Sermons on Lutheran Theology
Thunderstorm
Thunderstorm Have you ever been in a thunderstorm that was so bad that you thought this could be the day that your journey on this world ends? The weather in Germany is usually quite moderate, but sometimes the weather makes up for the usually good behavior. And then it feels like an angry deity is throwing around thunderbolts. They often hit old trees and split them apart with a force that was unknown to medieval people before humans started experimenting…
The Blind Beggar’s Faith – Mark 10: 46-52
The Blind Beggar’s Faith – Mark 10: 46-52 In the Gospel Story today, Jesus heals Bartimaeus on the spot with the words; “Your faith has made you well.” Do you sometimes feel pressure, when you read a healing story like this? I do. What if I need urgent healing, and my faith is not strong enough to initiate the mystery of healing? It was good for my soul to review some of Luther’s writings in this respect this month! In…
The Three Treatises of 1520 that Split the Church – Mark 10: 35-45
The Three Treatises of 1520 that Split the Church – Mark 10: 35-45 In 1517 Martin Luther nails the 95 theses to the church door. And in 1520 he writes three treatises that blow up the medieval church. In the first Martin Luther writes his address to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation. It’s an all-out attack on all that the pope and the church hold dear. They hide from reform behind three symbolic walls. The next treatise that…
Fear of Death
Fear of Death – Matthew 24:36-44 The fear of death is the most primordial fear of the human race. Death is a mystery. We know the consequences that death will have for our bodies when our biological clock stops ticking. We can be as intellectual as we want, we can be highly spiritual people, but what defines us most are our bodies. We don’t have bodies, we are our bodies. We exist in the rhythm of our physiology. And when…
The Theology of the Cross
The Theology of the Cross – Luke 23:33-43 Power Hidden in Weakness In my last two sermons, I examined Martin Luther’s take on government responsibility for the wellbeing of all citizens, the institution of the ‘Common Chest’. I also spoke about Luther’s discernment of what constitutes a ‘just war’, namely only the defense of our neighbor. This Sunday, I will conclude this mini series with a closer look on Luther’s Theology of the Cross. Luther believes that human nature tends…
The Common Chest
The Common Chest – Romans 3:28 Reformation Theology and the Welfare State Confronted with injustices connected to emerging capitalism, Luther and the reformers partnered with the government on all levels to build a reliable welfare system. The Common Chest, implemented in the law of Wittenberg in 1522 provided, for example, interest free loans to artisans and newcomers, and re-financing of high-interest loans for burdened citizens; shelter, clothing, nourishment and food for poor orphans and the children of poor people; it…
What should I do to inherit eternal life?
What should I do to inherit eternal life? What should I do to inherit eternal life? This question has been in the hearts and minds of many people of faith over the centuries. No wonder, that when we hear it, we immediately start pondering: Yes, what should I do? In this sermon, I will examine this question from the perspective of Lutheran theology. We will look into the concept of sin as a condition of life, and of grace as…