Augsburg Lutheran Church

2010-09-13T20:36:00.000-07:00

Preaching? Are you down with that?

2010-09-13T20:27:00.000-07:00

Theologians of the cross, come hither and listen!

2010-08-13T04:34:00.000-07:00

Pretension Busters: Challenges

Who'd of thought they'd be so long and so hard?

Come...

see why

over at St. Martie's Place!

2010-08-13T04:29:00.000-07:00

There is a Time

2010-08-12 Irene Henderson
When Jesus declares in the Beatitudes: "Blessed are..." he is not making a future promised contingent upon the realization of some condition. No, he is establishing a present condition, in this time, right now. Indeed, there is a time for every matter under the sun and the Lord of all time has made each time beautiful in its time. Our dear Irene knew this. Thanks be to God for the life of this woman!
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, 11a
Matthew 5:1-10

2010-08-09T05:52:00.001-07:00

Pretension Busters: Burnout

Attitudes are contagious, dangerous...

...even lethal.

Come, visit St. Martie's Place.

2010-08-09T05:47:00.001-07:00

Pretension Busters: Blogging

Blogging and Preaching...

...they're connected.

Visit St. Martie's Place and see how

2010-07-15T06:08:00.001-07:00

Pretension Busters: Blame

Knowing who to blame...

Come, see for yourself:

St. Martie's Place

2010-07-14T05:37:00.000-07:00

Pretension Busters: Bitterness

Bitterness...

--better than dreams

See for yourself, visit St. Martie's Place

2010-07-13T12:45:00.000-07:00

Pretension Busters: Beauty

Even moral beauty is only skin deep

visit: St. Martie's Place

2010-07-07T05:06:00.001-07:00

Pretension Busters: Bailouts

Was Jesus a "bailout" of humanity...

St. Marties' Place

2010-07-03T04:29:00.001-07:00

Pretension Busters: Arrogance

The arrogance of niceness...

...St. Martie's Place

2010-07-01T22:10:00.001-07:00

Pretension Busters: Apathy

When God doesn't answer...

St. Marties' Place

2010-07-01T04:45:00.000-07:00

Pretension Busters: Ambition

For two kinds of "ambitious" stories, check out:

St. Marties' Place:

2010-06-29T05:53:00.001-07:00

Pretension Busters: Agony

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse...

http://stmartiesplace.blogspot.com/2010/06/pretension-busters-agony.html

2010-06-28T06:54:00.001-07:00

Pretension Busters: Adversity

check it out here:

St. Martie's Place

2010-06-26T20:14:00.000-07:00

Pretension Busters:

Achievement

www.despair.com

Arrogance cannot be avoided or true hope be present

unless the judgment of condemnation is feared in every work

--Martin Luther

(Heidelberg Disputation, Thesis 11)

Solomon ordered a temple to be built to honor the Lord, as well as a royal palace for himself. Solomon had 70,000 common laborers and 80,000 stonecutters in the hills, in addition to 3,600 supervisors.

2 Chronicles 2:1-2

Hank Lanknecht from Trinity Seminary once said in a sermon based on the apocryphal Daniel and the priests of Baal that "we give to God the things we most want to enjoy ourselves." Solomon satisfied his vision and his determination to "enjoy" honoring the Lord with the Temple by using the same tactics the Egyptians had used many generations before: conscription of those different--"put the aliens to work!" Furthermore, these "aliens" were the very ones Joshua had been ordered by the Lord to eradicate. Their existence was an ongoing reminder of the peoples' failure of obedience. Perhaps there is something sadly ironic that the very ones whom the Lord had ordered exterminated should be the ones building the temple to honor their would be exterminator. But my sense of irony is most aroused when I consider the warning the Lord gave to Solomon concerning his building of the Temple: the Lord's presence was contingent upon Solomon's obedience and lack of idolatry. (1 Kings 6:11-13) How Solomon could hear that warning and still go ahead and complete the Temple with labor whose very presence represented disobedience has to be one of the most ironic stories in scripture.

Christians have often become a source of "expendable labor"--or at least, expendable income--to those determined to 'give to God the things they most want to enjoy themselves.' The "Babel Syndrome" runs deep in all of us, I guess. Though the confusion of language may have been the end of the Babel culture, the Syndrome will only be eradicated when the Old Adam, the Old Eve, and this old, old creation pass away. Until then, we'll continue to be "expendable labor and income" to those with shiny visions and great determination to honor themselves in the guise of giving to the Lord.

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery.

(Galatians 5:1)

2010-06-21T06:42:00.000-07:00

The Space between "From" and "To"

Arthur A. "Art" Link was committed to the ground from which he came on June 6th, 2010 in the Alexander Cemetery. The landscape was lush from the rain; the sun warmed us gently; and friends and family supported one another. The Word of God from Genesis 3 was declared: "You are dust and to dust you shall return." Into that little space between "from" and "to" God sows the the seed of his Word--Jesus Christ.

2010-04-07T17:39:00.000-07:00

Law on the Left, Law on the Right, Caught in the Middle Again

When the Law is established without Christ, we have tyranny. When the Law is thought to be ended without Christ, we have anarchy--which is really just tyranny by the most easily offended. Caught in the middle, we go to our graves and await the resurrection. Preached on the Fifth Sunday in Lent, series C, March 21, 2010 at Wilmington Lutheran Church, Arnegard, ND

The texts were:

2010-03-24T05:42:00.000-07:00

The Contender

The funeral sermon preached for Charles Aasen who contended for the joys of married, family, and civic identity but could not contend for victory over the devil, the world and our sinful selves. Against that triumvirate of evil Christ is the ONLY contender and he has already won the victory! March 18, 2010 in Trinity Lutheran Church of Alexander, North Dakota

The text of this sermon can be found here:

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=376997949705

2010-03-17T09:05:00.000-07:00

A Tale of Two Siblings

A profligate father, two greedy sons, an unmentioned community, one preacher, and a sacramental fatted calf comprise this parable's cast. The world with all its prodigal younger sons; the world with all its begrudging elder sons; the world with all its skeptical and necessarily protective communities will be reconciled to the Father by the sacrifice of Christ. Delivered at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, El Paso, TX on Sunday, March 14th, 2010 by the Reverend Timothy J. Swenson.

The text for this sermon can be found here:

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=355589409705

2010-03-09T03:59:00.000-08:00

Salvation Insurance? No, Thank You!

The Third Sunday of Lent C March 7, 2010 Wilmington & Trinity Lutheran Churches Arnegard & Alexander, North Dakota The fig tree (and those Pharisees and Sadducees) die particularly from being unfruitful, unproductive. Makes you want to get out your yield calculator, doesnt it? Figure out your fruit per hour, see how that measures up? Has your life yielded enough fruit to make it on your own, or will you have to file for salvation insurance? Sadly enough, thats the way a goodly number of those who call themselves Christian treat our Lord Jesus Christ: salvation insurance. Isaiah 55:1-9 Psalm 63:1-8 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 Luke 13:1-13

The Sermon Text can be found here:

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=347404189705

2010-03-09T03:53:00.000-08:00

A Cosmic Game of Chicken
The Second Sunday of Lent February 28, 2010 Wilmington & Trinity Lutheran Churches Arnegard & Alexander, North Dakota When the Word of God descended from heaven in the person of Jesus the Christ, the worlds children were already well practiced in the ascension of their own glory. Jesus—coming down—was on a collision course with the world going up. And there on the curb sat the devil egging on the both of them as if it were some cosmic game of chicken and the devil would take the one who flinched first. Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 Psalm 27 Philippians 3:17-4:1 Luke 13:31-35

Sermon text found here:

http://www.facebook.com/notes/timothy-j-swenson/a-cosmic-game-of-chicken/331995374705

2010-02-19T04:09:00.000-08:00

First the Bad News, then the Good News

The funeral sermon for Bruce White delivered by the Rev. Timothy J. Swenson at Trinity Lutheran Church in Alexander, North Dakota on February 17th, 2010. The texts were 2 Timothy 4:6-7; Psalm 23; John 16:33-34 The bad news: everybody, all mortal things, die; this happens at baptism when we are buried with Christ into a death like his; into the resulting silence God speaks the Good News: "Christ is your life!"

The text for the sermon can be found here:

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?saved&&suggest&note_id=314614309705

2010-02-16T03:53:00.000-08:00

"Listen!" said one; "Look!" said the other

The sermon delivered February 14, 2010 at Wilmington Lutheran Church in Arnegard, North Dakota, on the occasion of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, Cycle C, by Timothy J. Swenson. The proclamation declares the difference between "listen" and "look" as the difference between theologians of the cross and theologies of glory, exposing sinners as "faithless and perverse." The texts are: Exodus 34:29-35 Psalm 99 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2 Luke 9:28-36 [37-43]

The text of the sermon can be found here:

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=306414824705

2010-02-15T11:48:00.000-08:00

"Caught and Called Out"

The sermon preached by Timothy J. Swenson on February 7, 2010 at Wilmington Lutheran Church in Arnegard, North Dakota, on the occasion of the 5th Sunday after Epiphany, Cycle C. The sermon preaches the miraculous catch of fish as a "catching out" of sinners so that they are called out of sin by the gift of faith.

Isaiah 6:1-8 (9-13)
Psalm 138
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Luke 5:1-11

The text of the sermon can be found here:

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=304233409705

2010-02-15T04:39:00.000-08:00

Beloved Betrayers

The sermon delivered by the Reverend Timothy J. Swenson on January 31, 2010--the 4th Sunday after Epiphany, Cycle C, in Wilmington Lutheran Church, Arnegard, ND. The sermon uses a social science understanding the the "honor/shame" society in Jesus' day to expose the betrayal of Jesus' followers. The texts are:
Jeremiah 1:4-10
Psalm 71:4-10
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Luke 4:21-30

The text of the sermon can be found here:

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=304222809705

2010-02-13T18:13:00.000-08:00

Presence and Promise and Tears in the Eye

This is the sermon that would have been delivered January 24th at Wilmington Lutheran Church in Arnegard--except we had a snow day, no worship. Consequently, this preaching was done during a chapel service at the Good Shepherd Home in Watford City, ND. The texts are the lectionary for RCL 3rd Sunday after Epiphany Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 Psalm 19 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a Luke 4:14-21 Timothy J Swenson, preaching

The text for the sermon can be found here:

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=281396799705

2010-02-13T17:48:00.000-08:00

Held in the Center, Not Pushing the Limits

The sermon preached January 17, 2010 in Wilmington Lutheran Church of Arnegard, North Dakota on the occasion of the Second Sunday after Epiphany and the congregation's annual meeting, by the Reverend Timothy J. Swenson. The lectionary readings were: Isaiah 62:1-5 Psalm 36:5-10 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 John 2:1-11

The sermon's text can be found here:

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=257412799705

2010-01-19T09:54:00.000-08:00

The Truth about Yourself and God
A sermon preached on the occasion of Arnold Anderson's funeral at Wilmington Lutheran Church in Arnegard, North Dakota by the Reverend Timothy J. Swenson. Confrontation with God through the rebuking rod of God's Law and through the gathering staff of God's Gospel is like "wrestling with angels" and reveals the truth about us as sinners and about God as one who redeems sinners.

Genesis 32:24-31 Psalm 23 Hebrews 11:20-21 John 4:1-29

The text for this sermon can be found here:

http://www.facebook.com/tjswenson1?v=app_2347471856

2010-01-11T04:09:00.000-08:00

The Champion Takes the Field

2010 010 A sermon delivered at Wilmington Lutheran Church of Arnegard, North Dakota on Sunday, January 10th, 2010--the Baptism of Our Lord. The texts were Isaiah 43:1-7; Psalm 29; Acts 8: ; & Luke 3:

The text for the sermon can be found here

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=244709054705

2010-01-04T10:42:00.000-08:00

From God's Heart to Yours

2010-01-03 02 Christmas Sermon part 1 A sermon preached on the Second Sunday after Christmas at Wilmington Lutheran Church. The Gospel reading was John 1:1-18 and the second lesson was Ephesians 1:3-14. These beautiful texts declare who Jesus is (Christology) and what he does (soteriology). Our Lord is not merely something "applied" to us, his heart (his life) replaces ours.

The Sermon text can be found here:

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=233218064705

2010-01-04T10:40:00.000-08:00

We're Not In Kansas Anymore!

2009-12-27 Christmas One Sermon preached at Wilmington Lutheran Church, Arnegard, North Dakota by the Reverend Timothy J. Swenson. Based on Luke 2:41-52 the preaching declares that God's Word is the active agent God wields upon us, working his grace upon sinners, giving us a 200% identity and transporting us into the coming kingdom of Christ's reign.

The sermon text can be found here:

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=222608539705

2010-01-04T10:37:00.000-08:00

This God's For You!

2009-12-24 Christmas Eve Sermon delivered at Wilmington Lutheran Church, Arnegard, North Dakota by the Reverend Timothy J. Swenson. The gospel text Luke 2:1-21. Jesus does not just deliver "good news" about God; he IS the CONTENT of the good news about God.

The sermon text can be found here:

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=216821784705

2009-12-21T17:33:00.000-08:00

Magnificently Used Up

2009-12-20 04 Advent C sermon based on Mary's Magnificat in Luke chapter 1; delivered at Wilmington Lutheran Church in Arnegard, North Dakota. Mary's words are to the human landscape what the 'voice crying in the wilderness' are for the geographic landscape. God will use up all things to prepare his way.

2009-12-15T03:49:00.000-08:00

Sifting, Sifting, Sifting, NOT Shifting, Shifting, Shifting

2009-12-13 Sermon Advent 03C Trinity delivered in Alexander, North Dakota, preached on Luke 3:18, John the Baptist confronts the crowds

You can find the text here:

http://www.facebook.com/tjswenson1?v=app_2347471856&ref=profile

2009-11-29T14:52:00.000-08:00

"FORGIVEN SINNERS: STAND UP AND TAKE IT!"
2009-11-29 01C Advent

Luke 21:25-36

text can be found here:

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=90671024674&topic=11964

2009-11-24T03:30:00.000-08:00

God's Word Clarifies Us

a Thanksgiving Sermon

on Deuteronomy 8:7-18

2009-11-22T13:41:00.000-08:00

Jesus: The Truth of God

Christ the King Sunday

John 18:33-37

Greetings to you on this day that the Lord has made; a day for you to rejoice and be glad. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Jesus Christ our Lord? This pitiful figure standing before Pilate? The man buffeted between the Jewish authorities and the Roman governor? This accused who stands before his judge making excuses as to why his followers aren’t fighting for him? What kind of Lord is this Jesus Christ?

We want to know!

Martin Luther, the monk, needed to know as well. In the writing of his great treatise “On the Bondage of the Will,” Martin Luther identified the three great estates that God established in creation. First God established the family; community flows out of family, commerce flows out of community, and the notion of an economy derives from the establishment of the family. Along with the family God also established the church; that is, the people gathered and formed by His Word. Wherever God’s Word is spoken, there you will find the church gathered by the declaration of God’s promises and ordered by the commands of God’s Laws. With these two God also established the estate of government. Government came after the Fall, after the expulsion from the Garden. Government is a concession to sin, an acknowledgement that there is another word at work now among the people. Government was established to impose order upon those who would not be ordered by the preaching of God’s Word as Law and Gospel.

Now, of these three—family, church, and government—family is unique. Family is the only “productive” estate. It produces children, it provides labor, labor produces goods, and goods provide for the family so that it can produce more children. In this way generations rise and fall before the Lord and enjoy his blessing: “be fruitful, fill the earth and subdue it.” Both church and government are servants to the family in this regard. These companion estates to the family surround the family with proclamation and protection so that the family can enjoy a secure present (Government’s protection) and enjoy a secured future (the Church’s proclamation).

But there’s a problem: the reality of sin. Because of sin’s brokenness all three of these estates have become distorted: family members no longer look beyond themselves to their necessary purpose as the productive estate and no longer listen to the voices coming from church and government but are curved in upon themselves, looking and listening inward to selfish desires, goals, and pursuits; government no longer serves the family but in sin has become an entity unto itself—now called The State, it turns upon the family and demands that the family be its servant; and for the church much the same thing—now called Religion, it, too, turns upon the family and demands that the family be its servant.

Both the State and Religion have no productive capacity of their own. They must rely on the family’s generosity. But neither State nor Religion have trust enough that the family will provide so they turn to coercion. The State threatens the use of coercion against our physical life and tangible goods. Religion threatens with coercion against our eternal life and spiritual goods. Neither is satisfied with its own coercion though, each wants to obtain the other’s power as well. The State wants to rule with both physical coercion and spiritual coercion. Religion wants to rule with both spiritual coercion and physical coercion. Both desire to say: “Obey me, or else. It’s God’s will!.”

What kind of Lord is this Jesus Christ? He is the kind of Lord who stands accused by—and captive to—both the State and Religion with all their coercive powers. Into that accusation what does he do? Does he oppose their power? No! He preaches a sermon:

"You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."

So what does Pilate say in response to this preaching of the Word of God? He says, “What is truth?” Oh… could we have expected any different response from one in power? One who was used to manipulating the truth?

I heard that the Congressional Office of Management and Budget was looking to hire a new accountant. Ole applied. He was standing in a line of interviewees when the man in charge came down the line. He held in his hand a paper and asked each applicant to read it and give him an answer. After each applicant did so, the man shook his head and dismissed them. He got to Ole. Ole took the paper and found on it a column of figures and heard the man asking him what the total was. Remembering how the others had been dismissed, Ole looked at the man in charge and answered, “What would you like the total to be?” He got the job.

So it is with Religion as well: those in charge take authoritative texts, turn to the theologians for interpretation, and ask: “What does this mean?” The theologians, knowing exactly where the power lies, answer them, “What do you want it to mean?”

In the kingdoms of this world, in the kingdoms established by the broken estates of the State and Religion, power is nothing less than the ability to define truth; and then wield that truth in service of their coercive power. And right in the middle of the world’s centers of power stands our Lord Jesus Christ accused and captive by both and in answer he gives them THE TRUTH. He surrenders himself to them. He gives them THE TRUTH of himself—as he is in his own person—He is THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE.

Back to our question: What kind of Lord is this Jesus Christ? He is the absolute Truth, and this Absolute Truth is stomped on, beaten, mocked, and killed—not just by the State and by Religion, but by you the Family as well. Pilate turned to the crowd and placed the judgment Lord Jesus Christ in their hands and—stirred up by the religious authorities in its midst—the crowd shouted (the Family shouted), “Crucify him.” And so, this Lord Jesus Christ, the Absolute Truth of the Absolute Power of God, died… died for you.

What kind of Lord—what kind of King—is this Jesus Christ? He is the Absolute Truth about the Absolute Power of God who refuses to wield any sort of coercion power against His enemies. He is the Absolute truth about the Absolute Power of God who refuses to be used as justification for the use of coercive power by either the State or Religion. He is the Absolute truth about the Absolute Power of God which--in his dying—exposes the manipulative ways of the State, of Religion, and of distorted Family to use him as their “truth” in order serve their coercive power.

What kind of Lord—what kind of King—is this Jesus Christ? He is “your Lord. He redeemed you—the lost and condemned sinners that you are—he redeemed you, his betrayers and piercers—he redeemed you from sin, from death, and from the power of the devil. Not with silver or gold (or with any other “power” of this world’s kingdoms) but with his holy and precious blood, and his innocent body—He died for you. He died for you so that you would be his very own, live under him in his kingdom—the kingdom where Family, Church, and Government are restored to their rightful estates—and serve him in righteous, innocence, and blessedness forever. How do you know this? Because He is risen from the dead and lives and reigns eternally!

Thanks be to God! Amen

2009-11-20T14:34:00.000-08:00

God's Word: the Garden

a sermon preached by Tim Swenson at the funeral service for Wally Samuelson, 2009-11-19.

2009-10-25T22:05:00.000-07:00

"Forging or Foraging for Fellowship?"

by Dennis Bielfeldt

Is fellowship a production or a discovery?

Listen as Dennis--of the Institute for Lutheran Theology--makes the case.

Forging or Foraging for Fellowship?

2009-10-25T03:47:00.000-07:00

"Conversation Among the Saints"
The ALC annual pastors conference is finished.
"Conversation, Consolation, and Confrontation: Forging a Fellowship of Preachers"
Here, John Rasmussen delivers his address on Conversation

2009-10-24T18:10:00.000-07:00

The Augsburg Lutheran Churches Pastors Conference entitled:

"Conversation, Consolation, and Confrontation: Forging a Fellowship of Preachers"

has been completed.

Here's the worship service from the second morning.

Vivid preaching, traditional prayers, and harmonious music takes one up with the angels for a foretaste of the heavenly feast!

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=4FEC2519506DC6A5

2009-10-07T09:31:00.000-07:00

The Law...

again

Gerhardt O. Forde

p. 154-155

"Luther's Ethics"

A More Radical Gospel

http://www.amazon.com/More-Radical-Gospel-Eschatology-Authority/dp/0802826881

So, to conclude, when one is looking for a positive use for law in life and ethics in Luther's thinking, one should look to his understanding of the first use of the law, the political or ethical use, as the means by which the wiles of Satan are to be held in check while we wait for the kingdom of God. It is one of the great misfortunes of contemporary ethical thinking that people seem to know practically nothing any longer of this understanding of the uses of the law. Even in church publications we see all sorts of nonsense about how the gospel is supposed to have something to say about our ethical dilemmas. And the gospel just becomes synonymous with sloppy permissiveness. So sweet Jesus schlock reigns. The gospel does not have anything to say directly about such dilemmas. We must look to the proper uses of the law, and particularly the first use. We have all we need there.

How then does one come to know this law" For Luther, the law is natural to humans. It is written on the heart. He was, it could be said, a kind of "natural law" ethicist. But he was a nominalist, not a realist, That is, Luther did not believe that natural law was just a mimetic copy or imitative reflection of eternal law. In Luther's day most people who theorized about natural law really meant supernatural law, a built-in eternal and unchangeable order to things. For Luther, law is natural in the sense that it was built into the creation, simply a statement of the minimal requirements of daily life, a faithful and practical consideration of what works and preserves human society against the wiles of the devil. Faith frees you to use your head in the battle. the natural law, in that sense, was for Luther, "written on the heart." To be sure, such law may be obscured by the fall. But in any case, for Luther, we have a restatement of such natural law in the scriptures, preeminently in the laws of Moses, Luther assumed, it seems that since the Creator and the author of the scriptures are one, there should be no difference between natural law and the law found in scripture. The touchstone for Luther's understanding of what is natural is therefor not a theory of natural analogy, but rather the Holy Scripture and the doctrine of creation. One cannot trust unaided reason without qualification. But where law understood within and limited by the story of salvation, there it is, so to speak, naturalized. Indeed, the command to love God and the neighbor with all one's heart was for Luther natural law, as was also the Sermon on the Mount. The law is simply a statement of what created life should naturally be. If we don't know what that is, due to our fallenness, we must search scriptures.

So, for Luther, if one is looking for answers to the question what should we do, for the time being, we will not be directed to our own feelings, or the art of learning how to affirm ourselves or one another in our chosen lifestyles, or whatever it may be. One of the things Luther polemicized against most regularly was the idea of self-chosen works--be they ever so pious. Rather, one must look to the commandments of God. the commandments of God are not given to make us pious, Luther insisted, but to lead us into the world of neighbor to take care of it as creation for the time being. In this regard, we must realize that the law was made for humanity, not humanity for the law. Even if it happens, as it often does in this twisted world, that one should have to break one commandment for the sake of another, Luther's counsel would be to sin boldly, but trust in the mercy of God all the more bravely! In other words, go ahead and plant a tree in the garden of hope!

2009-09-21T10:38:00.000-07:00

Forging a Fellowship of Preachers

This conference explores the practical implications of establishing preachers as a fellowship held accountable to one another by the “mutual conversation and consolation [AND confrontation] of the saints;” who practice a “theology of friendship” as declared by Jesus: “I call you friends because I have revealed all things to you.” Jn. 15:15; and among whom authority is exercised by the preaching of Word in such a way that the Gospel’s good news establishes the Law within its appropriate boundaries.

Conversation, Consolation, Confrontation: Forging a Fellowship of Preachers

2009-09-05T12:57:00.000-07:00

The Lutheran Church

"Lutheran," just plain "Lutheran" that has a rather delightful, roll off the tongue sound: "The Lutheran Church."

What would be the "bare minimum" needed to provide a big enough tent to encompass the variety of "lutherans" self-identifying today?

Thanks to Debbie Hesse for the question get regarding the "Lutheran Bare Minimum."

Three facets to this BARE MINIMUM:

(these "facets" would describe the 'big tent' which, like the host site of a bazaar, has a variety of "tables" or "shops" catering to people's preferences--some of them quite bizarre by their neighbors' standards)

1) A confession of faith in which one would find a) expression given to the reformer's "sola"s; and, b) subscription to the Lutheran Confessions, or at least a part of them.

2) A formal and operative use of the Wittenberg Reformer's understanding for the exercise of authority in the church--
a) the final, ultimate authority is the preaching of the Gospel, the radical Gospel, in such a way that it is both "telos" and "finis" of the law and maintains the paradoxical tension of these two declarations: "Christ is the end of the law for all who believe" AND "Do we by these means abolish the law? By no means! We establish it!"
b) Proper exercise of the "sola scriptura" principle which would recognize
--the external clarity of scripture and its necessity for public use
--the internal clarity of scripture and the necessity of its personal exercise
--that "scripture interprets scripture" is actually the process by which scripture becomes the "acting" subject and becomes the "interpreter" of the interpreter who has become the "passive" object

3) The non-recognition of "rights" as they would be claimed by, or granted to persons, in the church. No one has a "right" to anything before their neighbor or especially in expectation from the "church"--with the exception being the expectation of hearing the gospel and receiving the sacraments. There can be no "self-defense" in the church, only submission to what might be called "oppression" or a denial of so-called rights--submission with the declaration of forgiveness upon the "oppressor." The protest of this "mistreatment" must come from a neighbor or group of them who call attention to the plight of their oppressed neighbor, do what they can personally to relieve the oppression, and call for structural changes, if necessary.

see this post for a fuller treatment:
http://whitemountaintheology.blogspot.com/2009/08/more-on-repentance.html

PS
This principle was terribly violated during the sexuality wars. Dozens of homosexual people "told" their stories, pleaded their case, and demanded their rights.

2009-09-04T17:17:00.000-07:00

AUTHORITY IN THE CHURCH: THE LUTHERAN REFORMATION

by Gerhardt Forde

A More Radical Gospel by Gerhardt Forde

edited by Mark C. Mattes and Steven D. Paulson

2004 Wm. B. Eerdmans

http://www.amazon.com/More-Radical-Gospel-Eschatology-Authority/dp/0802826881/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_1

In this fine eassay, Forde takes on the issue of authority in the church and the Lutheran Reformers address of it. They struck down the authoritarianism of the papacy only to be innundated by the relativism of inspired individuals. Quoted here is the concluding paragraph, plus the sentence immediately preceding it.

...The church is the community called into being by the hearing of the Word whose reason for being is to speak that Word in all the world.

But now, even though much more would need to be said, it is apparent that we have come full circle. We started by insisting that the preaching of the gospel was the highest exercise of suthority in the church, and that is where we arrive again at the end. But that is, I hope, all fitting! So I will close by making some concluding observations. First, last, and always, the preaching of the gospel of Jeus Christ crucified for our sins and raised for our justification is the highest exercise of authority in the church. But second, if this authority is to be exercised today, it shall have to be preached much more radically as the end, both telos, and finis, of the law which actually establishes it for the time being. From the Reformation perspective, the problem in the church is not finally to be traced to a lack of nerve in asserting the law, but rather in the failure to preach the gospel in all its radicallity. There is absolutely no way that the proper authority and uses of the law are going to be established in the church's message without that radical gospel. This call for a more radical gospel is the raison d'etre for my teaching. Since the Reformation, beginning even with the Saxon Visitations (the "graveyard" of the Reformation?) where Melanchthon tried to shore up the sagging enterprise by preaching the law more strenously, just about all the remedies have been tried. We have about used up all our coupons. We have only one left. We should try it--a more radical gospel. If the tree does not bring forth good fruit, spread it on a little thicker! And wait! Have a little patience! Yes, the pope is right in quoting St. Paul, "Woe is me if I preach not the gospel!" But it better be the gospel and not just another confusing mixture with law. The church has no right and no call to flex its authoritative muscle if it is not going to preach this gospel. Furthermore, if the analysis suggested here is right, it will not work--and is not, as a matter of fact, working. To see that , all you need to do is read the statistics. If we are not prepared to preach a radical gospel we can just as well enter into competition with the Kiwanis Club. No doubt we do need to find ways to exercise more discipline. But why should people accept the discipline if we have nothing to offer that they cannot get elsewhere! If they want to escape the discipline, they can just go down the street to some other religious sideshow or support group. If we do not preach the gospel in such a radical fashion that it ends the law, then there will be no establishment of the law either and the role of authority in the church will disappear altogether.

2009-09-03T15:28:00.000-07:00

The Error of Their Ways
(commentary on the ELCA's sexuality decisions)

The two sides of the sexuality debate nominally defined as the sets of "bound consciences" named in the documents are both wrong!

First, the writers of the sexuality documents, in claiming the adherents to positions "for" or "against," possessed something that could be labeled "consciences bound to a particular interpretation of scripture," did us a GOOD service by naming the idolatry present in each of those positions. Namely, the "in curvatus in se" inherent with every interpretation of scripture.

Luther, before emperor and pope, declared his conscience bound to the Word of God--that is, Jesus Christ! He was not "curved in" on himself. In fact, his words were another way of confessing with the Apostle Paul: "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me!" Or, even as the Apostle gave to the Philippians: "Have this mind among yourselves which was in Christ Jesus." To be "bound" to an interpretation--something of our own doing--is to make an idol of ourselves and our ability to "know" scripture. We DO NOT interpret scripture. Scripture INTERPRETS us!

Secondly, the two sides--no matter the actual words used--were arguing about the authority of the "letter," that is, the Law. The "for" position is really nothing more than a refurbished Antinomian argument. The "against" position puts forth a Nomian argument in guise of scriptural authority. The Antinomians seek to free themselves from the Law in this creation (the world) just as they are free from the Law in the New Creation (heaven). The Nomians desire the Law to reign in the New Creation (heaven) just as it is established in this creation (the world).

Both sides, then, do not actually represent "sides" of an argument at all but merely positions on the same moral continuum. As such, there is really no difference between them, only a matter of degree. Neither one has Christ categorically.

Thirdly, when one has Christ categorically--that is, as THE Way, THE Truth, & THE Life, then one is no longer concerned with the moral continuum and its illusory sides of "Nomian" and "Antinomian." Instead, one has the Law as it's held in the paradoxial tension between these poles: "Christ is the end of the Law for all who believe!" AND "Do we thereby abolish the Law? By no means! We establish it." Living within this paradox is to engage God's two-fisted rule of creation: both Justice AND Mercy. Neither one can rule alone.

This, then is error of our ways: we are busily careening between ruling by justice or ruling by mercy without realizing that in doing so we are only substituting one tyranny for another.

Thanks be to God that, in HIS LOVE, he does hold Justice AND Mercy together so that we can have life in both this creation and the next.

And...
Thanks be to God that he sends a preacher so that in hearing God's Word both justice and mercy will be done to me.

2009-08-29T05:43:00.000-07:00

2009-07-26 the 9th Annual Gathering of the Augsburg Lutheran Churches
Second Installment

A Clear Eye from the Pig Sty, 2009

New video here of Lou Hesse, Executive Director, Augsburg Lutheran Churches and former member of the ELCA's Task Force on Human Sexuality--the one who stood before the 2005 church-wide assembly to present a confessional, traditional, and dissenting view, addresses the 9th Annual Convention of the Augsburg Lutheran Churches at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in El Paso, TX. There are four parts to the video.

When you're done, check out the rest of the video at Augsburg channel:

http://www.youtube.com/augsburglutheran1

2009-08-27T03:25:00.000-07:00

Giving the Text an Opportunity to deliver Christ and Christ Alone
Sunday, August 30, 2009
13th Sunday after Pentecost

James 1:17-27

1:17 Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.1:18 In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.1:19 You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger;1:20 for your anger does not produce God's righteousness.1:21 Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.1:22 But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.1:23 For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror;1:24 for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like.1:25 But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act--they will be blessed in their doing.1:26 If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless.1:27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

1:17 Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Here the Heavenly Father is graciously bestowing on us the perfect gifts of Jesus Christ who is the ONLY one who has come down from heaven (John 3), the one who is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow (Hebrews). This Christ is our life since we no longer live (Galations 2). He is the Perfect One and his life in us is perfection itself. The "generous acts of giving" which Jesus does while he is our life are indeed the "good works" which the Father has prepared beforehand for us to walk in. (Ephesians 2)

1:18 In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

So that the Father will be true to his Word, he fulfills his own purpose not waiting for us to finally get around to it or become prepared to do so or make a decision that we will try to fulfill his purpose (or at least, really, really want to...). The Father uses his word of truth (Jesus is "the Word"--John 1-- and has declared himself to be "the Truth"--John 11) upon us when in our baptism INTO Christ we are joined to his death and his resurrection and, since he is the "first fruits" of the New Creation (1 Cor. 15 and others), we are "first fruits" as well. For now we are only "a kind of" because we "are dead and our life is hid with Christ is God." (Col 3). And, finally, we are reminded that we don't have life in ourselves for "of his creatures" declares that God has brought us out of nothing into the current creation and has (in Christ) brought us out of nothing into the New Creation.

1:19 You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger;1:20 for your anger does not produce God's righteousness.

What else is anger but the emotion aroused at perceived injustice, especially to ourselves. To operate out of the justice/injustice paradigm means we are still "in the law" and not "in Christ." By being "quick to listen" we place ourselves in position to hear the Word so that by the Holy Spirit's work Christ will be delivered to us and us to him so that we might have "faith in Christ" which is indeed "God's righteousness." Now, in Christ and no longer in the law, we're no longer angered over the injustices of broken laws and hurriedly speaking up for ourselves and we are able patiently to announce the Good News of Jesus Christ and declare the absolution for his sake so that, by their "hearing," law-breakers and the perpetrators of injustice will hear the only Word by which they can be transformed as the Holy Spirit works in them "faith in Christ"--that is, God's righteousness. Anger, coming as it does out of the law, is not a word that produces faith

1:21 Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.

Christ is the Word which the Holy Spirit has implanted in us like an arrow straight to our heart bringing the sinner's life to end so that he 'bites' the dust of mortality in the most humbling of experiences. This Word is the power which has "saved our souls," hiding them away in God so that they're kept safe and inviolate from the Devil's rantings. Sordidness and wickedness--like anger--are products of the law (Romans 7:5) and we are "rid" of them when, by our hearing of the Word, the Holy Spirit delivers Christ and holds us in him and his faith.

1:22 But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.

This "doing" is the doing of the Word, Jesus Christ--the "good works" of verse 17. To "deceive" ourselves is to think that somehow we are responsible for "doing" them, to think that somehow they accrue to our credit, or to think that by doing them we are displaying any sort of "obedience" to the law. Mere hearers also deceive themselves when they operate as if they were "in the law" and not "in Christ." The only "doing" of the Word for which we're responsible is that for which the apostles were sent out: to be his witnesses, testifying to the forgiveness of sins which he died to declare. This is the "doing" that delivers "God's righteousness," see verse 20.

1:23 For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror;1:24 for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like.

Whether we look at ourselves in a mirror or look at ourselves by "navel-gazing" (in curvatus in se), we are still looking to ourselves and not looking to Christ who is our salvation and life (Luke 17). What do we see when we "look at ourselves?" Flesh! What is flesh but mortal and being mortal it is dead (only a matter of time...) But
"doers"--who look not to themselves but to Christ--have Christ as their life. And so comes the next verse...

1:25 But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act--they will be blessed in their doing.

Christ, the one who came to fulfill the law, is the law perfected. Freedom and liberty are in him and at his command. We "persevere" as the Holy Spirit calls us through the Gospel, gathers and enlightens us with his gifts, sanctifies, and keeps us in the one true faith (which is Jesus Christ in person). "Being not hearers who forget"--that is, those who don't remember that they're dead flesh and Christ is their life; "doers who act"--that is, those who confess that Christ is their life. How will Christ who lives in them fail to bring blessing as he delivers the good works for them to walk in and the "doers" of the Word deliver that Word and so "do" Christ unto their neighbor, blessing the neighbor as well?

1:26 If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless.1:27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Religion and Faith are enemies. Religion is "in the Law" and demands visible works. Faith is "in Christ" and trusts that the works are done even if they're not immediately visible. Here religion is shown to be an impossible proposition. For, indeed, all think they are "religious" but who is it that can bridle their tongue and not speak in anger? Thereby they demonstrate that they are "in the law." They "deceive" their hearts, pretending by their "religious" works that they possess "God's righteousness." Such works are worthless. They don't come from a heart which is Christ. Religion will not save. However, if there were a religion that could save, it would have to be "pure and undefiled" in the presence of God; that is, what the law demands, religion would deliver. Since--even though religion is of the law--it can't deliver what the law demands; orphans and widows continue in their distress and no one--except Jesus Christ and those whose lives he has hidden with himself in God--are kept unstained by the world.

2009-08-24T16:40:00.000-07:00

I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE

Jesus’ words were offensive to people who thought they had “this God thing” figured out for themselves. From their perspective, they “had” Moses and the Law; what more did they need! It seems strange, but they did not understand what Jesus was talking about at all. At best, they were terribly misguided; in actuality, they were outright wrong. They “didn’t get it” regarding Moses, God, or their relationship to God.

From our perspective, however, they seem absolutely “clueless” like the men in the movie, “Dumb and Dumber.” Despite the fact that things weren’t going so well for them—Israel was under the thumb of Caesar, occupied by a Roman Army, and ruled by a puppet “Jewish king” who was nothing more than a willing lackey of the man who appointed him—they didn’t see what was wrong with their theological outlook or their “Plan of Salvation.” They rejected change, even a change from the tyranny of a secular ruler to the freedom of Christ! This is exactly what we mean when we say “we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves.” The Old Adam’s will to be in charge of his destiny—even though he cannot be in charge of it—blinded the people who murmured against Jesus from seeing the Son of God for who He is while He is right in front of their eyes. And it stopped their ears from hearing His clear message: “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.”

Jesus’ isn’t making a point about being or not being intuitive, however. Jesus is making known the fact that God the Father has His own plan to save His people through His Son, and no one can or will deny the Father what He wills through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God has already acted in the Incarnation of His Son: “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent me.” Christ’s death on the Cross—the giving of His flesh and the pouring out of His blood for the sin of the world—is God’s plan to draw all men—and that includes you and me—to Himself.

Moses cannot save you. The Law cannot save you. A vote at a church assembly cannot save you. And you cannot save yourself. Only the Bread of Life who came down from heaven can save you—and, praise God, He has through His death and resurrection. You have been called by the Holy Spirit through the Gospel, enlightened with His gift of Christ’s faith, and sanctified in His one true faith. You belong to Christ now. And that’s that. Amen.

2009-08-12T19:52:00.000-07:00

2009-07-26 the 9th Annual Gathering of the Augsburg Lutheran Churches
Third Installment

Second Night Preaching by Lenae Rasmussen
"The Need to Be Right!"

St. Paul's Lutheran Church, El Paso, TX

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCegNXaRezQ

2009-08-12T05:43:00.001-07:00

2009-07-26 the 9th Annual Gathering of the Augsburg Lutheran Churches
Second Installment

First Night Preaching by Dick Smith
"Get thee behind me, Satan!"

St. Paul's Lutheran Church, El Paso, TX
(three part video, 20 min. total)

Part One
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owyQgW1LSY0

Part Two
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zZUHfO9Ri0

Part Three
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25PHbv8vH3o

2009-08-09T04:53:00.000-07:00

2009-07-26 the 9th Annual Gathering of the Augsburg Lutheran Churches

Pre-Convention Preaching by Timothy J. Swenson
Mark 6:7--"Jesus Called the Twelve to himself and then sent them out two by two."
Sermon Title: "IN AND OUT"
St. Paul's Lutheran Church, El Paso, TX
(three part video, 20 min. total)

Part One
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJ-TQpMD9A0

Part Two
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn5hmerbojA

Part Three
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fDGWABJxak

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2009-06-29T04:58:00.000-07:00

Thesis Number One:
quote from page 32
Let God Be God
God is a person, the almighty Creator of all that exists, the sovereign Lord and sole acting agent over his creation, totally responsible for all that takes place.

DISCUSSION:

These points explicate the thesis:

1) God is not an impersonal force nor an extension of human capability;

2) God alone is THE Creator;
--establishing human existence, identity, and righteousness;
--totally distinct from his creation;
--God's freedom is not contingent as is human freedom

3) God's foreknowledge is creative
--it brings about the future instead of observing it;
--God does not lie but brings about all things by his will which we know in Jesus Christ;
--The comfort that salvation from sin rests solely upon God's decision is not only biblical, but the basis for
pastoral care.

4) God's free agency is a "willing" synonymous with his providential care of creation, especially its sinners.
--God's "willing" never ceases otherwise it would cease to be a "will;"
--God wills righteousness, not in the sense of "fairness" (justice), but in granting mercy and
the bestowal of love;
--This "will" of God is hidden from sinners and must be revealed to them.

5) --The gospel of Christ declared to the people is God creating them anew through Christ's death and resurrection:
--in Luther's lectures on Galatians and using Paul in Romans 6;
--God's saving work is to put sinners to death and raise them up to new life in Christ--new
life/new creatures/new creation.

2009-06-28T18:07:00.000-07:00

DE SERVO ARBITRIO: the theological paradigm for Lutheran theological discourse.
(as explained by Robert Kolb in Bound Choice, Election, and Wittenberg Theological Method)

Over the course of several postings, I'll be putting my understanding of Kolb's presentation of Luther's theological foundation as expressed by his answer to Erasmus in 'The Bondage of the Will.'

from page 31 of Kolb's book:

3 axioms ground his response to Eramus' argument:
1. God is Creator
2. the human being is a creature fashioned by and dependent upon the Creator and his design for humanity.
3. God's chosen people--having been given the gift of faith--struggle life-long against sin and its consequent evil, i.e. daily repentance is necessary--a mysterious but incontrovertible fact.

These axioms presuppose and turn one back to this fundamental paradox:
"The Creator God's absolute responsibility and sovereignty over his creation AND the total responsibility of human creatures to carry out God's design for their humanity."

Kolb then continues with 10 Theses which summarize the reformer's application of the paradox and axioms.

I'll take up those theses in separate posts

2009-06-23T14:25:00.000-07:00

Online registration for the upcoming convention, Rock of Ages is now available on our website. See http://www.augsburgchurches.org/2009convention/convention.shtm for more convention information.

2009-06-22T20:30:00.001-07:00

We're pleased to announce that our new website is live! Please check out our new site at www.augsburgchurches.org. While the new look is complete, we are still adding content to some of the pages, so please be patient with us while we continue updating the site.

We've posted information on our upcoming gathering, Rock of Ages, in El Paso, Texas on July 26th - 29th. You can download a brochure that outlines the convention schedule and includes a mail-in registration form from our home page. Please feel free to contact us (see contact page for links) if you have any questions about the convention. We hope to see you there!

2009-06-16T21:30:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Augsburg Lutheran Churches Blog!

Our intent for this blog is simply to provide a place where members can share their ideas and opinions on what's happening within ALC.

2009-06-16T19:54:00.000-07:00

Hey!
I like this!
The look is really cool and the blog will be great for discussion, even some text study stuff for us preachers.
A welcome addition to the ALC line up of resources.
Tim