The Bethany Bullet Sermon Message - Week of August 13, 2017

Sermon: “Your Own Two Feet”

Text: Romans 10:5-17

Romans 10:14 & 17 GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

¹⁴ But how can people call on him if they have not believed in him? How can they believe in him if they have not heard his message? How can they hear if no one tells the Good News?

 

¹⁷ So faith comes from hearing the message, and the message that is heard is what Christ spoke.

For Lutheran confirmation students this text is one that connects with their memory work from the Apostles Creed.  Luther’s meaning of the 3^rd article, “I believe that I cannot believe by my own reason or strength in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the truth faith…”  

Faith is the work of God’s Spirit. 

How is it that the Spirit works such faith?  Paul answers that question, “Faith comes from hearing the word of the Lord.”

 

Of course, that naturally begs another question (or two).  How do those who do not have their hands on a Bible or their rumps in a pew hear The Word?  Paul answers that question as well, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” 

That Word of the Lord we hear after having had the Scriptures in our hands or our rumps in the pews is not a Word to simply be kept by us; it is a Word to be shared that the Spirit might call, enlighten, and sanctify others even as He has called, enlightened, and sanctified the entire church on earth.

-Pastor Kevin Kritzer