*NOTE: The text is a combination of the written sermon with the transcript of the delivery<\/a> _________________________<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong>Intr \u2013<\/strong> (Children\u2019s message: Pastor has white board with an introductory activity. He hands an envelope to one of the elders.)<\/em><\/p>\n We have numbers 1-8 on this board, and we will work with them so that you choose only one to be inside the center circle. (He conducts the dynamic in a way that the number 4 is the one left. Then he asks the Elder to open the envelope which has the number 4 inside).<\/em><\/p>\n (Application for children: In life, we\u2019re presented with many \u201cpaths\u201d that supposedly lead us to truth. However, just as we had a spot for only 1 number here, so the Bible lets us know that Jesus is the only and one truth. Today we celebrate Reformation Day, when people stood up for the truth of the Gospel. He is the only one who fits at the center of our hearts and guides our steps. So, as we celebrate this day today, we can celebrate Jesus as the only Truth, the truth that sets us free and gives is a life of joy and confidence in Him!)<\/em><\/p>\n (Kids go back to their parents)<\/em><\/p>\n What just happened here? A pastor who can guess numbers in advance? Please, give me the lottery numbers!<\/p>\n What happened here is no magic, it is just that I have induced<\/em> the kids\u2019 choices in the direction I wanted them to go, which you may or may not have noticed during the process. The kids arrived at the number I wanted. Don\u2019t panic if you didn\u2019t get it, I\u2019ll come back to it later.<\/p>\n Reformation Sunday is a date to remember the blessed work of the Reformers, especially Martin Luther, of helping the Church to see the essential teachings of the Gospel again. Sola Gratia Sola Fide and Sola Scriptura<\/em> \u00a0– Scripture alone, through grace alone and by faith alone \u00a0– encapsulate what the Christian Church teaches, that Truth is a person: Jesus.<\/p>\n The problem is that it is not always easy to get to the truth especially in a world that has different ways of expressing truth, which is fragmented. It is hard to find Truth<\/em>, what we mostly see is \u201ctruths\u201d. Your truth, my truth<\/em>. Actually, if you take the phrase \u201ctruth is relative\u201d literally, you will have eight billion different truths in the world, one for each human being. I can be right, the other person can be right, even if we are speaking of different things. I say this is a pew and you say this is a car and another says this is a giraffe. Everyone can be right. Unless your truth goes against the current main cultural truths. In that case, you need to be cancelled.<\/p>\n Now, it\u2019s easier when there is a blatant lie in front of us. For example, if somebody says that Jesus never existed, you reject it right away, for you know He existed. Or \u201cThere’s not going to be an end of the world.\u201d Of course there’s going to be an end of the world. The Bible tells us so. \u201cMuhammad wrote the Bible.\u201d Of course that’s not true. God, the Holy Spirit wrote the Bible. The problem starts when you meet half-truths, seemingly plausible affirmatives, or when one starts with something that is true, but the conclusions distilled from it lead us to wrong places and wrong conclusions.<\/p>\n How do we find ourselves in this jungle of meaning trying to remain firm to God\u2019s Word?<\/p>\n First of all, we are grounded in Christ, the Truth. As we are in Him, it is very helpful for us to continue to learn and grow, so that false winds of doctrine don\u2019t uproot us and drive us away from him. We need to hold on to the objective Truth of the Gospel.[1]<\/a><\/p>\n However, we are not short of challenges to our faith. We live in a world filled with half-truths, or truths that become current in society and we might be tempted to accept as true, because they stem from an original good statement. Then we are led by a certain reasoning trick to a direction where others want us to go. There are claims, truths and half-truths that make their way into society which, if we don\u2019t pay close attention, will sway us in unintended directions and consequences for our faith. Here’s some examples that bring it close to home.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Faith is a personal matter.”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Initial truth:<\/strong> You are saved by your personal faith, not by the faith of others (John 3:16; Mark 16:16)<\/p>\n Affirmative 1:<\/strong> Therefore, organized Christian religion is unnecessary to one’s spiritual journey. Faith should not be expressed in public, since faith is a personal matter.<\/p>\n Affirmative 2:<\/strong> If spirituality can exist independently, then the teachings of Scripture are one more among many options. Any truth in spirituality is equally legitimate.<\/p>\n Conclusion:<\/strong> You can be spiritual without being religious.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGod wants to save everyone “<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Initial Truth<\/strong>: God does indeed desire to save all people (John 3:16).<\/p>\n Affirmative 1:<\/strong> If everyone is saved, we don\u2019t need to be too worried about mission and evangelism, for all religions will lead to God.<\/p>\n Affirmative 2:<\/strong> Since we will all be saved, we can live however we want without too much concern for sin or repentance.<\/p>\n Conclusion<\/strong>: Since God loves everyone, everyone will automatically be saved.<\/p>\n You know, God is love at the very end. His love will prevail and He’ll just save everybody at the end. It’s kind of logical coming from the first affirmative, right? You can get there. You see how I get there.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It’s important to have a positive outlook in life.”<\/em><\/p>\n Initial Truth:<\/strong> A positive mindset can improve mental health and well-being (Philippians 4:8).<\/p>\n Affirmative 1:<\/strong> Therefore, I should work on suppressing negative feelings or circumstances and focus on positivity.<\/p>\n \u00a0Affirmative 2: <\/strong>Since a positive outlook is essential, we should avoid\u00a0 being confrontational about sin, and need for repentance. For example, not beginning the services with the negativity of the confession of Sins.<\/p>\n Conclusion:<\/strong> Don\u2019t talk too much about negative things and feelings and focus on positivity.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Love is all you need.”<\/em><\/p>\n Claim: <\/strong>The Bible says that Love is the highest Gift ( Corinthians 13)<\/p>\n Affirmative 1:<\/strong> Therefore, if you say you do something out of love, if needs to be accepted, regardless of its moral value or alignment with Scripture.<\/p>\n Affirmative 2:<\/strong> Since love is love, we should avoid discussing sin or moral standards. Any teaching or practice can be valid as long as love is present.<\/p>\n Conclusion<\/strong>: Love is love and should be accepted in whichever form it is purportedly manifested.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYour experiences are true for you.”<\/em><\/p>\n Initial Truth:<\/strong> Everyone has personal experiences and perspectives that shape their understanding of the world (Philippians 2:3).<\/p>\n Affirmative<\/strong> 1:<\/strong> Therefore, all truths are equally valid, and what one believes is as true as what someone else believes.<\/p>\n Affirmative 2:<\/strong> Since everyone\u2019s truth is valid, we should not talk about accountability or right and wrong.<\/p>\n Conclusion:<\/strong> All truths are equally valid –\u00a0 what one person believes is as true as what someone else believes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Again, the biggest danger is not so much the evident lie, the thing that you put your eyes on and say, \u201cthat’s not what I believe. That is not true.\u201d The danger lies in the subtle conclusions that are drawn along the way, sometimes years, decades down the road, which move the church away from what originally was a true statement.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Jesus\u2019 own time was filled with these half-truths and complete derailments of God\u2019s word in the Old Testament. In the Gospel today He shows the path to Truth and to freedom because, in many ways, people at the time were induced to move away from God\u2019s Word. Here are a few examples:<\/p>\n _The Messiah<\/u> \u2013 From the true statement that Messiah would come to be the King of His People, in the end, they were expecting this big guy with his army, delivering them politically with human power, which was way off from the original promise.[2]<\/a> In the times of the Reformation, similar things were happening. We remember the Reformers as those who fought to bring back essential truths of Christianity because in many ways the Church had been led astray from them.<\/p>\n _Faith and works<\/u> – Works are important for the Christian life. Indeed, we live our faith out in the world showing works of love. But in the end, the teaching had become that if you don’t have works, you are not going to be saved. Works need to be added to you saving faith.[5]<\/a> Three out of many examples of how false affirmatives and conclusions, even when small, can become big problems after many years, resulting in a big departure from the Scriptures. \u00a0Truth can become half-truth. And then, ultimately, a completely false statement or belief. \u00a0We need the Truth from the Word, that you shall know the truth, which is Him and His word, and the Truth that shall set you free.<\/p>\n \u201cPastor, this can be hard in daily life.\u201d Yes, it can. Sometimes it’s very tricky. Like when you can subscribe to 90% of what has been said, but there’s this 10% that can taint and contaminate the teaching of the truth. Here we see how important it is to go back to the Bible and study it. This is what discipleship is about. This is what spiritual growth is about. We study the Bible over again, going back to it, reading it, inwardly digesting it, so that we remain grounded in the Truth.<\/p>\n It is important to realize that we don’t always need to study every single teaching and religion that is out there in order to know the Truth. We can go directly to the source of the Truth to be firmly grounded in it. Here’s an illustration: It is told that a man once was hired to identify counterfeit coins, but he spent most of his days or all of his days and hours just studying the real ones. He would study every detail of the real coins. One day, someone asked him, \u201cwhy don’t you ever study the counterfeit ones too?” To which he replied, \u201cBecause if I study the real ones long enough to get to know them well, the moment I get a counterfeit coin on my hand, I’ll immediately know it is false.\u201d We can study all sorts of things, for sure, but we should not be drowned in the idea that you can only know the truth if you first go and study everything that is out there. We can start and end with our Bible. As we know the Truth in Christ, and as we feed our faith in Christ with Word and Sacraments, we become prepared. When other things come our way, we\u2019ll be better prepared to examine them and say, \u201cthis may appear to be true, but it’s actually counterfeit.\u201d<\/p>\n This is how we position ourselves before our culture whenever we have these types of situations. Speaking the truth in love, being loving and kind and respecting, but also stating what we believe.<\/p>\n Back to those examples from our own time, here\u2019s how we can bring the Biblical Truth to address them:<\/p>\n \u201cFaith is a personal matter\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Biblical Truth:<\/strong> That can work for some religions, but definitely doesn\u2019t work for the Christian faith. Faith is personal but is lived in community. Not only did She start as a collective group, and not as isolated individuals; it is only because the Church is a group of believer that the Christian faith was passed down to us. The New Testament emphasizes the importance of community in faith (Hebrews 10:24-25).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGod wants to save all\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Biblical Truth:<\/strong> God\u2019s love for all is demonstrated in Christ\u2019s death, but salvation comes through faith in Jesus (Romans 3:22-24). This false conclusion denies the necessity of repentance and faith, central to Biblical Lutheran teaching on justification by grace, because of Christ, through faith alone.<\/p>\n This false conclusion denies the necessity of repentance when you say God will save everybody\u00a0 in the end, no matter what, and repentance and faith central to the biblical and Lutheran teaching of our (1:18:28) salvation by faith. God wants to save all. How? Through faith in Jesus.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou have to have a positive outlook in life\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Biblical Truth:<\/strong> While a positive outlook is beneficial, Scripture acknowledges the reality of suffering and encourages honest expression of emotions (Psalm 34:18; 1 John 1:8-9). True faith encompasses both joy and lament, allowing for healing and growth through God’s grace to be strengthened by Him.[8]<\/a><\/p>\n For example, if you want to come to church and be sad, because you’re sad, just be sad. Sit down and receive God’s Word. We can be joyful, we can be sad, we can be grieving. All sorts of feelings are welcome in the house of the Lord and in the Christian life.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLove is all you need\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Biblical Truth:<\/strong> God is Love, and He reveals himself in Scripture Therefore, our concept of Love from the Christian Perspective must match what the Bible teaches. Love is grounded in truth and righteousness (1 Corinthians 13:6).\u00a0 In that sense, Love is all you need, for when you are in God, who is Love, you have all you need.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYour experiences are true for you\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Biblical Truth:<\/strong> Biblical teaching emphasizes that while personal experiences are valid, they do not determine ultimate truth. Scripture is the ultimate authority for truth (2 Timothy 3:16-17), and we are called to test all beliefs against God\u2019s Word (1 John 4:1).<\/p>\n The objective truth of the Gospel provides the foundation for our faith and discernment, guiding us in love and humility toward one another.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Here\u2019s important to listen the 4 steps Jesus gives us in John 8:31-32.<\/p>\n -Remaining in the Word From our Christian perspective, this is the way that we abide in truth. Is that when we abide in the word because we are disciples, we know Jesus being his disciples and then the truth shall set us free. This, by the way, it’s a verse that is misquoted all over the place. All sorts of people use \u201cthe truth shall set you free.\u201d Everybody agrees with it, but if you change truth for Jesus, \u201c\u2026 and Jesus shall set you free,\u201d then the verse is of no use anymore. “This is not what we’re talking about.\u201d But for us Christians, this passage is pointing to the reality that Christ feeds us, guides us and grounds us in Him. He is The Truth. So that when those types of affirmatives and conclusions come our way, we may be prepared; or if not, we can we go back and study again, or talk with Christian friends, or with your pastor, as we keep helping each other to grow spiritually and to be grounded in Jesus, and in Him alone.<\/p>\n Cc \u2013 <\/strong>Here\u2019s the way I tricked the kids into arriving at the number I wanted them to. (Pastor wanted to have Number 4 at the end, therefore, whenever the children included #4 in their choice of numbers, that set of numbers stayed, and the others were eliminated)<\/em><\/p>\n Now, to conclude the sermon, I\u2019d like to put a spin on the initial illustration and see it from a different angle: We live our lives working in different areas. We think we are making great choices and arriving at great results. We may think, \u201cWhat a great result I have achieved!\u201d But as proverbs 16:9 reminds us, \u201cthe heart of the man plans his ways, but the Lord establishes its steps\u201d. When we walk in Christ, we know that, as much as our effort and discernment are important, ultimately it is His hands that guide us through the entire process. He establishes our steps and guides us in His Word. He gives us the Truth and set us free from sin and death. All in those 4 steps, which, truth be told, are a beautiful way to live our life: Remain in Christ, be a disciple, know the Truth, live in freedom.<\/p>\n __________________________<\/p>\n Extra topics:<\/span><\/p>\n Initial Truth:<\/strong> Jesus teaches in Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, that you be not judged,” which warns us against hypocritical or self-righteous judgment.<\/p>\n Biblical Truth: <\/strong>Discernment is necessary: While Jesus condemns hypocritical and self-righteous judgment, He does not forbid all judgment. In fact, Scripture calls us to make righteous judgments (John 7:24) and discern between truth and error (1 John 4:1). We are to lovingly correct our fellow Christians when they stray from God’s Word (Galatians 6:1), while remaining humble and aware of our own need for grace and correction.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Initial Truth:<\/strong> Jeremiah 29:11 affirms that God has plans for His people, plans for welfare and hope.<\/p>\n Conclusion:<\/strong> Every individual has a specific, detailed plan laid out by God that guarantees happiness.<\/p>\n Biblical Truth:<\/strong> While God does have a purpose for our lives, it may not always align with worldly definitions of success. His plans often involve growth through trials (James 1:2-4) and require faithfulness in following His Word, not seeking personal revelation apart from Scripture. The true and certain happiness that God\u2019s plan certainly brings is the eternal life in the New Earth and New heavens through faith in Jesus.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Initial Truth:<\/strong> The Bible encourages believers to be strong in their faith and reliance on God (Philippians 4:13; Ephesians 6:10).<\/p>\n Conclusion:<\/strong> Therefore, we must exhibit strength and avoid weakness or struggle in our faith.<\/p>\n Biblical Truth:<\/strong> While Scripture encourages strength, it also acknowledges our human frailty and the need for God\u2019s grace (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). When we are weak, then we are strong (Corinthians). Repentance is a sign of weakness for sure, for it shows how we are weak and sin. But it leads to the true strength that comes from God\u2019s Grace and presence. We recognize our limitations and rely on God’s power in our weakness. God is not only a \u201cCo-pilot\u201d in our lives, but He is the one guiding and providing purpose and direction to our hearts.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Conclusion<\/strong>: Therefore, any spiritual path or belief system will lead to God.<\/p>\n Biblical Truth<\/strong>: Jesus teaches that He is the only way to the Father (John 14:6). The Lutheran Confessions are clear that salvation comes only through the revealed Gospel of Christ, not through human efforts to find God on their own terms. This emphasizes the necessity of Christ\u2019s atonement and the means of grace (Word and Sacrament). Everyone truly can find God: in His Word \u2013 In Christ.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Initial Truth:<\/strong> 1 John 3:1-3 states that those who believe in Christ are called children of God.<\/p>\n Conclusion:<\/strong> Therefore, everyone is automatically a child of God, regardless of their relationship with Christ.<\/p>\n Biblical Truth:<\/strong> While God desires all to come to Him, only those who become part of His family through faith in Christ are His children (Galatians 3:26). This highlights the importance of faith in Jesus as the basis for our identity as God’s children. Every person is a creature of God<\/em>, but only those who are in Jesus are called children of God.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Initial Truth:<\/strong> The Bible teaches that sin entered the world through Adam and Eve, resulting in suffering and death for all creation (Genesis 3:16-19; Romans 5:12).<\/p>\n Conclusion:<\/strong> Therefore, all suffering in a person\u2019s life is a direct punishment for their specific sins.<\/p>\n Corrective:<\/strong> While suffering can indeed be a consequence of sin in a general sense, Scripture also teaches that not all suffering is due to personal sin (John 9:1-3; Job 1-2). Suffering can occur for various reasons, including spiritual growth, testing of faith, and living in a fallen world. Lutheran teaching emphasizes that Christ has borne our sins and suffering, offering comfort and hope amid trials (1 Peter 2:24). Suffering is always an opportunity for reliance on God\u2019s grace and a reminder of the hope we have in Christ.[9]<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Initial Truth:<\/strong> Everyone has personal experiences and perspectives that shape their understanding of the world (Philippians 2:3).<\/p>\n Conclusion<\/strong>:<\/strong> Since everyone\u2019s truth is valid, we should not talk about accountability or rectifying concepts.<\/p>\n Biblical Truth:<\/strong> Lutheran teaching emphasizes that while personal experiences are valid, they do not determine ultimate truth. Scripture is the ultimate authority for truth (2 Timothy 3:16-17), and we are called to test all beliefs against God\u2019s Word (1 John 4:1). The objective truth of the Gospel provides the foundation for our faith and discernment, guiding us in love and humility toward one another.<\/p>\n ________________________________________________<\/p>\n [1]<\/a>To that effetc. let\u2019s analyze this \u201c6 or 9\u201d cartoon to help us to differentiate between angles and points of view from essential and unchangeable truth. This cartoon is often utilized to illustrate the point of \u201cmy truth\u201d. We see things differently and both can be right.<\/p>\n However, what is often missed it that they both are looking to the same and unchangeable thing. A 6 that can be a 9 and vice versa. What if one of them was saying, \u201cI see a 10?\u201d Or \u201cI see a horse\u201d? Or \u201cI see a 6, but I identify it as a house?\u201d What we know is that this number can\u2019t be a 6 and a 10 at the same, at least not in the decimal system. Here we need to establish the difference between the thing as it is – objective truth \u2013 from the angle we see it \u2013 subjective perception. A subjective perception is valid as long as it doesn\u2019t go against the essence of the objective truth.<\/p>\n Jesus is the Son of God, the Saviour of the World. Objective truth. When it comes to subjective approaches to Him, we might say \u201che is my Saviour and friend\u201d. Another person could say, \u201che is my Lord and Guide\u201d. A Historian might say \u201cHe is a historic person from the 1st<\/sup> century\u201d. All those subjective perceptions don\u2019t go against the objective truth stated. But if someone says, \u201cJesus was created by God the Father to be the redeemer of the World\u201d, then you have a false statement. The sense in which we talk about Christian Truth in the sermon today is the objective sense, as we hold the Bible up as the Truth given by God.<\/p>\n [2]<\/a> In Jesus’ time, many Jewish people held a variety of expectations about the Messiah. Some anticipated a political leader who would liberate them from Roman oppression, while others expected a spiritual figure who would restore Israel’s faithfulness to God. Jesus, however, revealed that the Messiah was not merely a temporal saviour but the incarnate Son of God who would suffer, die, and rise again for the salvation of all humanity. This redefinition challenged the prevailing half-truths and misconceptions about God’s plan for redemption.<\/p>\n [3]<\/a> Many in Jesus’ time equated material wealth and social status with God’s favor, leading to the belief that prosperity was a sign of divine blessing. Jesus challenged this notion through parables and teachings that highlighted the spiritual dimensions of God’s blessing, emphasizing that true wealth comes from a relationship with Him and serving others. For example, the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) flipped the prevailing view, declaring blessed those who were poor in spirit, mourned, and were persecuted<\/p>\n [4]<\/a> The religious leaders of Jesus\u2019 time often focused on external rituals and traditions, losing sight of the heart of the law. Jesus confronted this legalism by emphasizing the importance of inner purity and love for God and neighbor (Matthew 23:23). He reminded them that God desires mercy, not sacrifice, highlighting that true worship is not merely about performing rituals but about essence, which will lead to embodying God\u2019s love and grace in daily life.<\/p>\n [5]<\/a> During the Reformation, the Church had become entangled in the belief that salvation could be earned by adding good works, indulgences, and rituals to faith. Reformers like Martin Luther proclaimed the doctrine of justification by faith alone (sola fide), emphasizing that salvation is a gift of God’s grace received through faith, not something that can be merited. This core truth reshaped the understanding of the believer\u2019s relationship with God, shifting from a fear-based approach to one rooted in trust and assurance of salvation.<\/p>\n [6]<\/a> The medieval Church held a monopoly on biblical interpretation, often placing church tradition and teachings above Scripture. Reformers argued for the authority of Scripture alone (sola scriptura), asserting that the Bible is the ultimate source of truth for faith and practice. This return to the Scriptures empowered individuals to engage with God\u2019s Word personally and critically, challenging the Church\u2019s authority when it diverged from biblical teachings.<\/p>\n [7]<\/a> The medieval Church\u2019s understanding of the Eucharist had evolved into a ritualistic practice, often viewed as a means of grace contingent on the priest’s actions. The Reformers reasserted the belief in the real presence of Christ in the Holy Supper but rejected the notion of transubstantiation as defined by the Medieval Church. They emphasized that Christ is truly present in the Sacrament with His body and blood but in and with the bread and the wine, and not as a reenactment of Christ\u2019s Sacrifice, but as a gift for forgiveness of sins and life eternal.<\/p>\n
\n<\/em><\/p>\n
\n_Signs of God\u2019s blessing<\/u> – The other day, we were talking about the young, rich man who turned away from Jesus because he thought, \u201csince I’m rich and I have blessings, it is a sign that God loves me, and I’ll be saved\u201d. Possessions, which are indeed God\u2019s blessings, were seen as sign of God’s favour and salvation. But when what you have lead you to think of God\u2019s favour outside of faith in Jesus, it becomes a huge problem.[3]<\/a>
\n_Ritualism without essence<\/u> \u2013 People offered continued sacrifices, as prescribed by the Old Testament. Did God command all those sacrifices? Yes, they should be done, but with essence, with heart. At some point, the essence was lost.[4]<\/a><\/p>\n
\n_Authority of the Bible and of the Church<\/u> – The Church came to life before the New Testament was written. That is true. But down the road, the Church became the master over the Word. You cannot read your Bible for yourself; you need the magisterium of the Church to give you the only valid interpretation.[6]<\/a>
\n_Presence of Christ in Holy Supper<\/u> \u2013 Jesus said, \u201cthis is my body\u2026this is the chalice of the new covenant\u201d. Fast forward many centuries and now Holy Communion is both a transformation and a sacrifice offered by the priest. It’s not bread and wine anymore. (1:14:39) It’s just body and blood consecrated,[7]<\/a> in a sacrifice that can be performed by an ordained minister.<\/p>\n
\n-True disciples
\n-We learn the Truth
\n-The Truth sets us free<\/p>\n\n
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