20 Oct A Sneak peek at this week!
20 October 2026
This coming week we’ll be celebrating our annual observance of Reformation Sunday. For the history buffs among us, on October 31, 1517, German monk Martin Luther posted Ninety-five Theses (articles for debate) on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. Luther’s challenge to the Roman Catholic Church of his day rested on two pivotal issues. First, was what Luther called “the article on which the church stands or falls”: “justification by faith alone.” Second, was the issue of “authority in the church.” The Reformers insisted the Bible and the Bible alone had authority to bind the conscience of the believer. Eventually, Luther & his fellow Reformers adopted the understanding that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, by the work of Christ alone, revealed in the Scriptures alone (Sola gratia, sola fide, solus Christus, sola Scriptura).
It’s not so much a day to celebrate being Lutheran as it is to celebrate the freedom of being in Christ as opposed to being held captive by hierarchy, human tradition, & stifling ritual. Luther’s first article of debate was phrased: “Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, when He said “Repent!” willed that the whole life of believers should be repentance.” Luther argued that true Christian repentance is not a one-time or reflexive sacramental confession or a purchased indulgence, but a lifelong daily turning away from sin & self-sufficiency toward the forgiveness, freedom & new life found only in Christ. It is that “repentance” we’ll look closely at this coming Sunday.
I’ve been reading how the prophet Jeremiah called God’s early people to that same repentance: “O Israel,” says the Lord, “if you wanted to return to me, you could. You could throw away your detestable idols & stray away no more. Then when you swear by my name, saying, ‘As surely as the Lord lives,’ you could do so with truth, justice, & righteousness. Then you would be a blessing to the nations of the world, & all people would come & praise my name.” – Jer 4:1 God’s people, including especially those of us who are in Christ, are destined to be a witness to the world, but we can’t give evidence of God’s goodness, grace, & mercy when we’re running our own way & living distanced from the Father. The only hope is a change of course…repentance…and a redirection to the way the Father intends for us in this world. We’ll explore that more deeply Sunday…don’t miss it & maybe invite a friend to join you.
In the meantime…what else is on our family calendar:
- Sunday 25th October – Reformation Day! – we continue our worship & teaching series: Living Words. This week, “What do we mean when we say Repentance?” It’s not what you think…or may have been led to believe. I’m going to try to remember to wear red because it is a festival day!
- Pam has the new Worship Servant Roster out – Thank you one and all! There’s always room for more hands & hearts in helping!
- Sunday 1st November – All Saints’ Sunday! – Another Festive Day when we give thanks to God for his people who hav been our coworkers in the gospel & now rest eternally from their labours. It’s a great day to ask the question “What do we mean when we say Salvation?” It’s more than just some undefined “going to heaven when I die”…much much more! And better even than your wildest dreams!
- Sunday 1st November – Giving Beyond Ourselves & Morning Tea AND Living Water’s AGM – The Book of Reports was available last Sunday. Please have a look and be prepared to give thanks for all God continues to accomplish through your faithful stewardship of the gospel.
- I know I said this last week, but…Before you know it…we’ll be looking at Christmas!
God bless you with his peace!
John
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