κήρυξον τὸν λόγον

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God, and we are! For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when he is revealed, we will be like him, because we will see him just as he is. Now everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself just as he is pure (vv 1-3). [Prayer] O Lord, our God, in Holy Baptism, you have called us to be your beloved children, and granted us the remission of sins. Send your blessing upon the Word spoken to us, and by your Holy Spirit increase our saving knowledge of you, that we may be strengthened in your Divine Truth and remain steadfast in Your Grace, through Jesus Christ, your son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. [Introduction] If you want to know what a particular church believes, teaches, and confesses, all you really need to do ...

[Let Us Pray] Almighty God, we give you thanks and praise for all Your goodness and tender care. Thank you for coming to us and standing for us through the gift of your Son who gives us refuge. Keep us in your steadfast love, bringing forth your good fruit in our lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen. [Introduction] God is for us (v 1). The LORD of Armies is with us (v 7). The God of Jacob is refuge for us (v 11). Is it any wonder why Luther loved this Psalm so much? At every turning point ... verses 1, 7, and 11 ... the Psalmist brings his listener back to the one thing he wants us to remember, spoken at the outset, specified in the hinge verses, repeated in the refrains.  God is for us (v 1). The LORD of Armies is with us (v 7). The God of Jacob is refuge for us (v 11). This is a song for the ages ... one we need to hear and sing more often than on just Reformation Day. This is a psalm of comfort for times of strife. This is a psalm of trust, by which the Church of God is enabled to ...

In the name of Jesus. Amen. In the beginning, when God spoke, he said, “ Let there be Light,” and there was Light (Gen 1:3). The Word of God brings Light. To hear the Word of God is to be enlightened. The Word of God enlightens you in The Faith. This Faith, the Faith, because there is only one Faith, comes through hearing, and hearing through the Word of God. ... The Word ... The Light ... The Faith. That is how it was in the beginning, for that is how God does what he does when God wills to be God for another.  In the beginning, when God spoke, he said, “ Let us make man in our image, after our likeness ” (Gen 1:26). Through the Word and the Spirit, God spoke man into being. YHWH Elohim ... the Lord God, if you prefer ... formed the man of dust from the soil and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being (Gen 2:7). ... The Word ... The Breath ... The Life. That is how it was in the beginning, for that is how God does what he does when God w...