Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro

Good morning.

Today is Reformation Day Sunday.

In two days from now, Tuesday, October 31, it will be exactly 500 years since the start of the Protestant Reformation.

For on that date in 1517, a monk by the name of Martin Luther posted what would come to be known as the 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenburg, Germany.

These theses, or theological points, that Luther had posted, challenged the established church’s teaching on salvation and eventually led Luther and others like him to rediscover the true Gospel - that a person is not saved by any works of the law or good deeds, but by faith alone.

Originally, the theses were written as a response to the church’s teaching concerning indulgences - the practice of selling slips of paper that guaranteed its purchaser the forgiveness of their own sins, or of the sins another loved one, whether living or deceased.

And when Luther heard that this was being taught - that salvation could be purchased with money, he immediately took a stand with this influential document.

Luther’s original intention was never to split the church, but only to reform it.

But once it became clear to him that the church would not reform, and he was forced to choose between the Word of God and the word of the Pope, he chose the Word of God.

Introduction

In his famous trial in the town of Worms, Germany, when Luther was asked if he would take back everything that he had written, he said these words,

“Since your majesty and your lordships desire a simple reply, I will answer without horns and without teeth.

Unless I am convicted by scripture and plain reason--I do not accept the authority of popes and councils for they have contradicted each other--my conscience is captive to the Word of God.

I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe.

Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise, God help me.

Amen."

And it from this point forward that Martin Luther made it clear that Scripture would be his sole authority for faith and doctrine.

And so, from this conviction came several interlocking principles that became known as the 5 solas of the Reformation:

The Five ‘Solas’ of the Reformation:

Sola Scriptura - “Scripture alone”

Sola Fide - “faith alone”

Sola Gratia - “grace alone”

Solus Christus - “Christ alone”

Soli Deo Gloria - “to the glory of God alone”

Our source of authority is found in Scripture alone.

And from that Scripture we find that salvation comes by faith alone, through grace alone, in Christ alone.

And everything that we do in life should be to the glory of God alone.

For this morning, I was trying to think of how we can best remember the legacy of the Protestant Reformation.

Here is one idea:

Show image of article

An article from the satirical website, The Babylon Bee, features this title: “Wife Of Protestant Asks Him To Please Stop Nailing Grocery List To Front Door”.

The article says, “Reminding him that it was the third time he’s done it, the wife of local Protestant Steve Carey asked him Tuesday to please stop nailing the grocery list to the front door of their home, sources confirmed.

“Seriously, babe, why can’t you just stick it on the fridge with a magnet like a normal person?”

she pleaded with Carey as he stood defiantly… “It’s damaging the door.

Front doors are really expensive,” she added.

“It’s not like it’s some important document.

It’s a grocery list!

You are not Martin Luther, dear!”

“Seriously, babe, why can’t you just stick it on the fridge with a magnet like a normal person?”

she pleaded with Carey as he stood defiantly.

“Or hey—you could put it on the cork board with a thumb tack.

That’s almost the same as nailing it to the door—would that work for you?”

“Hun, it’s damaging the door.

Front doors are really expensive,” she added.

“It’s not like it’s some important document.

It’s a grocery list!

You are not Martin Luther, dear!”

Still, Carey refused to budge.

“Here I stand,” came his reply.

Still, Carey refused to budge.

“Here I stand,” came his reply.

Of course, that article is purely satire - not real at all.

But maybe that is not the best way to celebrate the Protestant Reformation today.

Our Focus Today - Justification By Faith

No, on a more serious note, I thought that perhaps a better way to honor the legacy of the Reformation would be for us to be reminded of one its greatest tenant - that a person is justified by faith alone.

This is near and dear to my heart, because it was the point that caused me, at age 18 to go from being a very religious, but very lost teenager, to a forgiven and adopted child of God.

In my younger years I assumed that if I did enough good things, and went to church faithfully, that God would allow me into heaven, simply on the basis of my goodness.

But on the night of July 4, 1999, I came to realize that I would never be good enough to merit heaven.

And by God’s grace, he imparted faith to me.

And when I believed - really truly believed for the first time, in Jesus as my Lord, God justified me.

He declared me not guilty.

He made a declaration on my heart - and said, ‘he is mine.’

And he set me free.

That is why the doctrine of justification by faith is so precious to me.

Now we could go to a number of familiar texts if we wanted to study this topic.

We already read from in the beginning of our service which says.

or, we could go to -26 which says,

or, we could read

Those are all central texts.

Worthy of memorization.

But today, I would like to look at example of this principle at work, in the ministry of Jesus.

And in doing so, we won’t just be seeing justification as a doctrine on paper, but my hope is that you will see how it transforms lives.

Our Passage for Today - Luke 7:36-40

In our passage before us, , we have a woman who was a great sinner.

And according to the religious leaders of her day, she had no business being anywhere near God’s people or having any hint of the mercies of God.

Yet she falls down at Jesus’ feet, in despair, yet as an unwelcome guest.

What will happen to her?

With that introduction, I’d like to have Mike come forward and read the passage to us.

Mike reads

We have two weeks left in our study of the Parables - this week and next.

I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have.

Today we are going to talk about forgiveness and our gratitude toward God.

And our text is .

Here we are going to read about how Jesus was invited into the home of a Pharisee, and while he was there, a woman came and wept bitterly at his feet.

The Pharisee saw this and was repulsed, but Jesus told a parable to illustrate that what she was doing was really true worship, that was sourced in her humility and repentance.

And we’ll see what lessons God would have us to learn through this parable.

Again, our text is .

Like we normally do, we will break this up into sections.

Good morning.

We have two weeks left in our study of the Parables - this week and next.

I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have.

Today we are going to talk about forgiveness and our gratitude toward God.

And our text is .

Here we are going to read about how Jesus was invited into the home of a Pharisee, and while he was there, a woman came and wept bitterly at his feet.

The Pharisee saw this and was repulsed, but Jesus told a parable to illustrate that what she was doing was really true worship, that was sourced in her humility and repentence.

And we’ll see what lessons God would have us to learn through this parable.

Again, our text is .

Like we normally do, we will break this up into sections.

First we have the event described (the setting), in verses 36-38.