Devotional Thoughts, Part 2 March 7, 2008
Posted by Rev. Jared Tucher in Catechism, Devotion.add a comment
The following comes from Section 3 of Luther’s Small Catechism: Table of Duties
What the Hearers Owe Their Pastors
The Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. — 1 Cor. 9:14
Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he
sows. — Gal. 6:6-7
The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his
wages.” — 1 Tim. 5:17-18
We ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. — 1 Thess. 5:12-13
Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. — Heb. 13:17
Devotional Thoughts, Part 1 March 7, 2008
Posted by Rev. Jared Tucher in Catechism, Devotion.add a comment
The following comes from Section 3 of Luther’s Small Catechism: Table of Duties
To Bishops, Pastors, and Preachers
The overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. — 1 Tim. 3:2-4
He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. — 1 Tim. 3:6
He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. — Titus 1:9
Luther and the First Article December 20, 2007
Posted by Rev. Jared Tucher in Catechism.add a comment
Last night in our Elders meeting, we read in Luther’s Large Catechism the First Article. (LLC II:20-21)
“I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.”
It would take many words to describe in detail how few there are who believe this article. For all of us skim over it, hear it, and recite it without recognizing and considering what duty and privilege this article lays upon us. If we could believe it with our whole heart, then we would also act accordingly and would not so proudly strut about, insolently pluming ourselves as though we ourselves had produced our life, wealth, power, honor, and the like, and as though others must therefore fear and serve us. This the world’s perverse, wicked way; drowned in its blindness, it misused all the good gifts of God solely to serve its pride, greed, pleasure, and enjoyment, not even giving God so much as a thought, a word of thanks, or an acknowledgement that He is Lord and Creator.
How appropriate is it now, as we celebrate our Savior’s birth?
The Eighth Commandment July 3, 2007
Posted by Rev. Jared Tucher in Catechism.add a comment
A couple of weeks ago during our Elder’s meeting, we were reading what Luther wrote regarding the Eighth Commandment in his Large Catechism. Below is a great quote talking about sin and gossip.
Therefore, in order to avoid such habitual sinning with the tongue, we should note that no one has authority publicly to judge and reprove his neighbor, not even if he has seen him commit a sin, unless he has specifically been given the authority to judge and reprove. For there is indeed a great difference between these two: judging a sin and knowing about a sin. Knowing about a sin does not involve the right to sit in judgment on it. I am of course able to see and hear my neighbor sinning, but I have no business reporting it all around town. If I poke my nose in and judge and condemn, then I fall into a worse sin than his. So when you get to know about a sin, let your ear become its grave and shovel the dirt in on top of it and do not resurrect it until the day you are appointed judge and thus have the duty to administer punishment by virtue of your office.
It’s a very good quote. All too often, we are quick to start the rumor mill about so-and-so and what they’re doing (or not doing). I wonder what we would be like if we did as Luther said and just bury all that we hear regarding a person’s sin and not spread the gossip fire…
