As I mentioned on Sunday, the title of my sermon was drawn from a famous sermon preached by Martin Luther in March of 1522, about 4.5 years into what we now call the Protestant Reformation. Below is the paragraph I quoted on Sunday:

• In short, I will preach [the Word], teach [the Word], write [the Word], but I will constrain no man by force, for faith must come freely without compulsion. Take myself as an example… I simply taught, preached, and wrote God’s Word; otherwise, I did nothing. And while I slept, or drank Wittenberg beer with my friends Philip and Amsdorf, the Word so greatly weakened the papacy that no prince or emperor ever inflicted such losses upon it. I did nothing; the Word did everything. Had I desired to foment trouble, I could have brought great bloodshed upon Germany; indeed, I could have started such a game that even the emperor would not have been safe. But what would it have been? Mere fool’s play. I did nothing; I let the Word do its work… For it is almighty, and takes captive the hearts...

Luther worked tirelessly and risked much, but in comparison to the power of the Word itself, he described his efforts as nothing. In short: the Word did the work.

Praise God for the way He continues to use His Word to change lives and to compel sacrifice! May He continue to do so through the ministries of RHCC for many years to come.

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor Evan