The Guide for the Week
April 9-15th 2023 AD.
Easter
Bible Passage for the Week
Proverbs 1:1-7
Matthew 28:1-15
1 Peter 1
Psalm 16
Verse to Memorize
Matthew 28:5-6
Catechism Questions
Q. Why did Jesus die on the cross?
A. Jesus laid down his life on the cross to take upon himself the wrath of God that is due his people’s sins so that they could be forgiven and made righteous.
Q. What happened after Jesus died?
A. He was buried in a garden tomb, a stone was rolled to block its entrance, and guards were placed to watch so that no one would steal the body.
Q. Did Jesus stay dead?
A. No, Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit rose again from the dead and is alive. He was seen by over 500 people before He ascended into heaven.
People to Pray for:
Church: Mt Moriah Baptist Church
Pastor Jon Hancock
Ministry: King’s Men and Daughters of the King
Civil Magistrate: Jeffersonville City Council Member
Ron Ellis
Notes for Parents:
Proverbs 1:1-7
Proverbs 1:1-7 serves as an introduction to the book of Proverbs, which is a collection of wisdom. To obtain understanding and wisdom, one must begin with the fear of the Lord. Those who do not fear God will never develop true wisdom. They may have some fragments of knowledge and occasionally get things right, but they will demonstrate themselves to be foolish. When examining Matthew 28:1-15, we observe that those who lack the fear of the Lord become fools when they fabricate falsehoods about the resurrection that they know happened.
We must establish our foundation on the fear of God if we desire to have any prospect of true wisdom. Parents, the book of Proverbs is directed to a son, and it shows your responsibility to impart wisdom to your children. All parents aspire to raise wise children, but this is not possible if they do not begin with the right foundation.
Matthew 28:1-15
Happy Easter. Jesus is Alive.
This passage proclaims the wonderful truth of Christ's resurrection. He rose from the dead, and there is an abundance of evidence to support it. However, it is noteworthy that the Jews still refused to believe it. They knew the truth but chose to lie about it, concocting a tale to undermine the gospel. Nevertheless, God did not allow their deceit to triumph.
It is crucial to recognize that unbelief is a sin, and it is willful. When the truth is evident, and one chooses to ignore it and suppress it in unrighteousness, it is an act of disobedience.
Faith, on the other hand, does not rely on wishful thinking but on the truth. It gives rise to hope, not an unfounded hope, but a certain hope.
1 Peter 1
The Apostle Peter had once denied Christ but the death, burial, and resurrection changed everything. Peter was a changed man having seen the risen Lord and having the Holy Spirit poured on Him at Pentecost. Now we find the man who once shrunk back from persecution but who later would rather die than stop speaking the truth writing to Christians who had fled Jerusalem because of persecution. Full of the Holy Spirit, He encourages them to keep their eyes fixed on the hope they have in Jesus. They are to stand firm and count it a blessing to be persecuted for Christ’s sake. The trials that come their way are not for their destruction but to purify and prove them like gold in fire.
There are several things you can talk to your children about this week as you study this passage:
1. Talk about the transformation of Peter. Talk about how Christ forgave Him and made Him bold.
2. Talk about why suffering happens and how we can trust God through difficult times.
3. Talk about how we are called to a Holy life in which we have fervent and genuine love for each other.
Jesus loved us therefore we can love others. Jesus suffered and therefore we never suffer alone. Jesus rose again from the dead, therefore we have hope no matter what happens.
Psalm 16
This is a Psalm that the Apostle Peter said found its ultimate fulfillment in Christ. Verse 10 of this psalm says For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. The Apostle Peter quotes it in Acts 2 and says “Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. And so, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne, he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay. This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses.
As we read this Psalm, we see its ultimate fulfillment in Christ. Jesus body was placed in the ground but it did not see decay. He died but God did not leave him to die. Christ was raised from the dead. Because of this, there is hope for us too. As we are in Christ, this psalm is for us. Yes, our body may decay but God will raise it one day. He will not leave us to the hades (the place of the dead). He will rescue us.
Catechism/ Memory Verse
Jesus died so that I might live. Jesus rose from the dead and therefore I will too.
The Westminster Confession provides a summary of the biblical teaching on what happens after we die. It states that "the bodies of men, after death, return to dust and see corruption, but their souls, which neither die nor sleep, having an immortal subsistence, immediately return to God who gave them. The souls of the righteous, being then made perfect in holiness, are received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies. And the souls of the wicked are cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great day…"
When a Christian man dies, his body is placed in the ground, but his soul goes to be with the Lord. To die is gain, as the Apostle Paul says. However, this is not the end, for God made us both body and soul. We were not originally created for death, and our body and soul were not meant to be separated. We were created to live.
Therefore, the Westminster Confession goes on to say that "at the last day, such as are found alive shall not die, but be changed, and all the dead shall be raised up with the self-same bodies, and none other (although with different qualities), which shall be united again to their souls forever."
As the Apostle's Creed affirms, Christians have always believed in the resurrection of the body. Christians eagerly await the day when Christ will return, defeat death, and raise up the dead from the grave. Although their bodies have long returned to the dust of the ground, they will be reformed, just as God created Adam from the dust - same body but transformed and no longer able to suffer, sin, or die.
But what is the foundation for this hope? The Apostle Paul, writing to the church at Corinth, gives the grounding. In his letter, Paul corrects a plethora of issues, but perhaps the biggest issue he dealt with was that some had denied the resurrection of the dead. In chapter 15, Paul writes to them, telling them very clearly that there will be a resurrection.
Maybe some had questions about what the resurrection would look like. Usually, when people start denying important truths, they ask lots of questions, sometimes in order to try and bring reproach on the truth. Some of those denying the resurrection of the body may have asked questions such as, "What about the person who lost their arms?" or "What age will people be?" They were trying to make it sound absurd that someone's body could be raised.
In verse 35, Paul responds to these skeptics, saying, "But someone will say, 'How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?'" Paul then rebukes them, calling their question foolish. He goes on to explain that the body that dies is what will be raised, but it will be transformed. It is like a seed that will sprout into a glorious body, one that will live forever.
What is Paul's support for all of this? It is the glorious truth that Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. Listen to Paul as he begins his argument: "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that, He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also."
Paul says that this is the gospel that we must not turn from. Notice his emphasis on the resurrection and post-resurrection appearances of Jesus. He goes on to say, "Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. Moreover, we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied."
Paul is saying that if there is no resurrection of the dead, then there is no hope because that means Jesus is dead and in the grave. It means the gospel message is false, and there is no hope for the forgiveness of sins. Instead, we would all be pitied for wasting our time with Christianity.
But Paul says, "But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming."
Jesus did rise from the dead, and His physical body, not a ghost, emerged from the grave. He was seen by numerous witnesses, including His close followers who recognized Him, and He ate and drank with them. They were able to touch Him, confirming that He was indeed alive. After His resurrection, He ascended into heaven and is now seated at the right hand of God, reigning over all. He will one day return and raise the dead to life. The resurrection of Jesus is the guarantee of all of God's promises, including the forgiveness of our sins and the assurance that our bodies will also rise from the grave to live forever.
The resurrection of Jesus is central to our hope, and therefore it is central to our faith
People to Pray for:
Prayer for Mt. Moriah Baptist Church and Pastor Jon Hancock
Dear God of the Universe,
We express gratitude for our beloved brethren in Henryville for their courageous proclamation of the Gospel and faithfulness in their community. We are grateful for their friendship and past support of us. We humbly ask you to be with their lead pastor, Jon Hancock. Grant him the strength and wisdom to lead the church effectively. May he have the courage to follow wherever you lead, and may the congregation have faith in him. Provide for all his financial needs and give him good health. Please protect the church from the temptations of the devil and keep them unified on your gospel. Lastly, we pray for the numerical and spiritual growth of Mt. Moriah Baptist Church. May they be used to seek and save the lost and provide nourishment and care to your flock. We make this request in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer for The King’s Men and Daughters of the King
Our Father who are in heaven,
We thank you for your fatherly care over us and for making us fruitful. We are also grateful for the young men and women of our church. It is a weighty responsibility that you have entrusted to us in raising up generations after us to follow you. Please grant us wisdom to teach and preach all of your word, and help us equip these saints for the days ahead. Bless those who lead and teach in these ministries, and raise up our young men to stand firm in the faith and to be strong in Christ. Give us daughters who will display your glory through their gentle and quiet spirits. Please give parents the strength to disciple their children, and make us all fit for your kingdom. We ask you to protect our young people from the temptations of the flesh and the lies of the devil. Please help them to take their place among the godly and to fight the good fight for future generations and your glory. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Prayer for Jeffersonville City Councilman Ron Ellis
O God,
You have been good to us all our days. You have created us and you sustain us. And because of the great sacrifice of Christ, you have saved us from our sins. You have given us your Son as a savior and as our King. We also thank you placing us in Jeffersonville and for the people and leadership of this city. We pray for Councilman Ron Ellis asking that you provide for all of his physical and spiritual needs. Thank you that he professes faith in you. Please grant him a pure heart and sound mind so that he can use the authority you have given him on the city council for your glory and the good of the people of Jeffersonville. Help him to discern between right and wrong, good and evil, and when to act and when not to act. May he remember the limits of his authority and have a heart to protect the liberties of the people and promote what is good, including the gospel of your Son. We pray that you give him the courage to stand up for what is right. We entrust all of this into your capable hands, and we pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Sovereign King. Amen.
Church History Spotlight
William Law and Dietrich Bonhoeffer
The 9th day of April is the anniversary of the deaths of William Law and of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, theologians and scholars, one Anglican and one Lutheran.
Some Christians have fallen into the trap of supposing that their salvation depends on their being sufficiently virtuous, and they need to be reminded that salvation is the gift of God and cannot be earned or deserved. Other Christians have fallen into the opposite error of supposing that the infinite mercy of God means that we are not called on to inconvenience ourselves. (Martin Luther has said that human nature is like a drunkard trying to ride a horse. He gets on and falls off on the left side. He resolves not to make that mistake again, so he remounts, careful to avoid falling off on the left, and promptly falls off on the right.) Law and Bonhoeffer both saw this latter error -- that of complacency and presumption -- as the chief danger in their own times. They undertook to remind their fellow Christians of the importance of both halves of the saying of Our Lord to a sinner (John 8:11): "I do not condemn you; go and sin no more." Both were men whose consciences brought them into conflict with their governments, and both (though in very unequal degree) paid a price for it.
Bonhoeffer was born in 1906, son of a professor of psychiatry and neurology at the University of Berlin. He was an outstanding student, and at the age of 25 became a lecturer in systematic theology at the same University. When Hitler came to power in 1933, Bonhoeffer became a leading spokesman for the Confessing Church, the center of Protestant resistance to the Nazis. He organized and for a time led the underground seminary of the Confessing Church. His book Life Together describes the life of the Christian community in that seminary, and his book The Cost Of Discipleship attacks what he calls "cheap grace," meaning grace used as an excuse for moral laxity. Bonhoeffer had been taught not to "resist the powers that be," but he came to believe that to do so was sometimes the right choice. In 1939 his brother-in-law introduced him to a group planning the overthrow of Hitler, and he made significant contributions to their work. (He was at this time an employee of the Military Intelligence Department.)
He was arrested in April 1943 and imprisoned in Berlin. After the failure of the attempt on Hitler's life in April 1944, he was sent first to Buchenwald and then to Schoenberg Prison. His life was spared, because he had a relative who stood high in the government; but then this relative was himself implicated in anti-Nazi plots. On Sunday 8 April 1945, he had just finished conducting a service of worship at Schoenberg, when two soldiers came in, saying, "Prisoner Bonhoeffer, make ready and come with us," the standard summons to a condemned prisoner. As he left, he said to another prisoner, "This is the end -- but for me, the beginning -- of life." He was hanged the next day, less than a week before the Allies reached the camp.
Upcoming Events:
Tuesday Morning Study Hour With Pastor 6-7AM
April 12 Women’s Bible Study
April 16 Ben’s Ordination- Fellowship Meal
April 19 King’s Men and Daughters of the King
April 22 Thunder Over Louisville
Proverbs 1:1-7
Matthew 28:1-15
1 Peter 1
Psalm 16
Verse to Memorize
Matthew 28:5-6
Catechism Questions
Q. Why did Jesus die on the cross?
A. Jesus laid down his life on the cross to take upon himself the wrath of God that is due his people’s sins so that they could be forgiven and made righteous.
Q. What happened after Jesus died?
A. He was buried in a garden tomb, a stone was rolled to block its entrance, and guards were placed to watch so that no one would steal the body.
Q. Did Jesus stay dead?
A. No, Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit rose again from the dead and is alive. He was seen by over 500 people before He ascended into heaven.
People to Pray for:
Church: Mt Moriah Baptist Church
Pastor Jon Hancock
Ministry: King’s Men and Daughters of the King
Civil Magistrate: Jeffersonville City Council Member
Ron Ellis
Notes for Parents:
Proverbs 1:1-7
Proverbs 1:1-7 serves as an introduction to the book of Proverbs, which is a collection of wisdom. To obtain understanding and wisdom, one must begin with the fear of the Lord. Those who do not fear God will never develop true wisdom. They may have some fragments of knowledge and occasionally get things right, but they will demonstrate themselves to be foolish. When examining Matthew 28:1-15, we observe that those who lack the fear of the Lord become fools when they fabricate falsehoods about the resurrection that they know happened.
We must establish our foundation on the fear of God if we desire to have any prospect of true wisdom. Parents, the book of Proverbs is directed to a son, and it shows your responsibility to impart wisdom to your children. All parents aspire to raise wise children, but this is not possible if they do not begin with the right foundation.
Matthew 28:1-15
Happy Easter. Jesus is Alive.
This passage proclaims the wonderful truth of Christ's resurrection. He rose from the dead, and there is an abundance of evidence to support it. However, it is noteworthy that the Jews still refused to believe it. They knew the truth but chose to lie about it, concocting a tale to undermine the gospel. Nevertheless, God did not allow their deceit to triumph.
It is crucial to recognize that unbelief is a sin, and it is willful. When the truth is evident, and one chooses to ignore it and suppress it in unrighteousness, it is an act of disobedience.
Faith, on the other hand, does not rely on wishful thinking but on the truth. It gives rise to hope, not an unfounded hope, but a certain hope.
1 Peter 1
The Apostle Peter had once denied Christ but the death, burial, and resurrection changed everything. Peter was a changed man having seen the risen Lord and having the Holy Spirit poured on Him at Pentecost. Now we find the man who once shrunk back from persecution but who later would rather die than stop speaking the truth writing to Christians who had fled Jerusalem because of persecution. Full of the Holy Spirit, He encourages them to keep their eyes fixed on the hope they have in Jesus. They are to stand firm and count it a blessing to be persecuted for Christ’s sake. The trials that come their way are not for their destruction but to purify and prove them like gold in fire.
There are several things you can talk to your children about this week as you study this passage:
1. Talk about the transformation of Peter. Talk about how Christ forgave Him and made Him bold.
2. Talk about why suffering happens and how we can trust God through difficult times.
3. Talk about how we are called to a Holy life in which we have fervent and genuine love for each other.
Jesus loved us therefore we can love others. Jesus suffered and therefore we never suffer alone. Jesus rose again from the dead, therefore we have hope no matter what happens.
Psalm 16
This is a Psalm that the Apostle Peter said found its ultimate fulfillment in Christ. Verse 10 of this psalm says For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. The Apostle Peter quotes it in Acts 2 and says “Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. And so, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne, he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay. This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses.
As we read this Psalm, we see its ultimate fulfillment in Christ. Jesus body was placed in the ground but it did not see decay. He died but God did not leave him to die. Christ was raised from the dead. Because of this, there is hope for us too. As we are in Christ, this psalm is for us. Yes, our body may decay but God will raise it one day. He will not leave us to the hades (the place of the dead). He will rescue us.
Catechism/ Memory Verse
Jesus died so that I might live. Jesus rose from the dead and therefore I will too.
The Westminster Confession provides a summary of the biblical teaching on what happens after we die. It states that "the bodies of men, after death, return to dust and see corruption, but their souls, which neither die nor sleep, having an immortal subsistence, immediately return to God who gave them. The souls of the righteous, being then made perfect in holiness, are received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies. And the souls of the wicked are cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great day…"
When a Christian man dies, his body is placed in the ground, but his soul goes to be with the Lord. To die is gain, as the Apostle Paul says. However, this is not the end, for God made us both body and soul. We were not originally created for death, and our body and soul were not meant to be separated. We were created to live.
Therefore, the Westminster Confession goes on to say that "at the last day, such as are found alive shall not die, but be changed, and all the dead shall be raised up with the self-same bodies, and none other (although with different qualities), which shall be united again to their souls forever."
As the Apostle's Creed affirms, Christians have always believed in the resurrection of the body. Christians eagerly await the day when Christ will return, defeat death, and raise up the dead from the grave. Although their bodies have long returned to the dust of the ground, they will be reformed, just as God created Adam from the dust - same body but transformed and no longer able to suffer, sin, or die.
But what is the foundation for this hope? The Apostle Paul, writing to the church at Corinth, gives the grounding. In his letter, Paul corrects a plethora of issues, but perhaps the biggest issue he dealt with was that some had denied the resurrection of the dead. In chapter 15, Paul writes to them, telling them very clearly that there will be a resurrection.
Maybe some had questions about what the resurrection would look like. Usually, when people start denying important truths, they ask lots of questions, sometimes in order to try and bring reproach on the truth. Some of those denying the resurrection of the body may have asked questions such as, "What about the person who lost their arms?" or "What age will people be?" They were trying to make it sound absurd that someone's body could be raised.
In verse 35, Paul responds to these skeptics, saying, "But someone will say, 'How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?'" Paul then rebukes them, calling their question foolish. He goes on to explain that the body that dies is what will be raised, but it will be transformed. It is like a seed that will sprout into a glorious body, one that will live forever.
What is Paul's support for all of this? It is the glorious truth that Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. Listen to Paul as he begins his argument: "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that, He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also."
Paul says that this is the gospel that we must not turn from. Notice his emphasis on the resurrection and post-resurrection appearances of Jesus. He goes on to say, "Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. Moreover, we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied."
Paul is saying that if there is no resurrection of the dead, then there is no hope because that means Jesus is dead and in the grave. It means the gospel message is false, and there is no hope for the forgiveness of sins. Instead, we would all be pitied for wasting our time with Christianity.
But Paul says, "But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming."
Jesus did rise from the dead, and His physical body, not a ghost, emerged from the grave. He was seen by numerous witnesses, including His close followers who recognized Him, and He ate and drank with them. They were able to touch Him, confirming that He was indeed alive. After His resurrection, He ascended into heaven and is now seated at the right hand of God, reigning over all. He will one day return and raise the dead to life. The resurrection of Jesus is the guarantee of all of God's promises, including the forgiveness of our sins and the assurance that our bodies will also rise from the grave to live forever.
The resurrection of Jesus is central to our hope, and therefore it is central to our faith
People to Pray for:
Prayer for Mt. Moriah Baptist Church and Pastor Jon Hancock
Dear God of the Universe,
We express gratitude for our beloved brethren in Henryville for their courageous proclamation of the Gospel and faithfulness in their community. We are grateful for their friendship and past support of us. We humbly ask you to be with their lead pastor, Jon Hancock. Grant him the strength and wisdom to lead the church effectively. May he have the courage to follow wherever you lead, and may the congregation have faith in him. Provide for all his financial needs and give him good health. Please protect the church from the temptations of the devil and keep them unified on your gospel. Lastly, we pray for the numerical and spiritual growth of Mt. Moriah Baptist Church. May they be used to seek and save the lost and provide nourishment and care to your flock. We make this request in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer for The King’s Men and Daughters of the King
Our Father who are in heaven,
We thank you for your fatherly care over us and for making us fruitful. We are also grateful for the young men and women of our church. It is a weighty responsibility that you have entrusted to us in raising up generations after us to follow you. Please grant us wisdom to teach and preach all of your word, and help us equip these saints for the days ahead. Bless those who lead and teach in these ministries, and raise up our young men to stand firm in the faith and to be strong in Christ. Give us daughters who will display your glory through their gentle and quiet spirits. Please give parents the strength to disciple their children, and make us all fit for your kingdom. We ask you to protect our young people from the temptations of the flesh and the lies of the devil. Please help them to take their place among the godly and to fight the good fight for future generations and your glory. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Prayer for Jeffersonville City Councilman Ron Ellis
O God,
You have been good to us all our days. You have created us and you sustain us. And because of the great sacrifice of Christ, you have saved us from our sins. You have given us your Son as a savior and as our King. We also thank you placing us in Jeffersonville and for the people and leadership of this city. We pray for Councilman Ron Ellis asking that you provide for all of his physical and spiritual needs. Thank you that he professes faith in you. Please grant him a pure heart and sound mind so that he can use the authority you have given him on the city council for your glory and the good of the people of Jeffersonville. Help him to discern between right and wrong, good and evil, and when to act and when not to act. May he remember the limits of his authority and have a heart to protect the liberties of the people and promote what is good, including the gospel of your Son. We pray that you give him the courage to stand up for what is right. We entrust all of this into your capable hands, and we pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Sovereign King. Amen.
Church History Spotlight
William Law and Dietrich Bonhoeffer
The 9th day of April is the anniversary of the deaths of William Law and of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, theologians and scholars, one Anglican and one Lutheran.
Some Christians have fallen into the trap of supposing that their salvation depends on their being sufficiently virtuous, and they need to be reminded that salvation is the gift of God and cannot be earned or deserved. Other Christians have fallen into the opposite error of supposing that the infinite mercy of God means that we are not called on to inconvenience ourselves. (Martin Luther has said that human nature is like a drunkard trying to ride a horse. He gets on and falls off on the left side. He resolves not to make that mistake again, so he remounts, careful to avoid falling off on the left, and promptly falls off on the right.) Law and Bonhoeffer both saw this latter error -- that of complacency and presumption -- as the chief danger in their own times. They undertook to remind their fellow Christians of the importance of both halves of the saying of Our Lord to a sinner (John 8:11): "I do not condemn you; go and sin no more." Both were men whose consciences brought them into conflict with their governments, and both (though in very unequal degree) paid a price for it.
Bonhoeffer was born in 1906, son of a professor of psychiatry and neurology at the University of Berlin. He was an outstanding student, and at the age of 25 became a lecturer in systematic theology at the same University. When Hitler came to power in 1933, Bonhoeffer became a leading spokesman for the Confessing Church, the center of Protestant resistance to the Nazis. He organized and for a time led the underground seminary of the Confessing Church. His book Life Together describes the life of the Christian community in that seminary, and his book The Cost Of Discipleship attacks what he calls "cheap grace," meaning grace used as an excuse for moral laxity. Bonhoeffer had been taught not to "resist the powers that be," but he came to believe that to do so was sometimes the right choice. In 1939 his brother-in-law introduced him to a group planning the overthrow of Hitler, and he made significant contributions to their work. (He was at this time an employee of the Military Intelligence Department.)
He was arrested in April 1943 and imprisoned in Berlin. After the failure of the attempt on Hitler's life in April 1944, he was sent first to Buchenwald and then to Schoenberg Prison. His life was spared, because he had a relative who stood high in the government; but then this relative was himself implicated in anti-Nazi plots. On Sunday 8 April 1945, he had just finished conducting a service of worship at Schoenberg, when two soldiers came in, saying, "Prisoner Bonhoeffer, make ready and come with us," the standard summons to a condemned prisoner. As he left, he said to another prisoner, "This is the end -- but for me, the beginning -- of life." He was hanged the next day, less than a week before the Allies reached the camp.
Upcoming Events:
Tuesday Morning Study Hour With Pastor 6-7AM
April 12 Women’s Bible Study
April 16 Ben’s Ordination- Fellowship Meal
April 19 King’s Men and Daughters of the King
April 22 Thunder Over Louisville