Minkota Mission District – NALC

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1 Timothy 1:15-19a

From the Confessions: The Defense of the Augsburg Confession

Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law 

Augustine says, “The question is, where is the Church? What, therefore, are we to do? Are we to seek it in our own words or in the words of its Head, our Lord Jesus Christ? I think that we ought to seek it in the words of him who is Truth, and who knows his own Body best.” Therefore the judgments of our adversaries will not disturb us since they defend human opinions contrary to the gospel, contrary to the authority of the holy Fathers, who have written in the Church, and contrary to the testimonies of godly minds.

Pulling It Together: Jesus did not come into the world to teach sinners how to save themselves. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” We call him Savior, for he alone is the one who saves sinners. That is the truth, for he is the Truth (John 14:6). There will always be those who say we must do this or that in order to be reconciled to God and saved to life eternal. But there is only one who has the words of eternal life (John 6:68). Let us turn to him for the truth, for he is the Way to eternal life. Christ Jesus is the only God, the King of the Ages. He is the Life; to whom could we go but to him? Hold fast with faith, believing in Christ alone for eternal life.

Prayer: Unto you alone, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. Amen.

How to be a Disciple is a six-part series of dramas featuring the first twelve disciples, each exploring a piece of the discipleship puzzle. The disciples are placed in a light-hearted contemporary setting, helping listeners to get a sense for the down-to-earth interplay between personalities. The progression of the series is meant to provide the larger picture of what discipleship means. (Two to five characters per drama.)

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From the Word: 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness of me. 26 But you do not believe because you are not of my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life; and they shall never die; and no one shall snatch them from my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them from the Father’s hand.” (John 10:25-28)

From the Confessions: The Defense of the Augsburg Confession

Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law 

One may ascertain from their spirit an unheard of cruelty, which up until now they have plainly expressed toward faithful people. We have heard in this assembly when opinions concerning our Confession were expressed, that a reverend father said in the imperial senate that no plan seemed better to him than to make a reply written in blood to the Confession which we had presented written in ink. Could Phalaris say anything more cruel? Some princes have also regarded this expression as unworthy to be spoken in such a meeting. So, although the adversaries claim for themselves the name of the Church, we know that the Church of Christ is with those who teach the Gospel of Christ. It is not with those who defend wicked opinions that are contrary to the Gospel. The Lord says, “My sheep hear my voice” (John 10:27).

Pulling It Together: There is nothing more cruel than to claim that faith does not save. Declaring that a Christian’s deeds are required for justification and salvation both denies Christ and leaves the believer in despair. So let us proclaim Christ, since there is nothing to be done about this bondage to sin than to be led out of Egypt. We are not called to stay in the house of slavery, working harder to free ourselves. We distance ourselves from the taskmaster and learn the ways of the Lord in the wilderness. Faith follows the voice of the Good Shepherd into the wild where it too is proved like the Lord was tested. Jesus was tempted to trust in false promises and works but he prevailed each time with the claim of faith: “It is written” (Matt 4:1-11). We too must hear his voice in the Word, trusting his promise instead of our works. 

Prayer: Lord, increase my faith in you alone. Amen.

Developed and used by Pastor Fred Baltz in his church in Galena, Illinois, The Invitation Project is a congregational resource book describing how a parish can host an “invite-able” event. Using a practical, step-by-step “how to” approach, this book provides guidance, organization, and ideas, not simply to promote a single program of outreach, but to develop and inspire the overall outreach efforts of the congregation. 

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John 20:19-23

From the Confessions: The Defense of the Augsburg Confession

Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law 

Now in this assembly, the authors of the Confutation have condemned with clear words the confession that faith is a part of repentance, by which we obtain forgiveness of sins, overcome the terrors of sin, and the conscience knows peace. Who does not see that this article—that by faith we obtain the forgiveness of sins—is most true, certain, and necessary for all Christians? Who in future generations, hearing that such a doctrine has been condemned, would guess that the authors of the condemnation had any knowledge of Christ?

Pulling It Together

The disciples were in hiding, very likely imagining that they were next, that the authorities would come for them too. They had crucified the Lord; what would they do to his followers? There would have been nothing the disciples could have done to alleviate their anxiety. The best they could do was be together, hiding behind locked doors. This is when Jesus comes to those of faith. He gathers with us in the midst of our fears, and speaks words of promise. “Peace be with you.” Faith believes his word and is revived.

Prayer: Breathe on me, O Breath of God, that I may do your will. Amen.

A Latin phrase meaning “Scripture Alone,” Sola Scriptura is one of the traditional Lutheran slogans used since the time of the Reformation. It expresses our confession that Scripture is “the only rule and norm according to which all doctrines and teachers alike must be appraised and judged.” Using the familiar phrase as its title, Sola Scriptura is an advanced-level Bible Study in a two-part series, of six chapters each, on the functional authority of Scripture. For those who would like to cover the topic in detail, there is enough material to cover one chapter in two sessions, making each part a 12-week study.

Part 1 Leader's Guide  •  Part 2 Participant Book  •  Part 2 Leader's Guide

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Matthew 16:15-19

From the Confessions: The Defense of the Augsburg Confession

Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law 

May faithful minds not be troubled by all those who condemn our teaching. Our opponents’ spirit can be easily judged since in some doctrines they have condemned truth that is so clear and plain that their godlessness openly appears. The bull of Leo X condemned a very necessary teaching, which all Christians should hold and believe, namely, that we ought to trust that we have been absolved because of Christ’s word, not because of our contrition. “Whatever you bind on earth” etc. (Matt 16:19).

Pulling It Together: Who do you say that Jesus is? If your confession is that he is “the Christ, the Son of the Living God,” you are blessed. God has revealed to you truth so deep that all of human reason cannot plumb. The mind alone cannot fathom that God forgives our sins for the sake of Christ alone. Surely, it is thought, there must be something we must do. This is the seed of religion and heresy, for faith knows that we can do nothing. We confess that Christ has done it all, that we are saved by his one work on the cross, not by our deeds. This is how one Christian is able to absolve another—not by the accumulation of religious works, but simply and clearly through confident faith in the finished work of Christ.

Prayer: I confess, Lord Jesus, that you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Amen.

The Spiritual Realms is a nine-session Bible Study series on Heaven and Hell and places beyond this world. Specifically, the study looks at the many “place names” that are found throughout Scripture, referring to spiritual realms of existence that underlie and comprise the universe God created. This Bible Study series is a challenging one, in that it explores realities of existence beyond what we know and experience everyday.

The study not only addresses matters of life, death, heaven and hell, it steadfastly affirms that Jesus Christ is at the center of all these things. Our ultimate faith and hope rest in Christ’s death and resurrection for our sake. We live in faith by the biblical promise that: “God raised the Lord, and will also raise us up by his power.” (1 Cor 6:14)

Leader's Guide

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Galatians 4:9-11

From the Confessions: The Defense of the Augsburg Confession

Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law 

Moreover, Scripture has predicted that the righteousness of faith would be obscured in this way by human traditions and the doctrine of works. Therefore, Paul often complains (Gal 4:9; 5:7; Col 2:8, 16-17; 1 Tim 4:2-3) that even at that time there were those who, instead of the righteousness of faith, taught that men were reconciled to God and justified by their own works and own acts of worship, and not by faith for Christ’s sake. By nature, people think that God ought to be appeased by works.

Reason only sees a righteousness of the law, understanding it in a civic sense. Accordingly, there have always existed in the world some who have only taught this carnal righteousness, to the exclusion of the righteousness of faith. Such teachers will always exist. The same happened among the people of Israel. The greater part of the people thought that they merited remission of sins by their works, accumulating sacrifices and acts of worship. The prophets, contrary to and in condemnation of this opinion, taught the righteousness of faith. The occurrences among the people of Israel are illustrations of those things which would occur in the Church.

Pulling It Together: It is human nature to imagine that we can buy our way out of problems. The person caught speeding, therefore, pays the court to keep the offense off the books so that insurance rates will not increase. So, when we sin, we naturally think that we can cover our offenses with good works and sacrifices. There is only one sacrifice that satisfies the Father. Our task, if we may call it a task, is to trust Christ, who is our sacrifice (Heb 10:10). There is nothing we can do; there is no buying out the judge. We are guilty. Yet if we know God, indeed, if we have been known by God, we need not go back to the old ways of paying for our sins. For Christ has paid the price for our sin (1 Cor 6:20)—once and for all (1 Pet 3:18).

Prayer: Knowing you, O Word of Truth, help me to trust in your forgiveness of sin. Amen.

Not My Will, But Yours is a six-week study that explores the topic of the “free will” from a biblical perspective, looking at what Scripture has to say about the bondage of the human will, and how Jesus Christ has come to deliver us from ourselves.

Leader's Guide

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2 Timothy 2:8–13

From the Confessions: The Defense of the Augsburg Confession

Concerning Love and the Fulfilling of the Law 

The Scriptures, the holy Fathers, and the judgments of all the godly everywhere reply. Though popes, or some theologians, and monks in the Church have taught us to seek remission of sins, grace, and righteousness through our own works, and to invent new forms of worship which have obscured the office of Christ, and have made out of Christ not a propitiator and justifier, but only a legislator, nevertheless the knowledge of Christ has always remained with some faithful people.

Pulling It Together: Let us continue to keep Christ at the center of all things. The promised Messiah, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin from the lineage of kings, suffered, was crucified and buried for our sins. That is the condition in which we would remain if Christ stayed in the tomb. Because he rose from the dead, we who are baptized into his death (Rom 6:3) will also rise with him to new life. The Scripture and even the creeds profess the work of Christ as central to salvation, and make no mention of our own works saving us. He is our justification and salvation (Rom 4:25). Though we fail him and continue to sin—for as long as we are in this mortal flesh, sin will continue—he remains faithful. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). So let us keep good works out of the matter of justification and salvation, keeping our faith in Christ alone.

Prayer: Help me to keep faith in you, faithful God, until the last day. Amen.

The Cross and the Crown is an eight session study in Lutheran Basics, using the word "sola" to get the big picture right: that salvation is all God's doing.