2003 Winter - Higher Things Magazine (with Bible Studies)

W W W. H I G H E RT H I N G S . O R G

/ WINTER / 2003

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H I G H E R T H I N G S __ 2

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The cover for this issue was designed by Mr. Ed Riojas of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

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Together Again

T A B L E

O F

Contents

By Dr. Arthur A. Just, Jr.

God created us to be in relationship with Him and with each other. That relationship was shattered in the Fall. But Sunday after Sunday, God restores our broken relationship with Him and with each other in the Divine Service.

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Out of Sync

By Dr. Barbara J. Resch

What type of music do teens really want in worship? The answer may surprise you.

10 Faith in Fairy Tales

By Audrey Riojas

What is the “happily ever after” story you are hoping for in your life? Audrey Riojas explores our fairy-tale expectations in her article about faith and life.

12 Something Funny in the Vestry

By Kathy Luder

Kathy discovers more than just pastor’s vestments in the vestry.

14 An Empty Sack

By Rev. Matthew Harrison

What do we get out of church? Much more than you may realize.

17 Finding Christ in Middle Earth

By Rev. Bruce Keseman

A pastor reflects on biblical images and allusions in the tales of J.R.R. Tolkein’s The Lord of the Rings.

22 Leading the Blind to Higher Things

By Pam Knepper

A group of teens assist in bringing Higher Things magazine to the blind at the largest Christian library serving blind people in North America.

COLUMNS 7

Letters to the Editor

20 MINING THE RICHES: A Mountain in Iowa?

By Rev. David Fleming

A deeper look into Revelation 14 and worship.

26 Pulse: Cartoon Reviews

By Rev. Eric Andrae

SpongeBob, the Simpsons, and more – oh my!

28 E-mail Information and News and Notes 29 Ex Cathedra

Advice about dressing for church and youth Sundays, plus...will there be animals in heaven? Get ready to fire off those e-mails to Ex Cathedra.

30 The Catechism: God as Man to Serve Men

By Rev. David Petersen

HigherThings Volume 3/Number 4 Winter 2003 Editor-in-Chief REV. TODD PEPERKORN Assistant Editor JULIE STIEGEMEYER

Editorial Associates REV. TIM PAULS REV. DAVID PETERSEN REV. ERIK ROTTMANN REV. SCOTT STIEGEMEYER DR. GENE EDWARD VEITH Art Director STEVE BLAKEY

Business Manager LYNN FREDERICKSEN

Bible Studies Editor REV. TIMOTHY SCHELLENBACH Subscriptions Manager CYNTHIA HALL

Marketing and Grants Director PAM KNEPPER

HIGHER THINGS, INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS President REV. KLEMET

PREUS

Vice President REV. MARCUS

ZILL

Executive Director REV. DANIEL WOODRING

Secretary SANDRA

OSTAPOWICH

Treasurer LYNN FREDERICKSEN

REV. BRUCE KESEMAN SANDRA OSTAPOWICH REV. TODD PEPERKORN REV. KLEMET PREUS JEFF SCHWARZ DR. GENE EDWARD VEITH MOLLIE ZIEGLER REV. MARCUS ZILL Higher Things Magazine ISSN 1539-8455 is published quarterly by Higher Things Inc., 2026 22nd Ave., Kenosha, WI 53140.

No portion of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the editor-in-chief of Higher Things Magazine. Copyright 2003. Printed in the United States. Postage paid at Fort Wayne, Indiana. For subscription information, write to: Higher Things Magazine, P.O. Box 8098, Fort Wayne IN 46898 or e-mail to Subscriptions@higherthings.org.

For general information about Higher Things, Inc., please e-mail info@higherthings.org.

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ife is all about relationships. That’s the way God created us—to live in communities. That’s because God Himself is one God, a community of persons. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit both created the world and redeemed it.

One of the core values at the time of our Lord was holiness—the holiness of God.The most holy place in Israel was the temple, particularly the Holy of Holies in Jerusalem. Here is where God dwelled, which is why all the people yearned to come to the temple.

Many people were not worthy to enter into God’s presence, and God’s presence was not

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Together H I G H E R T H I N G S __ 4

something to mess with.

It could be both the source of great blessing or the cause of great harm.

People had a healthy fear about entering into God’s presence. They wanted to be worthy before they ventured into the place of God’s holiness.

God’s presence gave people freedom from bondage to a fallen world infected with the virus of sin. They knew that what God created good had suddenly gone wrong and needed to be made right. Only God the Father through His Son, Jesus Christ, was able to make right what had gone wrong, to restore humanity’s broken relationship with God. Human beings were not able on their own to overcome sin, death, and the devil. Only God could make new what had been infected by sin.

God made right what had gone wrong when He sent His Son into this world. Jesus invaded our world, coming from heaven as the Creator to enter His creation as one of us—bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh.

Jesus was made man to redeem us from our sins and show us what God had created us to be—free from sin as His forgiven people.

God made right what had gone wrong once-and-for-all through the suffering and death of His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Only through the shedding of His blood is Jesus able to make right what is wrong—to grant us the forgiveness of sins. Only through the shedding of blood is the broken relationship between God and man restored to what God intended it to be.

God made right what had gone wrong through the resurrection of Jesus Christ who brings all of creation with him when He rises from the dead on the third day. Jesus’ resurrection declares to the

gain

By Dr. Arthur A. Just, Jr.

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world that all things have been made new. Jesus shows us in His resurrected body what we will one day be in our resurrected bodies.

Through water, Word, and Spirit, we are joined to Jesus Christ and to His death and resurrection. In baptism, God makes right what has gone wrong in us by washing our sins away. In baptism, we die with Christ and rise with Him to a life that never ends. Now Christ dwells in us, and we dwell in him because we are the temple of His holiness.

The church, the body of Christ, is where our relationship to God and to one another is most intimate. The church gathers around the bodily presence of Christ in Word and Sacrament. Jesus is present in His Word that calls people to repentance and forgives them their sins. Jesus is present in the Lord’s Supper where God’s people eat Christ’s body and drink His blood for the forgiveness of sins. This is the place of God’s holiness, the new temple in the new Jerusalem.

In our worship of Word and Sacrament, Christ is present with His gifts of forgiveness, life and salvation. The gift of forgiveness releases us from the bondage of sin. The gift of life is the union of our life to the life of Christ that knows no end. The gift of salvation is rescue from our enemies of sin, death, and the devil. Relationships with God and one another are only possible where there is the forgiveness of sins in Christ Jesus.

We worship to receive these gifts from Christ’s presence and respond to him in love, with thanksgiving and praise. We respond to God and to our neighbor in love by confessing our sins to him, singing hymns, confessing our faith, praying for church and world, and offering him our thanks. We respond to our neighbors who do not know Christ by bringing them into the presence of Christ in worship so they might receive the gifts. Only here will their broken relationship with God be restored.

In our worship, heaven and earth are joined together in the bodily presence of Jesus. Wherever Jesus is, there is heaven and all its gifts. In Christ, we worship with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven. At the Lord’s table, our fellowship in Christ joins us with all the saints in heaven and on earth in singing praises to the Lamb. In worship, there is life eternal because of our relationship with God –Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Eternal life is all about relationships. That’s the way God created us. To live with him forever.

Dr. Arthur A. Just, Jr. is dean of the Chapel and professor of exegetical theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

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letters to the

editor

Feedback Dear Rev. Peperkorn, I have a question on your article “Five Dumb Things Adults Believe about Youth.” In statement #2 you talk about the poor catechesis that went on during the “great disruption.” I have been a member of a LCMS church for 40+ years, and the only great disruption that I can remember occurred back in the 70’s. When the pastor used Luther’s Small Catechism, there wasn’t a problem. What was the great disruption? #3 My family has gone back to my home congregation, and they are using some Lutheran supplements. I have to disagree on the statements that youth want the traditional liturgies. It is just the opposite with my teenagers. They are not dragging their feet to attend worship. As an adult, reading a new confession, makes me think about what I am saying, instead of speaking phrases that I have said for 40 years.

-Diane

to prefer “contemporary” services over traditional services. The difficulty is that contemporary services seek to use the entertainment approach of the day to engage the “audience,” rather than Law and Gospel, which is highlighted in traditional worship. This is also made more difficult because, sadly enough, traditional services are often poorly done.

On to the confession question. Any good pastor will be constantly teaching the faith using different language and explaining things in different ways.

That’s all a part of teaching. But it is dangerous to be replacing the traditional language of confession with something new week after week. Remember, the service is not simply for those who may find the language boring or uninteresting. It is for the five-year-old who can’t read and the ninety-year-old who can’t

see the hymnal anymore. By changing the language over and over again, we are denying the whole church access to the language of faith.

Finally, the “P.S.” question. Higher Things is not officially affiliated with any church body. We are a confessional Lutheran mission organization. However, our closest ties are with the Missouri Synod. All of the Board of Directors are LCMS, and almost all of our writers are LCMS. Non-LCMS youth are most welcome at our conferences, but would need to abide by the closed communion practice of our church.

–Pastor Peperkorn Dear Rev. Peperkorn, I am far from being an expert, but I do have the experience of raising my four children (youngest now 21) and continued on page 25

P.S. In September I visited the Higher Things website and could not find which Synod’s beliefs you supported. Does that mean that people of any Lutheran faith can attend your youth conferences?

The “Great Disruption” is a term that is fairly common in sociology to refer to the 1960s and early 1970s, where there was a large push in our society against traditional values. Theologically, this was also a time period where many argued against using traditional forms and language, because it was thought that if it was old it must be bad. I know this is an overgeneralization, but certainly was the trend of the day.

On to your second question.

Obviously, there are youth that are going

W I N T E R

“Five Dumb Things Adults Believe about Youth” Higher Things Fall 2003

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Out of ou have probably had this experience, either in real life or in a bad dream: you arrive at some gathering and discover that your interpretation of “casual dress” is radically different from that of everyone else at the party. You’re in your favorite faded shorts and tee shirt, and the rest of the room looks like they just stepped out of the show window at Banana Republic.

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Life is full of instances like this, when something that we really like and are comfortable with—clothes, music, food, even vocabulary—is perfect for one occasion and just not right for another one. Placed in the wrong context, the item ends up drawing attention to itself in a negative way, because it’s out of sync with the situation. It seems as if it belongs somewhere else!

Questions about this kind of “belonging” are often a part of the discussions concerning music in the church. What kind of music is fitting for church services? Does every kind of music we like and are comfortable with also fit into the context of the Divine Service? A research study I conducted a few years ago gave me the opportunity to ask a large number of teenagers, almost 500 kids from high schools around the country, what kinds of music they thought would be appropriate for worship. I played lots of choices for them, from traditional hymns to praise choruses, Gregorian chant to Christian rock music, and asked how “right” it would seem if they heard it in their church.

Researchers begin with a hypothesis—how they think the study will turn out—and mine was that I thought teenagers would consider all of their favorite musical styles to be acceptable for worship. After all, most high school students stay current with popular music and will choose to listen to those styles over anything else. It would stand to reason, I thought, that they would want to hear that kind of music wherever they were, including worship services.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. Even though these kids told me that they liked rock music and other pop styles, a huge majority thought that those musical styles didn’t belong in church.

So what prompted these teens to decide that the music they really liked and were comfortable with didn’t fit in a church service? A lot of them told me that they had never heard the specific musical examples I

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By Dr. Barbara J. Resch

Sync

played for them, but that the music reminded them of something else they had heard, or of a place where they had heard it. Many of them wrote on their survey forms the situation that each piece would be appropriate for: brunch at a nice restaurant, a movie soundtrack, Grandma’s bridge club, a relaxing walk in the woods. Some even described a church setting that would fit the music: “This wouldn’t work in my church; it sounds too Catholic,” and “This would be good in a big stone church where it could echo, but it would sound silly in my little church.”

One example I played was a jazz setting of “O Lamb of God,” sung in a sultry alto voice with piano and trap set accompaniment. A number of students thought that the words, taken right from the Communion liturgy, were fine but that the music was “cool, but too sexy for church.” Because music is both intellectual and emotional, it has a mysterious power to stick in our memories and transport us to another place. This kind of mental journey can be enjoyable, relaxing, or exciting. But when the music takes us somewhere that is opposite of the place where we are—we’re in the presence of God, in His own holy house, and we start picturing a lounge singer—that’s when it starts to feel out of sync.

Some students pointed out that congregations gathered for worship included people of all ages, and that not everyone in that group would react positively to some musical styles. As one girl said,“I think the old ladies in my church would get upset if they heard this (Christian rock music), and people shouldn’t be upset by what they hear in church.” Martin Luther said that church music should be “the servant of the Word.” This girl realized that for some people, the music might contradict rather than serve the Word, actually distracting from the message and getting between God’s Word and the hearts and minds of the worshipers.

In one group of students I interviewed, a girl explained that her church offered three different services each Sunday morning. Each one offered a different musical style, so she attended the one with the music she liked, and her parents went to another with the music they liked, which she described as “easy listening.” From across the room a boy said “I like reggae; you have a service for me?” His friend joined in:“I like hip-hop; you have a service for me?” In the wake of the many other suggestions that followed, the first speaker responded in frustration “Well, you can’t please everybody!”

The choices that pastors and musicians make about church music are not based on pleasing everybody by trying to include all of the musical styles that they like. Appropriate church music is probably different from the music people like to hear when they hang out with their friends or let off steam at the end of the day. In worship we are gathered in the name and the remembrance of Jesus, and the music for that time and place needs to flow in sync with that high and holy calling.

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Dr. Barbara J. Resch is Director of Music Educator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne and a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

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“... So the handsome prince took the beautiful girl by the hand, and he led her to his shining castle, far away; and there they lived, happily ever after. ...”

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s little children, many of us loved to live in the dream world of fairy tales. We watched countless cartoon adaptations and listened to bedtime stories of damsels in distress, rescued by handsome princes from vicious monsters and certain death. Begging to hear the stories over and over again, we held our breath until all the loose ends in the story had been tied up, and the characters rode off into the sunset, where a blissful future awaited them.

Inspired by fairy tales, children’s Christmas wish lists featured pink princess gowns and shiny plastic shields and swords, essential elements in the neighborhood reenactment of fantasies. Not frightened by the comparative monotony of real life, little children held high expectations for the future, dreaming of the day they could defeat monstrous dragons, or when a handsome prince would triumphantly come to their rescue.

As we grew older, the fairy tales and fantasies began to lose some of their charm; we understood that these myths could not possibly be true.

Still longing for a sense of perfection in our lives, we traded the “little-kid stuff” for dreams of career, family, wealth, and suc-

faith in H I G H E R T H I N G S __ 10

Fairy

cess. Perhaps Prince Charming would not charge in on his noble steed, but a handsome, rich, and otherwise perfect young man would do just as well. Invented beasts and dragons might not need conquering, but the battles of society and environment would be worthwhile, honorable causes.

Unfortunately, these world-view fantasies, realistic and exciting though they may seem, are rarely fulfilled and are sometimes frivolous expectations. Trouble stands in our way, and disappointment blinds all sight of hope, as these efforts for personal gain crumble like dust through our fingertips. We are dragged, kicking and screaming, to the realization that there are no victorious battles or fairy tale princes in this sinful world, and we can only dream of “happily ever afters.”

Despite this feeling of worldly failure clouding our thoughts, as Christians we can know that a “happily ever after” ending does exist and is awaiting us. The battles and trials in this fairy tale have already been worked out for us. The Church, the “damsel in distress,” was held captive by the evil dragon, Satan, chained in fetters of sin. We were rescued by Christ, who with His death and resurrection defeated the deceitful monster down in his terrible, burning pit. In Holy Baptism, the “spell” of sin and death was broken for each one of us; we no longer have to live in fear of the temporary troubles of this world, or in despair of eternal death. In his hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” Martin Luther describes this victory we now have over Satan. “This world’s prince [the devil] may still/ Scowl fierce as he will,/ He can harm us none,/ He’s judged; the deed is done;/ One little word can fell him.”

Of course, wanting to feel “grown up” and “mature,” we don’t always trust this promise of a better day. In today’s world, it appears there will never be an end to the pain and suffering that surrounds us. It becomes even more difficult to have hope when our non-Christian friends mock the story of

salvation as just another fairy tale—one that could never really be true. We become weary of waiting for the end of a story that we’ve heard about for so long; we don’t seem to have even a tiny glimpse of evidence to prove it will come. We imagine the wait isn’t worth it; perhaps we dare to think we can take our salvation upon ourselves, either by works, or by an attempt to reach heaven sooner by ending our own lives.

Despite these doubts, we have the assurance that our hope of heaven is more than an invented fable. Little children accept the stories they hear because they trust the grown-ups who tell them, and often because they are too inexperienced in the ways of the world to know what truly exists. As children—God’s children—we can believe simply and without doubt that our Savior, the Prince of Peace, has indeed rescued us from the dungeons of death. As Jesus says in John 6:47,“I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.” Here and now, we already have God’s gift of eternal life, along with His incredible mercy, grace, and forgiveness. We don’t have to wait for heaven to receive these wonderful blessings from God, and it is often that we can see outward evidence of them.

Every time we see a tiny baby marked by God’s name in Holy Baptism, whenever we read or hear the Word of God, as often as we taste the true body and blood of Christ, we are receiving or being reminded of God’s precious gifts. And it gets even better than that. In heaven, we will spend eternity with Christ, where Satan’s claws cannot reach us, and all the loose ends will be tied up. This perfect ending will be even better than “happily ever after.”

Audrey Riojas is a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is a freshman in college at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids.

by Audrey Riojas

Tales

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Something

by Kathy Luder

Funny in the Vestry H I G H E R T H I N G S __ 12

funny thing happened over the summer.

Aaron Koehler got cute. He got nicer, too.

Then a funny thing happened in Sunday School. Molly and I started flirting with him.

We began leaving notes for him from a “Secret Admirer.” At first he crumpled them up. He was afraid he was being teased. He finally relaxed when he figured out it was us and not one of his buddies. The thing is that he didn’t know which of us it was. What he didn’t know is that we didn’t know either. We both liked him, but neither of us had the courage to admit it.

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Then Aaron called our bluff. He starting writing notes back. They were the sappiest, corniest letters ever. They gushed with sarcasm and awful poetry. After several weeks of this, we arrived in Mrs. Zaftig’s class before everyone else and found this note: O dearest Love, Star of the Morning, Cause of my heart’s trepid beating, my Secret Admirer: Our separation is too much for me. I can bear it no longer. Meet me after Sunday School in the old vestry during the ringing of the bells and I will expound my love for you with a kiss. Alas, if you do not show, I will assume this all to be a cruel ruse and shall write or read no more.

My lips are waiting. Do not disappoint them.

Faithfully and forever yours, Aaron Molly and I squealed in unison. It was loud enough that after a moment, we heard the kindergartners down the hall erupt in laughter. Then a dozen rugrats came running into our room all squealing just like we had. We didn’t care. We were on cloud nine. Molly couldn’t stand still. She was bouncing up and down.

Mrs. Zaftig arrived with a puzzled look and a dozen donuts while the kindergarten teacher ushered her children out with a rebuking glance our way.

Molly and I headed to the bathroom.

“What are we going to do?” Molly said.“If we don’t show, he won’t write anymore.”

“I think we should leave a note in the vestry saying he was late so we left. He’ll still write,” I told her.

“No, Kathy,” Molly said.“We should get the kiss— both of us.”

“How could we?” I asked.

“We could surprise him—ambush him. We’ll both be in the vestry and jump out and kiss him at the same time. But, which room is the vestry?” Molly asked.

“It’s where Mrs. Carpenter counts the Sunday school offering and tallies attendance, in the hallway behind the choir loft.” I replied, always so proud of my vocabulary.

“It is too crowded,” Molly said.“Mrs. Carpenter has a desk and filing cabinets in there. Plus, there’s nowhere to hide.”

“Then we’ll catch him when he comes out,” I said.

“I’ll go into that choir robe room on this side of the vestry, and you go into the storage closet on the other side. He’ll go in and see that no one’s there. When he comes back out, we’ll be on either side of him. You give him a kiss on his right cheek, and I’ll give him a kiss on his left. Then we’ll run away before he knows what happened. It’ll be perfect. He won’t know what hit him.”

We discussed the details for a while, but finally settled on that plan. We went back to Sunday school and tried to not notice Aaron’s constant glances.

Finally, Mrs. Zaftig led us in the Lord’s Prayer to close, and Molly and I darted out of the classroom. We knew Aaron was right behind us. So I ducked into the first room where the choir keeps their robes. Molly was to go on just past the vestry to the storage closet. I

pushed the door shut but kept my hand on the doorknob so that I could pop out as soon as I heard Aaron close the vestry door. Molly, I knew, would be doing the same thing.

My heart was racing as I felt the doorknob turning in my hand. Molly must not have time to get past the vestry to her room. I quickly pulled it open to let her in before Aaron caught us. But it wasn’t Molly. It was Aaron. He was blushing and out of breath. He looked surprised. My pulling the door open so quickly had pulled him right into me, face to face.

Aaron gave a little grin, leaned in, and gave me a light kiss on the mouth. I didn’t kiss back. I didn’t have time.

Without a word, he turned and ran back the way he had come. Molly was standing in the hallway staring at me with her mouth open. She stomped her foot, spun around, and dashed down the stairs. I was all alone, my hand still on the knob. I turned to the door and noticed a tarnished brass plaque. It said,“Vestry.”I was in the vestry!!

It turns out the place where they keep the robes is called the vestry. I don’t know what Mrs. Carpenter’s room is called. For the first time in my life, I was in the wrong place at the right time because I thought I knew more than I did. But it worked out perfectly. Except for Molly’s jealousy, and my embarrassment that Aaron thought I meant it, it could have hardly been better.

There was no time for reflection, no time to explain anything. The church bell was ringing. Fortunately for me, Aaron and Molly both go to early service so I didn’t have to endure their presence. I just sat with my family like everything was normal. I sang the words and hymns. I bowed, stood, and knelt when everyone else did. I went to communion.

I was in shock. I couldn’t even think. It seemed like a dream. But in the midst of it, I found the service strangely comforting. I got lost in the Liturgy. It just swept over me. I didn’t really have to pay attention. The service was as comfortable and familiar as my grandmother’s embrace. Yet every word had new depth and meaning. God had watched the whole ridiculous thing.

We were writing the notes and didn’t even know who the Secret Admirer was, but God knew what would happen from the beginning. He had taken care of me.

It was a wonderful surprise.

I learned a little something about worship that day: the Word of God never changes, but we, and our emotional responses to it, do. I remember the somber tones the service took on after the terrorist attacks in New York and the way they rolled about in me after Aaron’s kiss: the same joy, the same promise and hope, but a different emotion and experience. How comforting the liturgy is in a world of change and uncertainty, in a world of Mollies, Aarons, and Zaftigs!

Kathy Luder, a figment of our imagination of Danish heritage, is a high school sophomore in the heart of the Midwest. Her favorite foods all start with the letter “W.”

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“Dear God, I’ve got an empty sack…”

By Rev. Matthew Harrison

H I G H E R T H I N G S __ 14

y dad loved to go to the early service—always the early service, and the earlier the better. He would have loved to have Easter sunrise service every Sunday of the year!

But it was a different story for my brother and me.

Church? Forget it. I’d rather sleep in since my brother and I liked to stay up as late as we possibly could on Saturday night.

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Dad had the habit of saying the most un-cool things at 7:00 a.m. on a Sunday morning:“Come on boys! Up and at ‘em!”

Then, if we lay in the sack too long, he’d go grab a towel or wash cloth, soak it in the coldest water possible, and come and throw it on any exposed skin (usually a face, sometimes a back).

Then the routine was simple for me. Get dressed. Wolf down any available food.

Hassle my little sister until she lodged a formal complaint with my parents—you know, normal stuff.

I thank God now for my dad’s dogged persistence and his no-questions-asked, we’re-going-to-church-buddy-so-changeyour-attitude attitude. My parents gave me something very important.They taught me that Christians go to church, but it wasn’t until many years later that I managed to figure out just why we go to church!

Why go to church? To learn about God. To give our time, talent and treasure back to God.To show God how we care about him.To worship God. Great answers, but they all miss the main point—Jesus.

I once read a sermon by Martin Luther, which forever changed how I look at going to church. Luther said to think about going to church with an empty sack. What’s the first thing you do in church? You confess,“I, a poor miserable sinner…” How we love to confess,“Oh Almighty God, my brother, my dad or mom, is a poor miserable sinner,” or “I thank Thee, Lord, I’m not like other men” (Luke 17). But here, finally, there are no more excuses. The problem is ME. This is simply saying,“Dear God, I’ve got an empty sack.”

Then what happens? The pastor says,“In the stead and by the command of Christ, I forgive you.” It’s as good as Jesus saying it himself (John 20)! And at just that moment, God throws a heap of grace, mercy, and peace into your empty sack! You do nothing; you only receive, mouth hanging open, looking down into your bag, amazed at the gift. And what do you say? “AMEN!” That is,“Yep! I got it God! It’s in the bag!”

And then comes more.

The lessons are read, and more grace and love and mercy from God are piled into the bag! After the gospel is read you say,“Thanks be to God! Yep! In the bag!”

Hymns are sung which speak of Christ and His birth, life, death, and resurrection for you. Then the sermon is preached. The gospel of free forgiveness from Jesus is dished up and delivered to you. And the very forgiveness spoken about actually happens (Rom. 1:16)! The sermon ends with an “Amen!” And don’t just let the pastor have that “Amen” at the end of the sermon. You say it with him. By doing so you say,“Yep! I believe it! Jesus is mine. It’s in the bag!”

Then comes the Lord’s Supper.“Take and eat…” and you respond,“Amen! Got it!”

Then comes the blessing,“The Lord bless you and keep you, and make His face shine upon you….”You respond,“Amen, Amen, Amen! I got it! It’s in the bag! And it’s heaping full!” By the end of the service your sack is heaped full of God’s forgiveness and grace and mercy. All your sins are forgiven.

Do you see how foolish it is to whine,“I don’t get anything out of it” even when the sermon doesn’t strike home?

Then, bag full, you merrily head out of church. First thing you know, your dad sins against you by thinking you did something when you didn’t; or your sister proceeds to generally make life miserable for you; or that kid at school whom you really actually hate makes you seethe with anger. What do you do? You pull that full bag off your shoulder and smack ‘em right over the head with it? –No! You pull that sack of forgiveness off your back and say,“Christ has given me this sack of forgiveness and love and mercy.

Here, I want to give you some forgiveness.”

And so it goes through the week. Mercy and love for the teacher who drives you insane. Forgiveness and prayers for the bully who makes your life miserable. Grace to “put the best meaning” on things, instead of gossiping. Strength of faith and hope and love, to help someone in time of need. But you fail time and again, and scoop up that grace and mercy for yourself,

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Rev. Matthew Harrison is the executive director of LCMS World Relief and Human Care.

He will be the main speaker at the Higher Things conference,“The City of God” in Seattle, Washington, from August 3-6, 2004.

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until you’re back at church, back on your knees, confessing something true: “Dear God, I’ve got an empty sack.”

Luther got it exactly right. Jesus told a parable about a Pharisee and a tax collector.The Pharisee went to church and prayed loudly,“Dear God, I thank you that I’m not like other men. I pray. I fast. I give a tenth of all I get.” He was saying,“I’ve got a full sack, God. I filled it. And I’m proud of it.”

He did not realize that our relationship with God is not primarily about what we do. It’s about what God does for us in Christ. If we won’t have an empty sack, we’ll have no God to fill it for us. But standing far off from the Pharisee, there was another

man. He beat his chest, knowing full well that he was a sinner. He prayed,“God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”

“I tell you the truth,” Jesus said.“that man went away justified—forgiven.”

This Sunday, every time you say “Amen” in the liturgy, or after the sermon, or at the Lord’s Supper, take note of what just got dropped in your sack! It’s Jesus and His forgiveness, grace, and mercy.

Pastor Matthew Harrison is executive director of LCMS World Relief and Human Care in St. Louis, Missouri.

Mord IDDLE ARTH Finding CHRIST inL Eings the

of the

By Rev. Bruce Keseman

All photographs ©2003 New Line Productions, Inc.

R

I read The Lord of the Rings trilogy at least three times before I ever realized it had any connection to Christianity. I just enjoyed the books.

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J.R.R.Tolkien said that he didn’t originally intend for his writings to reflect his faith. But when the Holy Spirit makes you a Christian, allusions to Christ are bound to slip in. And Tolkien was a Christian, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised by all of the Biblical images in his works.

The Lord of the Rings shows us a fallen world that needs to be saved.

Most of us identify even more with the hobbits than with the humans in Tolkien’s tales. Maybe that’s because hobbits are as frail as we are. Most of the hobbits in the Shire aren’t even aware that an enemy is assaulting them. If you have the same experience as me, a lot of your friends ignore Satan. Some of them refuse to believe he even exists. As Tolkien shows, that’s dangerous!

But even the hobbits who recognize the power of Sauron have no ability to resist him. We Christians can’t stand on our own against Satan’s schemes.

What temptations are especially enticing for you? Where would you be without a Savior?

And when men, elves, dwarves, and hobbits struggle with all their might against the evil of Middle Earth, rewards aren’t the result. More struggles and constant suffering are the result. That seems a lot like our Christian lives under the cross.

Planet Earth needs a Savior. God provides one. He is Jesus. Middle Earth needs a savior. Tolkien provides one. Or maybe Tolkien provides three. I’m

And when men, elves, dwarves, and hobbits struggle with all their might against evil of Middle Earth, rewards aren’t the result. More struggles and constant suffering are the result. That seems a lot like our Christian lives under the cross.

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H I G H E R T H I N G S __

All photographs ©2003 New Line Productions, Inc.

convinced that our Lord’s saving work is so extensive that no single character in Middle Earth can represent Him. It takes three fictional saviors together—Gandalf, Frodo, and Aragorn—to represent the one real Jesus.

Remember in catechism class when our pastors talked about the three offices of Christ? Jesus is prophet, priest, and king. It seems to me that Gandalf is a lot like Christ the prophet, Frodo like Christ the priest, and Aragorn like Christ the king.

More than anyone else, Gandalf (the prophet) recalls the past and foretells the future. More importantly, like a real prophet, he is the one who constantly proclaims the truth. Gandalf also dies in his battle with the Balrog, just as Jesus died in his battle with Satan. Gandalf died in the place of elves, dwarves, and hobbits. Jesus died in place of us. Gandalf waged his battle on Mt. Celebdil. Jesus waged His battle on Mt. Calvary. Gandalf appeared alive three weeks after his death. Jesus appeared alive three days after His death.

If Gandalf shares a death and resurrection in common with Christ, Frodo shares a mission in common with Christ. Like a priest, Frodo brings a “sacrifice,” something that must be destroyed so that the world can live.

Frodo brings the ring as a sacrifice. Christ brings Himself. Christ’s burden, the cross, weighed Him down with all the evil of our world, past and present. Frodo’s burden, the ring, weighed him down with all the evil of Middle Earth. Still, like Christ, Frodo committed himself to completing the task, even though he expected to die doing it.

And Frodo is like those he saves. Gandalf and Aragorn seem extraordinary by nature—that could represent Christ’s divinity. But Frodo is like everybody else in Middle Earth. That makes me think of Christ’s human nature. Middle Earth needed both natures for salvation. So do we. In Jesus, those two natures are united in one person.

Maybe you have to use some imagination to see Gandalf as prophet and Frodo as priest. But it’s easy to see Aragorn as king. Like our Lord, Aragorn isn’t just any king. He is the king—the king who reigns over his people in love.

In the beginning, Aragorn hardly seems like a king. He first appears in obscurity at an inn in a little out-of-the-way town. Sound familiar? Further, Aragorn’s claim to kingship is nothing more than a broken blade from yesteryear. I can’t help but think of the broken stump of Jesse’s family tree that was Christ’s only claim to kingship.

Aragorn also lived like our Lord. He came not to be served but to serve.

Aragorn watched over the very people he would save, long before they realized he was their king. Our Lord does the same.

Finally, in a scene reminiscent of Jesus’ last three hours on the cross, Mordor’s shadow covered the whole earth while Aragorn walked the Paths of the Dead. But as it was at the cross, so it was in Middle Earth: the moment when evil seemed most in control was the moment that evil was last in control. Or, to be more precise, evil was never really in control. The victor was known from the beginning. In Middle Earth and on our earth, it’s just a matter of waiting through strange, wonderful, and unexpected events for the victory to be achieved!

Gandalf, Frodo, and Aragorn together provide us with a pretty good picture of Jesus. But their victory, no matter how creatively conceived, remains a fictional figment of J.R.R. Tolkien’s imagination. Jesus, on the other hand, is real. Jesus died and rose for you. And that makes fact even better than fiction!

Gandalf the prophet.

Frodo the priest.

Rev. Bruce Keseman, pastor of Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, Freeburg, Illinois, invites you to send him a list of the Biblical allusions that you notice in The Return of the King. Feel free to e-mail comments to him at ChristOurSav91@aol.com.

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Aragorn the king.

Ultimate Event

The

City of God Registration Information

C

hrist Academy is a twoweek residential program for high-school-aged men, founded by Concordia Theological Seminary. It is a place where students can study about Christ who is present in His Word and Sacraments and who died that their sins would be forgiven. It is a place where students can experience seminary life. It is a place where students can explore the possibility of someday becoming a pastor. @ @ @ @ @

Worship, the Center of the Experience Life Changing Studies Clarity of Direction Fun Activities June 20 - July 3, 2004

For more information, please call:

1-800-481-2155 www.ctsfw.edu ChristAcademy@mail.ctsfw.edu

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Io

MINING THE RICHES: A deeper look into Revelation 14:1-3 and worship

n my senior year I learned to love downhill skiing. As I toured a snow-covered college in Iowa, I blurted out a dumb question:“Is there any place to ski around here?”

The tour guide’s pretty face turned blank.“No. There are no mountains in Iowa. Everyone goes to Colorado.”

She was right about skiing, but wrong about Iowa. Every Sunday I found comfort and joy at a mountain right there in Iowa. God put that mountain there to help me, a poor, sinful college student.

St. John saw the same on a Sunday. The Lord revealed to Him what’s really going on in the Divine Service. The pews and altar become part of Mount Zion, where Christ Jesus, the Lamb of God, gathers His people to sing the new song. John saw the Lamb of God and the 144,000 baptized into His name together on Mount Zion.

Revelation often pictures Jesus as a Lamb. In chapter five John weeps because no one is worthy to open the scroll which contains the end of sin and death. But then the Lion of the tribe of Judah comes before the throne of God as a living, but slain Lamb. Only Christ crucified opens new life. Our Savior always is the sacrificed

Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

The Lamb leads His church. Jesus’ bride is arrayed as an army of 144,000. Numbers in Revelation are pictures (like Jesus’ seven eyes and seven horns in Rev. 5:6). 144,000 depicts the whole Christian Church on earth as a perfect army, 12,000 from each tribe (Rev. 7:4-8). Christ’s church daily battles Satan, the world’s way, and our own sin.

The Lamb meets with us at Mount Zion—God meets His people there to have mercy. In the Old Testament God met His people at the Tabernacle (“the tent of meeting”). They could always find God’s mercy there as sacrificed blood covered their sin. Finally, the Ark of the Covenant, the heart of the Tabernacle found a permanent home at the Temple on Mount Zion. The God-Man’s blood spilled for sin just on the outskirts of Zion.

Then, at the place of mercy in the presence of the God of mercy, John hears a voice from heaven, like many waters and thunder. In Rev. 1:15 Jesus’ voice sounded like many waters,

A Mountain in

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But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel (Hebrews 12:22-24 NKJV).

owa?

But through Jesus’ revelation to St. John, you see, you hear, and you join in the always new, always thundering song of Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away sin and gives life to you. He suffered, died, and now lives. Yes, I may suffer now, but I live in Him, too.

No matter how lonely or broken, sinful or tired you may feel, every Sunday Mount Zion comes to you hidden under pastor and people who don’t look or sound like much of an army. But God’s merciful mountain is there—in Iowa or wherever—when you’re gathered around the Lamb, singing the new song of heaven.

Rev. David Fleming is pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

By Rev. David Fleming

and here (and in Rev. 19:6) the heavenly saints sound the same as the Savior. Even the church on earth echoes Christ’s voice.“He who hears you, hears Me” (Luke 10:16), Jesus told the ones He sent to preach. Christ preaches at faithful congregations. His voice baptizes, forgives, and makes bread and wine His body and blood at your church.

John hears a song—a new song. It’s not new like so many products today which are “new and improved.” Even though it is as ancient as God’s first promise of Christ crushing Satan’s head, it is always made new, recreating, forgiving, and giving new life.

The old dirge of the world is the terrible toll of death’s domination: they lived, they died, they’re dead. Throughout history it’s always the same tragic song: they lived, they died, they’re dead. But Christ’s sacrifice sings victory over sin and its curse. He lived, He died, He’s alive so you live in Him. Who gets to join in? Only the redeemed, only those who have been bought with the blood of the Lamb, only those baptized into Christ—living branches of the True Vine who still drink in His forgiveness—can learn the new song. Don’t expect the world to sing it. It’s fallen in love with the death dirge.

Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth (Revelation 14:1-3 NKJV).

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Leading the

Higher Thi magine for a moment what it must be like to be blind. Everything is black, all the time.You can’t look in a mirror and see your reflection or gaze upon the faces of your friends. Driving a car is out of the question. Getting dressed or combing your hair can be a challenge.

Everyday activities sighted people take for granted are oftentimes difficult for people who are blind, except when it comes to reading.

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Ever since the invention of the Braille alphabet in the early 1800’s, blind people have been able to read books, magazines and other materials like sighted people.The only difference is blind people read with their hands instead of their eyes. And, blind people, like everyone else, crave good reading material.

An insightful Lutheran pastor saw the need to offer good, reading materials for the blind. Over 80 years ago, his insight resulted in the founding of the Lutheran Blind Mission and the Lutheran Library for the Blind, now the largest Christian library serving blind people in North America. Always looking for new reading materials to add to their collection, Lynne Borchelt, manager for the mission and library, was especially intrigued when she received a copy of Higher Things magazine in her mailbox during the summer of 2003.

“I found the content of the magazine to be especially engaging because it is aimed at young Lutherans,” remembered Borchelt.“There are few good Lutheran publications out there targeted specifically for young people and offer the highquality theological articles that Higher Things does.” Borchelt knew that if Higher Things could be translated into Braille, there would be an audience ready and willing to read it.The first thing Borchelt did was contact Rev.Todd Peperkorn, publisher and editor-in-chief of Higher Things magazine.

“When I called Rev. Peperkorn and told him my idea about translating Higher Things into Braille, he was very excited,” recalled Borchelt.“We both thought that if we could get this project off the ground, it would prove to be a wonderful Christian resource for blind young people in the Lutheran

church and beyond.”

Rev. Peperkorn enthusiastically granted Borchelt’s request. The next step was to find a group of people who would be willing to volunteer their time to put the quarterly magazine into Braille and then assemble it for distribution.

“For the last year, I had been working with a group of home-schooled students who would come to the Mission and help package and send out Braille books our readers had requested. Since all the students were the age Higher Things targets, I thought they might be interested in helping out with this project,” remembered Borchelt.

Borchelt couldn’t have been more correct.

In fact, when she approached the students, they already were very familiar with Higher Things.

It turned out that several of them had been discussing articles from the magazine and using the accompanying Bible studies in their Sunday school classes at church.

“When the kids found out the project involved putting Higher Things into Braille, they jumped at the chance to help out,” explained Borchelt.“They knew this was an outstanding magazine.They wanted to give blind young people the same opportunity they had of reading a magazine that contains such rich theological articles.”

And so the project began.

Rev. Peperkorn sent Lynne the magazine articles on disk.Then the disk was sent to a person in Illinois who uses a computer program that changes the written text into Braille. Next, the disk containing the converted copy was sent to California where the Braille text was printed onto both sides of a zinc

ings

By Pam Knepper

Blind to

plate.These zinc plates were then mailed back to Lynne at the Mission. At this point, the homeschooled students got involved.

The students each had a different job to do.

Several would take pieces of paper and place page numbers on them.These pages were then put inside the folded zinc plates and placed into a roller pressing the Braille letters into the paper. Once this step was completed, several other students put the magazine pages in order, punched a spiral binding on the pages, and mailed out the magazine. All in all, it takes four volunteers to complete about twelve magazines in an hour.

“It is amazing how much work goes into one Braille Higher Things magazine,” commented Gabe Maichel, a 12-year-old home-schooled student who is part of the volunteer team.“I am so glad I can help out with this important project.”

Borchelt says that so far the spring and summer 2003 issues of Higher Things have been completed and mailed out, with the Fall 2003 issue just completed.

“I think it is great to have kids enthused about volunteering to help other youth,” said Borchelt.“We couldn’t complete this project without them.”

To date, 58 blind people have subscribed to the Braille version of Higher Things. Borchelt says the response has been very positive, and she is confident the subscription number will continue to rise as more people find out Higher Things is now available in Braille.

“Higher Things is a great magazine with excellent articles about what we as Lutherans believe,” said Nathan Maichel, a 14-year-old home-schooled student who is part of the volunteer team that helps convert Higher Things into Braille.“I am glad to be able to put Higher Things into Braille for people who are blind and give them something exciting to read.”

Pam Knepper, of Seattle, Washington, is the wife of Rev. Grant Knepper and the marketing/grants director of Higher Things magazine.

She is also a freelance writer and mother to 4-year-old daughter, Renee.

The Lutheran Blind Mission offers a Lutheran Library for the Blind offering Braille and largeprint materials, including more than 3,000 books and periodicals, audiocassettes of books, magazines, and study and devotional materials. All are free of charge. Financial gifts, prayer and the work of 800 volunteers in 60 work centers support this mission.

Each month volunteers distribute 2,000 Braille magazines, 6,500 large-type publications, and 1,200 cassettes.They also provide religious-education materials, including VBS resources. All materials allow blind and visually impaired people to read about and share the light of salvation in Jesus Christ.

For more information about volunteering, giving a donation, or to request a free catalog of Library for the Blind materials, call (800) 433-3954, Ext. 1322, e-mail blind.library@lcms.org, or go to www.blindmission.org.

W I N T E R 2 0 0 3 __ 23

H I G H E R T H I N G S __ 24

C h r i s t o n C a m p u s 2 • J u n e 2 8 - J u l y 1 , 2 0 0 4 • U n i ve r s i t y L u t h e r a n C h a p e l , M i n n e a p o l i s, M N

2

A Higher Things Conference on Campus Ministry

Are you a campus pastor?

Involved in campus missions?

Interested in starting a campus ministry?

Then this Conference is for You! With outstanding speakers, a special workshop on the basics of campus ministry, and lots of opportunities to share ideas and resources with others at the forefront of campus ministry, this is one conference you will not want to miss.

Who should attend? Pastors, vicars, DCEs, DCOs, and laypersons working or interested in working in campus ministry.

When? June 28 through July 1, 2004 Where? University Lutheran Chapel, Minneapolis, MN Cost? Registration is $65 (Early Bird Special before April 15 - $55)

Dr. Craig Parton,“Bringing the Evangel to the Church and to the Campus” Author of The Defense Never Rests and former Campus Crusades Director who came to understand the Gospel through Lutheranism.

Rev. Klemet Preus,“I Peter and the Campus Ministry Context” Pastor of Glory of Christ Lutheran Church in Plymouth, MN, President of Higher Things, Inc., & Former Campus Pastor

Rev. Mark Sell,“Lutheran Leadership in the College Setting” Sr. Editor, Academic, Professional and Consumer Books, Concordia Publishing House.

For more information, contact Rev. David Kind at 612-331-2747 or kindfamily@yahoo.com.

Downloadable brochures and registration forms are available at www.higherthings.org.

letters to the

editor

continued from page 7 teaching confirmation classes for a couple of years. I agree completely with your comments in this article. At the end of the article you asked if you had missed anything. I don’t know if I would characterize this as being missed, but I do have something I would appreciate you commenting on.

There has always been a conscious effort in our church to push toward the youngest possible youth leaders and teachers. The thought, of course, is the younger the leader, the more able they are to relate to youth. As a result of this mindset, many middle-aged

would-be leaders shy away from youth involvement. What do you think about this? How important is this age issue?

-Todd The age of the youth leader is not nearly as important as their faith. If a youth leader is faithful to God’s Word and cares about the young people of the church, he could be 20, 40, or 100. (I’d love to see a grandma be the youth leader!)

I think a lot of the preconceptions about age have to do with the fact that we often presume that a youth leader must be like a teenager. Frankly, I just

don’t buy it. A youth leader needs to care about teens, and be willing to participate in activities they wouldn’t do on their own.

But it is a mistake for an adult to act like a high school student, and I think young people see right through it.

–Pastor Peperkorn

If you would like to submit comments or letters about any of the articles, or anything to do with Higher Things, please email editor@higherthings.org.

W I N T E R 2 0 0 3 __ 25

Show: “The Simpsons” Airs: Sundays, 8:00 p.m., FOX Critique/Summary: Generally acknowledged as the best satire on TV, with fresh writing still providing line after quotable line. Note that I said “satire.” If this is not kept in mind, the antics are sure to offend not only your mom and dad, but even you. As it is, anything is fair game—which is both a strength and a weakness. For example, religion is often a key component: the Simpson family assumes God’s existence, prays to him, and worships him every Sunday. However, the Church, Christians, and the ministry all receive their share of stinging critique. That said, this show is not for kids, and maybe not for teens either. After all, we should indeed test all things (1 Thess.

5:21), but we should not test our faith and its Giver, lest we fall (and others because of us).

World-View: Marital fidelity. Unconditional love. Nothing is sacred. Rebelliousness. Humor in the absurdity of everyday life. In other words, it’s a mixed bag.

Objectionable Material: Some profanities. Disrespect of authority figures (parents, police, teachers): see fourth commandment.

A fairly recent episode,“Queer Eye for the Yellow Guy,” finds Homer and Marge separated. Though they eventually reconcile (as they always wonderfully do), in the meantime Homer shares an apartment with two sodomites/homosexuals. It is disturbing to see “The Simpsons” buy into the homosexual agenda in its attempts to normalize this sinful perversion. If this is a preview of things to come, I’ll stop watching this otherwise intelligent show, and I would hope you’d join me.

Recommendation: Pending (see previous paragraph).

H I G H E R T H I N G S __ 26

Show: “King of the Hill” Airs: Sundays, 7:30 p.m., FOX Critique/Summary: The all-American Hills live in Arlen, Texas: Dad Hank Hill, Mom Peggy, Son Bobby. I haven’t watched it as much as “The Simpsons,” but one episode I caught was a pleasant surprise (“Reborn to be Wild”)! Hank forces Bobby to attend a Methodist youth group. Bobby protests that it’s going to be uncool. Hank responds:“You know what’s not cool. Hell is not cool.” But the members of this youth group exceed Bobby’s standards of cool: they skateboard, they have tattoos, piercings, long hair, and the coolest youth pastor yet (Pastor K). They play rock, all while shouting,“Praise Him,” and praying to God as if he were just one of the homies. Bobby loves and imitates all of this: he reads his “Extreme Teen Bible” and sports a “Satan Sucks” t-shirt. Hank’s plan backfired on him. Finally, when Bobby sneaks out of the house to rap at a Messiah Fest concert, Hank’s had enough and snatches Bobby off the fest-stage. (Says Hank:“You’re not making Christianity better; you’re just making rock worse.”) Though Pr. K protests Hank’s actions, the youth pastor’s dad (a roadie) reminds him of the fourth commandment in supporting Hank. The episode ends with Hank reminding Bobby of some of his previous, now discarded, hobbies: the physical remains are stored in a box in the garage. His closing point: “I don’t want the Lord to end up in this box” as another passing, lame fad. This is great! Obviously the depiction of youth group life

By Rev. Eric R. Andrae The Simpsons and King of the Hill TM and © FOX and its related entities. All rights reserved.

SpongeBob © 1999 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Dragon Ball Z and all logos, character names and distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks of TOEI ANIMATION.

and “contemporary” pop Christianity is a bit over the top, but to a great extent rings true. For where is the Word and Sacrament, where is the trans-generational Sunday worship, where is the counter-culturalness (Romans 12:1-2)?! Granted, Hank doesn’t explicitly makes these points, but the clear implication is that Pr. K and his boys lack substance, and the gospel of Christ’s cross and forgiveness, for that matter. Christ is much more than the t-shirt Bobby wears; He is much more than a soon-to-be-forgotten fad.

World-View: Family involvement and love, specifically the role of father to son. The positive, transformative, and unique nature of the Christian faith. Standing up for what you believe. Dare to be Christian!

Recommendation: Five stars!

Show: “Dragonball” Airs: Monday-Thursday 6:30 p.m, Cartoon Network Critique/Summary: This martial arts series hit has gained a rabid following over the past few years, as Japanese animation has become increasingly popular stateside.

This is most definitely not American—this certainly isn’t Disney; it isn’t even “The Simpsons.” It has a dark, foreboding tone, much different than American cartoons. The “good guys” display not only strength and skill, but more importantly, fairness, courage, and mercy, against the murderous treachery of the “bad guys.”

World-View: Clear demarcation and victory of good over evil. Non-violence.

Recommendation: Interesting, if a bit slow.

Show: “SpongeBob SquarePants” Airs: Monday-Friday, 5:00 & 8:00 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 10:00 a.m.; Nickelodeon Critique/Summary: Bob is, you guessed it, a sponge with square pants. He lives under the sea with his buds: Patrick, the starfish, Gary, the snail, Mr. Crabs, the crab, Squidward, the squid, and others. This kids’ series is fun and funny, light and engaging.

The show follows their adventures and misadventures, with wit and charm. And, to quote Forrest Gump,“That’s all I’ve got to say about that.”

World-View: Life is fun, exciting, and charming! SpongeBob is loyal friend and a trustworthy employee.

Recommendation: Lie back, forget about homework and girl/boy problems for a while, and smile.

Rev. Eric R. Andrae is campus pastor of First Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

W I N T E R 2 0 0 3 __ 27

HIGHER THINGS

E-Mail Lists @ Higher Things News E-Mail List Receive information via e-mail from Higher Things, Inc. about conferences, retreats, publications, web sites, e-mail lists, and leadership training opportunities for youth.To subscribe, send an e-mail to: HTNews-on@lists.HigherThings.org

@ The Mouth House Mouth House... the place where you can make new friends while talking about the silly and the serious.Topics range from politics to ketchup, and it’s always amusing.To subscribe, send an e-mail to: MouthHouse-on@lists.higherthings.org

@ Didache: Q&A for Youth “Didache” is the greek word for “teaching.”This group is a forum focused specifically on questions of a theological or religious nature. All youth are welcomed to ask questions or comment on other questions. In addition, several pastors have been enlisted to help when needed.To subscribe, send an e-mail to: Didache-on@lists.higherthings.org

@ The Lutheran Student Union The Lutheran Student Union is an e-mail discussion list for college students. It is a gathering place of activity where college students can interconnect, discuss Lutheran theology, and talk about issues they face on campus.To subscribe, send an e-mail to: LSU-on@lists.higherthings.org

HIGHER THINGS

News & Notes Subscription Rates going up in 2004 Art for the Church Year Now is the time for you to renew your individual or group subscriptions to Higher Things magazine. Starting in January 2004, our rates will be going up to $15 for an individual subscription, and $12 for group subscriptions. To find out when your subscription expires, look at your name on the address box or e-mail Subscriptions@higherthings.org.

Registration Now Open for City of God Conference H I G H E R T H I N G S __ 28

Registration is now open! You may download the registration forms at www.higherthings.org.

Registration is only $129 per person, plus $120 for housing and meals.

Pre-conference registration will open January 2, 2004 and close on March 30, 2004 or when capacity of 650 is reached.

We expect this conference to fill quickly, so please register early.

Thanks to the generous donation of Mr. Ed Riojas (the artist for our cover), Higher Things is in the process of producing a CD of line art for the entire church year. Over 200 high-quality drawings will soon be available. Go to www.higherthings.org for more information.

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Ex Cathedra From Advice to Absurdity Dear Ex-Cathedra, The other day at youth group we had a discussion (argument) about what we should, and shouldn’t, wear to church. What’s the big deal?

Doesn’t God just care that we’re there?

—Jayme (no age given) Dear Jayme, Heck, even gas stations have dress codes: “No shirt, no shoes, no service.”

Dressing appropriately is a way that we show respect, not only to God, but also to others. How would you feel if the best man came to your wedding wearing ragged jeans and a dirty t-shirt? I doubt you would think,“Well, the only thing that matters is that he came.” You would feel that his choice in clothing was disrespectful toward you, and you’d be right!

I’m not saying that we need to wear tuxedoes or formal dresses to Church. This is not the Golden Globe awards. However, since I have seen my share of inappropriate dress at Church, here are two simple tips.

Your clothing should be clean and neat in appearance.Not tattered or excessively worn.(Pants that are worn through in the knees are not “holy”!) In other words, dress like you are really entering the presence of God. Dress modestly. Do not wear clothing that draws attention to you, or to your, uh, body parts. I’m not saying that you have to wear long-sleeved dresses that come down to your ankles. But tight-fitting or revealing clothing on men or women is not good for church. The last thing you want people thinking when you walk up to communion is “Nice, uh, body part.”

—EC Dear Ex Cathedra, I am a youth director in a medium-sized congregation. I am constantly barraged with criticisms that the youth are not involved enough in our worship services. In addition, often I am told that we should do an annual Youth Sunday.

Any expert advice?

—”George”

Dear George, Okay, so what constitutes sufficient involvement for youth in a worship service? Is it not enough that they are confessing their sins, receiving absolution, hearing God’s Word, and receiving Christ’s Body and Body, not to mention “praying, praising and giving thanks”?

Unfortunately, there are a lot of well-meaning people who just don’t understand that it should be enough for youth to sit at Jesus’ feet like Mary did and hear that their sins are forgiven. Rather, some think they should get up with Martha and busy themselves with something which seems more important or “relevant.”

“Youth Sundays,” in my opinion, are a really stupid idea. Doesn’t the concept in itself suggest that regular services are not relevant for teenagers, and that they need something more? The whole idea of congregational worship is that everyone comes together regardless of age, race, gender, or shoe size because one thing we all have in common is that we are sinners needing God’s forgiveness.

If you get stuck doing such a service, tell the adults that they are not invited. The service, after all, is for the youth, and apparently what is relevant for them can not possibly be relevant for adults as well. Then include elements in the service that will actually minister to the spiritual needs of your youth—you know—use the hymnal.

Have fun storming the castle.

—EC Dear Ex Cathedra, Will there be animals in heaven?

—Samantha (15) Dear Samantha, Well, definitely not cats. Think about it this way.

Someone has to change the litter boxes, and for that person, heaven would be totally bogus, and therefore, not be heavenly.

With all certainty, I will say this: In heaven there will be a Lamb. But beyond that, we get into speculation about things of which God has not told us, and since He has not told us, we cannot possibly know the answer.

—EC If you wish to have your questions forwarded to Ex Cathedra, please email them to editor@higherthings.org.

W I N T E R 2 0 0 3 __ 29

“If you want to engage in a marvelous, great worship of God and honor Christ’s passion rightly, then remember and participate in the sacrament.”

Martin Luther What is the Sacrament of the Altar?

It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink.

Where is this written?

The holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and St. Paul write: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said:“Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you.This do in remembrance of Me.” In the same way also he took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying,“Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.

This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

H I G H E R T H I N G S __ 30

What is the benefit of this eating and drinking?

These words,“Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins,” show us that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.

ruest and purest worship is nothing more than faith. It abides in the hearts of the baptized. It receives all things from God. A disciple leans back with his shoes off while God kneels to wash his smelly feet, for our Lord came to serve. He is the Lord who gives, who heals, who restores, and who forgives.This is how He would rule in your life. It is how He would bring you through death and into His life.

Truest and purest worship, then, is reception of God’s gifts.

This is not usually how we think of worship. Why? It is because the English word “worship” means to give reverence to, to honor, or to respect someone or something. It is something we do. We honor men by serving them. When our British cousins address the governor as “Your Worship,” they mean he is worthy of honor and praise.They are submitting to him and placing themselves at his service. He gives them orders and they do his bidding. But what does it mean to worship God? Certainly God is worthy of honor and praise, but God is not like the men He saved. He is not honored and praised in the same way as human kings. He became Man to suffer and die, to give His life as a ransom, not to be served or to make us obedient.The most appropriate way to give reverence to Christ is to call upon Him to be God, to be our Savior.That is why it’s higher praise to say “God save us”—”hosanna”— rather than “praise the Lord”—”hallelujah.”

We give up our hallelujahs during Lent, but we never give up our hosannas. Hosanna is greater praise than hallelujah because it is specific to who God is and rightly asks Him to fulfill His Word for us. He says His mercy endures forever and we hold Him to it. He loves to give Himself to men. He delivers, rescues, and redeems. His children harvest where they did not sow.They draw water

T

from wells they did not dig. And they receive gifts they did not earn. God is gracious and loves to serve. We worship Him by being served by Him. We receive good things from God throughout the service on Sunday mornings. God forgives our sins in the absolution. He speaks to us in preaching and in His Word. He hears and answers our prayers. In all those things God feeds and nourishes our faith. But nowhere is His service to us more evident than when He gives Himself to us as food and drink.

Jesus serves us, but this is not His humiliation. He took our flesh and became Man

by His power. He humbled Himself in flesh so He could fulfill the Law and die for us.

Now His humiliation has ended, but His humanity has not. He still has a body. He is risen in His body and soul. He joins Himself, true God and true Man, in the flesh, to our flesh, under bread and wine. As God and as Man, He serves us. He enters into us to make us His temple. He forms us into the place of His gracious presence and the seat of His mercy. Our worship is to receive Him. This Body given, this Blood shed is for you. It removes your sins. It proclaims His death. It witnesses His resurrection. It joins you to Him and to the saints in heaven and on earth. It is what He wants you to have, what He wants you to do. It is the worship He Himself has instituted. He is wellpleased with it. For in it, He bestows life and salvation, and restores the goodness of creation. In it, we worship by receiving. + + + The Rev. David Petersen is pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Luther Quote: The Great Confession, Luther’s works, vol. 38 : Word and Sacrament IV (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald & H.T. Lehmann, Ed.). Page 106. Fortress Press: Philadelphia.

By Rev. David Petersen

God as Man to Serve Men

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Information Inside Front Cover

“Christ in Middle Earth” Bible Study Leader’s Guide Rev. Darrin Kohrt Begin your study of God’s word by singing or praying TLH #367 or LW #284 In his analysis of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Pastor Keseman relates three of the central characters, Gandalf, Frodo and Aragorn to the prophetic, priestly and kingly offices of Christ. A closer look at these offices will help us to better understand how Christ accomplished our salvation and how a movie like Lord of the Rings can help to visualize these events.

1.

Pastor Keseman compares Gandalf to Christ’s role as prophet.

A prophet’s duty was to proclaim the truth in word and deed. How did Jesus fulfill this duty according to Matthew 4:23?

Jesus preached about the kingdom of God and performed miracles to validate that He was the Messiah.

What kind of reaction did Gandalf often receive from proclaiming the truth?

Gandalf was often rebuffed or persecuted by friend and foe alike when he spoke openly and truthfully.

Read Acts 7:51-52. What was the fate of many prophets?

Many were persecuted and put to death for proclaiming the Word.

What was the fate of Jesus?

Jesus was also killed because of His unwavering proclamation of the truth.

2.

Frodo is compared to Christ’s priestly office.

Frodo was willing to bear the ring to the end. What did the ring represent?

The ring represented the power of evil. It could not be used for good, but only unrighteousness. It had to be destroyed.

A priest makes intercession for the people. How did Christ make intercession for us? See 2 Corinthian 5:21, 1 John 2:2 Christ bore the guilt of our sin to the end (on the cross) and thus freed us from the power of evil and the evil one.

Throughout the movie it was clear that only Frodo could bear the ring. Why could Christ alone bear our sins? See 1 Peter 1:1819, Psalm 49:7 Only Christ as true man and true God could take our place under the law and suffer and die for us as a sufficient ransom for our sins. Only Christ could overcome sin, death and Satan.

3.

The character of Aragorn relates to the kingly office.

A true king rules through humility and service. In what way did Aragorn exhibit these characteristics?

Aragorn did not attempt to seize the throne by force. He humbly accepted the duty others bestowed upon him.

What about Christ? See Mark 10:45.

Christ made no grabs for power, but humbly gave Himself over in complete sacrifice.

Near the end of his coronation, Aragorn had everyone bow to the Hobbits. Though seemingly lowly, they received great honor. In what way does our King, Jesus, bestow upon us the highest honor? See 2 Corinthians 8:9.

Believers are made “rich” at the expense of His poverty.

According to Ephesians 1:18, what are these “riches”?

The blessings of eternal life in heaven.

“Christ in Middle Earth” Bible Study Rev. Darrin Kohrt Begin your study of God’s word by singing or praying TLH #367 or LW #284 In his analysis of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Pastor Keseman relates three of the central characters, Gandalf, Frodo and Aragorn to the prophetic, priestly and kingly offices of Christ. A closer look at these offices will help us to better understand how Christ accomplished our salvation and how a movie like Lord of the Rings can help to visualize these events.

1.

Pastor Keseman compares Gandalf to Christ’s role as prophet.

A prophet’s duty was to proclaim the truth in word and deed. How did Jesus fulfill this duty according to Matthew 4:23?

What kind of reaction did Gandalf often receive from proclaiming the truth?

Read Acts 7:51-52. What was the fate of many prophets?

What was the fate of Jesus?

2.

Frodo is compared to Christ’s priestly office.

Frodo was willing to bear the ring to the end. What did the ring represent?

A priest makes intercession for the people. How did Christ make intercession for us? See 2 Corinthian 5:21, 1 John 2:2 Throughout the movie it was clear that only Frodo could bear the ring. Why could Christ alone bear our sins? See 1 Peter 1:1819, Psalm 49:7

3.

The character of Aragorn relates to the kingly office.

A true king rules through humility and service. In what way did Aragorn exhibit these characteristics?

What about Christ? See Mark 10:45.

Near the end of his coronation, Aragorn had everyone bow to the Hobbits. Though seemingly lowly, they received great honor. In what way does our King, Jesus, bestow upon us the highest honor? See 2 Corinthians 8:9.

According to Ephesians 1:18, what are these “riches”?

“Out of Sync” Bible Study Leaders’ Guide Rev. Glenn R.A. Niemann Dr. Resch is surprised to discover that of a large number of teens surveyed, a huge majority thought that current/popular music styles “didn’t belong in church.” She comments that in the Divine Service “we are gathered in the name and the remembrance of Jesus, and the music for that time and place needs to flow in sync with that high and holy calling.”

“We are gathered in the name & the remembrance of …” Who, exactly?

A.

In a magazine interview, the musician Amy Grant said, “There are songs that can go both ways. I call these God-girlfriend songs – meaning (that) you are either singing it to God or to your boyfriend or girlfriend.”1 Granted, the example of Amy Grant is already somewhat dated, but with “hindsight being 20/20” one can see her as an example of using “Contemporary” Christian (?) music as a mere step-board to wider accepted – and far more profitable – “pop music.” Cite also Jessica Simpson of MTV’s “Newlyweds” fame – yet another example of a “Gospel” singer selling out for fame (cf. Matthew 6:24). For further discussion, try the singer “Pink’s” recent lyric AND video content: “If God is a DJ, then life is the dance floor, and love is the rhythm, and you are the music.”

To Whom does Scripture direct our praise?

Solus Christus! (d’uh! ;-) 1 Chronicles 16:23-36 “Sing to the LORD, tell of His salvation … for all the gods of the peoples are idols … tremble before Him” Psalm 29:2 ; 95:1-2 Note: Psalm 95 is the basis for the Venite from The Order of Matins; mention how the majority of the Liturgy is from Scripture … read the intro page from LW. Matthew 4:10 What was the temptation? What was the “reward” offered? What was Christ’s response – and from where did He get it (sola Scriptura!)

Revelation 5:8-14 Note not only to Whom heavenly praise is directed, but why – its content primarily has to do with His all-atoning work of salvation.

B.

In America alone there have been more than 1.5 million hymns published in approximately 4,700 hymnals. This means that the hymns which “made the cut” for TLH and LW (1188 in number) comprise a mere .0006 of that total number (even if we published a YEARLY hymnal, we couldn’t keep pace with the passing whims of the world!) The world is flooded with hymns, but – as with any flood – lots of trash and raw sewage are floating around in the water. How do the following texts illustrate a worship that is “out of sync”?

As you read these, ask the students to consider the following questions: What makes a hymn a hymn and not just a “song” ? i.e., to whom is it primarily directed – to the Lord, or to the listener?

Exodus 32:1-10,17-20, 30-35 What were the people’s primary excuses the golden calf? Cf. vs. 6, i.e. “eat & drink … and play.” Note how Joshua couldn’t recognize the “new” worship style … and Moses’ – and God’s – reactions to it.

I Kings 12:25-33 Shortly after the nations of Judah and Israel went their separate ways, the Israelite king Jeroboam established two novel “worship sites” to keep his citizens from making the pilgrimage south to worship at the Jerusalem temple. In a sneaky attempt to combine a “culturally sensitive” style with Yahweh-substance, Jeroboam placed golden calves at these sites as symbols of Yahweh – the “I AM” God. The LORD, however, did not take kindly to His divine Name being attached to the un-divine bovine of Israel’s pagan neighbors. Note the parallel between this and modern-day man’s medium of musical “golden calves.”

Luke 18:9-14 Note the emphases of these two men before the Lord’s altar: the Pharisee on his works (i.e., a “theology of glory”), and the Tax Collector on his need for forgiveness (i.e., a “theology of the Cross”). Emphasize & discuss the meaning of vs. 14.

Revelation 22:8-9 In addition to the warning against worship of the angels, how does this text warn against worshiping the messenger (i.e., beautiful, attractive, or skillful performers; the word “angel” means “messenger”) rather than the message?

Charisma, 7-7-86, pg. 21 Rev. Chad L. Bird, “Why Lutherans Sing What They Sing,” @ 2003 Evangelical Lutheran-Liturgical Press, pg.13

“Flow in sync with that high and holy calling …” How, exactly?

A.

Commenting on Isaiah 12:2, “For the LORD God is my Strength and Song,” Luther writes, “I have no one to sing and chant about but Christ, in Whom alone I have everything.” What do the following texts say about the fulfillment of this “high and holy calling”?

Psalm 51:15-17 From Whom does “right worship” (literally, “ortho-doxy”) come? In other words, Who “opens [our] lips, [that our] mouth shall declare [His] praise”? Again, note how this passage is the basis for the opening versicles of Matins & Vespers – yet another example of the Scriptural basis of The Liturgy.

Psalm 106:12 (see also II Corinthians 4:13) Note the order: Word > faith > praise. How are we tempted to reverse this order? “If only we would conduct our “praise” in a certain way (to attract either youth, yuppies, or “yellow toothed,” specifically) then we’ll attract the desired “audience,” and they’ll stick around to hear the word.” How is this contrary to the will of the Lord? (cf. Isaiah 55:10-11) Acts 2:42, 44 What, precisely, was the Apostolic doctrine & communion? In the Greek text, literally “THE breaking of bread (Holy Communion) and THE prayers” – i.e., a liturgical Order of Service was present in the 1 st Century Christian Church.

Colossians 3:16-17 “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly.” How? By teaching AND admonishing, VIA the singing of psalms (!), and (lit.) “hymns THAT ARE spiritual songs.” What makes a hymn a “Spiritual song”? cf. Colossians 3:1-2.

B.

Dr. Resch notes “the choices that Pastors and musicians make about church music are not based on pleasing everybody by trying to include all of the musical styles they like.” Why? John 6:68-69 Our emphasis should always be on Christ and His Word – alone!

John 17:13-18 “Be in the world, but not OF the world.” We are sanctified by the truth – which is His Word. The hymnody and music of The Church – His Church - must always reflect this, and NOT the changing whims (untruths) of man.

Ephesians 4:1-6 (see also Romans 12:5) Bear patiently with one another as One Body – i.e., don’t gear the music towards any one generation only (i.e., “Barney” for the kids, “Britney” for the youth, “The Beatles” for the yuppies, and “Big Band” for the grandparents – can you imagine such a schizoid “worship” service!?!), but direct the Divine Service to the benefit & edifying of the Body as a Whole – i.e., Romans 12:4-5 I Corinthians 12:12-26 ; 14:40 Same emphasis as above passage; note how modern – and ever changing! – styles of music tend to divide not only the family, but the community as a whole. Yet vs. 24b-25 “God has so composed the body … that there may be no division … but that the members have the same care for one another.”

“Out of Sync” Bible Study Rev. Glenn R.A. Niemann Dr. Resch is surprised to discover that of a large number of teens surveyed, a huge majority thought that current/popular music styles “didn’t belong in church.” She comments that in the Divine Service “we are gathered in the name and the remembrance of Jesus, and the music for that time and place needs to flow in sync with that high and holy calling.”

“We are gathered in the name & the remembrance of …” Who, exactly?

A.

In a magazine interview, the musician Amy Grant said, “There are songs that can go both ways. I call these God-girlfriend songs – meaning (that) you are either singing it to God or to your boyfriend or girlfriend.”1

To Whom does Scripture direct our praise?

1 Chronicles 16:23-36 Psalm 29:2 ; 95:1-2

Matthew 4:10 Revelation 5:8-14 B.

In America alone there have been more than 1.5 million hymns published in approximately 4,700 hymnals. This means that the hymns which “made the cut” for TLH and LW (1188 in number) comprise a mere .0006 of that total number (even if we published a YEARLY hymnal, we couldn’t keep pace with the passing whims of the world!) The world is flooded with hymns, but – as with any flood – lots of trash and raw sewage are floating around in the water. How do the following texts illustrate a worship that is “out of sync”?

Exodus 32:1-10,17-20, 30-35 I Kings 12:25-33

Luke 18:9-14 Revelation 22:8-9

Charisma, 7-7-86, pg. 21 Rev. Chad L. Bird, “Why Lutherans Sing What They Sing,” @ 2003 Evangelical Lutheran-Liturgical Press, pg.13

“Flow in sync with that high and holy calling …” How, exactly?

A.

Commenting on Isaiah 12:2, “For the LORD God is my Strength and Song,” Luther writes, “I have no one to sing and chant about but Christ, in Whom alone I have everything.” What do the following texts say about the fulfillment of this “high and holy calling”?

Psalm 51:15-17

Psalm 106:12 (see also II Corinthians 4:13) Acts 2:42, 44 Colossians 3:16-17

B.

Dr. Resch notes “the choices that Pastors and musicians make about church music are not based on pleasing everybody by trying to include all of the musical styles they like.” Why? John 6:68-69

John 17:13-18 Ephesians 4:1-6 (see also Romans 12:5)

I Corinthians 12:12-26 ; 14:40

“Together Again” Bible Study Leader’s Guide Rev. Mark Selby 1.

There is a problem with man’s relationship to God: sin. The people of God in the Old Testament (the Israelites) were given a reminder of this in the area of uncleanness. Not only did God set forth clean and unclean things such as animals, people could become unclean by illness.

A.

Read Leviticus 13:1. What illness is mentioned?

Leprosy (NIV translates it as “infectious skin disease”). “Leprosy” is probably the more familiar translation, recalling its results (Lev. 13:45-46) and Jesus’ healing of it in Luke 17:11ff.

There were different forms of this illness. What are they according to the following verses: Leviticus 1:10, 18, 24, 29.

Symptoms included raw skin, boils, burns, sores on the head and chin.

When it was determined by the priest that a person was unclean with this disease, what happened to the person according to Leviticus 13:45-46?

They were excluded from the camp. This also meant that they were excluded from the tabernacle (temple) and courtyard, where God was present. They couldn’t mingle with the clean people and had to live outside the camp, alone. Their separation from God would cause them to grieve by tearing their clothes, having uncombed hair, and partially covering their face. They would also have to warn others of their condition, by crying out, “Unclean! Unclean!”

Even one’s house and belongings could become “sick” and unclean with a certain type of leprosy. Read Leviticus 13:47-50.

What would we call this sort of “leprosy” today?

This was probably referring to mildew, which is how the NIV translates it.

B.

We are called to be children of God. Yet, an inherited disease remains in us, called sin. As the priest examined people, in what way are we examined? (Romans 7:7) We are examined by the Law, which reveals to us that we are sinful.

Review the three main “uses” of the Law from your Catechism. Which of the three uses does this passage speak of?

God uses His Law to examine us, Showing Our Sin. It serves as a mirror, reflection of God’s holiness on our uncleanness.

We do not like hearing God’s Law. But, for what does it prepare you? What need do you have which the Law shows you?

God’s Law shows us that we are separated from God, and thereby drives us to see our need for the Savior.

2.

Sometimes people were healed of these infectious diseases. Jesus healed ten of them in Luke 17.

A.

To whom does He send them (Luke 17:14)?

To the priests so that they can examine them.

Read Leviticus 14:1-2. Why did Jesus send them there?

This was what was prescribed by the Old Testament Law regarding such things.

Read vs. 3-20 What do the seven days remind you of? What about the eighth day, when the healed man was supposed to sacrifice two lambs?

There were 7 days of creation, including the day of rest. Thus the eighth day reminds us of the new creation God has made in Christ, in which we are all completely clean of the stain of sin. If time permits, point out to the students that blood on the ear, finger, toe can represent hearing the Word of God, acting according to God’s Word, and walking according to the Word of God (the blood was put on the extreme point to represent the whole.)

Some people couldn’t afford such sacrifices. What was other alternative according to Leviticus. 14:21-22?

Two pigeons or doves could be sacrificed in place of 2 of the 3 lambs.

B.

Read Matthew 9:1-8. How does Jesus look at sin and sickness (vs.5)? What is the root cause of sickness in the world?

Our Lord saw sin and sickness as tied together. We are sinners and our bodies let us know it. The root cause of sickness is sin. Sickness leads ultimately to death, which is the wages of sin. Sickness is a reminder that all of us will eventually die.

What words does Jesus speak to the paralytic, first?

Your sins are forgiven What was the result of the man being healed spiritually?

He was healed physically as well.

C. In what part of His Word, does God offer this same forgiveness?

The Gospel.

Jesus (the Lamb of God) bought forgiveness for the world’s sins through His sacrificial suffering and death. In what ways (means) does God’s Word of forgiveness come to us today? (Think about the Divine Service) Also read the following passages: Jn. 20:22-23; Matt. 10:40; Acts 2:38 & Acts 22:16; Matt. 26:28 & 1 Jn 1:7.

Holy Absolution (Jn 20:22-23); Proclamation of the Gospel (what God has done for us in Jesus) in the sermon (Matt. 10:40); Holy Baptism (Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16); Holy Communion (Matt. 26:28; 1 John 1:7).

We are cleansed by this means of God’s undeserved love and set apart as God’s Children. This regularly happens on the 8 th day, the day of New Creation (Sunday). We have been “outside the camp,” exiled from our fellowship with God by our sinfulness. Now who are we joined together with? (Listen carefully to these words which ring in our ears so often: Together with angels and archangels and ALL the company of heaven.)

We are received into the Church, united to Christ, in communion with God and with those who have gone before us, including our mothers, fathers, grandparents, brothers, sisters, former pastors who have died in the faith.

Even though we must wait for the completion of our deliverance (Jesus’ coming in glory), we do not have to wait to be with Jesus and our loved ones. In Christ, we are together. And at His Table we partake in His Ongoing Meal.

3.

Read and listen closely to LW #191 or TLH #463, stanza 4.

Close with prayer.

Read the following or another appropriate prayer: O Almighty God, by whom we are graciously knit together as one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of Jesus Christ, our Lord, grant to Your Church in heaven and on earth Your light and Your peace so that all who have been baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection may die to sin and rise to newness of life and that through the gate of death and the grave we may pass with Him to our joyful resurrection. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen

“Together Again” Bible Study Rev. Mark Selby 1.

There is a problem with man’s relationship to God: sin. The people of God in the Old Testament (the Israelites) were given a reminder of this in the area of uncleanness. Not only did God set forth clean and unclean things such as animals, people could become unclean by illness.

A.

Read Leviticus 13:1. What illness is mentioned?

There were different forms of this illness. What are they according to the following verses: Leviticus 1:10, 18, 24, 29.

When it was determined by the priest that a person was unclean with this disease, what happened to the person according to Leviticus 13:45-46?

Even one’s house and belongings could become “sick” and unclean with a certain type of leprosy. Read Leviticus 13:47-50.

What would we call this sort of “leprosy” today?

B.

We are called to be children of God. Yet, an inherited disease remains in us, called sin. As the priest examined people, in what way are we examined? (Romans 7:7) Review the three main “uses” of the Law from your Catechism. Which of the three uses does this passage speak of?

We do not like hearing God’s Law. But, for what does it prepare you? What need do you have which the Law shows you?

2.

Sometimes people were healed of these infectious diseases. Jesus healed ten of them in Luke 17.

A.

To whom does He send them (Luke 17:14)?

Read Leviticus 14:1-2. Why did Jesus send them there?

Read vs. 3-20 What do the seven days remind you of? What about the eighth day, when the healed man was supposed to sacrifice two lambs?

Some people couldn’t afford such sacrifices. What was other alternative according to Leviticus. 14:21-22?

B.

Read Matthew 9:1-8. How does Jesus look at sin and sickness (vs.5)? What is the root cause of sickness in the world?

What words does Jesus speak to the paralytic, first?

What was the result of the man being healed spiritually?

C. In what part of His Word, does God offer this same forgiveness?

Jesus (the Lamb of God) bought forgiveness for the world’s sins through His sacrificial suffering and death. In what ways (means) does God’s Word of forgiveness come to us today? (Think about the Divine Service) Also read the following passages: Jn. 20:22-23; Matt. 10:40; Acts 2:38 & Acts 22:16; Matt. 26:28 & 1 Jn 1:7.

We are cleansed by this means of God’s undeserved love and set apart as God’s Children. This regularly happens on the 8 th day, the day of New Creation (Sunday). We have been “outside the camp,” exiled from our fellowship with God by our sinfulness. Now who are we joined together with? (Listen carefully to these words which ring in our ears so often: Together with angels and archangels and ALL the company of heaven.)

Even though we must wait for the completion of our deliverance (Jesus’ coming in glory), we do not have to wait to be with Jesus and our loved ones. In Christ, we are together. And at His Table we partake in His Ongoing Meal.

3.

Read and listen closely to LW #191 or TLH #463, stanza 4.

Close with prayer.

“Something Funny in the Vestry” Bible Study Leader’s Guide Rev. Timothy Schellenbach 1.

Kathy says, “Except for Molly’s jealousy, and my embarrassment that Aaron thought I meant it, it could have hardly been better.”

A. Review the Tenth Commandment and its explanation from the Small Catechism. Recalling that this commandment forbids interfering in the loyalty that our neighbor has in his existing relationships with his own neighbors, discuss the possibility that Kathy may have inadvertently broken it.

Certainly, the whole thing was an accident. Kathy didn’t intend to hurt her friendship with Molly, nor did she intend to create a rift between Aaron and Molly. It only became an issue because she forgot which room was the vestry.

And of course, relations hips between friends in high school are not as serious or permanent as the sorts of relationships between neighbors of which the Tenth Commandment directly speaks (marriage, employer and employee). However, as Kathy admits in passing, her relationship with two of her friends, and their relationship with each other, is likely to have been negatively affected by this. It would be well for Kathy to face up to that as she talks with Molly in the future. After all, even though it was totally unintentional, it was Kathy’s mistake.

B. What about that comment that “Aaron thought I meant it”? Is there a possibility that, by treating the whole “secret admirer” thing as a game, Kathy and Molly weren’t being entirely honest with Aaron?

Kathy and Molly’s intention, remember, was that both of them would kiss him on the cheeks, and it was only because of Kathy’s mistake about the vestry that the kiss became more personal. It’s true that such flirting as Molly, Kathy, and Aaron were doing can often be something of a game. And in itself, there’s nothing wrong with that. After all, Aaron’s language in his return note was so “over the top” that it’s pretty obvious that he, too, was playing along with the game more than anything else. But it’s also possible that he took the kiss more seriously than the notes.

There’s nothing wrong with playing games when one is learning about relationships and dating (so long as the Sixth Commandment is respected, of course), but the danger is that sometimes one person or the other may not understand that it’s only a game. Even though Kathy was not being deliberately dishonest with Aaron, there is the potential for misunderstanding, and if Aaron decides to pursue the matter further, Kathy would be well-advised to be honest with Aaron right away as to what did, and did not, happen between them in the vestry.

2.

Kathy says about the Divine Service afterward, “I didn’t really have to pay attention. The service was as comfortable and familiar as my grandmother’s embrace. Yet every word had new depth and meaning.”

A. What do you think that Kathy meant when she said that she “didn’t have to pay attention”? Did this mean that she was being careless about her participation in the Divine Service?

Kathy wasn’t being careless in her participation. Instead, she knew the Service well enough that she could participate without having to worry about making sure she was doing it right. C. S. Lewis once wrote something to the effect that you’re not truly dancing until you no longer need to count the steps. The same is true of the Liturgy. When we no longer need to think all that much about the mechanical skills of participating in the Liturgy, when to sit and stand and kneel and respond “Amen” and “And with thy spirit” and the like, because it has become habitual, the Word of God is free to speak to us through it even when we are distracted by whatever life has just thrown at us and we simply can’t focus on “counting steps.”

B. In light of Kathy’s comment about how the same liturgy “had new depth and meaning” (and how it also took on a new dimension immediately after the September 11 terrorist attacks), discuss what the Psalmist means by a “new song” in Psalm 98:1.

This verse is sometimes misunderstood as saying that the way to make worship meaningful is to only sing songs that are new to us and which therefore haven’t become habitual or “rote.” But that’s not what it means. The “new” in the new song is not about when the music of our worship is composed, it has to do with the “new” thing that God did in sending His Son Jesus Christ (which is why the section of the Scriptures which tells us about Him is called the New Testament). This Gospel message about the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation, even though it does not change, is still always new to us as it speaks to us in whatever new situations we may find ourselves in life, and all the different ways in which the events of our lives illustrate for us the same old New Testament Gospel.

3.

Kathy says, “We were writing the notes and didn’t even know who the Secret Admirer was, but God knew what would happen from the beginning. He had taken care of me. It was a wonderful surprise.”

A. Read Psalm 139:13-16. Who is the real Secret Admirer?

Of course, God is. He is the one who, because we are His creation, and more importantly, because He has redeemed us and bought us, sees us as precious no matter what we may think of Him. He is the one who guides and directs the events of our lives, whether they seem pleasant or unpleasant to us at the time, for our benefit.

B. Read or sing “Jesus, Priceless Treasure” (TLH #347 or LW #270). While human secret admirers may only be playing games (like Kathy and Molly, or Aaron), how serious is our true Secret Admirer about us?

Serious enough to become man, suffer and die. Serious enough to govern all of creation for our benefit. Serious enough to give us His own body to eat and blood to drink. Serious enough to want us to be with Him forever.

“Something Funny in the Vestry” Bible Study Rev. Timothy Schellenbach 1.

Kathy says, “Except for Molly’s jealousy, and my embarrassment that Aaron thought I meant it, it could have hardly been better.”

A. Review the Tenth Commandment and its explanation from the Small Catechism. Recalling that this commandment forbids interfering in the loyalty that our neighbor has in his existing relationships with his own neighbors, discuss the possibility that Kathy may have inadvertently broken it.

B. What about that comment that “Aaron thought I meant it”? Is there a possibility that, by treating the whole “secret admirer” thing as a game, Kathy and Molly weren’t being entirely honest with Aaron?

2.

Kathy says about the Divine Service afterward, “I didn’t really have to pay attention. The service was as comfortable and familiar as my grandmother’s embrace. Yet every word had new depth and meaning.”

A. What do you think that Kathy meant when she said that she “didn’t have to pay attention”? Did this mean that she was being careless about her participation in the Divine Service?

B. In light of Kathy’s comment about how the same liturgy “had new depth and meaning” (and how it also took on a new dimension immediately after the September 11 terrorist attacks), discuss what the Psalmist means by a “new song” in Psalm 98:1.

3.

Kathy says, “We were writing the notes and didn’t even know who the Secret Admirer was, but God knew what would happen from the beginning. He had taken care of me. It was a wonderful surprise.”

A. Read Psalm 139:13-16. Who is the real Secret Admirer?

B. Read or sing “Jesus, Priceless Treasure” (TLH #347 or LW #270). While human secret admirers may only be playing games (like Kathy and Molly, or Aaron), how serious is our true Secret Admirer about us?