Why does the church use incense in places of worship?
1. Connection to Old Testament Worship
"Incense" is mentioned over 100 times in the Bible and was an integral part of worship in the Old Testament. The altar of incense in the Tabernacle (Exodus 30:1-10) and later in the Temple was used to burn incense regularly as an offering to God. Incense was an aromatic substance made of gums and spices to be burned. It was made according to a definite prescription of gum resin, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense in equal proportions, and was tempered with salt (Exod.30:34-Exod. 30:35). It could not be made for ordinary purposes (Exod.30.34-Exod.30.38; Lev.10.1-Lev.10.7). The use of incense in Christian worship can be seen as a continuation of this ancient practice.
2. A form of worship to Christ
The three gifts given to Christ by the Magi was gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The second two were resins both commonly used as incense. The newborn King received His first worship from gentiles by the gifts of incense!
2. It models the worship of Heaven
The prayers of the saints are depicted as rising before God along with the smoke of the incense.
Revelation 8:3-4, "And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel."
3. Purification and Sanctification of a sacred space
Incense is traditionally used to purify and sanctify the space in which it is burned. The sweet fragrance is a symbol of holiness and setting aside the space for God.
4. Symbolism of our Prayers Rising to Heaven
Incense is often seen as a physical representation of prayers ascending to God. This is based on biblical imagery, particularly from Psalm 141:2, which says, "Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice."
5. The Presence of the Holy Spirit
The smoke of the incense symbolizes the Holy Spirit. Just as the smoke fills the space and is perceived by the senses, so the Holy Spirit fills the hearts and minds of the worshippers, permeating the entire environment.
6. The Presence of God
Throughout the OT the presence of God was made manifest in the form of a cloud of smoke. In 2 Chronicles 5:12-14 we have a description of when the Ark of the Covenant was brought into the Temple build by Solomon, "and all the Levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, their sons and kinsmen, arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, stood east of the altar with 120 priests who were trumpeters; 13 and it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord), and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the Lord, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever,” the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God."
7. Symbol of Sacrifice
Incense is also associated with sacrifice. Just as incense is consumed by fire, it represents the offering of oneself to God, symbolizing the worshippers' devotion and willingness to sacrifice for their faith.
Why would Christians gather for worship on Christmas Day?
Why would Christians gather for worship on Christmas Day?
it’s about Jesus
It reminds us that the day is not primarily about family — as good as family is — nor about gifts — as terrific as they are. It is about Jesus.
Writing on this topic for the Gospel Coalition, Dr. Dustin Messer wrote the following:
“Going to church on Christmas reminds us not only of the point of church but also of the point of Christmas. It’s easy to get distracted this time of year. The parties, the decorations, the presents: sensory overload can numb us to the occasion for the festivities.
The accoutrements themselves are not the problem. To the contrary, if seen in the right light, the pomp of Christmas serves as a joyous pointer to the birth of Christ. The problem isn’t with the pointers but with us. I love C. S. Lewis’s illustration:
You will have noticed that most dogs cannot understand pointing. You point to a bit of food on the floor; the dog, instead of looking at the floor, sniffs at your finger. A finger is a finger to him, and that is all. His world is all fact and no meaning.
How often we can be like Lewis’s dog at Christmas—marveling at the new TV, savoring the homemade eggnog, and yet failing to revel in the present behind the presents: the incarnation of the Son of God. Going to church on Christmas contextualizes the season for us.”
Christmas is about Jesus. The entire foundation of our faith is centered around the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We get two days a year to really bring home that message: Christmas and Easter. What better way to remind ourselves of that than gathering together as Christians and celebrating this beautiful truth.
“Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness!”
evangelism
It reminds the world around us - our unbelieving family, friends, and co-workers - that we believe this day is about Jesus. Where I am physically on Christmas day will say something to the people around me. What I prioritize year after year will speak volumes to the world we inhabit.
“Go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born.”
water is thicker than blood
It reminds us as the body of Christ that our relationship to each other is bound up in something so much bigger than common interest, language, or hobbies. Our relationship to one another is bound together in Christ Jesus. By prioritizing gathering with people not “family” by blood but family by “water” (baptism), we are declaring our highest family allegiance.
“Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice”
For the Children
It reminds our children this day is about the gift of a Savior not the gifts under the tree. As a father of five children, more than anything else, my deepest desire for my children is to remember that Christmas is about the birth of their Savior Jesus Christ. And one way that we are seeking to disciple and form their hearts is to gather with believers to celebrate this good news.
“Remember Christ, our Savior was born on Christmas Day, to save us all from Satan's pow'r, when we were gone astray.”
a Holy Day
It reminds us that Christmas is a “holy-day.” In recent years people have made a stink about whether we should say “Happy Holidays” instead of the potentially offensive word “Christmas.” Interestingly, “holiday” is simply another way of saying “Holy Day” and for Christians any day we observe and celebrate our Lord’s life is just that, a “holy day.” Christmas is observed as a “holy day” by gathering in the house of the Lord.
“This, this is Christ, the King, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing”
Joful defiance
It is an act of joyful defiance. Christians have historically gathered on Christmas Day because it reminds us that we have a King different than the rest of the world. We will engage in the “defiant acts” of worship and practice our spiritual oddness. By saying yes to gathering to worship king Jesus, we are saying no (at least in a very small way) to giving the things of this world our allegiance.
“Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King.”
The Word made Flesh
It is about celebrating “the Word made flesh.” Christmas is the day Christ, the Son of God, was born into the world. God coming into our midst is something we describe as “the incarnation,” that is the “enfleshing” of God, or God taking on “flesh.” It’s one of the great mysteries of the Christian faith. One of the most significant ways we meditate and celibrate this reality is by sharing together in Holy Communion where we receive the true Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. The meaning of “Christmas” is in fact “Christ-Mass.” The phrase “Mass” (also known as Holy Communion, the Eucharist, or the Lord’s Supper) has as it’s focus the marvelous and loving act of God coming into our world as Immanuel.
“O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.”
With eager anticipation, I look forward to gathering with my brothers and sisters in Christ on Christmas Day to rejoice in the birth our Lord!
The Two Comings of Christ - Cyril of Jerusalem
We preach not one advent only of Christ, but a second also, far more glorious than the former. For the former gave a view of His patience; but the latter brings with it the crown of a divine kingdom. For all things, for the most part, are twofold in our Lord Jesus Christ…. In His former advent, He was wrapped in swaddling clothes in the manger; in His second, He covers Himself with light as with a garment. In His first coming, He endured the Cross, despising shame (Hebrews 12:2); in His second, He comes attended by a host of Angels, receiving glory. We rest not then upon His first advent only, but look also for His second. And as at His first coming we said, Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord , so will we repeat the same at His second coming; that when with Angels we meet our Master, we may worship Him and say, Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord. The Savior comes, not to be judged again, but to judge them who judged Him; He who before held His peace when judged , shall remind the transgressors who did those daring deeds at the Cross, and shall say, These things have you done, and I kept silence. Then, He came because of a divine dispensation, teaching men with persuasion; but this time they will of necessity have Him for their King, even though they wish it not.
Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lecture 15
Notable Lutheran Artist
There have been several famous Lutheran artists throughout history. Here are four notable ones:
Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553): Lucas Cranach was a German painter and printmaker who was a close associate of Martin Luther. He is known for his portraits of Luther and other figures of the Protestant Reformation. He also created numerous religious paintings and woodcuts with Lutheran themes. Here is a introduction to his life and work.
Martin and Katarina Luther, portrait by Lucas Cranach the Elder
Altarpiece in the Weimar parish church St. Peter and Paul
Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528): Albrecht Dürer was a renowned German painter, printmaker, and mathematician. While he was not exclusively a Lutheran artist, he lived during the time of the Reformation and produced works that reflected his Lutheran faith. Learn more about him and his work here.
The Resurrection, from "The Large Passion"
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750): Bach, a famous composer and musician, was a devout Lutheran. Much of his music, including his choral and organ compositions, was composed for Lutheran church services. Listen to Bach’s beautiful setting of the Lutheran Mass here.
Caspar David Friedrich (1774-1840): Friedrich was a German Romantic landscape painter, and his works often contain religious and spiritual themes. He was influenced by Lutheran pietism and his faith is evident in many of his paintings.
The Wanderer
Cross and Cathedral in the Mountains, 1812
Albrecht Durer and the Reformation of the Church
The follow article written by Pr. Matthew Ballmann was first published in the Lutheran Ambassador in 2015. I am republishing on this 506th anniversary of the Reformation.
As we celebrate the 498th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation and remember the individuals used by God to bring it about, we also do well to remember the individuals who were impacted by and served as key supporters of it. The German Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer was such a man. While some in the American church may know Dürer or his art, chances are he is nothing more than a strange name you just read for the first time. Allow me the privilege to introduce you to this incredibly gifted man who was a key recipient and supporter of the Reformation.
Albrecht Durer, The Man
Albrecht Dürer was born in 1471 to Albrecht and Barbara Dürer. He was the eldest son and third of eighteen children, fifteen of which would die at a young age. His father was a Hungarian immigrant who moved to the city of Nuremberg, Germany where he worked as a goldsmith. When Durer the Younger was only thirteen, he became an apprentice to his father in Nuremberg to learn how to be a goldsmith. After only two years of apprenticing, and to the displeasure but support of his father, Albrecht left to do what he really wanted to do - paint.
After leaving his father’s tutelage he went on to apprentice for three years under the painter and printmaker Michael Wolgemut (1434-1519) also in Nuremberg. Wolgemut was the first German painter to design woodcuts as illustrations for the newly developed printed book. It was under Wolgemut that Durer learned the art of woodcut, a skill that would play a crucial role in his career and influence upon the world. After three years under Wolgemut, he went on for an additional two years as a journeyman in which he traveled to Basel, Switzerland. Upon his return to Nuremberg in 1494, Dürer married Agnes Frey in an arranged marriage. They would have no children together.
What was Durer’s relationship to the Protestant Reformation?
While we have no record of him formally renouncing Roman Catholicism, his Protestant sympathies are evident in much of his art and letters. He evidently had suffered some level of judgment for these sympathies when he wrote the following in 1524, “because of our Christian faith we have to stand in scorn and danger, for we are reviled and called heretics.” It was especially the teaching that began the Protestant Reformation, that is the forgiveness of sins by grace, through faith, in Christ, that so powerfully influenced Durer and his work. Interestingly, it was the preaching of Johan von Staupitz, Luther’s mentor and Vicar General of the German Congregation of Augustinians, that first moved Durer to embrace the rediscovered evangelical theology.
It was not just Staupitz that influenced Durer, but Luther too had a significance influence on his thinking. When Friedrich the Wise sent Dürer one of Luther's books in 1520, Dürer wrote the following to the Elector's secretary, “I pray Your Honor to convey my humble gratitude to His Electoral grace, and beg him humbly that he will protect the praiseworthy Dr. Martin Luther for the sake of Christian truth. It matters more than all the riches and power of this world, for with time everything passes away; only the truth is eternal.” It was Luther who helped Dürer find release from his spiritual distress through the preaching of the forgiveness of sins through Christ’s death and resurrection.
Dürer spent the majority of his life living in Nuremburg creating and selling art. Whether it woodcuts, engravings, paintings, or drawings, his work captured the attention and imagination of his contemporary artist and culture at large. When Luther heard of his death 1528, he wrote, “It is natural and right to weep for so excellent a man.” Today Dürer remains among the most admired artists in the history of German art.
Famous Works
As many of the great artist of his day, Dürer had a wide spectrum of skills. He created alter pieces for churches, portraits of both religious and political leaders, and engravings and woodcuts for printed material. To get an idea of the volume he created, today we have about a hundred of his paintings, some one hundred engravings, and roughly two hundred woodcuts. In addition, we have over 1,200 drawings, sketches, and watercolors. From these he was most known and renowned for graphic works. These were created from woodcuts or engravings. Artists across Europe admired and copied Durer’s innovative and powerful prints, ranging from religious and mythological scenes, to maps and exotics animals. The vast majority of his works have biblical images as their objects.
Dürer's earliest major work, The Apocalypse, was a series of large prints illustrating the book of Revelation, with the Scripture on the reverse side. Dürer's large illustrations were detailed and full of energy. His Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse has never been surpassed.
He followed The Apocalypse with a series of seventeen cuts entitled The Life of the Virgin and a large and small series on the Passion of Christ. These illustrations were designed to be used especially by teachers and clergy, but in a day before widespread literacy, could also be important devotional tools for Christian laymen. The Passion of Christ woodcuts are especially powerful in their communication of the suffering of our Savior.
Other famous works include Knight, Death, and Devil in which he portrays a knight in battle armor, pike in hand, riding down a dangerous road located in a valley. On either side of the knight there are two hideous looking creatures. One is holding an hourglass in his hand representing the inevitability of death (common in many of Durer’s works) and the other creature, resembling a goat, is holding a pike in its hand as if looking for a chance to knock the knight off his horse. The valley of course represents the valley of the shadow of death and the trials of life. Off in the distance there is a large and magnificent castle, the destination of every Christian, heaven.
Another of his most well known works is St. Jerome in His Study. Portraying an elderly Jerome sitting in a room with streams of sun rays coming through the windows. Besides the seated saint are books, timepieces, writings, and many other object, all of which carry some symbolic meaning. One such symbol in the room is a human skull, which was meant to serve as a reminder to Jerome of the inevitability of death (memento mori). If you follow Jerome’s line of eye site to the skull there stands a cross of the crucified Savior, reminding him that death has been defeated through Christ Jesus.
Durer’s final great work, a painting, The Four Holy Men - Sts. John, Peter, Mark and Paul, was presented to the Nuremberg City Council as a gift. Below the painting Dürer attached a short message which spoke to the danger of the Roman Catholic Church’s teaching and at the same time affirmed the Protestant commitment to the authority of Scripture, “All worldly rulers in these dangerous times should give good heed that they receive not human misguidance for the Word of God, for God will have nothing added to His Word nor taken away from it. Hear therefore these four excellent men, Peter, John, Paul, and Mark and their warning."
While there is an extraordinary number other powerful pieces we could consider, suffice it to say that Albrecht Durer was a man who was an extremely gifted artist, believed in the good news of forgiveness of sins through Christ by grace through faith, and used his gifts for the proclamation of God’s Word and the glory of God.
For more on Durer’s life and work. And here.
Bring them here to me
“BRING THEM HERE TO ME” - JESUS
The Holy Gospel of Matthew 14:13-21
Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17 They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” 18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
This gospel reading is a beautiful picture of our Lord's heart towards us in so many levels:
1. Our Lord responds to the needs of the crowds pressing upon him with compassion.
This word compassion denotes an inward experience and feeling, that is, deep within himself he felt for the needs of the crowd and longed to help them. Jesus will use this same word in the parable of the prodigal son to describe God's love for us, "So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him" (Luke 15:20).
Did you know that our Lord Jesus has compassion for you? He has compassion for YOU! He has compassion for you in each area that you struggle with guilt, grief, fear, and insecurity. He deeply feels for you in each of those areas. But he doesn't only feel, he acts. And that brings us to the second picture of His love towards us.
2. Our Lord is moved by His compassion to bring healing and sustenance into our lives.
He brought healing not simply in a generic way, but specifically by touching each of them individually, this was always his way. This is still His way. Jesus died the cross for the whole world but applies that forgiveness to us individually and personally as His Word is proclaimed to us and the waters of baptism are poured upon us. Jesus is there, speaking to us and washing us. The healing Jesus brings is more than just physical healing in this lifetime, it is spiritual healing for both this life and the next. It is the restoration of our humanity in Him.
We see our Lord's compassion as He not only heals them, but as they begin to hunger He miraculously feeds them! This harkens us back to God miraculously feeding the children of Israel in the wilderness with food from heaven (Manna) and meat from the sky (quail). Our Lord continues to feed His children with a heavenly food (John 6) in the Holy Communion of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus. The same power that Jesus exercised to multiply the fives loaves and two fish, is the same power He makes Himself present in each gathering of believers around the globe at the altar. And this gift brings us to a third act of compassion and love.
3. Our Lord's healing and sustenance brings a deep and abiding satisfaction.
The meal is multiplied by Jesus, given to the disciples, distributed to the people, extra is collected after, and in all this, they were satisfied. They ate until they needed no more. What a beautiful picture! This same satisfaction is what our Lord bestows to us in Holy Communion. He gives us just enough to satisfy us for this time. And then He does it all again next week, and again the week after, again the week after that, all the way until he returns.
4. Our Lord invites us to bring our small contributions to Him so that He can use them how He sees fit for His kingdom.
Jesus didn't ask for the richest person to donate, or the most gifted cook to step up, or the hardest worker; he simply said "bring them [what you have] to me." Jesus took these small portions for a single person and by His power multiplied them. We often can feel as if what we have doesn't amount to much. Our time seems to small, our energy too little, and our resources too thin. But Jesus isn't asking for us to do the miracle, He's asking us to give what we have to Him and let Him decide what He wants to do with it.
I invite you to give to Jesus what you have. Give Him your exhausted parenting, your broken relationships, your thin finances, your feeble prayers, and distracted listening. He can take those small efforts and use them in your life and the lives of those around you in ways you could never imagine.
This is who our Lord Jesus is. This is what our Lord Jesus does.
He has compassion on you, He heals you by freely forgiving you your sins, He feed you in the Holy Eucharist, He satisfies you spiritually and emotionally in Himself, and He multiplies our little.
Learning the Liturgy: The Procession
Introduction:
One of the most practical questions every gathering of people must answer is “How will we begin?” “How will we welcome people?" and “How do we tell everyone why we are gathering?” The Procession serves a simple but important role of answer these questions. The Procession is a visual, bodily, and verbal instruction on why we are gathering.
A processional cross holds a central role in the procession and within the liturgical practices of the Christian faith. It is often a beautifully crafted cross that is carried at the forefront of a religious procession. The processional cross symbolizes Christ's victory over death and serves as a reminder of His sacrificial love. As it is carried forward, leading the clergy and congregation, the processional cross represents the presence of Christ leading His people, inspiring and devotion in the hearts of believers. The processional cross exemplifies unity and serves as a visual representation of the faith's central message, guiding the faithful towards the altar where they can partake in the Sacrament of the Holy Communion and worship the Lord.
The Basics: What is a Processional Cross?
The Processional Cross can be a bare cross or a crucifix (a cross with the body of Christ) and is processed in from the back to the front at the beginning and back out at the end of the Divine Service.
The individual who carries the Processional Cross is known as a “Crucifer.” The crucifer always processes in first, with the pastors and other assistants following.
The cross is placed some place at the front of the sanctuary on a stand or attached to the wall for all to see.
Why does the Divine Service begin with a Processional Cross?
Similar to a national flag representing a nations history and values, so the processional cross represents God’s redeeming work in the world. Beginning the Divine Service with the processional cross is a powerful reminder that Christ is the focal point of the service. The Christian gathering is not focused on human maximization tips, motivational speeches, or simply emotional appeals, but rather is initiated by and focused on the person and work of the God-Man Jesus Christ who carried out and is bringing to completion our redemption by His birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension, and future return.
For Christians, in a very real sense, the processional cross it is a banner of our victory over sin, death, and the devil. As we gaze upon the cross, it should fill the faithful with gratitude, joy, and thanksgiving of Christ’s work on their behalf.
The processional cross also serves as a visual representation of Christ’s presence in our midst. Christ has not abandoned his children but it with them in the valleys of darkness (Psalm 23).
Why do we standing and face the Processional Cross?
In almost all cultures around the world, standing is how someone expresses honor, reverence, and respect. We stand when meeting someone at the dinner table, we stand when meeting the President of the United States, the court room stands when the judge enters, and the people stand when the bride enters. We stand and face the Processional Cross for the same reason. We are acknowledging that this gathering is focused on God, and that as holy and righteous, demands our absolute allegiance and respect. We not only stand, but in many historic traditions they also face the cross and turn with it as it enters. It is also common to see those present to make a slight bow towards the cross as it passes in reverence.
At Trinity San Antonio Church, we reverently and joyfully stand for the processional cross as it symbolizes the journey of faith that we embark upon as a community. By standing in reverence for the processional cross, we honor God's presence among us and align ourselves with His grace and love. It serves as a unifying symbol of our shared faith, bringing us together as we follow the cross, entrusting our lives to the One who goes before us.
What is the Significance of the Processional Hymn?
The Processional Hymn is focused on declaring the kingship, holiness, and power of God.
Psalm 100:4 says, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!” Praise of God is an appropriate way to enter His presence.
This hymn is often selected in light of the season of the Church Year or Feast Day. For example, on Palm Sunday the Processional is traditionally “All Glory, Laud, and Honor” as we remember Christ’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.
For comparison, while many contemporary churches stack all the songs into one “praise and worship” session at the beginning of the service, liturgical churches intersperse their songs throughout the service.
Sermons by Leo the Great on the Ascension of Christ
Wiki introduction to Leo the Great (400-446)
Leo the Great (400-446)
Sermon 73
I.The Events Recorded as Happening After the Resurrection Were Intended to Convince Its Truth.
Since the blessed and glorious Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, whereby the Divine power in three days raised the true Temple of God, which the wickedness of the Jews had overthrown, the sacred forty days, dearly-beloved are to-day ended, which by most holy appointment were devoted to our most profitable instruction, so that, during the period that the Lord thus protracted the lingering of His bodily presence, our faith in the Resurrection might be fortified by needful proofs. For Christ’s Death had much disturbed the disciples’ hearts, and a kind of torpor of distrust had crept over their grief-laden minds at His torture on the cross, at His giving up the ghost, at His lifeless body’s burial. For, when the holy women, as the Gospel-story has revealed,brought word of tile stone rolled away from the tomb, the sepulchre emptied of the body, and the angels bearing witness to the living Lord, their words seemed like ravings to the Apostles and other disciples. Which doubtfulness, the result of human weakness, the Spirit of Truth would most assuredly not have permitted to exist in His own preacher’s breasts, had not their trembling anxiety and careful hesitation laid the foundations of our faith. It was our perplexities and our dangers that were provided for in the Apostles: it was ourselves who in these men were taught how to meet the cavillings of the ungodly and the arguments of earthly wisdom). We are instructed by their lookings, we are taught by their hearings, we are convinced by their handlings. Let us give thanks to the Divine management and the holy Fathers’ necessary slowness of belief. Others doubted, that we might not doubt.
II. And Therefore They are in the Highest Degree Instructive.
Those days, therefore, dearly-beloved, which intervened between the Lord’s Resurrection and Ascension did not pass by in uneventful leisure, but great mysteries1 were ratified in them, deep truths2 revealed. In them the fear of awful death was removed, and the immortality not only of the soul but also of the flesh established. In them, through the Lord’s breathing upon them, the Holy Ghost is poured upon all the Apostles, and to the blessed Apostle Peter beyond the rest the care of the Lord’s flock is entrusted, in addition to the keys of the kingdom. Then it was that the Lord joined the two disciples as a companion on the way, and, to the sweeping away of all the clouds of our uncertainty, upbraided them with the slowness of their timorous hearts. Their enlightened hearts catch the flame of faith, and lukewarm as they have been, are made to burn while the Lord unfolds the Scriptures. In the breaking of bread also their eyes are opened as they eat with Him: how far more blessed is the opening of their eyes, to whom the glorification of their nature is revealed than that of our first parents, on whom fell the disastrous consequences of their transgression.
III. The Prove the Resurrection of the Flesh.
And in the course of these and other miracles, when the disciples were harassed by bewildering thoughts, and the Lord had appeared in their midst and said, “Peace be unto you3 ,” that what was passing through their hearts might not be their fixed opinion (for they thought they saw a spirit not flesh), He refutes their thoughts so discordant with the Truth, offers to the doubters’ eyes the marks of the cross that remained in His hands and feet, and invites them to handle Him with careful scrutiny, because the traces of the nails and spear had been retained to heal the wounds of unbelieving hearts, so that not with wavering faith, but with most stedfast knowledge they might comprehend that the Nature which had been lain in the sepulchre was to sit on God the Father’s throne.
IV. Christ’s Ascension Has Given Us Greater Privileges and Joys Than the Devil Had Taken from Us.
Accordingly, dearly-beloved, throughout this time which elapsed between the Lord’s Resurrection and Ascension, God’s Providence had this in view, to teach and impress upon both the eyes and hearts of His own people that the Lord Jesus Christ might be acknowledged to have as truly risen, as He was truly born, suffered, and died. And hence the most blessed Apostles and all the disciples, who had been both bewildered at His death on the cross and backward in believing His Resurrection, were so strengthened by the clearness of the truth that when the Lord entered the heights of heaven, not only were they affected with no sadness, but were even filled with great joy. And truly great and unspeakable was their cause for joy, when in the sight of the holy multitude, above the dignity of all heavenly creatures, the Nature of mankind went up, to pass above the angels’ ranks and to rise beyond the archangels’ heights, and to have Its uplifting limited by no elevation until, received to sit with the Eternal Father, It should be associated on the throne with His glory, to Whose Nature It was united in the Son. Since then Christ’s Ascension is our uplifting, and the hope of the Body is raised, whither the glory of the Head has gone before, let us exult, dearly-beloved, with worthy joy and delight in the loyal paying of thanks. For to-day not only are we confirmed as possessors of paradise, but have also in Christ penetrated the heights of heaven, and have gained still greater things through Christ’s unspeakable grace than we had lost through the devil’s malice. For us, whom our virulent enemy had driven out from the bliss of our first abode, the Son of God has made members of Himself and placed at the right hand of the Father, with Whom He lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
Sermon 74
I. The Ascension Completes Our Faith in Him, Who Was God As Well as Man.
The mystery of our salvation, dearly-beloved, which the Creator of the universe valued at the price of His blood, has now been carried out under conditions of humiliation from the day of His bodily birth to the end of His Passion. And although even in “the form of a slave” many signs of Divinity have beamed out, yet the events of all that period served particularly to show the reality of His assumed Manhood. But after the Passion, when the chains of death were broken, which had exposed its own strength by attacking Him, Who was ignorant of sin, weakness was turned into power, mortality into eternity, contumely into glory, which the Lord Jesus Christ showed by many clear proofs in the sight of many, until He carried even into heaven the triumphant victory which He had won over the dead. As therefore at the Easter commemoration, the Lord’s Resurrection was the cause of our rejoicing; so the subject of our present gladness is His Ascension, as we commemorate and duly venerate that day on which the Nature of our humility in Christ was raised above all the host of heaven, over all the ranks of angels, beyond the height of all powers, to sit with God the Father. On which Providential order of events we are founded and built up, that God’s Grace might become more wondrous, when, notwithstanding the removal from men’s sight of what was rightly felt to command their awe, faith did not fail, hope did not waver, love did not grow cold. For it is the strength of great minds and the light of firmly-faithful souls, unhesitatingly to believe what is not seen with the bodily sight, and there to fix one’s affections whither you cannot direct your gaze. And whence should this Godliness spring up in our hearts, or how should a man be justified by faith, if our salvation rested on those things only which lie beneath our eyes? Hence our Lord said to him who seemed to doubt of Christ’s Resurrection, until he had tested by sight and touch the traces of His Passion in His very Flesh, “because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are, they who have not seen and yet have believed.”
II. The Ascension Renders Our Faith More Excellent and Stronger.
In order, therefore, dearly-beloved, that we may be capable of this blessedness, when all things were fulfilled which concerned the Gospel preaching and the mysteries of the New Testament, our Lord Jesus Christ, on the fortieth day after the Resurrection in the presence of the disciples, was raised into heaven, and terminated His presence with us in the body, to abide on the Father’s right hand until the times Divinely fore-ordained for multiplying the sons of the Church are accomplished, and He comes to judge the living and the dead in the same flesh in which He ascended. And so that which till then was visible of our Redeemer was changed into a sacramental presence, and that faith might be more excellent and stronger, sight gave way to doctrine, the authority of which was to be accepted by believing hearts enlightened with rays from above.
III. The Marvellous Effects of This Faith on All.
This Faith, increased by the Lord’s Ascension and established by the gift of the Holy Ghost, was not terrified by bonds, imprisonments, banishments, hunger, fire, attacks by wild beasts, refined torments of cruel persecutors. For this Faith throughout the world not only men, but even women, not only beardless boys, but even tender maids, fought to the shedding of their blood. This Faith cast out spirits, drove off sicknesses, raised the dead: and through it the blessed Apostles themselves also, who after being confirmed by so many miracles and instructed by so many discourses, had yet been panic-stricken by the horrors of the Lord’s Passion and had not accepted the truth of His resurrection without hesitation, made such progress after the Lord’s Ascension that everything which had previously filled them with fear was turned into joy. For they had lifted the whole contemplation of their mind to the Godhead of Him that sat at the Father’s right hand, and were no longer hindered by the barrier of corporeal sight from directing their minds’ gaze to That Which had never quitted the Father’s side in descending to earth, and had not forsaken the disciples in ascending to heaven.
IV. His Ascension Refines Our Faith : the Ministering of Angels to Hint Shows the Extent of His Authority.
The Son of Man and Son of God, therefore, dearly-beloved, then attained a more excellent and holier fame, when He betook Himself back to the glory of the Father’s Majesty, and in an ineffable manner began to be nearer to the Father in respect of His Godhead, after having become farther away in respect of His manhood. A better instructed faith then began to draw closer to a conception of the Son’s equality with the Father without the necessity of handling the corporeal substance in Christ, whereby He is less than the Father, since, while the Nature of the glorified Body still remained the faith of believers was called upon to touch not with the hand of flesh, but with the spiritual understanding the Only-begotten, Who was equal with the Father. Hence comes that which the Lord said after His Resurrection, when Mary Magdalene, representing the Church, hastened to approach and touch Him: “Touch Me not, for I have not yet ascended to My Father:” that is, I would not have you come to Me as to a human body, nor yet recognize Me by fleshly perceptions: I put thee off for higher things, I prepare greater things for thee: when I have ascended to My Father, then thou shall handle Me more perfectly and truly, for thou shall grasp what thou canst not touch and believe what thou canst not see. But when the disciples’ eyes followed the ascending Lord tO heaven with upward gaze of earnest wonder, two angels stood by them in raiment shining with wondrous brightness, who also said, “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing into heaven? This Jesus Who was taken up from you into heaven shall so come as ye saw Him going into heaven.” By which words all the sons of the Church were taught to believe that Jesus Christ will come visibly in the same Flesh wherewith He ascended, and not to doubt that all things are subjected to Him on Whom the ministry of angels had waited from the first beginning of His Birth. For, as an angel announced to the blessed Virgin that Christ should be conceived by the Holy Ghost, so the voice of heavenly beings sang of His being born of the Virgin also to the shepherds. As messengers from above were the first to attest His having risen from the dead, so the service of angels was employed to foretell His coming in very Flesh to judge the world, that we might understand what great powers will come with Him as Judge, when such great ones ministered to Him even in being judged.
V. We Must Despise Earthly Things and Rise to Things Above, Especially by Active Works of Mercy and Love.
And so, dearly-beloved, let us rejoice with spiritual joy, and let us with gladness pay God worthy thanks and raise our hearts’ eyes unimpeded to those heights where Christ is. Minds that have heard the call to be uplifted must not be pressed down by earthly affections5 , they that are fore-ordained to things eternal must not be taken up with the things that perish; they that have entered on the way of Truth must not be entangled in treacherous snares, and the faithful must so take their course through these temporal things as to remember that they are sojourning in the vale of this world, in which, even though they meet with some attractions, they must not sinfully embrace them, but bravely pass through them. For to this devotion the blessed Apostle Peter arouses us, and entreating us with that loving eagerness which he conceived for feeding Christ’s sheep by the threefold profession of love for the Lord, says, “dearly-beloved, I beseech you, as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul6 .” But for whom do fleshly pleasures wage war, if not for the devil, whose delight it is to fetter souls that strive after things above, with the enticements of corruptible good things, and to draw them away from those abodes from which he himself has been banished? Against his plots every believer must keep careful watch that he may crush his foe on the side whence the attack is made. And there is no more powerful weapon, dearly-beloved, against the devil’s wiles than kindly mercy and bounteous charity, by which every sin is either escaped or vanquished. But this lofty power is not attained until that which is opposed to it be overthrown. And what so hostile to mercy and works of charity as avarice from the root of which spring all evils? And unless it be destroyed by lack of nourishment, there must needs grow in the ground of that heart in which this evil weed has taken root, the thorns and briars of vices rather than any seed of true goodness. Let us then, dearly-beloved, resist this pestilential evil and “follow after charity8 ,” without which no virtue can flourish, that by this path of love whereby Christ came down to us, we too may mount up to Him, to Whom with God the Father and the Holy Spirit is honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Source. Translated by Charles Lett Feltoe. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 12. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1895.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/360374.htm>.
Celebrating the Resurrection
Celebrating comes naturally to us; just think back to the Christmas season, and all the time you spent preparing special foods, selecting and wrapping gifts, listening to festive seasonal music, gathering with loved ones, and maybe attending parties, concerts and worship services dedicated to the season of Christmas.
Christmas is worth celebrating. And Easter is even MORE worth celebrating! The resurrection of Christ, the defeat of death and the devil; this event is the centerpoint celebration of our faith.
So how can we approach Easter with preparation, so that we can celebrate well?
Plan ahead for your Easter morning/day celebrations.
1) Set the scene.
-Gather (or purchase) your Easter decor, perhaps a "He is Risen" piece of art. Check out Hobby Lobby or Etsy for some great options! Set it out right before you go to bed the night before Easter morning.
-A couple of days before Easter, purchase some beautiful spring flowers. Hide them in your garage and pull them out to place around the house the night before so they are ready for Easter morning.
-Turn on some celebratory music as soon as the sun rises on Sunday. Waiting for Easter morning to play resurrection songs adds to the anticipation! Here is a suggested playlist.
2) Add some fun and feasting.
-Everyone loves Easter baskets, even adults! Create simple Easter baskets for the loved ones in your life, and include some Christ-centered items, such as large chocolate crosses (purchase at Hobby Lobby or on Amazon), a Scripture coloring book, or a book to encourage the recipient in their faith. For kids, we love the Tales that Tell the Truth series, Baby Believer Primer board books, and missionary/heroes of the faith biographies!
-Choose some special foods to make ahead or the morning of Easter. Hot cross buns are a traditional choice, though you could also make these for Good Friday!
-Think about something unique to you and your family that you'd like to include that will help add to the celebration of the day. Cascarones, anyone? :)
3) Incorporate optional experiential activities leading up to Easter, especially if you have kids at your house! Some ideas:
Resurrection garden. We will be making these at our Stations of the Cross at Trinity this year!
Empty tomb marshmallow rolls activity
Wishing you a season full of celebrating the resurrection of our Savior!
What is Ash Wednesday?
What is Ash Wednesday?
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent: a time of penitence, fasting, and prayer, in preparation for the great Easter Feast.
The season of Lent began in the early days of the Church as a time of preparation for those seeking to be baptized at Easter. The forty days refer to our Lord’s time of fasting in the wilderness; and Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the Lenten Fast.
Throughout the Old Testament, ashes are used as a sign of sorrow and repentance, and Christians have traditionally used ashes to indicate sorrow for our own sin, and as a reminder that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Like Adam and Eve, we have disobeyed and rebelled against God, and are under the same judgment, “you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19b).
But as we are marked with ashes in the same manner that we were signed with the cross in Baptism, we are also reminded of the life we share in Jesus Christ, the second Adam (Romans 5:17, 6:4). It is in this sure hope that we begin the journey of these forty days, that by hearing and answering our Savior’s call to repent, we may enter fully into the joyful celebration of his resurrection.
How to Teach Your Kids to Pray
Prayer is speaking to God and providing Him the space to speak to us through His Word and by His Holy Spirit. In prayer we share our concerns, joys, and thanksgiving with Him and allow Him to convict, guide, and encourage us.
Prayer is not complicated, but it can be difficult. I believe this is true for everyone but it can be especially true of parents with young kids that wake up at the break of dawn and have boundless energy until they are put to bed at night. How is anyone to find time to pray when you have Sonic the Hedgehog in your house?
A lot of helpful advice could be given here but I want to focus on one simple principle - pray with your children. That’s right. While personal time to pray is important, don’t miss the opportunity to pray with your children. Not only does this help you grow in your prayer life, but it also is teaching your kids how to pray. Here are some ideas of times you can stop to pray:
Before breakfast (take 30 seconds to pray in public and at home)
In the car on the way to school or work or running errands
At lunch
When you pull into your driveway take 60 seconds to thank God for the day and help you invest in your family this evening.
At dinner
Before bed
Anytime!
Now you might be thinking, “I’ve tried that and it’s just too challenging. They don’t focus and I have to get on them every 15 seconds to stop pushing and pinching each other.” I get it. I really do. Here is a secret that has really helped our family prayer times - make use of written prayers.
But aren’t written prayers less spiritual? Some might feel as if written prayers are less spiritual than free form praying, but here is the truth, while they can be prayed in a mindless and rote way, they don’t have to be. In fact this applies to anything in life we do on a repetitive basis. Just because we sometimes fall into reading the Bible mindlessly doesn’t mean we stop reading the Bible altogether. Rather, it means we seek to read it with engaged hearts and minds, asking the Holy Spirit to enflame our hearts with His love. The same goes for written prayers.
Below are four written prayers that you can print and pray together as a family. At first you’ll have to read it but eventually your whole family (even the youngest!) will know them by heart. We don’t do the same prayer every single night but like to mix them up. So a few nights a week we’ll do the Lord’s Prayer and a few nights the Evening prayer. We almost always include extemporaneous prayers as well, I like to give each child a chance to pray using their own words.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Morning Prayer
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
Evening Prayer
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
Prayer Before a Meal
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Lord God, heavenly Father, bless us and these Your gifts which we receive from Your bountiful goodness, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
I encourage every family to pick up the Lutheran Prayer Book which has written prayers for morning and evening of every day.
Why you should consider making the sign of the cross on yourself
The Sign of the Cross
Growing up I always thought someone making the sign of the cross on themselves was a pointless and superstitious gesture that just made the people doing it look silly. For real.
I’ve since changed my mind.
I have now come to believe it a very powerful reminder to myself that I have been saved by Christ’s finished work on Calvary and a bold statement to those around me of my faith and hope. And while certainly not required, I would humbly suggest it is a practice that Christians of all traditions would greatly benefit from in practicing.
Here is a brief introduction into this very ancient Christian gesture:
What is the sign of the cross?
The sign of the cross is an ancient Christian practice of marking the shape of the cross of Christ upon one’s self or upon another person or object.
What does crossing myself with the cross mean?
The sign of the cross is a physical gesture that signifies a spiritual reality. In the same way that in placing our right hand over your heart and reciting the pledge of allegiance declares a statement of belief, hope, and solidarity, so in like manner, crossing oneself with the sign of the cross is a distinctively Christian gesture that is a statement of belief and hope. This simple act reminds us that:
We have been bought and purchased by the finished work of Christ on the cross (“sign of the cross”).
We have been marked with the name of the Triune God in our baptisms (all Christians baptisms are in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit).
We continue to look and trust in Christ at all times and situations.
We boldly and unashamedly declare to the world that we are Christ-followers.
Do I have to do it?
Not at all! It is a matter of Christian freedom and completely optional. You may or may not feel comfortable doing it yourself, or you may not do it as often as your neighbor. That’s okay. But when the sign of the cross is made, whether by pastor or people, let this be the proclamation: Christ has died for your sins upon the cross; in Baptism he shares that cross with you; because you share in His cross, you are a child of God and are precious in His sight.
What did the early Church say about it?
The early Church Fathers attested to the use of the sign of the cross. Here are a few comments from the first several hundred years of the church.
Tertullian (250 A.D.) described the commonness of the sign of the cross: “In all our travels and movements, in all our coming in and going out, in putting on our shoes, at the bath, at the table, in lighting our candles, in lying down, in sitting down, whatever employment occupies us, we mark our foreheads with the sign of the cross” (De corona, 30). And in another place he said, “We Christians wear out our foreheads with the sign of the cross.”
Athanasius of Alexandria (269–373 A.D.) said, “By the signing of the holy and life-giving cross, devils and various scourges are driven away. For it is without price and without cost and praises him who can say it. The holy fathers have, by their words, transmitted to us, and even to the unbelieving heretics, how the two raised fingers and the single hand reveal Christ our God in His dual nature but single substance. The right hand proclaims His immeasurable strength, His sitting on the right hand of the Father, and His coming down unto us from Heaven. Again, by the movement of the hands to our right the enemies of God will be driven out, as the Lord triumphs over the Devil with His inconquerable power, rendering him dismal and weak.”
St. Cyril of Jerusalem (386 A.D.) in his Catechetical Lectures stated, “Let us then not be ashamed to confess the Crucified. Be the cross our seal, made with boldness by our fingers on our brow and in everything; over the bread we eat and the cups we drink, in our comings and in our goings out; before our sleep, when we lie down and when we awake; when we are traveling, and when we are at rest” (Catecheses, 13).
How do I make the sign of the cross on myself?
Touch your head at the naming of the Father; then bring your hand to the middle of your chest (over your heart) at the naming of the Son. At the naming of the Holy Spirit, touch your right shoulder and then your left shoulder. The Eastern tradition of the Christian church goes right to left, while the Western tradition is left to right. Either is good!
When is it appropriate to make the sign of the cross?
Anytime throughout the day you feel led to or whenever you desire to be reminded of God’s presence with you and your reliance upon Him. You may do it before an especially important meeting, when you are being tempted by sin, as you drive, when you pray, before and/or after meals, and when you wake up and when you go to bed.
During the worship service it is especially appropriate to cross oneself at (1) the beginning of the service during the Invocation (In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit), (2) after the Declaration of Grace; (3) during the Creed when we declare our belief in the resurrection (“Resurrection of the body”), (4) after receiving the Holy Eucharist, (5) upon receiving the closing benediction when the pastor makes the sign of the cross upon the congregation.
A final word
If you have never made the sign of the cross, it will feel a little awkward when you first start. That’s okay. Once you have done it a few weeks it becomes quite natural and second nature. A good way to ease into it is crossing yourself at the beginning and end of your personal prayers and go from there. It is also a wonderful way to disciple your children at meals and when putting them to bed.
May the Lord’s grace and peace be upon you!
How to Regularly Spend More Time in God's Word
There are many great reading plans out there - everything from reading through the Bible in a year to reading five minutes a day. When it comes to reading the Bible, it’s helpful to understand three really important points.
First, Scripture is God’s Word to you. It is how the Creator of the universe and King of Kings speaks to you. It is where He declares His love, grace, and mercy and how He guides and matures you in your faith. What an amazing miraculous gift!
Second, reading Scripture is hard work. You read that right. It’s hard work. It takes time, commitment, mental and spiritual focus. For this reason, many of us make excuses, feel guilt for not doing it, or just don’t do it at all. It’s like receiving a letter from someone that loves you dearly and never taking the time to open it. With that said, there are a few easy habits that will make it so much easier for you to be consistent in God’s Word (more on that below).
Third, more important than the quantity of what you read is the quality and regularity. Better to read 5 minutes, 5 days a week, then 25 minutes 1 day a week.
To recap, it’s God’s Word to you, it’s hard work, and it requires consistency. If you understand those three things first, then the following practical suggestions will help you tremendously in spending more time reading the Bible.
practical suggestions:
Place - Find a quiet place to sit where you won’t be interrupted for the next 10 minutes and then shut your phone off (no, really!).
Prepare - Take a deep breath, still your heart and mind, ask God to open your heart and enlighten your eyes to understand His Word.
Read - Read one chapter of whatever book you are reading and one chapter from the Psalms (If you are just starting out reading the Bible, keep it simple and just read the one chapter). Here is a bookmark guide we hand out at Trinity. Don’t try to get all fancy, keep it simple, less is more. Commit to just 10 minutes a day, five days a week to the bookmark plan (updated every month).
Journal - Read with a journal and pen in your hand and jot down any thoughts or questions that come to mind as you are reading. This is a really important step to help you actually process what you are reading.
Prayer - End your time by praying one verse from what you read. For example, Psalm 5:8 says, “Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me.” Pray something like this: “Lord, lead me you in your righteousness, guide me in your ways. Keep me from following the lies of Satan and the temptations of this world. Keep my heart and mind focused on You as I go about my day. Amen.”
Share - Consider sharing with someone else one thing that God taught you or reminded you from you time in His Word.
Ask - If you have questions about what you’re reading, reach out to Pastor Matt, he would love to answer your questions!
May the Lord richly bless you through His Word, strengthen you in the faith, and fill you with His love, peace, and joy!
Check out the previous blog post on this topic: Five reasons I don’t read my Bible and Eight really good reasons I should.
Why I don't read my Bible and really good reasons I should
What keeps you from reading God’s Word on a daily basis?
Before reading any further, jot down those reasons on a piece of paper and let’s see how you compare to the five most common reasons people give for not reading their Bible.
Five of the most common reasons people give for not reading the Bible on a regular basis
Kristen Feola shares the following reasons:
Excuse 1: “I don’t have time.” Truth: We’re all given twenty-four hours in each day. You do have time.
Excuse 2: “It’s boring.” Truth: The Bible is anything but boring! It contains stories of miraculous healings, supernatural events, and people being raised from the dead. Pretty exciting stuff, if you ask me!
Excuse 3: “I can’t understand it.” Truth: The Bible can be intimidating at times. It speaks of events that are unexplainable, in language that isn’t always easy to decipher. However, when you approach the study of God’s Word with a true desire to learn, the Lord will give you insight and understanding.
Excuse 4: “It’s not relevant to my life.” Truth: Even though the Bible was written thousands of years ago, it still speaks to our circumstances today. Its truth is unchanging and eternal.
Excuse 5: “I don’t get anything out of it.” Truth: To get something out of the Bible, you have to read it with an open mind and heart. You have to be willing to listen to what God is saying, then learn to apply His truth to the specific situations in your life.
If your relationship with the Lord seems stagnant, it’s probably because you aren’t increasing your knowledge of the Bible. You can’t grow closer to the Lord apart from his Word. Wayne Cordeiro, author of The Divine Mentor, makes this observation: “Neglecting devotions will cause you more problems, more quickly, than just about anything you can name.” He also says, “Spending unrushed time alone with God in His Word releases a fountain of refreshment from the very core of your being.”
I don’t know about you but that list looks pretty close to my list! But now let me ask you this:
What do you think are the benefits of daily reading God’s Word?
Again, take a minute and jot those down.
Here are eight really good reasons to read the Bible regularly:
The Bible really is God’s Word to us. - Paul writes that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God …” (2 Timothy 3:16) which means it is breathed out by God, from Him to you and me. If you want to hear God speak, pick up the Bible, read and listen!
The Bible shows us who God is - The Bible provides both examples and statements about who God is. In Genesis we see is all powerful Creator of the world, in Exodus we see is a deliverer, in Leviticus we see that He is holy and righteous, in Joshua we see He is powerful and mighty, in the gospels we see His love, judgement, forgiveness, and grace all meet in the person of Jesus, in the epistles we see His practical guidance for our lives, in Revelation we see what we have to look forward to when Christ returns. We need to hear and be reminded daily of who God is and what He has done, is doing, and is going to do on our behalf.
The Bible demonstrates to us why Jesus is so important - Colossians 1:15-20 says, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”
The Bible nourishes us in our Christian walk - Jesus said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4). We don’t just need physical bread to sustain us, we also need spiritual food to sustain us. Without we become spiritual sick.
The Bible makes us discerning and wise - Psalm 119:9 says, “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.” And 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
The Bible equips and strengthens us to do battle with our flesh, the world, and Satan - Ephesians 6:17 says, “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”
The Bible fills us with hope - Romans 15:4 says, “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
The Bible is full of extraordinary promises to the Church - A person would never know or be reminded of the extraordinary promises God has made without reading His Word. Promises about forgiveness, peace, joy, wisdom, and guidance.
So how can you move from making excuses to receiving the benefits of reading God’s Word? I’m glad you asked! We wrote a special post to answer just that question and it contains easy to follow steps to help you be more consistent and get more out of your time in God’s Word.
How to Celebrate the Resurrection of our Savior
Forty days of Lent is drawing to a close; we are walking through Holy Week and are about to arrive at the biggest celebration of the Church Year, Easter Sunday! But Easter isn't just one lone day at the end of weeks of fasting, prayer, and reflection. Easter Sunday kicks off the season of Easter, which lasts 50 days until Pentecost Sunday.
In the cycle of the Church Year, seasons of fasting are followed by seasons of feasting. So how can we press into a season of feasting and celebrating our Savior's resurrection for the next 50 days? Here are several ideas; hopefully you can find a couple that will work for you and your family this year!
Easter Sunday
It's a celebration, so let's party! A party looks different depending on the person, house and family you come from, but a party usually incorporates the five senses. There might be music, some fun activities, almost always good food, and maybe even some decorations. Think about how you want to celebrate Christ's resurrection tomorrow; maybe it's a playlist of Easter worship and hymns that you put on first thing in the morning, or your grandma's famous coffee cake for breakfast. It might be a special meal for dinner, or a banner that says "He is Risen!" You might want to fill your house with Easter lilies, yellow daffodils and pink tulips. Of all the days to go all out on a celebration, Resurrection Sunday is the day!
Even though we will be in our homes for worship services this year, we can still continue the sense of celebration by dressing up in our Easter best. If you have something white, you might want to wear it to remind yourself of your baptism and the new life we have in Christ!
The Week Following Easter
We can keep following Jesus' footsteps even beyond Holy Week. Here are two recommendations for you to try sometime during the week after Easter Sunday:
1. Fish for Breakfast
Read the beautiful story in John 21, where Jesus appears to the disciples and makes them fish and bread for breakfast. Yes, the resurrected Christ cooks breakfast for a bunch of fishermen! After you read this passage, go ahead and eat some fish for breakfast! Baked white fish with eggs and toast could be a place to start, but if you have a fire pit, wrap some fish in foil and make it really authentic. Or if fish for breakfast just isn't your thing, try going fishing after reading this passage.
2. Take an "Emmaus Walk"
Read Luke 24:13-35, and then take a walk with a neighbor, friend or your family and discuss a topic from Scripture, or talk about what it would have been like to be these followers of Jesus having this conversation on the road.
The Season of Easter
Here are some ideas for keeping the joy and celebration of the resurrection before us in the 50 days of Eastertide:
1. Listen to Easter music.
Use a playlist like this one or pick a different Easter hymn/song to learn each week during this season. You could sing this song every morning after breakfast or each night after dinner.
2. Keep your Easter decor up until Pentecost.
If you have a cross you could drape it with a white cloth, or maybe you want to make or purchase a special sign or banner that says," He Lives!" or "He is Risen!" to keep out during the season of Easter.
3. Party every week!
Pick a certain day of the week and plan a party on that day every week of Eastertide! It doesn't have to be complicated-you could have a Blue Bell ice cream party, a water balloon party, an Easter music jam session (if you're the musical type!), a game of hide and seek (read John 20:19 and talk about how the disciples went into hiding after Jesus' crucifixion), or a movie night (Maybe something like Ben Hur (1959) or Jesus of Nazareth (1977), or another family favorite. Be sure to preview before showing to your kids!).
4. Make or buy a special candle to remind you of the resurrection, and light it at breakfast or dinner each day during the season of Easter. Try this DIY idea.
5. Join Natalie every Monday of Eastertide for an Easter themed children's book read aloud on our YouTube channel:
The Feast of Epiphany
Epipha-what?
Epiphany, January 6, is the official end of the 12 days of Christmas. Many Christians celebrate this day by remembering the journey of the Magi who found their way to Jesus by following a bright heavenly body, usually represented by a star.
Epiphany means "revealing" or "manifestation" and historically was one of the three great feasts of the Church (Epiphany, Easter, and Pentacost). Originally, Epiphany (Jan 6th) was what Christmas (Dec 25th) is for us today, the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Today we retain both celebrations, with Christmas focusing on the birth of Jesus, and Epiphany focusing on the work of Jesus as the Light of the world. As with Christmas which is celebrated on a single day but also has a "season" following it (12 Days of Christmas), so Epiphany is celebrated on January 6th and has a season following it that runs until Lent begins, usually 5-9 weeks depending upon where Easter falls.
The major texts we tend to meditate upon during this season are the visitation of the magi, the baptism of Jesus, and the first miracle of Jesus turning water into wine. All of these events reveal who Jesus is as King of Kings, Son of God, and all-powerful. Each year as we read these events from Scripture, we are invited to experience anew the epiphany of Christ’ identity.
2 Timothy 1:9-10, “Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,”
Epiphany is a time of great celebration and rejoicing. During Advent we spent four weeks waiting and anticipating the coming King, Christmas we celebrated his arrival and birth, and Epiphany we continue that rejoicing as we see Him manifest Himself as God and Savior.
Here are a few ways you can celebrate Epiphany with your family:
1) Chalk your Front Door with an Epiphany house blessing.
2. Have your kids make King crowns from craft paper
3) Bake a Kings Cake (Many bake a small figurine/toy baby into the cake to be discovered just as the magi discovered Jesus)
4. Save one Christmas gift for each child to be opened on Epiphany.
5. Break out the telescope for stargazing or visit an observatory.
6. Listen to some Epiphany music.
Prayer for Epiphany
O God, by the leading of a star You made known Your only-begotten Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
A blessed Epiphany to you and your family!