outline, but I think it should be generally avoided. While Lutherans are supposed to properly distinguish Law and Gospel, that doesn’t mean to use it as an outline. Rather, it means to distinguish between the works of the Law and Gospel, the work of law and law of love, the work of flesh versus the life of the spirit and all kinds of other things. But this Sunday I saw the need to … Read entire article »
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Sermon Writing Advice
This is inside baseball, folks, so your mileage may vary. Whatever lectionary (sequence of readings for Sundays) you use, you’ll end up with three readings and propers (introit, gradual, etc) for the Sunday. Often they work together, with a common theme bridging all the propers together. This is very common in the One Year lectionary, especially with the collect, introit and Gospel. But don’t assume they all go together the same way, or that you have to connect them. Look, especially in the Three Year lectionary, there is the feature of a lectio continua (or really a lectio semi-continua) –a series of readings from one book, not necessarily coordinated with the Gospel. And in the One Year you don’t have a one-for-one correspondence either. When you preach, look at the propers and other … Read entire article »
Filed under: Theology
Dare we Neglect the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity?
This article shows us why the worship of the Holy Trinity is at the heart of our Christian faith. Because we have failed to affirm the One in Three and Three in One at every time and place and place Him in the center of our worship and thought and sermons we have this false religion which denies the essence of God’s Being and Nature, denies the eternal Sonship of Jesus and yet thinks themselves as … Read entire article »
Filed under: Theology
Unionism and Worship
Why is it that the LCMS seems more concerned with “joint worship” and “serial prayer” with other ministers than with the forms of worship? I mean, some congregations’ worship is identical to worship at any number of protestant churches down the street from them and there are no “rules” or CTCR statements regarding this. What sends a bigger message of false unity? My saying a prayer next to a Methodist at some community event or … Read entire article »
Filed under: Theology
Admitting Inexperience and Leading Nonetheless
Some of the Lutheran pastors and I were supposed to study Greek this morning, but instead, we spoke about causistry and pastoral practice–wedding stuff, mostly. It is fun and thought-provoking, to consider what I usually do and how it differs with some of the other pastors’ practices. But one bit of discussion stood out for me: the importance of being earnest, of just speaking the truth. Admitting ignorance, admitting inexperience, admitting weakness. It’s actually quite powerful. It relaxes you, it relaxes those around you. It helps your hearers or co-workers or audience know what to expect. It’s even more authoritative, though it sounds like it would be the opposite. Leaders don’t want to admit they are wrong or uncertain or inexperienced. They want to be heard and followed. But when the leader … Read entire article »
Filed under: Theology
National Lutheran Pastor’s Wives Day
Ok. Actually the commemoration of Katherina Von Bora, the wife of Martin Luther. Legend has it she was the author of the “What does this mean?” portions of the catechism, as Martin would ask himself that aloud, and Katie told him. Like a good pastor’s wife, full of wisdom. They would also write and direct children’s Christmas programs for their kids at home, since that sort of thing didn’t happen at church. Give thanks for Katherina today, … Read entire article »
Filed under: Theology
Discussion Questions, a la Walker Percy, but not as Good as His
But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go work today in the vineyard.’ And he answered and said, ‘I will, sir’; and he did not go. And he came to the second and said the same thing. But he answered and said, ‘I will not’; yet he afterward regretted it and went. “Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The latter.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you that the tax-gatherers and harlots will get into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax-gatherers and harlots did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not … Read entire article »
Filed under: Theology
Hymns, Part II: The Advent Version
I love Advent hymns. Probably more than Christmas carols and hymns. Definitely more than Lenten hymns. Easter hymns would give them a run for their money, however. I’m not sure why I love them so much. Perhaps because they are not overused and overdone like Christmas carols are. Perhaps they evoke the Christmas spirit without evoking muzak, Elvis and Kenny G versions heard at stuffy shopping malls. Maybe they are just pretty. But, to toot the same … Read entire article »
Filed under: Theology
Little Legalists
In our hearts we are aspiring tyrants, everyone of us. Rules are to be applied, mostly to others, unless of course it’s inconvenient for us. Even when you get good Confessional Lutherans and Democrats who insist that legalism is wrong and freedom from rules and pieties is necessary, then, by God, it is Necessary, and you are wicked if you disagree. Yes, even bohemians ascribe to their own rule-book. Hippies and hipsters follow their code of behavior and thought-laws. There is no cure for this either. Only death gets rid of it. Some of us die earlier and get it over with. But even most of those still have their little legal code hiding away deep in their hearts, resisting the golden stake of wood planted once on the Hill of the … Read entire article »
Filed under: Theology
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