tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978485750390455025.post8419547884423024273..comments2023-05-25T07:17:05.918-04:00Comments on Abide in My Word: Then, I Shut UpRev. Thomas C. Messer, SSPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13740553600700598394noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978485750390455025.post-6927182040020316932013-04-23T18:09:36.721-04:002013-04-23T18:09:36.721-04:00I don't know that I've read people saying ...I don't know that I've read people saying lately that it is a bad thing to stop a sermon after the Gospel, or that NOT ending with exhortation will lead to "cheap grace." All I've seen is what Nathan points out: insisting that all sermons should follow this format is akin to dismissing a significant portion of historic Lutheran preaching.Kelly Klageshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05183748589797441794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978485750390455025.post-40772516855446264382013-04-23T15:06:41.468-04:002013-04-23T15:06:41.468-04:00Hello!
I enjoyed your post. Thank you for taking ...Hello!<br /><br />I enjoyed your post. Thank you for taking the time to write it, and for being prudent in the preaching and distinction of law and gospel.<br /><br />I have a couple questions, but I don't want it to be misconstrued or misunderstood. I agree with you that the preaching of the law kills, no matter when it happens, or what "use" was intended. All three "uses" of the Law kill, regardless of how they are flavored by contemporary piety.<br /><br />I have two questions.<br />1) If the Law-Gospel-Law sequence is vulnerable to a confusion of/improper distinction between Law and Gospel, is the Law-Gospel-ShutUp sequence vulnerable to antinomianism?<br /><br />2) What sequence do St. Paul's epistles follow? Law-Gospel-Law? Law-Gospel-vocation? Law-Gospel-(do NOT go on sinning that grace may abound)? Why is it that Paul seems to end his letters with exhortations to living according to one's vocation, submit to authorities, etc.?<br /><br />Again, I'm not challenging your point. Prudent preachers ought to rightly divide the Word, lest they lead someone to trust in their own efforts. Thanks for your time, (although I bet your congregation gets a good chunk of it first. which is meet, right, and proper.)teacon7https://www.blogger.com/profile/13495085595176889318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978485750390455025.post-80796439663820548362013-04-23T14:32:12.311-04:002013-04-23T14:32:12.311-04:00Pastor Messer,
I think sermons like that are grea...Pastor Messer,<br /><br />I think sermons like that are great. Some are very effective. I think about the hum-dinger that was given at the BJS conference this past year. Wow.<br /><br />That said, the problem I have is insisting that this is the way all sermons should look. Now, if you are doing "how to" stuff all the time that is a problem - especially if the end goal is your best life now! : ) <br /><br />That said, what about all those sermons from the greats in the early church - they don't follow the L-G pattern, even if many of them certainly "breathe the Gospel". What about Luther's sermons? I don't know if any of his follow the pattern you've put forth. <br /><br />Further, I acknowledge that the person who seeks to justify himself by his works needs Law full force. That said, when Jesus says "be perfect...." look at the context of that. Just as he did not mean for those words to condemn, the pastor can mean for words of law not to condemn as well (putting it in certain contexts) even as yes, our old man will always rebel against the law, try to keep it for salvation, despair trying, etc.<br /><br />But we are new men also who delight in the law and delight in reminders of the law. <br /><br />And we are eager to love God and neighbor more - to grow. Because we are Christians.<br /><br />Love in Christ, <br /><br />+Nathan Nathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18235437889789484774noreply@blogger.com