Reformation Sunday

Grace, mercy, and peace flow from the heart of God through Jesus Christ, who came to save us and robe us in his righteousness. The gospel is not a call to strive endlessly for God’s approval, but an invitation to be still and rest in the finished work of Christ. Psalm 46, the inspiration for “A Mighty Fortress,” calls us to stillness even when the world is in chaos—when our lives are shaken, when we face loss, when death draws near. This stillness is not apathy or resignation, but the deep peace that comes from faith: trusting that God is our refuge, our fortress, and our redeemer.

Martin Luther’s journey reminds us that striving to earn God’s favor through works leads only to despair. The law, with its high demands, reveals our sin and our inability to save ourselves. We may try to ignore the law or break the mirror it holds up to us, but judgment remains. Yet, there is a way out: the righteousness of God revealed apart from the law, through faith in Jesus Christ. Luther’s discovery in Romans 3 was not just an intellectual breakthrough, but a spiritual rebirth. He realized that salvation is not achieved by our efforts, but received by faith—a living, bold trust in God’s grace.

Faith is not merely a feeling or a rational conclusion; it is the Spirit’s work in us, holding fast to Christ’s promises even when all else fails. This faith brings stillness to our souls, freeing us from the tyranny of self-justification and the fear of judgment. In Christ, we are fully forgiven, covered in his righteousness, and set free from the law’s curse. Now, the law becomes a gift—a guide for loving our neighbor and living in gratitude to God, not a ladder to climb for salvation.

Baptism, confession, and the Lord’s Supper are tangible assurances of this grace. In them, God declares us forgiven, feeds us with Christ’s body and blood, and strengthens our faith. We are called to live out this freedom, not in self-indulgence, but in service, love, and humility. In all things, we can be still, knowing that the Lord of hosts is with us, our mighty fortress now and forever.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Stillness in the Midst of Chaos True stillness is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of faith in God’s promises. Even when the world shakes, when we lose what we hold dear, or when death approaches, we are called to be still—not because we are strong, but because God is our refuge and fortress. This stillness is a gift that comes from trusting in God’s unchanging grace, not from our circumstances. [28:55]
• 2. The Law Reveals, but Cannot Save The law of God is holy and good, but it serves to show us our sin and our inability to meet its demands. When we look honestly into the mirror of the law, we see our failures and are tempted to despair or to ignore God’s standards altogether. Yet, the law’s true purpose is to drive us to Christ, who alone fulfills it perfectly and offers us his righteousness as a gift. [31:29]
• 3. Faith: The Foundation of Head and Heart Christianity is not merely about right knowledge or right feelings; both are important, but neither is sufficient without faith. Faith is the foundation that unites head and heart, enabling us to trust in Christ’s finished work rather than our own efforts. This faith is not self-generated, but is the Spirit’s work in us, holding fast to the promises of God even when reason and emotion falter. [35:54]
• 4. Freedom from the Law’s Curse, Freedom for Love In Christ, we are set free from the law as a means of earning salvation. This freedom is not a license for self-indulgence, but a liberation to love and serve our neighbor. The law, once a burden, becomes a guide for grateful living, empowered by the Spirit and motivated by the love of Christ. [39:47]
• 5. The Means of Grace: Assurance and Strength God gives us tangible means—baptism, confession, and the Lord’s Supper—to assure us of forgiveness and strengthen our faith. These are not empty rituals, but real encounters with God’s grace, where we are clothed in Christ’s righteousness and nourished for the journey. In these gifts, we are reminded again and again that we are forgiven, loved, and secure in Christ.
  
  ** [39:10]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [26:21] - The Gospel of Grace and Rest
• [27:00] - The Power of the Gospel to Save
• [27:39] - The Gospel Brings Peace to Troubled Consciences
• [28:21] - Introduction to Psalm 46 and Stillness
• [28:55] - Stillness Amidst Life’s Storms
• [29:33] - Luther’s Turbulent World
• [30:14] - The Futility of Works-Based Religion
• [31:29] - The Law’s Mirror and Our Need
• [32:47] - Luther’s Discovery: Righteousness by Faith
• [33:23] - Romans 3: The Heart of the Gospel
• [34:38] - Faith, Not Works, Brings Peace
• [35:54] - Head, Heart, and the Foundation of Faith
• [37:12] - Luther on Living, Bold Trust
• [39:10] - Baptism, Confession, and the Lord’s Supper
• [39:47] - Freedom to Love and Serve
• [41:04] - Confession of Faith
• [42:57] - Blessing of the New Pew Cushions
• [44:14] - Prayers for the Church and World
• [46:10] - Offering and Closing

Bible Reading

Psalm 46 (ESV) — > God is our refuge and strength,
> a very present help in trouble.
> Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
> though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
> though its waters roar and foam,
> though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
> ...
> “Be still, and know that I am God.
> I will be exalted among the nations,
> I will be exalted in the earth!”
> The Lord of hosts is with us;
> the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Romans 3:19-24 (ESV) — > Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
> But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Observation Questions

1. In Psalm 46, what kinds of chaos or trouble are described, and what is God’s promise in the midst of them?
2. According to Romans 3, what is the purpose of the law, and what can it not do for us?
3. The sermon describes Martin Luther’s struggle with the law and his discovery in Romans 3. What changed for Luther when he understood the righteousness of God “apart from the law”? [33:23]
4. What are the “means of grace” mentioned in the sermon, and what do they assure us of? [39:10]

Interpretation Questions

1. The psalmist calls us to “be still” even when everything is falling apart. What does it mean to be still in faith, and how is this different from simply giving up or being apathetic? [28:55]
2. The sermon says the law is like a mirror that shows us our sin. Why is it important to see ourselves honestly in this mirror, and what happens if we try to ignore or “break” it? [31:29]
3. Luther realized that faith is not just a feeling or knowledge, but a “living, bold trust.” How does this kind of faith change the way someone relates to God and to others? [37:12]
4. The sermon says that in Christ, the law becomes a gift and not a burden. What does it look like to live out the law as a guide for loving our neighbor, rather than as a way to earn God’s approval? [39:47]

Application Questions

1. When you face chaos, loss, or fear, what does it look like for you to “be still” and trust God as your fortress? Is there a specific situation right now where you need to practice this kind of stillness? [28:55]
2. Have you ever found yourself trying to earn God’s approval through your own efforts or good works? What did that feel like, and how does the gospel invite you to rest instead? [30:14]
3. The sermon talks about the law revealing our sin and driving us to Christ. Is there an area of your life where you are tempted to ignore God’s standards or justify yourself? What would it look like to bring that honestly to God? [31:29]
4. Faith is described as a “living, bold trust” that holds onto God’s promises even when feelings or circumstances are shaky. Can you share a time when you had to trust God’s promises even when it was hard? What helped you hold on? [37:12]
5. The means of grace—baptism, confession, and the Lord’s Supper—are described as tangible assurances of God’s forgiveness. How do these practices encourage or strengthen your faith? Is there one you want to engage with more intentionally? [39:10]
6. The sermon says that in Christ, we are set free from the law’s curse and free to love and serve our neighbor. Who is someone in your life you feel called to serve or love more intentionally this week? What is one practical step you can take? [39:47]
7. The law is no longer a ladder to climb for salvation, but a guide for grateful living. What is one commandment or teaching of Jesus that you want to live out more fully—not to earn God’s love, but as a response to it? [40:26]