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Kimmo Heikkilä | The Voice of Zion November 2017, Translated from Päivämies, no. 37, 2017 -- A certain friend had heard that question. The questioner had himself been a person confessing faith. What could be behind such a question? Doesn’t going to services seem important anymore? The desire to go to services must have been quite small. Had faith of the heart, faith according to God’s Word, become his personal faith? “I want to be a believer, but I believe in my own way.” The spoken word at services vexes one with such a mind. Lack of desire for services isn’t a new matter. Already in the early days of Christianity, the writer of the letter to the Hebrews reminds of neglecting to gather together, “as the manner of some is.” Our time is busy. Busyness exists at work, with our studies, at school, and even at home. Services and other congregation activities also use up their own time. There are good hobbies. It feels like there isn’t enough time for everything that we would like to do. Inevitably matters must be prioritized. Do we remember then the importance of hearing God’s Word? What is the most important of all for us? The experience of being part of a community is a good matter. We know that we aren’t alone. But do we belong to our congregation and go to services only because we want to be together in a community with like-minded individuals? Has it just become a good habit? When I go once a week to listen to the sermon, I’m known as a believer. Then has personal faith been forgotten and in its place come habitual Christianity? Our home Zion is a fellowship of believers where we are known. Most often we associate the words “home Zion” to the congregation of which we are members. It is mostly this way. But for many it is a smaller group of people, consisting of travel friends living close to each other—since every locality doesn’t have its own congregation. In our home Zion we can experience a secure sense of community. We want to believe in the same way, we are on the same journey, and we have a united goal. We aren’t God’s children because we go to services, but rather because we can personally believe our sins forgiven through grace. This is God’s great gift, which we can’t merit ourselves. It suffices that we want to believe. We go to services so that we can hear God’s Word, the message of forgiveness, and be given strength to believe. We continually need strengthening for our faith, travel provisions, for we are in fact only children of the day. During busy times, a lot of provisions are consumed. It is the same on the road of faith also. In God’s kingdom, the securest community of all on this earth, there are sufficient travel provisions for all. There we have the strong promises of God’s Word.

Steven Kallinen | The Voice of Zion November 2017 -- Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.—Matthew 13:47–50 The Just and the Unjust Jesus here relates of matters of the heart that will be revealed on the final judgment day. The reward for each person will be according to his or her life—was there a desire to live by faith, or not? Christ will come to judge the “quick and the dead” at an unpredictable moment. Thus, once the call sounds there will be no more time to reconcile matters, but he who believes by faith will have Christ as his reconciliation victory (2 Cor. 5:19). As a fisherman throws his net into the sea to catch every kind of fish, so Jesus pictures a net cast into the sea of people. This net has been gathering people from all races and nations since the foundation of the world (Rev. 7:9). Those that are caught in the net are revealed at the time of harvest. The angels will separate the “wicked from the just” and throw into a furnace of fire those who “hast a name that thou livest, and art dead” (Rev. 3:1). When the net is pulled to shore, everything becomes visible; all the evil deeds of men are revealed. Every person will one day face that moment. Will the answer from the Judge be, “I never knew you, depart from me,” or to one who is living by grace and truth, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matt. 25:34)? Many hear the calling voice of the Good Shepherd at some time in life, but few heed the call. In the example of the ten lepers, Jesus asked, “Where are the nine?” (Luke 17:17). Only one had continued in faith to follow Jesus, giving glory to God. Jesus said to him, “Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole” (Luke 17:19). The Pharisees demanded to know when the kingdom of God should come, thinking that with their eyes they would see a glorious sight revealing His kingdom. Jesus replied that God’s kingdom was already in their midst, or among them. Similarly, man’s eyes could not see the beauty of the inside of the ark, which only looked like tar and pitch from the outside. Eyes of faith see the fields already white waiting for the harvest at the end of this world. Wait with Patience and Prayer In faith, we must patiently wait for His Second Coming. Man would want to see results of the work now, even to quickly pull the tares from among the wheat, but Jesus teaches love and patience which is contrary to the mind of the flesh. Thus, with the mind of Christ, Paul said, “I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase” (1 Cor. 3:6). With patience and prayer, we say as the psalmist: “Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me…Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk” (Ps. 143:7,8). The example of the rich man and Lazarus reveals how one who was rich with the things of this world ended up with a great gulf between him and the glory of heaven where the grace-beggar Lazarus sat, having reached the eternal shore of peace and beauty. Do not ignore the calling voice of the Good Shepherd. Why can we both mourn and rejoice when a believer passes away? Especially when a dear family member or close one is called, we miss them and need to learn to live without their support and fellowship. However, when a heavenly testimony remains of one who passes away in faith, we know it is a great victory for them to enter the bosom of Abraham, and finally one day to the glory of heaven eternal. Therefore, we need each day to continue to believe, for we own the hope of heaven by faith. May we be found in the world, but not of the world, on the day that His angels come to harvest the grain for heaven.

Terry Ruonavaara | The Voice of Zion October 2017 -- Prayer is indispensable in our life of faith. It is the means by which we share the deepest feelings of our heart with God. Let us not doubt that the Heavenly Father hears even our weakest sigh. God has given man a way to speak with Him from the heart. This is a gift from God. He wants us to use this gift. We also want to remember that man is not saved by praying. Our salvation is only attained by believing our sins forgiven through the merit work of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. King David had a simple but very important prayer to God, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Ps. 139:23,24). David knew his own tendency to stray and wanted God to preserve him in faith. By prayer he brought this inner worry to the ear of the Heavenly Father. He was unsure of even his own thoughts. He was not confident in himself as once in his life when he had deeply fallen. He pleaded with God to examine his heart, lead and guide him. His prayer was that of a humble child of God. James has written that the “fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). It means that the prayer of a believer is powerful. God knows our prayers even before we pray for something. Sometimes God answers our prayer right away, and sometimes He answers them at a later time. He does not always answer in the way that we would want Him to, but He answers in the way that is best for us. At times we may pray for something to change in our lives, but later on we see how God has guarded our lives, and we realize that the change that we prayed for has not occurred. God has instead patiently allowed our lives to continue as He has planned. In this way God has brought us closer to Him. God knows our hearts; He knows our needs. His Word reminds all people to first pray for what is most important, that is the finding of God’s kingdom and eternal life. We pray in the Lord’s Prayer, “Thy kingdom come,” which expresses our heartfelt desire that God’s kingdom would come to me personally through the Holy Spirit. Jesus emphasized this later in the same chapter: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt. 6:33). Jesus’ words underscore that the most important purpose of a person’s life is eternal even though he or she has temporal concerns too. We remember how Cornelius prayed to God continuously. The Heavenly Parent knew Cornelius’ heart and his sincere prayer for peace of conscience. God answered his prayer and sent Peter to his home where he was able to believe his sins forgiven. In prayer, we ask God for much in our lives. Often we pray for temporal things in this life. We also pray for our parents, for our children, and for our loved ones. We pray for those who are struggling with burdens and trials. We pray especially for those who have lost the gift of living faith. And we pray that we would personally be able to continue our own endeavor of faith. Prayer is God’s gift to us and the means by which we can bring all our cares to Him. Let us not doubt that our prayers are heard. Neither let us despair of His goodness toward us. Remember to thank God for all the blessings that He has given in our lives. The Creator has given us life and in prayer we say, “Thy will be done.” God’s will is always best. ‍

George Koivukangas | The Voice of Zion October 2017 -- Many have experienced the loss of a loved one. We mourn for both those that died in faith and those that didn’t. Separation caused by death seems so final. We that are living are not prepared for the sorrow of parting and the grief that follows. We pray for peace. God sends His escorts to comfort and uplift. Sorrows are shared; we are encouraged to cast our burdens on the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Martin and Katharina Luther lost two of their children. He rejoiced that his children were safe in heaven. Luther wrote about his feelings, which are shared in this Home and Family writing. Luther Mourns In 1525, a believing former monk and a believing former nun were married. Martin Luther and Katharina von Bora’s marriage was loving and joyful. The gospel abounded in their home. God blessed them. God gifted them with six children. It was a bustling household. At any given time, there were refugees from other countries, dignitaries, royals, and many students and teachers there. Their home was filled with discussions around the Holy Scriptures and living faith, music and singing, and laughter. Luther enjoyed the visiting and had a very generous heart. Katharina (Katie) managed the whole thing with their meager income. It is important to remember that in Luther’s day, with limited medical treatment and catastrophic diseases, like the plague, death was a frequent visitor in homes and families. Grief and sorrow beset many. “Pray to the Lord for Me” Sorrow struck deeply in Luther’s home on December 10, 1527. Their second child, under one-year-old, died during an outbreak of the plague. They were devastated. “My baby daughter, little Elizabeth, has passed away. It is amazing what a sick heart … she has left to me, so much grief for her overcomes me. Never before would I have believed that a father’s heart could have such tender feelings for his child. Do pray to the Lord for me” (Luther’s Works 49:203). It was during this time that Luther said, “There is no sweeter union than that in a good marriage. Nor is there any death more bitter than that which separates a married couple. Only the death of children comes close to this; how much this hurts I have myself experienced.” Tragedy struck again in 1542. Their beloved 14-year-old daughter Magdalena became gravely ill. When Katie realized the gravity of the child’s illness, she began to weep uncontrollably. Luther reminded her that children have simple faith, little fear, and die as if going to sleep. As the illness became worse, Luther said, “I love her very much. But if it is Thy will to take her, dear God, I shall be glad to know that she is with Thee.” Afterward he said to her, as she was lying in bed, “Dear Magdalene, my little daughter, you would be glad to stay here with me, your father. Are you also glad to go to your Father in heaven?” The sick girl replied, “Yes, dear father, as God wills.” Luther said, “You dear little girl!” Then he turned away and said to those present, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. I love her very much. If the flesh is so strong, what must the spirit be?” Among other things, he then said, “In the last thousand years God has given to no bishop such great gifts as He has given me (for one should boast of God’s gifts). I’m angry with myself that I’m unable to rejoice from my heart and be thankful to God, though I do at times sing a little song and thank God. Whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.” “When their daughter was in the agony of death, he fell on his knees before the bed and, weeping bitterly, prayed that God might will to save her. Thus she gave up the ghost in the arms of her father. Her mother was in the same room, but farther from the bed on account of her grief. It was the ninth hour on the Wednesday after the fifteenth Sunday after Trinity in the year 1542” (Luther’s Works 54:431). I Am Joyful, But Have Sorrow Too We all have experienced the death of a loved one. We see here the agony of a mother and father facing the death of their children. We have had the same experiences—knowing and believing through the Holy Spirit that they are in heaven, yet through the flesh feeling the incredible pain of death’s intrusion as it takes a loved one from us. Martin Luther said of the death of beloved Magdalena: “When Magdalene died, I am joyful in spirit but I am sad according to the flesh. The flesh doesn’t take kindly to this. The separation troubles me beyond measure. It’s strange to know that she is surely at peace and that she is well off there, very well off, and yet to grieve so much.” As the coffin was taken from their home, Luther said, “I’ve just sent a saint to heaven—yes, a living saint. Would that our death might be like this.” Again, turning to others, he said, “Do not be sorrowful. I have sent a saint to heaven. In fact, I have now sent two of them” (Luther’s Works 54:432–33). It Is a Comforted Sorrow Even now, we may remember dear loved ones who have passed away—some many years past, or some very recent. The pain of separation stings gravely. Sorrow returns. Yet, when our loved one has died in living faith, it is not an uncomforted sorrow. Tears flow. Tears of joy mingle in. Our Heavenly Father reminds us that the day of death of a child of God is better than the day of birth. “A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth” (Eccl. 7:1). It pays to believe. Heaven awaits. Discussion Points: 1. Contrast the sudden passing of a young person to an old person. Why is the former so startling and the later not so? 2. Should we consider the death of a young believing person as a tragedy or expression of God’s love? 3. Considering the sudden passing of a friend/loved one: What went unsaid that you wish you could have told them? 4. Reflecting on the prolonged illness of a person, young or old: What thoughts come to mind? 5. How can you preserve the memory of a loved one? 6. What one thing do you remember most of a friend/loved one who passed away? 7. What passages of the Bible help us comfort one who is ill or dying?

The Voice of Zion October 2017 - The Father's Call Articles -- Why does a once-believing child leave God’s kingdom? The question arises, “What happened?” The child becomes helpless and trapped by this world. Believing parents experience great sorrow and helplessness when one of their own denies faith and becomes a prodigal child. Varied emotions and sleepless nights follow which drain one’s energy and the joy of believing. Bitterness must be fought away. Then when the Father calls the prodigal one again into His kingdom there is rejoicing in heaven and on earth. What seemed impossible was possible with God. In this first of a series, LaVon and Jason Thomas relate of their time in unbelief and for LaVon, of her return to childhood faith. Their daughter Aaliyah gives a child’s perspective. The series will continue in Voice of Zion issues through 2018. “My Life Now Has Hope” LaVon and Jason Thomas were given the grace of repentance on Labor Day, 2014. LaVon returned to God’s kingdom after thirteen years in unbelief. She grew up in a believing home and enjoyed congregation life. She attended Sunday school, Bible class, many camps, and often traveled to Summer Services. She had Christian friends and was confirmed in living faith. Why do once believing children leave God’s kingdom? “Unforgiven sin led me from faith,” LaVon verifies. “I was tempted to wear make-up and hang out and party with unbelieving friends. At first, it was curiosity which then led to a very guilty conscience, and finally I felt too ashamed to want to go back to church.” LaVon says that living in unbelief was a very “black part” of her life. “At first, I felt as if I could trust people the way I trusted a brother or sister in faith, but I soon found out how cruel and unforgiving the world is. I remember continually chasing after happiness, but nothing is true or pure happiness in the world.” Satan continued to tempt with different things. “There is always anger and resentment, even after trying to forgive each other by saying, ‘Sorry, I won’t do that again,’” LaVon recalls. “I remember the feeling of trying to put matters aside, but if something happened again it all came back. Human forgiveness never really took away any pain because it wasn’t washed away with the blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Of her journey back to God’s kingdom, LaVon shares, “I recall praying to God for years and pleading with Him to help change our life. I knew if we continued in the direction we were going our family would fall apart or worse.” In prayer to God for change, “I never knew His answer would be to become a believer again.” On their way back to Minnesota from LaVon’s sister’s wedding at Hasscib Lake Camp, her husband Jason told her that there was an unusual presence at the wedding, like a peaceful glow. LaVon says she told him, “Oh, that was probably the Holy Spirit.” After they got home, LaVon says that Jason felt exhausted. He said later that he had wondered, “How can I ever ask God for forgiveness and He would accept me?” He knew that God’s kingdom was near, and he wanted to belong to it, yet he doubted that God would allow him to enter. He was troubled. In the morning, still troubled, Jason told LaVon, “I think my conscience has been pricked. I need to talk to your father.” LaVon says that her heart was still worldly, and she said to him, “What did you do now? It’s okay, just tell me and we will get over this.” Jason wasn’t consoled and insisted that he needed to talk to her father. “We can repent together,” he had said. LaVon told him, “It doesn’t work that way, God must give it back to me too!” Jason then called LaVon’s father, and a miracle happened; he repented. LaVon says she listened and watched Jason as the gospel was preached to him. He began to cry and tremble with joy. “The scales of sin were lifted from my eyes, too,” she says. “I knew I wanted that same joy that only a believer can experience.” LaVon recalls how hard it was to go to services again. Satan tempted her immediately. “I doubted that I would be welcomed because of all the sin I had done through the years. However, our experience was good. We met people that we never knew before and they greeted us. They cried tears of joy for us, rejoicing in God’s call into faith.” “My life has changed dramatically since repentance from unbelief. Now when I have my sins forgiven I feel whole and at peace again. I have a joy that only comes from having my sins washed away. My life in unbelief was that of chaos and destruction. My life now has the hope of everlasting peace,” she concludes. Jason’s Journey—From Conflict to Peace Jason’s parents were divorced when he was three, and at about age nine he alternatively lived with his mother or father. “I was a troubled youth. My mom moved around a lot and I changed schools so I always had to make new friends. It wasn’t easy,” he laments. “As a child, I was brought to church and rooted in a basic belief and trust in God,” he says. “Yet in my unbelief I had a lot of darkness and anger toward myself, and I questioned—Am I truly doing what God wants me to do?” The most difficult thing for Jason to accept once he repented was that his parents and extended family might never enter the family of God. “We must never give up hope for those family members who have once believed, or maybe never believed,” he says. Since repenting Jason has found the journey to be both hard and easy at the same time. “The way is narrow, but if you keep your faith and trust in God and do what is pleasing in His sight, you will enter into eternal peace and joy,” he reflects. In unbelief Jason had committed a drug crime. He wanted to correct that matter too, and returned to his home state of Florida. There he was sentenced to a long jail term. It was unexpected, as he thought there would be some leniency since he voluntarily surrendered and now had a family. God helped, and after only two months he was released. During his time in jail, believing pastor Russell Roiko and his wife Sinikka visited and preached the gospel to him. It also meant a lot to him that his friends Todd Lampi, Joe Matthews, and Drew McEleney traveled nearly 1600 miles from Michigan to visit and comfort him. “Every Day I Get My Sins Forgiven” Aaliyah Thomas is LaVon and Jason’s oldest child. She was nine years old when her parents repented. She says that before her parents repented, “I thought life was okay, but really it wasn’t. There wasn’t any peace in our home. Instead there were fighting and loud arguments. Worldliness was our way of life. Makeup, movies, TV, and many other things were permissible.” She recalls that her nana and papa (grandma and grandpa) took her to church every Sunday morning, but “it was really hard to make friends.” Now that her parents are believers, “it’s easier to make friends, and there is no longer fighting. Homework is easier to do because we no longer have a TV.” Aaliyah has been able to make Christian friends, some of which she mentions by name: Kylie Keranen, Annea Kesti, Mariah Landa, Sophia Wikman, and Paige Fuller. She says she plays with a neighborhood friend, Mckayla. Aaliyah was asked what she likes most about being a believer. “Every day I get my sins forgiven, and I’m not afraid to go to church. I’m happy that my parents, friends, and God are always there for me.”

Randy Haapala | The Voice of Zion September 2017 -- Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. —Rev. 2:5 The apostle John during his exile on the Isle of Patmos had seen many visions, and many things were revealed to him. This portion of Scripture speaks to us of a very important matter in living faith. The essence of battling against the enemy of souls is to continually put sin away as it attaches. The First Love Before this text, John reminds us of the first love that we own, that is for God, the Father, and for the congregation, our spiritual Mother. God has gifted each child born into this world with the Holy Spirit, of which love is a characteristic. The enemy of souls knows of this first love, and this is what he tries to remove from us. Dear child of God, we have been given a great gift from our Heavenly Father. These words remind us what to do when we fall into sin. This is the battle that we wage. We often fall and are overcome by sin, sometimes grievous sins, but this portion reminds us that we don’t need to remain in sin, but rather, need to repent and believe our sins forgiven in Jesus’ name and blood. The Holy Spirit continues to dwell in the heart of one who keeps faith and a good conscience. By living so, love toward God and fellow brothers and sisters in faith is cared for. This is the love we desire to remain in. Why does God’s Word remind us in this way? It is for this reason that He can come quickly to take us away, when we least expect it. This is the endeavor of faith, battling the threefold enemy. If a servant of God loses sight of this battle and doesn’t himself heed God’s Word, his preaching and teaching can cleverly lead others astray, too. Sometimes entire congregations have disappeared where once the light of God’s Word had shown brightly. In this case, the candlestick of God’s kingdom is removed out of its place. In its place comes the teaching of either the wrong doctrine of freedom of the flesh or self-righteousness of the Law that are disguised as the gospel. Where once the living gospel was proclaimed only a lifeless imitation of it is found. The kingdom of God doesn’t return to such localities which have rejected it. Goal of Heaven Dear child of God, we are on the road to heaven! The battle of faith is worth it. The shores of heaven await those who continually travel by faith living of the precious gospel of the forgiveness of sins. It pays to believe this simple message, daily putting sins away so the conscience remains soft and tender and the goal of heaven remains clear and beautiful.

Perttu Kyllönen | The Voice of Zion September 2017, Translated from Päivämies, no. 31, 2017 -- The time we live in emphasizes efficiency. This can result in exhaustion in both work and life. Some have too much work, while others do not have any work at all. Work gives meaning to our life; we should be thankful that we have a job. God gave man the duty to cultivate and protect the earth. This meant doing work. After the fall into sin, God said, “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread.” At that time hardship accompanied work, but it also included a blessing. Work is a gift. The gift is not self-evident. Accepting the gift of work also requires something from us. It requires the attitude of a servant; we want to do our work as if for God. According to research, Lutherans consider work to be a special gift. We serve God by participating in building a good society. Even today some may think that temporal work is joyless drudgery, which has no spiritual significance. Lutheranism maintains that there is spiritual value to one’s earthly vocation. In serving God, I do not need to isolate myself from the world. Christian love occurs in the family, in the congregation, and in society. God is served by making peace, promoting justice, protecting nature, and helping the poor. We have various work responsibilities as people. Luther taught that the work that we are called to do is all honest work. I once received Luther’s vocation prayer as a gift. This expresses thankfulness that God has given each one of us our own calling. We pray in the vocation prayer that in working, we could put all of our cares upon God. This prayer continues to remind me each day when I open the door of my home and leave to work. Accepting the gift of work also requires something from us. At the same time, it reminds me of my work at home and calling as a Christian. All work is of equal value. One person’s calling is realized as a teacher, another’s as a salesman, and for some, such as me, as a pastor. Work done as a mother at home is equally valuable. Work requires much from us, but it also gives us much. It protects us from temptation and inactivity. When working, we are able to serve God and our neighbor. There we can use the gifts which God has given everyone for the right purpose.

The Voice of Zion September 2017 -- Many readers of the Voice of Zion will know that Martin Luther wrote the Small Catechism; however, it is likely that relatively few know the context and history of it. Many may wonder why Luther wrote the Small Catechism, under what circumstances did he write it, or how did he intend it to be used? The answers to these questions, as well as the main content of the Small Catechism, will be presented in the articles of this spread, which is part of the LLC’s commemoration of the 500th year since the start of the Reformation. catechism /ˈkatɪkɪz(ə)m/ Noun. Summary of the principles of Christian religion in the form of questions and answers, used for religious instruction. Origin: Early 16th century catechize /ˈkatɪkʌɪz/ Verb. Instruct (someone) in the principles of Christian religion by means of question and answer, typically by using a catechism. (https://en.oxforddictionaries.com) The Context and History of the Small Catechism Carey Simonson | The Voice of Zion September 2017 Background Martin Luther wrote the Small Catechism in 1529, 12 years after the start of the Reformation and the writing of his Ninety-five Thesis. In 1529, Luther had already written many books and sermons and had translated the New Testament into the language of his people (German). Luther wanted the common people to be able to study and learn God’s Word. Therefore when Luther visited the parishes in 1527–29 (a decade after the start of the Reformation), he was disappointed to find ignorant congregation members and incompetent pastors. In his preface to the Small Catechism, Luther wrote the following: “The deplorable, miserable conditions which I recently observed when visiting parishes have constrained and pressed me to put this catechism of Christian Doctrine into brief, plain and simple form. How pitiable, so help me God, were the things I saw: the common man, especially in the villages, knows practically nothing of Christian doctrine, and many of the pastors are almost entirely incompetent and unable to teach.” Purpose and Intended Audience Luther wrote the Small Catechism as a tool to help pastors and parents teach basic Christian doctrine, including the Ten Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed, the sacraments and confession. He wanted pastors and parents to teach the young and common people in a simple and consistent way. He felt that the pastors were responsible for the lack of knowledge of the people. “Oh, you bishops! How will you ever answer to Christ for letting the people carry on so disgracefully and not attending to the duties of your office for a moment? … Therefore dear brothers, for God’s sake I beg all of you who are pastors and preachers to devote yourselves sincerely to the duties of your office … to inculcate [teach by repetition] this catechism in the people, especially the young.” Use of the Small Catechism—Then Luther wanted that the Small Catechism be taught through repetition and memorization. He proposed three steps to teaching the catechism: (1) memorizing the text, (2) explaining the meaning, and (3) enhancing the understanding with the Large Catechism. “Young and inexperienced persons must be taught a single fixed form or they will easily become confused, and the result will be that all previous effort and labor will be lost. There should be no change, even though one may wish to improve the text. … without altering a single syllable and by never varying their wording when presenting or quoting them year after year. … word for word, so that they can repeat it after you and commit it to memory.” “Second, after they have well memorized the text (of the catechism), then explain the meaning so that they understand what they are saying. … taking your time with it … After they understand well the meaning of the First Commandment, proceed to the Second, and so on, otherwise they will be too overwhelmed to the point of remembering nothing.” It is interesting that Luther tells the preachers: “If, however, you happen to be preaching to some sophis­­­­ticated, learned audience, then you certainly may demonstrate your skill with words by turning phrases as colorfully and masterfully as you can. But with young personskeep to a single, fixed, and permanent form and wording.” Use of the Small Catechism—Now It is comforting that today, nearly 500 years after the Small Catechism was written, Luther’s Small Catechism is still used in God’s kingdom for the same purpose and in the same way that Luther intended it to be used. Sunday school teachers still emphasize word-for-word memorization of the text and patiently teach “What is meant by this?” to our young year after year using a “permanent form and wording”. By the time our children leave Sunday school and attend Confirmation School, they have memorized most of the teachings in Luther’s Small Catechism. These teachings will serve our children their entire life time. Through this 500-year-old tool, God continues bless His kingdom and firmly root our children in Christian Doctrine. The words of Solomon come to mind: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6). “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them” (Eccl. 12:1). Ten Commandments, Creed, and Lord’s Prayer Jim Lehto | The Voice of Zion September 2017 Most of us learned the Lord’s Prayer as children from our parents and memorized the Ten Commandments and the Creed in Sunday school. We also learned that the Ten Commandments were written on stone tablets in Moses’ time and that Jesus taught the Lord’s Prayer during His Sermon on the Mount. We used Luther’s Small Catechism as our Sunday School text book. Luther included the Ten Commandments, Creed, and Lord’s Prayer in the Small Catechism because, as a sinful man himself, Luther understood the trials and difficulties that the people faced in the war against the world, Satan, and their own flesh. Luther also wanted the people to understand and embrace Christ’s teachings so they could continue to fight against sin, have their sins forgiven, and continue to live with the hope of eternal life. The Ten Commandments Jesus taught that the Ten Commandments can be summarized by two commandments: (1) love God and (2) love your neighbor as thyself (Matt. 22:37–40). In the Small Catechism, Luther explains what each commandment means and begins most explanations with “We should so fear and love God as not to….” In these explanations of the commandments and his other writing, Luther shows his respect for the law and his love for his neighbor’s undying soul. The Creed The Creed that is in the Small Catechism comes from the Apostle’s Creed that had been written long before Luther’s time. The Creed is a succinct summary of what we believe; the doctrine of our faith. Luther’s explanation of the Second Article is a single sentence and has been called the greatest sentence ever written. The Lord’s Prayer Luther wrote that the Lord’s Prayer, which Jesus taught, is the perfect prayer and contains everything that we ought to pray for. During his teaching, Luther saw that the people would memorize and recite the Lord’s Prayer quickly by rote without really thinking about what they were praying. Luther wrote that he needed to pray slowly and think about each word. Baptism and Sacrament of the Altar Arvin Pirness | The Voice of Zion September 2017 Luther’s writings emphasize how God has ordained the sacraments to especially draw His children close to Him—through His Word connected both to the water in baptism and the spiritual eating and drinking of His Son in communion. Baptism Many of us have attended a baptism and perhaps wondered about the significance of the occasion. Baptism is God-given and His recorded Word instructs us to baptize. “Go ye and teach all nations: baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19). The Sacrament is performed for this reason that the one who believes and is baptized will be saved (Mark 16:16). In baptism there is a deliverance of the promise that God will never forsake His own. The water in baptism isn’t just any water. It is the water “comprehended in God’s command, and connected with God’s word” that extends to the believing recipient God’s promise. Baptism signifies that our carnal portion, also called our Old Adam, should by daily sorrow and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil lusts, and that the new man should daily come forth and rise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever. Luther was very emphatic of the need that the water be united or mixed with the Word. He taught in the Large Catechism, that the water and the Word, would by no means be separated from one another. Likewise that if the Word is separated from it, the water is the same as that with which the servant cooks, and may indeed be called a bath-keeper’s baptism. But when it is added, as God has ordained, it is a Sacrament, and is called Christ’s Baptism. Baptism is a covenant of faith and a good conscience. We continue in that covenant through God’s grace, the gift of faith, the power of the forgiveness of sins and by keeping a good conscience. God has also given us the grace priviledge to confess our sins and receive absolution, that is, the forgiveness of our sins. This is what Luther meant by the words: “It works forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and gives everlasting salvation to all who believe what the Word and promise of God declare.” Sacrament of the Altar The sacrament of the altar, also known as communion, was established by Jesus. At the Last Supper Jesus “took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matt. 26:26–28). Luther calls this sacrament the “food of souls,” as it is a meal that gives nourishment and strength for the endeavor of faith (or “walking in the new man” according to Luther). In the covenant of baptism, we are granted access to walk under God’s grace, but Luther knew so well there still remains the old vicious nature of flesh and blood in man (our inherited corruption), and so many hindrances and temptations from the three-fold enemy that try and steal faith. In the Large Catechism Luther affirms, “Now to this end [end being our inherited sinfulness] the consolation is here given when the heart feels that the burden is becoming too heavy, that it may here obtain new power and refreshment” in communion. Communion is a meal of unity with Christ and His kingdom in an humanly incomprehensible way and through which our weak faith is strengthened. Communion is meant only for the believer. The believer goes to communion in faith, partakes in faith and returns in faith. One does not enter God’s kingdom through communion nor care for matters of conscience by partaking of the elements. One is however reminded of the salvation work of Christ as Jesus said, “This do in remembrance of me” and of how one can be encouraged to continue in faith and to keep a good conscience. This is what Luther meant by, “And because He offers and promises forgiveness of sin, it [communion] cannot be received otherwise than by faith!” So, God ordained this meal of remembrance for one who in faith has been battle wearied, to experience and be reminded of God’s promise for sinful man and in eating of His body and blood one can be strengthened in the belief that only through Christ’s redemption can we attain salvation. Confession and Absolution Duane Pirness | The Voice of Zion September 2017 Martin Luther explains the grace privilege of confession in his Small Catechism. In this explanation he tells what confession is, what sins we should confess, and gives examples of what could be said by someone confessing his sins to a confessor. This part of the Small Catechism ends with the office of the keys. In explaining what confession is, he says that there are two parts. One is that we confess our sins. The other is that we receive absolution from the confessor, as of God himself. This means that although the confessor says the words of absolution to us, we believe that this absolution comes from God. We are not to doubt, but firmly believe that our sins then are truly forgiven by God. In his writings, Luther explains that this happens through the power Jesus gave to believers through the office of the keys. (Matt. 16:19; John 20:22–23) He says that it is the peculiar power which Christ has given to His Church on earth to forgive the sins of penitent sinners, but to retain the sins of the impenitent as long as they do not repent. When the confessor absolves those who repent of their sins and are willing to amend, this is as valid and certain, in heaven also, as if Christ, our dear Lord, dealt with us himself. In explaining what sins we should confess, Luther teaches that before God we should acknowledge our guilt over all sins, even those of which we aren’t aware ourselves. However, before the confessor, we should only confess those sins which we know about and which we feel in our hearts and which trouble our conscience. In his writings, Luther emphasizes that confession must not be a compulsion or command. It is not a requirement or a law, but rather a gift which we cannot do without. He states that it should not be despised, but it is a comfort. Luther also gives examples of what could be said by someone when confessing his sins to a confessor. I’m sure these were not intended as some type of prototype of a confession, but as an example only. The words we use in our confession are surely not the important thing, as our salvation does not depend on how well we make our confession. What is important in our confession, as Luther also stressed, is that we believe the words of absolution from the confessor. This brings peace to our troubled conscience. In the Smalcald Articles, Luther states, “I will allow no man to take private confession away from me, and I would not give it up for all the treasures in the world, since I know what comfort and strength it has given me. No one knows what it can do for him except one who has struggled often and long with the devil. Yea, the devil would have slain me long ago, if the confession had not sustained me …” In my life of faith, I have experienced exactly what Luther states here. When I have been tempted and fallen into sin and my conscience has been troubled, I have felt so happy and comforted when God has given me the strength to approach another believer about my matters and he has preached and I have believed the words of absolution. Prayer and Table of Duties Antti Petaisto | The Voice of Zion September 2017 Prayer What is prayer? Prayer is a direct conversation with God. Where and how can we pray? The Bible instructs us: “When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father in secret” (Matt. 6:6). Martin Luther encouraged people to pray, indeed, much of the Small Catechism can be used to pray. In a letter titled “A Simple Way to Pray” that Luther sent to his barber, he explained how he prayed using the Lord’s Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Creed. Luther did not want prayers to be only in a set form with predetermined wording. He wanted to allow any person to pray whenever and wherever. Praying in a moment of need for God’s help and guidance is an example of a prayer free of outward formality. This is very familiar to us, as the children of God are children of prayer. The rite of Holy Communion contains examples of formalized prayers. The Small Catechism has prayers for both our temporal and spiritual needs. Prayers for morning and evening, and prayers for before and after eating. It also explains what is meant by the perfect prayer—The Lord’s Prayer that Jesus gave us. These prayers and everything else in the Small Catechism were meant to be memorized. Prayer is also comforting. Every night as we put our two-year-old daughter to sleep, my wife or I will say a prayer and sing a song with her. She isn’t always willing to go to sleep, and sometimes the prayers are said with some sobs and tears, but by the end they have calmed her. The prayer and song bring her comfort, and it also bring us comfort, to know that our Heavenly Father is hearing her prayer. Table of Duties The Table of Duties section of the Small Catechism is an index of instruction for use in our daily lives. It instructs in the different duties or positions that we may have in life, examples include: ministers, teachers, hearers (of the Word), husbands, wives, parents, children, youth, widows, and everyone. All of the instruction is taken from the Bible. Some examples from the Table of Duties area are: Youth “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” (1 Pet. 5:5,6). Subjects (Citizens) “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God” (Rom. 13:1). To All in Common “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another” (Rom. 12:9,10).

Terry Ruonavaara | The Voice of Zion April 2023 -- And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them. – 1 Kings 1:40 God’s Word speaks of a time in the Old Testament when the people of Israel had been given a reason for joy in their hearts. Their joy was so great that it was expressed loudly through musical instruments and singing. Their joy was felt so deeply that the earth itself “rent with joy” – it quaked! When have you, a child of God, experienced great joy? As believers, we may feel this joy of believing when God comes close – so close that He reminds us we are on the pathway to heaven. When our sins are forgiven and we have peace in our hearts, the hope of heaven kindles joy. Uncertainty Causes Worries and Doubts In the verses preceding our text passage from 1 Kings 1, we read of events that took place when King David was old. It tells of Adonijah, David’s fourth son. When Adonijah saw that his father, David, was aging rapidly, he decided that he would try to take the throne of Israel after his father’s death. He began to prepare for this time. He gathered an army and supporters for himself as king, even though David had already chosen his son Solomon to be the next king. There were some important people who supported what Adonijah was trying to do. These included Joab, the captain of the army, and Aliathar, a priest. But there were others who were not comfortable with what Adonijah was planning, including Nathan the prophet, Zadok the priest, and David’s wife Bathsheba. Nathan the prophet heard of the activities of Adonijah, and he approached Bathsheba with his concerns. He encouraged Bathsheba to go to the aged and ailing king and relate what was happening. King David responded by ordering that Solomon be taken immediately to Gihon to be anointed king by Nathan and Zadok. Our text tells what happened after Solomon was anointed: the people rejoiced with pipes, trumpets and shouts of praise. We Have Reason for Joy Why were the people so happy? Do you think the people had times of worry and concern during this event of their time, a time when their king was nearing death and a new king was not yet anointed? Maybe they wondered and doubted what the future would bring. Maybe they began to lose trust that God guides the fates of nations. These thoughts and doubts are part of the endeavor of a child of God. Many of us experience times when we ask: “Has God forgotten me?” Events in life bring us concern and worry even today. In this event during the life of David, we see how God guided His own. God did not forget the people of His nation. He gave them David’s chosen successor; He gave them hope. They expressed their joy that Solomon was anointed to follow David as king. To this day, God does not leave us in our worries. He uplifts and comforts. He reminds us that we have reason to be joyful. Jesus Gives Joy God’s Word tells of many times when believers were given a reason for joy. We remember when Jesus sent the seventy, two by two, to preach of the need to repent. When the seventy returned from their mission trip they had joy over how the message was received. Jesus reminded them to rejoice because their names are written in heaven. We remember the lame man who begged at the gate of the temple. When he was told by Peter to rise up and walk “in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,” he leaped up and entered the temple “walking, and leaping, and praising God” (Acts 3:6,8). As believers we have reason for joy. God has kept us in His kingdom to this moment. He has kindled a desire in our hearts to endeavor in faith, putting sin away as it besets us. I especially remember a time in my life when I truly felt the joy of believers. It was at the end of the 1981 summer services in Seattle. I remember being in the bleachers when everyone stood for the closing song, “To Our Blest Creator.” As a 13-year-old boy, I marveled how each verse seemed to get louder as God’s children sang from their hearts. The joy of believing was so evident in the singing of God’s children. God continues to give these moments in our lives when we are reminded of the treasure of faith and the joy that comes with it.

Petri Hotari | The Voice of Zion August 2017 -- And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country. And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian. And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. But he passing through the midst of them went his way.—Luke 4:23–30 Listeners Question This text is from the time when God’s Son had begun His public ministry. Jesus had come to His home town of Nazareth and stood up to read and preach on the Sabbath day. We recall His words: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord” (Luke 4:18). A precious time of visitation had approached the listeners. They wondered at Jesus’ gracious words, but they questioned, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” (Luke 4:22). God’s Word says that they rejected Jesus: “He came unto his own, and his own received him not” (John 1:11). John then relates of the blessing for those who receive God’s call: “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (1:12). God Comes Close A time of visitation is a time when God comes especially close. God calls people through the preaching of the gospel, proclaimed through the power of the Spirit and from His kingdom. Both the time of visitation and man’s repentance are God’s work from beginning to end. In our text, Jesus spoke of two examples from the time of the prophets and how during those times only a select few found the saving faith. One example is when the widow of Zarephath was visited by the prophet Elijah during a time of drought and famine (1 King 17). The other is when Naaman the Syrian was healed of his leprosy (2 King 5). Both the widow and Naaman were unable to believe with their own strength, but God helped them. Despite weaknesses and doubts they were obedient to God’s instruction. Today, too, God approaches and personally calls those who seek Him to His kingdom. Those who heed His call are given power to believe. Our text relates how Jesus himself was speaking to those of Nazareth. His two examples illustrate the fact that “many are called but few are chosen” (Matt. 22:14). Rather than being pricked in their hearts, the listeners were filled with wrath, and they cast away Jesus and their precious time of visitation. It is not easy for man to accept that only a few are chosen. Jesus’ words are always timely: “They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Mark 2:17). A Fleeting Time Luther described the time of visitation as a passing rain shower that does not return to where it has been. He exhorted those in his time to buy while the markets are open, to gather while the sun is shining, and to use God’s grace and Word while it is here. He reminded that living faith was once with the Jews, how Paul brought it to Greece, but how what’s lost is lost. Luther reminded the German believers to take hold and hang tightly to God’s grace while they are able (Letter to the Town-Councilmen, Volume 10, 464). Luther’s description reminds of the time of work after Jesus had ascended to heaven. The disciples were given the duty to continue the work of preaching. Peter and John went to the Temple, and a lame man asked them for alms. “Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6). When the markets of grace are open, the prophet’s words are true: “Every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price” (Isa. 55:1). The time of visitation is a fleeting time, and a time when the free gift of faith is offered. What is needed is empty hands and a contrite heart that desires to believe and trust in God and believe in His Son who purchased us from sin with His innocent shed blood. From God’s kingdom the message of the forgiveness of sins in Jesus’ name is preached. “To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts” (Heb. 3:7,8). Heed to the grace call which offers eternal treasure in heaven.