1 Corinthians: Church's Worship

The Word of the Cross is 

the basis for Church's worship

text: 1 Corinthians 10 – 14

Outline:
Introduction: 10:1-14, Wilderness example for our instruction.

Part I: Lord's Supper

A. 10:15-22, Cup of blessing and Bread of breaking

  B. 10:23-32, Private dinner

  B'. 11:1-16, Private apparel

A'. 11:17-32, Eating of the Bread and drinking of the Cup.

Conclusion 1: 11:33-34, when you come together...

Part II: Spiritual gifts:

A. 12:1-11, Spiritual gifts

  B. 12:12-31, usage gifts in the Church

  B.' 13:1-13, Love of Christ as the foundation for the gifts

A'. 14:1-25, Usage of two particular gifts: tongues and prophecy

Conclusion 2: 14:26-40, when you come together...

Comments: St. Paul begins with examples of Wilderness experience. He starts with Crossing of the Red Sea. Then he follows up with reminding them of idolatry by the Golden Calf (v. 7 – Exodus 32:6). And concludes with the reference to the Bronze Serpent incident (Numbers 21:4-9). All of these happened to them – it is a historic reality. At the same time, the apostle uses these examples to show how we should interpret the Scriptures seeing the past as a lesson for our growth.

Romans: Love One Another

Love one another

Text: Romans 13:8-14

Structure:

A. 13:8-10, don’t commit adultery 

  B. 13:11a, it is the hour

    C. 13:11b, our salvation is nearer than we first believed

  B’. 13:12-13a, the day is at hand; description of the day

A’. 13:13b-14, no orgies and drunkenness

Commentary:

St. Paul begins with an exhortation to love one another. He leaves no room for modern misgivings of psychoanalysis. Even Eric Berne’s ideas of transactional analysis are brought to an ultimate paradigm: regardless of a role one plays (parent, adult, or child), love is the approach a Christian wants to use in any circumstances. He supports his point by referring to the foundation core of Torah: even the Second tablet of 10 Commandments is based on love (Leviticus 19:18). IN our current culture, though, “love” is a difficult term to interpret – not every sexual or emotional desire IS love. Every time we see love we need to think about God’s expression of love on the Cross paying for the SINS of the world. Also, love should not become a tool/means to “climb a stairway to heaven.” We don’t earn God’s grace by loving our neighbor, we love our neighbor because we were loves by God, forgiven, and given grace.    

Jesus uses “the hour” metaphor in the Gospel of John (John 2:4; 4:21,23; 5:25,28 etc.). It is this decisive moment! Then beginning with chapter 12 He says that the hour has come (12:23,27,13:1 etc.) – for the history of the world came to the Passion Week. Using same paradigm the apostle applies “the hour” as a reference point in one’s life when it is time to “awake from sleep.” (13:11). He speaks in a similar term in his Letter to Ephesians (5:14). One of the possible reasons is the fact that God has a limit on His patience – at some point He leave sinners to their own sins (see, Romans 1:18-32, note how St. Paul uses “God gave them up” twice, v. 24 and 26).      

The central point for this block is the statement that Salvation is nearer. It can be understood in three ways (not self-exclusive). (1) It is nearer (easier to access) for the Gentiles; (2) it is at closest proximity and is available because Messiah has come; (3) regardless of the fact that the date for the return Christ is unknown, we are closer to it. First, prior to the Nativity Gentiles could be in relationship with God on two levels: fully convert and become Jewish (losing their Gentile identity) or being a God-fearer but this meant inability to participate at the Passover Table (which was foundational for the liturgical life under the Old Testament regulations). Now, as Paul argued above (chapter 4 – discussion of righteousness by faith exemplified in Abraham), faith gives an access to God for everyone: both Jew and Gentile alike.

Second, before Jesus came into this world, the people of God had to wait for the fulfillment of the promises. Since Jesus fulfilled all the prophecies and promises of OT Scripture, those who live after the first Christmas, can have an instant complete forgiveness and reconciliation with God (2 Cor. 5:19).

Third, even though there many arguments about the Second Coming of Christ and some groups want to base their theology of their precise prediction, we understand and confess that it will happen (sooner or later). Therefore, historically, we are closer/nearer to this moment day after day.           

Day vs. night – two aspects: moral and typological. On one hand, he brings moral examples of “night-type” behavior (see a parallel in Colossians 3:5-9). It’s an important to learn this “visual” for our conduct. On the other hand, we can read it typological: before the SUN of righteousness came into the world, it was “night” time of God’s creation (Malachi 4:1-2). At the initial creation God sets the model: there was evening, there was morning (see Genesis 1:5 etc.). Therefore, life under the institutions of the Old Covenant was a nightshift. A parade example of this we can see in John 3, visit of Nicodemus. Now, with Jesus we have the Day, or [at least] a Dawn, with the Day reaching the full strength at His Second Coming.   

ROMANS: New life in Christ

 After discussing the justification of Jews and Gentiles, solving the challenge through the statement of unity – image of one tree. All can find a blessing in faith. Now, St. Paul leads to the depiction of the new life under grace [chapters 12-14] – juxtaposition to life under sin (see Introduction).

Text: Romans 12

Structure:

a. 12:1-2, what is good, pleasing, and perfect.

  b. 12:3-5, don’t think more highly than one ought to think

    c. 12:6-8, examples of righteousness behavior 

      d. 12:9-10a, love one another

    c’. 12:10b-15, contribute to the need, hospitality

  b’. 12:16-18, don’t be wise in your own estimation

a’. 12:19-21, conquer evil with good.

Comments:

a. vv. 1-2, St. Paul begins with a liturgical statement – we bring our bodies into a living sacrifice. The purpose of that sacrifice is to determine the will of God, which is:

Good – fitting or useful

Acceptable or pleasing, pleasant

Perfect or complete, reaching the goal. 

There are two ways to understand “living sacrifice” (v. 1): figural/liturgical – we bring ourselves to God, go down (in confession) and up (in absolution), then are transformed, equipped to present ourselves to meet with Him in Holy Eucharist.

At the same time, St. Paul experienced many life-threats, literally – see Acts 23:12-15.

Also, we need to notice a parallel with an idea of St. Peter (1 Peter 2:4-5). He adds to the idea of the Temple and us as living stones.   

b. vv. 3-5, The paragraph begins with a sobering statement that we need to understand our limits, which leads to acceptance of gifts/functions. Unity in Christ supersedes the ambitions of each person.    

c. vv. 6-8, Now we come to the list of gifts (given by grace):

1. prophecy – proportion to our faith (prophecy is not an ability of predicting the future, is a ministry of proclamation of the Word).

2. service – in our service (diakonia). It is not worship service (like v. 2), ministry of the church to the needy (see Acts 6, selection of deacons).  

3. teaching – in his teaching,  

4. exhortation – in exhortation, to beseech call for comfort, intreat    

5. contributions – in generosity, sincerity (without self-seeking)

6. leading – with zeal, eagerness, diligence   

7. acts of mercy – with cheerfulness

d. vv. 9-10a, Central/pivotal point of the block – love one another.

c’. vv. 10b-15, This love has very obvious “indicators” (it is not just an inner feeling, but actions):

n	Description	n	Description
1	Outdo in showing honor	7	Be constant in prayer
2	Do not be slothful in zeal	8	Contribute to the needs of the saints
3	Be fervent in the spirit	9	Seek to show hospitality
4	Serve the LORD	10	Bless those who persecute you
5	Rejoice in hope	11	Rejoice with those who rejoice
6	Be patient in tribulation	12	weep with those who weep

 

b’, vv. 16-18, Live in harmony with one another and try to be in peace with everyone else, if possible.

a’. vv. 19-21, Last address – beloved – never avenge yourselves. [So, as Jesus said: do not Marvel, Avengers are not good]. St. Paul bases his statement on Deuteronomy 32:35 and Proverbs 25:21-22. In the fight between good -reference to good aspect of God’s will – and evil should be done properly, with good only. 

Psalm 36: Steadfast Love of God

Psalm 36: steadfast love of God

a. v. 1-4, Wicked

  b. v. 5-7, Steadfast love and righteousness

    c. v. 8, River (of God)

    c’. v.9, Fountain of life

  b’. v. 10, steadfast love and righteousness

a’. v.11-12, arrogance and evildoers

 

A. Look at a relatively long description of a wicked guy:

v. 1: [wickedness is] deep in his heart – weeds were not pulled at right time

No fear of God before his eyes. Eyes are “dangerous” in the Bible – see Genesis 3:6, everything begins with seeing the fruit. Also, the fear of God is a healthy respect and awe;

v. 2: He flatters himself – as a result he doesn’t even see where he misses;

v. 3: The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit;

No wise actions and no good conduct;

v. 4: He plots trouble – he plans ahead the evil things.    

B. Four elements of God’s involvements (vv. 5- 6): 

Steadfast love – heavens

Faithfulness – clouds

Righteousness – mountains

Judgements – great deep 

vv. 7. All the aspects of different elements of creation – examples of transcendence

At the same time, there are illustrations of His immanence:

Children of mankind – refuge in the shadow of your wings

C. v. 8, abundant feast in His house + river. See Revelation 21 – New Jerusalem as the Temple and the River flows through

C’. v. 9, the fountain of life – the source of light, in a desert environment “a well” which is dug is a source of life in a very literal sense. 

His light provides us with light – Psalm 119:105. So, the psalmist is not only alive but understand the direction of his way by the light of God, the light of Christ (John 8:12).

B’. v. 10-11, a plea that the steadfast love will protect from the temptation. The Temptations are going to come, and we ask that He keep us protected from the impact of the evil one (Matthew 6:13 – leads to Romans 12:21).

A’. v. 12, the ultimate fate of the evildoers is to fall, unable to rise (see Psalms 1:6 and 146:9).      

Sermon: Lost and found

Date: March 30, 2025                                                                                     text: 2 Cor. 5:16-21

Lk. 15:1-3a; 11-32

Lost and found, Broken and restored (video)

I. The parable of Prodigal Son is so familiar:

Rembrandt, “The Return of the Prodigal Son,” painting 1669. 

Tarkovsky, Movie “Solaris,” 1972.

Even “AChristmas Carol” by Charles Dickens (1843).

It is so familiar that I might need to un-teach some:

It is NOT about the son, any son: younger or older

It is NOT about Jew-Gentile relationship

What is it about? Great love of the Father!  

 

II. A-B-C of Father’s love:

A. Acceptance of younger son’s dumb decision

B. Bold reconciliation – running, forgiving, and reinstalling him as a son

C. Clear reminder to the older son that he is LOVED.

 

III. Take away:

He receives ALL of us (older brothers and younger ones) – for we are miserable sinners, notice the prayer of Confession: We are sinful and unclean. For He became SIN for us, 2 Cor. 5:21. 

When God receives us – sinners – He receives us with great joy, songs, and feast! Isaiah 12:5-6   

SERMONS: Call to LOVE

Call of Love                        

Luke 6:27-38

I. Intro.

Two weeks ago, February 9, 2025, Rev. Dr. Tim Rossow was here, presenting or representing Luther Classical College. During his sermon he lamented the lack of preaching of the LAW in the Lutheran churches.

We can’t change the practices of other congregations. Let’s fix it here at Zion.  

 

II. 17 imperative verbs in our Gospel reading.

For those who hear! Hearing in the Bible is obedience. Not a blind obedience, but obedience to the Word.

Here we have 17 imperative verbs – all of them are a call to action. Do it! 

But the question is – can you? or - can we?

Even most “obvious” one – repeated twice – love your enemies… (v.27 and 35).

 

III. Take away

We are called to love because He loved us first.

Think of the Cross: Jesus is not “pushing back,” Jesus cares for those crucify Him, pleading Father to forgive them for they didn’t know what they were doing.

This love extends from the Cross. He forgives repenting (!) hearts of all times, of all places. He provided the ministry of Confession and Absolution that people would have a chance for forgiveness…

And, when the burden of guilt is lifted up, then we are free to forgive, to love, to bless…

Overview of the Bible: Song of Songs

 

Song of Songs  

Title: Son of Songs or Son of Solomon (1:1)

Date of writing: times of Solomon (around 1000 BC)

Structure: Dorsey, p. 200

a. 1:2 – 2:7, opening words of mutual love and desire

  b. 2:8-17, young man’s invitation to the young woman

    c. 3:1-5, young woman’s nighttime search

      d. 3:6 – 5:1, their wedding day

    c’. 5:2 – 7:10, young woman’s nighttime search 

  b’. 7:11 – 8:4, young woman’s invitation to the young man

a’. 8:5-14, closing words of mutual love and desire

Main themes: Usually, when people think about the Song of Songs, they think of it as a love song. Love – in a biblical sense – is a very important part of the book. Yet, I believe that the main theme is unity. Throughout the whole “performance” He and She are trying nothing else but be together. This togetherness also touches on some other themes – emotions of people, beauty of sexual relations within the married couple, partnership or headship of family dynamics, etc.   

Also, a good thematical starting point is the title – “song”. The book shows that the Gospel message can be presented as a beautiful and enigmatic “opera”, where visual and textual imagery reflect the theme(s) of the production. 

An important level that should not be neglected is eschatological yearning and consummation: already and not ye (1:2-4; 8:13-14).   

Main Characters: He, She, Choir, Robbers. Is “He” Solomon? Who is Shulamite?  

Reflection in other parts of the Bible:

Song of Songs is picking up the theme of marriage started by God’s ordinance during 6^th day of creation (Gen. 1:16-30; 2:18-24).

Song of Songs continue the chain of songs delivered by the prominent women in the Bible. Miriam picks up the song of Moses after the Red Sea crossing (Ex. 15). Deborah sings a song commemorating the victory of God over Canaanites (Judg. 5). Hannah sings a song glorifying God after the birth of Samuel (1 Sam. 2). 

Lutheran teaching:

On one hand The Book of Concord does not have any references to the Son of Songs. On the other, we build our teaching of chastity and purity of pre-marital relationship and marriage on the ideas and images of the Song, as St. Paul does it in his letters to Ephesians (chapter 5).

Also, a great theologian of Lutheran Orthodoxy Johann Gerhard (15-82-1637) in his volume of systematic theology derives a few images of the Church as a Bride of Christ [Christi sponsa] based on the Song of Songs. To name a few (Mitchell, p. 528-530):  

1. “A lily among thorns” (2:2) means that Church is beautiful, and should be separated from the sinful world, but is vulnerable to persecution.

2. the Church is a “dove” (2:14; 5:2; 6:9) and has “the eyes of dove” (1:15; 4:1; 5:12) – Gerhard explains is a sincerity of spirit (Mt. 10:10) and to the appearance of the Spirit in the form of a dove (Mt. 3:16).

3. “Awesome as an army with banners” (6:4,10) – Gerhard uses it to express the idea of the Church militant – the One constantly fighting with satan. Also, regardless of the outward appearance as a disordered crowd, she is an organized by the orders from above.    

Lutheran hymnody:

LSB 525 – “Crown Him with many crowns”

LSB 644 – “The Church’s one foundation”  

Relevancy of the Book:

Seeing images of YHWH and Israel and Christ and the Church in the relationship of Him and Her in the Book, modern reader can have a blessing from the passionate words of the Gospel with which God reaches out to us. The blossoming vineyard of the outreach should spread its branches covering the whole earth with the protective shade of His love, being defendant from foxes of the outer world.      

Memory verses:

8:7: Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised.