This is part of the worship series,
"God of All Ages”
Series Introduction
Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4
WEEK THREE
SIXTEENTH CENTURY
Introduction
In the early sixteenth century, the Holy Roman Empire had become extremely rich, powerful, and internally corrupt. As early as the twelfth century, there had been calls for reform. In 1517 a German Augustinian friar named Martin Luther publicly called for reform in church practice, advocating a return to scripture as the church's authority. The invention of the printing press helped spread his message of reform, and soon other leaders appeared: Ulrich Zwingli in Switzerland, French-born John Calvin in Geneva, and John Knox, who carried Calvin's teachings to Scotland.
Luther sought to reform the worship service as well, with a focus on scripture and involvement of the congregation. He thought that the congregation should receive both bread and wine during communion, and that a sermon interpreting scripture should be delivered in the local language during each worship service.
Luther also wanted to broaden congregational singing. He noticed that German folk music and tavern music was written syllabically—one syllable per note—and that this made it easier to learn and sing for untrained musicians. He adopted this style of music in new hymns and settings of psalms to encourage congregational singing. With his reforms, Luther sought to put worship back in the hands of the worshipers.
In fact, patterns of worship in the sixteenth century and the rise of hymnody during this and subsequent centuries provides the model of our worship services today.
Call To Worship
Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm of Praise
"All People That on Earth Do Dwell" Bourgeois
Prayer of Confession
The Absolution
The Reformers believed that the authority to forgive sin lay not with the priest, but with scripture.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Let us truly acknowledge that we are sinners, humble ourselves before God, and believe that the heavenly Father wills to be gracious unto us in Jesus Christ. To all who repent in this way and look to Jesus Christ for their salvation, I declare that the absolution of sins is effected, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Hymn of Gratitude
"I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art" Calvin, trans. Smith
Children's message
Choir Anthem
"Jesus, Priceless Treasure" Franck, Winkworth
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture
Galatians 3:1–14 Psalm 119:105–112
Sermon: Justified By Faith Alone
Text: Galatians 3:1–14
Notes: How could man abide God's presence unless he himself were holy? In an effort to answer this question, Luther pursued holiness, fasting for days at a time, praying more prayers than his order required of him, sleeping in the cold dampness of his room without blankets. Despite participating in the indulgences of the day, as well as a scrupulous regimen of confession, he didn't feel peace with God.
Preparing to teach the Bible, specifically Romans and Galatians, Luther was confronted by the phrase the just shall live by faith. How, he wondered, could the just live by faith if there was no one just? Luther received an insight that changed not only his life but the life of the church. "The justice of God is that righteousness by which, through grace and sheer mercy, God justifies us through faith. God makes atonement for us," he wrote.
Luther's faith came alive not in behavior or confession or asceticism, but by trusting in God. Through Scripture, the church rediscovered that we can't earn God's favor. God's love is a gift. Luther and the Reformers realized anew that there is life in the word, an emphasis we still carry today. From the word we learn that faith isn't rules, duty, obligation, or guilt. It is trust in the living Word—in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Congregational response
The Ten Commandments
We pointed out to the congregation that the positioning of liturgical elements in worship has meaning. For example, Lutherans historically recite the Ten Commandments before the prayer of confession, reflecting Luther's view that the law reveals our sin to us. Those in the Reformed tradition tend to recite them as a response to the Assurance of Pardon or the preached Word, reflecting Calvin's view that the law teaches us how to live in light of the grace shown to us in Christ.
Hymn
"Help Us to Help Each Other, Lord" Wesley
While this is a later Wesleyan hymn, the music (Dunfermline) comes from the Scottish Psalter. The Presbyterian Church in Canada has its roots in the Chinch of Scotland. This was an opportunity to demonstrate the historical reach of some of our music.
Offering
Prayers of Intercession
Recessional Hymn
"A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" Luther
Revised Common Lectionary
Year A: Season after Pentecost—Proper 10 (15)
