Remain Faithful
Notes
Transcript
Introduction- Martin’s & Katharina’s Marriage of Conviction & Convenience
Introduction- Martin’s & Katharina’s Marriage of Conviction & Convenience
Michelle DeRusha writes in her book 50 Women Every Christian Should Know
The Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard once noted that Martin Luther might as well have married a wood plank. His point was that the famed leader of the Protestant Reformation had married Katharina von Bora for one reason only: to prove that he condoned clerical marriage. Katharina, according to Kierkegaard, was but one tiny plank in Luther’s Reformation platform.1
A closer look at Katharina’s life and personality, however, reveals a deeper story. After all, Katharina was a nun who courageously abandoned the convent during one of the most tumultuous periods in Christian history. She was a woman who risked marrying one of the most controversial men of the time—a man who could have very likely been burned as a heretic at any given moment. She was a woman who raised six children; ran a boardinghouse; oversaw a working farm complete with fruit orchards, livestock, and a fish pond; and advised and cared for her husband, who was prone to illness and bouts of depression.
Far from a mere plank in her husband’s platform, Katharina von Bora was an integral part of the entire foundation.
Luther felt responsible for these women and worked diligently to find appropriate homes for them. Several of the former nuns returned to their families, one took a teaching job, and the remaining women were married—with the exception of Katharina. After two years and two failed engagements, Katharina finally suggested to Luther that he marry her himself.
Their marriage was nothing short of scandalous at the time. Katharina, though she’d fled the convent, was, for all intents and purposes, a nun, while Luther himself was a monk. Both had taken vows of chastity. The union of a clergyman and a nun was radically revolutionary.
There was also the fact that Luther led a dangerous life. He was honest with his wife from the start, stating matter-of-factly that if he were burned as a heretic, she would likely receive the same punishment.
And then there was the age difference to consider—with nearly twenty years between them, Katharina was aware that she would likely be left a widow, even if her husband didn’t die prematurely as a religious heretic. In short, marrying Martin Luther in 1525 was not only a radical, controversial, history-altering decision on Katharina’s part, it was also a courageous one.
The union may have begun as one of conviction and convenience, but over time it grew into a marriage of mutual respect, admiration, and love for both husband and wife. Katharina affectionately referred to Luther as “Doctor,” and his letters to her are peppered with pet names, including “Kitty, my rib” and “Selbander,” which is German for “better half.” He also called her “My Lady,” “My Lord,” and, tongue-in-cheek, “Kette,” which is German for “chains” and a pun on her name.
Although Katharina and Luther shared a mutual respect and love, Katharina was also not afraid to engage in theological and political discussions with her husband and to challenge him when necessary. His colleagues, knowing how persuasive she could be, often enlisted Katharina to convince Luther of a particular action or response. And she was stubborn as well. When Luther insisted that she read the Bible cover to cover, she finally retorted, “I’ve read enough. I’ve heard enough. I know enough. Would to God I lived it.”
Transition To Body- Apostle John’s Holy Spirit Filled words of encouragement
Transition To Body- Apostle John’s Holy Spirit Filled words of encouragement
to a growing & maturing church: the elect lady & her children who know the truth but to live out the truth in love
1 The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth,
2 because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:
3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.
Body
Body
Celebrate Our New Members’ Faithfulnessqqqqqqqqqqqqqolhoq
Celebrate Our New Members’ Faithfulnessqqqqqqqqqqqqqolhoq
4 I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father.
What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.
20 And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’ ”
21 In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight.
22 And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.
23 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
24 When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
Instead of being critical all the time about the immaturity of some, instead we be rejoicing in the fact that some are walking in the truth
We ought encourage those who are young in Christ- when we rejoice in their walking I. The truth, we encourage them in their faith, in their walk with Jesus Christ
Faithful newer saints encourage the older saints
Faithful newer saints encourage the older saints
6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’
7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ”
Words to Upbuild, Encourage, & console
Words to Upbuild, Encourage, & console
1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.
3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.
Walk Together In Jesus’ Commandments
Walk Together In Jesus’ Commandments
5 And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.
6 And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.
Note the difference in walk in versus walk with- which does the test use?
Love Ought Mark Jesus’ Disciples (Followers)
Love Ought Mark Jesus’ Disciples (Followers)
Illustration: 50/50 Performance Review in Corporate America
50% - what work did you complete
50%- how you completed your work
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
The Way of Love
The Way of Love
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
Remain In-bounds With Christ’s Teaching
Remain In-bounds With Christ’s Teaching
7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.
8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.
9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting,
11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
Jesus Is the True Vine
Jesus Is the True Vine
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Guard Ourselves Against Deceptive Teaching
Guard Ourselves Against Deceptive Teaching
Illustration: Don’t fall for the Okidoke
27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”
28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?”
29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.
40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Transition To Close- When God had to throw the ball inbounds
Transition To Close- When God had to throw the ball inbounds
RULE NO. 8: Out-of-Bounds and Throw-In
Section I—Player
The player is out-of-bounds when he touches the floor or any object on or outside a boundary. For location of a player in the air, his position is that from which he last touched the floor. The last part of the foot/feet which is in contact with the floor on his last step prior to jumping over the midcourt line or three-point line shall determine his location.
Section II—Ball
The ball is out-of-bounds when it touches a player who is out-of-bounds or any other person, the floor, or any object on, above or outside of a boundary or the supports or back of the backboard.
Section III—The Throw-In
Any ball out-of-bounds in a team’s frontcourt or at the midcourt line cannot be passed into the backcourt. On all backcourt and midcourt violations, the ball shall be awarded to the opposing team at the midcourt line, and must be passed into the frontcourt.
EXCEPTION: During the last two minutes of the fourth period and the last two minutes of any overtime period, the ball may be passed anywhere (frontcourt or backcourt) on the court. However, if the ball is thrown into the frontcourt and an offensive player on the court fails to control the ball and causes it to go into the backcourt, his team may not be the first to touch the ball.
Close- Stay in-bounds now that the LORD has made a way for you to play in the game
Close- Stay in-bounds now that the LORD has made a way for you to play in the game
7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.
8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
12 Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
13 The children of your elect sister greet you.
2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.