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MARCH–APRIL, 2017 A PUBLICATION OF THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN SYNOD SYNOD THE CROSS: CONVENTION As God’s Foolish Throne 2017 pgs. 8–11 And Our Own DETAILS pg. 15 As Fountain of Christian Life LYA17 REGISTRATION DETAILS pg. 15 IT IS WRITTEN: “Jesus Christ and Him crucified...”(I Corinthians 2:2) FROM THE PRESIDENT Always Finding Our Center Dear Members and Friends of our ELS: Anniversaries seize our atten- comments on Isaiah 53, Luther stresses how the article of justification not only brings comfort but tion. They can make us think and also strikes down any kind of self-righteousness. thank. The 500th anniversary of He writes under Isaiah 53:11: Lutheranism gives us plenty to Therefore we must diligently observe this article. ponder and thankfully treasure. In I see that there are many snorers treating this particular, this applies to a church article. They are the ones who consider these words the way a man does who looks at his body bearing the name of the great face in a mirror (as James says, 1:23f.) The mo- Reformer. ment they come upon another object or business, they are overwhelmed, and they forget the grace Members of our synod could compile quite a list of God. For that reason you must most diligently of valuable gifts bestowed by the Lutheran Refor- consider this article and not allow yourself to be mation. The catechisms, the Bible translation of led astray by other teachings, occupations, or Die Heilige Schrift, commentaries by Luther, the persecutions. (LW 17:231) confessional writings of the Lutheran Church, the writings on the Sacraments, the bold stand To be centered in the proclamation of justifica- on God’s Word alone, the wonderful hymns, de- tion is what we wish and pray for at all times. votions, and sermons, even the humor and wit of Sadly, many churches that once carried this Dr. Luther are things we hold dear. But one trea- Reformation treasure today fail to unveil it sure rises above all and makes us most grateful. continually in pulpit and classroom. We ask our We hold high Luther’s passion for transmitting members and friends to pray pointedly that the the chief teaching of the Bible. We sinners are “paradise-opening” doctrine for the young justified – declared forgiven, holy, and righteous – Martin Luther always attains and retains its on account of the atoning work of the Lord Jesus scriptural prominence in the sanctuaries, Christ, and this good news is received by faith in educational institutions, and activities of our order to have everlasting life in heaven. beloved Evangelical Lutheran Synod. By God’s grace, may it be so. No greater doctrine can be proclaimed by the pastors, teachers, and missionaries trained un- der the guidance of a Lutheran synod than what the Apostle Paul has clearly set forth in Romans: All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus (3:23-24). REVEREND JOHN A. MOLDSTAD During Lent, we are driven to the cross to see PRESIDENT, ELS how all our sins have been put on the Lamb of [email protected] God sacrificed in our place. Therefore, we do not bear them. Christ has borne them for us! In his 2 THE LUTHERAN SENTINEL MAR–APR 2017 IN THIS ISSUE: MAR–APR 2017 HOME MISSIONS CATECHISM IN CONTEXT SERIES 4 Spotlight on Home Mission: 12 The Creed Divine Mercy Lutheran Church REV. JEFF HENDRIX REV. KYLE MADSON VISUALIZING THE REFORMATION SERIES 2017 STUDY SERIES: APOLOGETICS 14 Helping to Identify Martin Luther... 6 Jesus’ Outrageous Claims REV. LUKE ULRICH and Apologetics: “Who do people say that I am?” EDITORS SERIES: REFORMATION VOCAB REV. DAVID THOMPSON 16 The Righteousness of God REV. KYLE MADSON THE CROSS SERIES: 1 8 The Cross: As God’s Foolish Throne REV. JOE ABRAHAMSON THE CROSS SERIES: 2 DEPARTMENTS: 10 The Cross: and Our Own 2 From the President REV. EDWARD BRYANT 5 Pastor, I have a Question 15 Synod Synopsis THE CROSS SERIES: 3 11 The Cross: as Fountain of Christian Life REV. MICHAEL LILIENTHAL Evangelical THE LUTHERAN SENTINEL / MAR–APR 2017 / VOLUME 100 / NUMBER 2 / ISSN OO24-7510 Lutheran Synod PUBLISHED BY: The Lutheran Sentinel is the official publication of theEvangelical Lutheran Synod The Evangelical Lutheran Synod 6 Browns Court and is published six times per year. The subscription price is $12.00 per year with Mankato, MN 56001 reduced rates available for blanket subscriptions at $10.00 through a member congregation. ADDRESS EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE TO: Rev. Paul Fries 6 Browns Court Mankato, MN 56001 STAFF: ADDRESS CIRCULATION CORRESPONDENCE and ADDRESS CORRECTIONS TO: Rev. Kyle Madson Editor Lutheran Sentinel Rev. Paul Fries Editor-in-Chief 6 Browns Court Mankato, MN 56001 Rev. Charles Keeler Contributing Editor Denise Luehmann Subscription Manager PERIODICAL POSTPAID AT MANKATO, MN 56001 Jessie Fries Proofreader and ADDITIONAL OFFICES. POSTMASTER: Send changes (Form 3579) to Ryan Madson Layout & Design Lutheran Sentinel 6 Browns Court Mankato, MN 56001 HOME MISSIONS ANNIVERSARY OFFERING SPOTLIGHT ON DIVINE HOME MISSION: MERCY n preparing to move to Texas in the spring of 2013, I explained to my two oldest children Ithat there wouldn’t be a church where we were headed -- That we would be going with the hope and prayer that God would cause one to grow up there. After a few weeks of driving around in Texas, my son (2 ½ at the time) started pointing and asking, “Dad, what’s that? How about that?” “Those are churches, son,” I replied. And then the old adage – “Kids say the darndest things” - proved true. My son held me to my words: “Dad, I thought you said there wasn’t a church here…” My son’s blunt observation was giving way to some of my own. There were churches every- You are supporting mission work here in Parker where here in North Texas: old churches, new County, Texas – a place rife with churches churches, small churches in the country, mon- because the uninterupted voice of the Gospel, - strosities on the freeway… There were churches the voice of a crucified and risen Jesus who IS everywhere! The question flowed naturally: PRESENT with forgiveness and life for the sinful Why ARE we here? and dying - because THAT voice still has some- Do we have something different to say? thing to say! Something that desperately needs to be heard. God has blessed the mission work here in Parker County, Texas. Through His Gracious Word and I was just reminded of that the other week when with your support, God has baptized infants, a prospect and frequent visitor to church said to children, and adults into His family. me, “I hope Divine Mercy is here for a long time. You have something people need to hear.” And then, like my young son, we get to be the children who hold their Father to His Words: For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, 11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. (Is. 55:10-11) REVEREND KYLE MADSON DIVINE MERCY LUTHERAN CHURCH, He has given a Gospel-rich home to some who’d HUDSON OAKS, TX come from one like it, but also to handfuls who, in spite of the “many churches” around, found A NOTE FROM THE ANNIVERSARY OFFERING COMMITTEE: themselves starving for the Good News. Our home missions work is an integral SEND YOUR GIFT TO: part of our ELS. Be sure to support the ELS Anniversary Offering Anniversary Offering by giving generously. 6 Browns Ct. Visit els.org/offering to learn more and Mankato, MN 56001 4 THE LUTHERAN SENTINEL MAR–APR 2017 support our students and missions online. PASTOR, I HAVE A QUESTION QUESTION: Q When Jesus was crucified, died, and was buried, did Jesus (Son of God, Son of man, or both) die? If the Son of God died or both the Son of God and the Son of Man died, did that leave only two parts of the Triune God for the time Jesus the Son of God was dead? ANSWER: We sing… Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast save in the death of Christ, my God: All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood. (TLH 175) Well might the sun in darkness hide and shut his glories in when God, the mighty Maker, died, for man the creature’s sin. A (TLH 154) O sorrow dread! Our God is dead. (ELH 332) The mystery is as great as that of the Incarna- Here are the words of two great Lutheran tion when the second person of the Holy Trin- teachers: ity became human. The impossible happened. Jesus is both God and man. The Incarnation, “The death of Christ, the God-man, an ig- the union of God and man, is permanent. nominious death on the cross, was not a termination of His natural life in the course The question takes us to Good Friday. Upon of nature, but a violent, though on His part vol- the cross and in punishment for our sins, untary, separation of body and soul, without, His Father forsook the Man who is truly God. however, any cessation or suspension of the We confess, “But the whole three Persons are personal union of God and man in Christ, His co-eternal together and coequal, so that in all body and soul remaining personally united things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and with the divine nature of the Son of God” the Trinity in Unity is to be worshiped” (The (Graebner.