| Weekly Schedule | |
|---|---|
| Sunday School | 9:00 AM |
| Sunday Bible Class | 9:00 AM |
| Sunday Divine Service | 10:00 AM |
| Fri Bible Study | 10:30 AM |
The Means of Grace
The Means of Grace are the means by which God brings us to faith in Christ, and sustains us in that faith throughout our earthly lives. The importance of the Means of Grace is expressed in Article V of the Augsburg Confession.
That we may obtain this faith, the Office of Teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments was instituted. For through the Word and Sacraments as through instruments, the Holy Ghost is given, who worketh faith where and when it pleaseth God in them that hear the Gospel, to wit, that God, not for our own merits, but for Christ's sake, justified those who believe that they are received into favor for Christ's sake.
They condemn the Anabaptists and others, who think that the Holy Ghost cometh to men without the external Word, through their own preparations and works.
What does it mean to have this faith? Article IV of the same explains:
Also they teach, that men cannot be Justified before God by their own strength, merits or works, but are freely justified for Christ's sake through faith, when they believe that they are received into favor and that their sins are forgiven for Christ's sake, who, by His death, hath made satisfaction for our sins. This faith God imputes for righteousness in his sight. Rom. 3 and 4.
Of course, only those who are righteous before God will receive the reward of eternal life in Heaven and escape the punishment of eternal torture in Hell. For these reasons, Grace Lutheran Church's chief priority is to remain faithful in its use of God's Means of Grace. This priority shows in several ways. First, we have a sermon and lessons of Scripture in our worship services. These are arranged according to an historic liturgy that the congregation follows in its worship. The liturgy places God's Word in a prominent position in our worship, where it can be heard to the building up of God's saints. The sermons at Grace Lutheran Church are based on a text from the Bible, and the pastor always endeavors to preach God's Word faithfully. Romans 1:16 demonstrates why it is so important to build our divine service around the Word of God: "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes."
Our congregation also practices baptism of all ages, according to good order. The reason for this is summarized in Article IX of the Augsburg Confession.
Of Baptism, they teach, that it is necessary to salvation, and that through Baptism is offered the grace of God; and that children are to be baptized, who, being offered to God through Baptism, are received into His grace.
They condemn the Anabaptists, who allow not the Baptism of children, and say that children are saved without Baptism.
We are encouraged to remember our Baptisms every day, but one way in particular that this can be done is through confession and absolution. Here we receive the same Gospel promises and forgiveness of sins that we receive in God's Word, but it is applied to our personal worries, distresses, and needs. Our pastor is available to all who wish to partake of this most personal and comforting Gospel. In the past, some have taught things contrary to the Gospel regarding confession. So that no one will misunderstand how we use it, we quote the Augsburg Confession, Article XI.
Of Confession, they teach, that Private Absolution ought to be retained in the churches, although in confession an enumeration of all sins is not necessary. For it is impossible, according to the Psalm: "Who can understand his errors?" [Ps. 19:12].
Besides God's Word and Baptism, there is another Means of Grace which God uses to give forgiveness of sin, and to strengthen faith: the sacrament of Holy Communion, or the Lord's Supper. Grace Lutheran Church teaches with the Augsburg Confession, Article X:
Of the Supper of the Lord, they teach, that the Body and Blood of Christ are truly present, and are distributed to those who eat in the Supper of the Lord; and they disapprove of those that teach otherwise.
Since anyone who eats or drinks in the Lord's Supper eats or drinks the very body and blood of our Lord, Grace Lutheran Church is careful to instruct all who participate in the significance of Christ's real presence. To that end, the following was written.
In Preparation for the Lord's Supper
The night before He was handed over for trial and execution, Jesus established a special meal for those who believe in Him. This meal is not like any other supper. It brings great blessings to those who receive it properly. The members of Grace Lutheran Church celebrate their Lord's Supper on the first and third Sundays of each month. We are happy that you want to come to this special meal. However, in order to take this meal the way it was intended, God has some special commands which He wants us to understand and follow.
Jesus set up this meal for those who trust in Him for their hope of Heaven. Since we are sinful before God, and unable to gain Heaven by our own ability, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer on the cross for our sins and to purchase our salvation by His holy blood. By faith in Christ, a believer possesses the wonderful blessings of peace with God, our sins forgiven, and the promise of life in Heaven. "God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
In order to keep us in our faith, and to assure us of the forgiveness of our sins, Jesus now gives us this meal. Along with the blessed bread and wine he says that he gives us his "body ...and blood, given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins." (Matt. 26:26,28) This meal is a powerful way of bringing to you God's grace, his forgiveness. Even though we may not be able to understand how it can be, God asks us to come trusting in Jesus' words that his body and blood are present in this meal. St. Paul writes that without believing this we can take it in a wrong way: "Anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the Lord's body brings judgment on himself as he eats and drinks" (1 Cor. 11:29).
At Grace, because we care about you and your soul, we want to make sure that you take this meal the way God intends. God says, "Anyone who eats the bread or drinks the Lord's cup in an unworthy way will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord" (1 Cor. 11:27).
Since this meal is such a powerful way of God distributing His grace to us, He asks us to come in repentance as we prepare. "Let a person examine himself and then eat of the bread and drink of the cup" (1 Cor. 11:28). To take it properly, God requires that you begin by looking into your own heart and conscience, recognizing that we have failed to keep his commands perfectly. But he wants us to come boldly trusting His promise that in this Supper we receive the very thing used to purchase our salvation -- Christ's body and blood -- "for the forgiveness of sins."
The Lord's Supper is also an outward way of expressing a unity in our faith. When we gather for communion we show that we are united on the teachings of God's Word. Our congregation offers classes which place before you what we believe, teach, confess, and practice based on the Holy Scriptures. Please speak with the pastor privately if you wish to learn more about our beliefs, or desire to take communion.
The Regular Use of the Means of Grace
The members of Grace Lutheran Church are encouraged to use the Means of Grace as often as possible. We use God's Word when we hear sermons that faithfully reflect the Word of God. We use it when we hear or read the Scriptures, and when we have devotions at home. We use our Baptisms when we daily repent of our sins and take comfort in the fact that God has baptized us into the atoning blood of our Savior. The same goes for Absolution: we receive forgiveness from the pastor as from God Himself. We hear Gods' Word, and it directs us to the grace and forgiveness that became ours when God baptized us. Finally, in the Lord's Supper, we receive the forgiveness of our sins when we receive the very body and blood of Jesus that He gave for our sins. All of these things create or strengthen our faith in Jesus. This faith is the very thing that saves us.
Because the Means of Grace are so important for God's Church, and because God is not disorderly, He has instituted a ministry in the Church. (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-16, John 20:21-23, Titus 1:5, 2 Timothy 2:2, Acts 14:23, 1 Timothy 4:14, 1 Timothy 3:2) Christ calls certain men to this ministry, and gives them the responsibility to be faithful shepherds of His flock. (Matthew 9:38, Ephesians 4:11-12, Acts 20:28) He has promised to be with those whom He has called to this ministry and to bless their efforts by powerfully working through the Means of Grace.
While it is every Christian's calling to use the Means of Grace on his own by reading, hearing, and such, God wants us also to use those men whom He has called into the Ministry of Word and Sacrament. As Luther's Small Catechism says, we "should not despise preaching and His Word." That usually means that we receive Baptism only through them, that we receive the Absolution through them, and hear their preaching, as well as receiving the Lord's Supper through them. This is not because they have some special character by virtue of their office, or because they are somehow better than the rest of us. The reason is simple: God has created this ministry for the salvation of His Church, commanding its use. When we use it according to His will, we receive comfort and assurance of our Lord's gracious forgiveness in a way that is irreplaceable. When we despise and neglect the ministry of Word and Sacrament, we are despising and neglecting the Word and command of God -- even our Savior Himself.
Any Christian can and should administer the Means of Grace in the capacity of a called minister when there is a case of emergency. As a rule, however, Grace Lutheran Church follows Article XIV of the Augsburg Confession, which says,
Of Ecclesiastical Order, they teach, that no one should publicly teach in the Church or administer the Sacraments, unless he be regularly called.
For an explanation of how Jesus calls people to be His ministers, please ask the pastor or consult the Evangelical Lutheran Synod's web site, or Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary's web site.
Through frequent and regular use of God's Means of Grace, and through no other means, God has promised to maintain in us a strong faith in the atoning blood of Jesus. Jesus said to those who believed in Him, "If you abide in My word, you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." The Means of Grace invite us to Jesus. They impart the forgiveness of sins to us. They transport us to the cross of Christ, and ultimately to Heaven. They give us a new life in our Savior while we remain here on Earth. In short, they are an invitation, impartation, transportation, and vivification. They are the funnel or conduit through which God has chosen to bring us His grace from the cross of Calvary. What a comfort to know that God has given us such a powerful gift! And what a comfort that He does not require us to find Heaven by ourselves, but brings His grace and forgiveness to us in such a tangible and reliable way!