Fourth Midweek Lenten Service March 14, 2012
Taking
On Something for Lent:
Luther’s
Catechisms
The
Washing of Regeneration:
Holy
Baptism
The Order of Vespers
page 229
As We Gather Our Lenten midweek
services this year are focusing on the Catechisms of Luther. His Small and
Large Catechisms were published in 1529. The material in the Large Catechism
originated as sermons by Martin Luther on the basic texts of Christian
teaching. In his Preface to the Large Catechism Luther writes, “But for myself
I say this: I am also a doctor and preacher…Yet I act as a child who is being
taught the catechism. Every morning—and
whenever I have time—I read and say, word for word, the Ten Commandments, the
Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, the Psalms, and such. I must still read and study
them daily. Yet I cannot master the
catechism as I wish.”
Catechism
comes from the Greek word katecho,
which literally means to “sound back and forth” or “from above”. It was used already by St. Paul St. Augustine Concord
Hymn
“Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed”.................................. Hymn
437
Opening
Verses and Responses......................................................... Page
229
The
Sacrament of Holy Baptism
As The Head Of The
Family Should Teach It In A Simple Way To His Household
FIRST
L What is Baptism?
C Baptism is not just plain
water, but it is the water included in God’s command and combined with God’s
word.
L Which is that word of God?
C Christ our Lord says in the
last chapter of Matthew: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit.” Matt. 28:19
Hymn
“To Jordan
Came the Christ, Our Lord”.................. Hymn
406
(Stanzas 1-2)
The
Sacrament of Holy Baptism
As The Head Of The
Family Should Teach It In A Simple
Way
SECOND
L What benefits does Baptism give?
C It works forgiveness of sins,
rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who
believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.
L Which are these words and promises of God?
C Christ our Lord says in the
last chapter of Mark: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but
whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:16
The
Sacrament of Holy Baptism
As The Head Of The
Family Should Teach It In A Simple
Way
THIRD
L How can water do such great things?
C Certainly not just water, but
the word of God in and with the water does these things, along with the faith
which trusts this word of God in the water. For without God’s word the water is
plain water and no Baptism. But with the word of God it is a Baptism, that is,
a life-giving water, rich in grace, and a washing of the new birth in the Holy
Spirit, as St. Paul
“He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the
Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our
Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs
having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying.” Titus 3:5–8
The
Sacrament of Holy Baptism
As The Head Of The
Family Should Teach It In A Simple
Way
FOURTH
L What does such baptizing with water
indicate?
C It indicates that the Old Adam
in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all
sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live
before God in righteousness and purity forever.
L Where is this written?
C St. Paul
Hymn “To Jordan Came the Christ, Our Lord” Hymn 406
(Stanza 3 & 4)
Old
Testament Lesson Isaiah 55:10-11
As
the rain and the snow
come
down from heaven,
and
do not return to it
without
watering the earth
and
making it bud and flourish,
so
that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so
is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It
will not return to me empty,
but
will accomplish what I desire
and
achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Epistle
Lesson 1 Peter 3:18-21 (ESV)
For
Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he
might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the
spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they
formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while
the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought
safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as
a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience,
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Gospel
Lesson Matthew
28:18-20
Then
Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been
given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them
to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to
the very end of the age.”
Responsory
for Lent.................................................................................. Page
231
Hymn
“To Jordan Came the Christ, Our Lord”................. Hymn 406
(stanzas 5-7)
With
the publication in 1539 of his hymn on the Lord’s Prayer Luther had furnished a
hymn for every part of the Catechism except baptism. He filled this gap in
1541. The maturity and depth of Luther’s Baptismal theology is reflected in
this hymn. Luther would live only five more years following its completion.
As
with all of Luther’s hymns this one is based thoroughly on the Bible. A
comprehensive study of Baptism could be completed simply using the Bible
passages that Luther alludes to in this hymn:
Stanza 1
Matthew
3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; Titus 3:5; 1
Corinthians 6:11; 1 Peter 3:21; Romans 6:3-4; Ephesians 5:25-27; Galatians
3:26-27; John 3:5-6; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:24.
Stanza 2
Mark
16:16; Acts 2:38; James 3:5-6; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26-27; Matthew 3:11; Mark
1:8; Luke 3:16; John 3:5.
Stanza 3
Matthew
3:17; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22.
Stanza 4
Matthew
3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22; John 1:32.
Stanza 5
Matthew
28:19-20; John 3:3; Mark 16:15-16.
Stanza 6
Mark
16:16; John 3:18, 36.
Stanza 7
Acts
2:38-39; Acts 22:16; Romans 6:3; Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21; Isaiah 53:7; Acts
8:32.
THE SERMON
The Washing of
Regeneration: Holy Baptism
Matthew 28:18-20
The
Gathering of Our Tithes and Sacrificial Offerings
(We
request all who are present to sign the attendance book that is at the end of
your row. Please pass it on to the person next to you.)
Canticle
and Prayer
P: Let my prayers rise before you as incense,
C and the lifting up of my hands
as the evening sacrifice.
Canticle
“On My Heart Imprint Your Image”....................... Hymn
422
Lord’s
Prayer
C Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in
heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we
forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory
forever and ever. Amen.
Luther’s
Evening Prayer
C I thank You, my heavenly
Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me
this day; and I pray that you would forgive me all my sins where I have done
wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself,
my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me; that the evil
foe may have no power over me. Amen.
Benedicamus.................................................................................................. Page
234
Benediction..................................................................................................... Page
234
Hymn
“Abide with Me”....................................................................... Hymn
878
(Stanzas 4 & 6)
+ Silent Prayer +
Using Luther’s Catechisms
for Lent
The concept for this midweek Lenten series was inspired by the Book
of Concord:
Such matters also concern the laity and the salvation of their
souls. Therefore we also confess Dr. Luther’s Small and Large Catechisms as
they are included in Luther’s works. They are “the layman’s Bible” because
everything necessary for a Christian to know for salvation is included in them,
which is handled more extensively in the Holy Scriptures. (FC
Ep I 5)
As part of your Lenten emphasis on Luther’s catechisms, you may
wish to make the catechism a part of your daily Lenten routine. Each of the Six
Chief Parts of Christian Doctrine could be read through each week in Lent, and
the Large Catechism could be read once in its entirety during the
Lenten season.
Spiritual Growth in Lent: Many people choose to give up
something for Lent. Instead, you may
want to take on something for your Lenten discipline. You may want to read
the Six Chief Parts of Christian Doctrine from Luther’s Small Catechism each
day according to the following schedule:
Monday—The
Ten Commandments
Tuesday—The
Apostles’ Creed
Wednesday—The
Lord’s Prayer
Thursday—The
Sacrament of Holy Baptism
Friday—Confession
Saturday—The
Sacrament of the Altar
Sunday—Daily
Prayers, Table of Duties, or
Christian
Questions with Their Answers
The Small Catechism is found on page 321 in Lutheran
Service Book. You may also choose to read Luther’s Large Catechism during
Lent, focusing on one chief part each week. If you choose to read through the
Large Catechism, there is an interesting note about the Exhortation to
Confession. The Large Catechism, first published in 1529, did not originally
contain this exhortation, but before 1529 ended, a revised edition came out
that did include it. Nevertheless, the original 1580 German and 1584 Latin
editions of the Book of Concord do not include the Exhortation to Confession.
So if you have Concordia: Book of Concord, you will find the exhortation
instead in Appendix B.
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