Sunday School wk#1 – Hus & Wycliffe

Sunday School wk#1 – Hus & Wycliffe

            Before we ever talk about TULIP or the Solas & what they mean and why they are important, I need to take you back in time.  Like in a fairy tale, this was a time of kings & queens, princes & princesses & 1 singular massive Christian church that all peoples feared and longed to control.

            This was 14th Century Europe.      (write on board)

            Now before we jump into doctrines & theology we need to understand the people & the times they live in to see why these particular ideas were so powerful & revolutionary to them.

            The first 2 people we’ll look at is Jan Hus & John Wycliffe 2 men who are often overlooked in Reformation History who basically taught everything Luther & Calvin did but before Luther & Calvin did.

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            (Left on white board – photo [write name] mid 1300s Eng.)

            First we’ll start with John Wycliffe who lived in the mid 1300s; he was an English philosopher, theologian, Bible translator & Seminary professor at Oxford.  Wycliffe loved Jesus & the Bible & yet had lots of serious issues with the Church of his day.

            3 of his issues were answering these questions:

1-    What was the definition of “the Church”?          (the Church?)

2-    What authority was meant to rule the life of men on Earth?             (the authority)  

3-    Why was it, the higher up you looked in the RCC (Roman Catholic Church) the less people seemed like the Jesus from the Bible (regarding worldliness & luxury of popes & cardinals)?         (worldliness & luxury?)

            Because of these ideas, & Wycliffe’s answers to them, he strongly advocated for translations of the Bible in the common tongue; so you can thank Wycliffe for owning an English Bible today instead of a Latin Bible.

            Wycliffe completed a translation of the Bible directly from the Catholic’s Vulgate into Middle English in the late 1300s, now known as Wycliffe's Bible. It is probable that he personally translated the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; and it is possible he translated the entire New Testament, while his associates translated the Old Testament for him. Wycliffe's Bible appears to have been completed by 1384.

            This was a big deal at the time because not only were all prior editions of the Bible Latin but because often lower parish priests couldn’t read Latin, they’d simply memorize the portions they were to cite during Masses. So this opened up the mind of God, the gospel & Jesus to the masses & lower clergy. 

            Wycliffe's followers were known as Lollards and followed his lead in advocating doctrines like Predestination, while attacking the traditional Catholic ideas of veneration of Saints, the Sacraments, Requiem Masses, Transubstantiation, monasticism, and the very existence of the Papacy itself.

            The previous century’s idea that the pope was the direct channel from God to Mankind slowly died as wave after wave of scandal & corruption & sin came to light.  No longer did men accept the notation that their ruling kings & queens only existed at the sanction of the Pope.

            2 brave souls John Wycliffe (English) & Jan Hus (a Czech) toyed with the idea that Christianity was something other than the current visible organization of the church on Earth headed by the Pope.

            Previously, people thought law & lordship came direct from God through Popes & to men, to the extent that laws passed by non-Catholic, non-approved rulers were deemed unlawful & good Catholics need not obey them.  Ex.) That would be like saying since Obama isn’t a Southern Baptist then it would be okay to speed, run red lights & not pay your income taxes, since his lordship over us wasn’t invalid.

Picture of RCC ideas of doctrinal & moral hierarchy *draw

            Wycliffe was influential in the Refomation’s way of emphasizing the spiritual freedom, “Everyman, therefore, priest or layman, holds an equal place in the eyes of God & breaks down medieval barriers between God and his people no longer merely mediated by priest class & their sacrificial masses but direct from God to man.

Verse only 1 mediator between God & man – JC

Picture of Reformers view of doctrinal & moral hierarchy * draw

Cover 2 problems with the RCC that led to the Protestant Reformation & leads to confusion between Protestants & RCC today:

1-    Morality issues – it is w/o doubt that the leadership of the RCC of the day was wildly corrupt from sex abuses (open affairs), to violence (the crusades), to greed (selling offices) to love of comfort & power

2-    Theological issues – many that will be viewed in the coming weeks

So the problem today stems from either people thinking there is no difference between 1300s-1600s RCC & the RCC today OR just because they cleaned up their act morally (counter Reformation) then that means the Reformation is over, ignoring the many theological issues.

End: John Wycliffe- quote

It is not good for us to trust in our merits, in our virtues or our righteousness; but only in God’s free pardon, as given us through faith in Jesus Christ.  Trust wholly in Christ; rely altogether in His sufferings; beware of seeking to be justified in any other way than by His righteousness. Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ is sufficient for salvation. There must be atonement made for sin according to the righteousness of God. The person to make this atonement [therefore] must be [both] God & Man. (Solas Christus, Sola Fide & Sola Gratia)

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            Next we’ll look at Jan Hus. Hus lived in the late 1300’s to early 1400s, was a Czech priest, philosopher, and Master at Charles University in Prague.  Hus was a key predecessor to the Protestant Movement of the 16^th Century & his teachings had a strong influence on the states of Western Europe.

            His RCC issues:

            Hus was outspoken in his agreement with most, if not all, of Wycliffe’s teachings but was loudest about his condemnations of the Sale of Indulgences (which we’ll get into during Luther next week) & the Crusades.  Hus spoke out against indulgences but could not win over the men of his university.  In 1412, near the end of his life a dispute broke out where Hus asserted that no Pope or bishop had the right to take up the Sword in the name of the Church; but instead he should pray for his enemies and bless those that curse him; & that man obtains forgiveness of sins by true repentance & faith, not money.  Some of Hus’ followers publically burnt letters from the Pope, saying that people should listen to Hus & not the Church, AKA the Pope.  In response, 3 men from the lower class who openly called the indulgences a fraud were beheaded.  He was so worried for the people of the city he left for the countryside.  In the meantime, the faculty had condemned 45 articles & several other theses of Hus’ as heretical. 

            By the time Hus’ ideas had become widely accepted in Bohemia, there was broad resentment against Church hierarchy.  The attack on Hus by the Pope & other Archbishops caused riots in Bohemia.  Good King Wenceslaus (which is a great Xmas song & children’s book BTW) took Hus’ side & his adherents grew & grew.  

Archbishop of Prague tired of both the growing popularity & polarizing effect of Hus wrote to the Pope who said to Root out the Heresy, so after Hus finished his great work “On the Church” (de Ecclesia) he was urged to attend the Council of Constance where he thought he’d be granted safety to present his views but was trapped an Inquisition. Inquisition was simple if enough witnesses testified to your guilt then you had to recant or be burnt alive. Reward for confession was life imprisonment instead of the burning stake.

He was judged a heretic, as he would not recant of various teaching he adamantly stated he had never taught. At Devil’s Place he was burnt alive always standing faithful to the truth & his desire to draw men from their sin & to the Gospel.

End: Jan Hus quote –

Quote: An Address to His Persecutors and a Prayer to God:

“Alas, drag my poor carcass to death, so that you cannot sin any longer against an innocent victim!" "Leave the mercy or punishment of my soul to Him who is a just judge and not like you unfortunate blind ones. My trust is in the Almighty God and in my Lord Jesus Christ, who has redeemed me and has called me to preach His Gospel to the last breath of life. I fervently hope that he may have mercy upon me and receive me in grace and that he will hand to me the cup of eternal salvation and will never take it from me. I also truly believe that he will hand me this cup today, out of which I shall drink bliss and my salvation in eternity. His blessed name be praised by all!" - John Hus

READ OR LISTEN ONLINE: Hus the Heretic or The Infallibility of the Pope at the Council of Constance by Poggius the Papist

John Hus

             

Order of Worship 01-03-16

WORSHIP SERVICE

Call to Worship

Worship Leader: Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, that He might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for Him; let us be glad and rejoice in His salvation. (Isaiah 25:9)

“O Come, All Ye Faithful” (Hymn of Adoration)

God Graciously Renews Us in Christ

As we join together in our Confession of Sin; Gen 2 says:

Worship Leader: The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

& our Forgiveness of Sin Through Christ, Psalm 145 says

Worship Leader: “The Lord is near to those who call on him, to all who call on him faithfully.  He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he hears their cry and helps them.  The Lord preserves all those who love him, but he destroys all the wicked.”

“In Christ Alone” (Song of Assurance)

As we join together to Thank God for what He has done by Giving Our Offerings, Psalm 98 says

Worship Leader: Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things.  He remembers his mercy and faithfulness to his people, and all the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.  Shout with joy to the Lord, all you lands; lift up your voice, rejoice, and sing.   

“Be Thou My Vision” (Song of Petition)

God Instructs Us Through His Word

Sermon

Eric Tiffany

God Feeds and Nourishes Us Through His Supper

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 53:1-6 (Bread)

Who has believed what he has heard from us?^[a]
    And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
² For he grew up before him like a young plant,
    and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.
³ He was despised and rejected^[b] by men; a man of sorrows,^[c] and acquainted with^[d] grief;^[e] and as one from whom men hide their faces^[f] he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

⁴ Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. ⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

** The Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, ²⁴ and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for^[b] you. Do this in remembrance of me.”^[c]

Colossians 1:19-20 (Cup)

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

** In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” ²⁶ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

God Blesses and Sends Us Out

Worship Leader: “Be comforted in all your troubles so that you may comfort those in trouble with that comfort you have received from God.” (2 Corinthians 1:4)

Confessing Our Sins Together - by Ryan Griffith

Confessing Our Sins Together - by Ryan Griffith

In a chapter on confession and communion in Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes that “he who is alone with his sin is utterly alone. . . . But it is the grace of the gospel, which is so hard for the pious to understand, that confronts us with the truth and says: You are a sinner, a great, desperate sinner; now come as the sinner you are, to the God who loves you.”
I’m sure that most of us agree with Bonhoeffer that the confession of sin, grounded in the gospel, is a vital component of our personal spirituality. But we get a little uncomfortable when it comes to corporate dimensions of confession. It’s not too threatening to engage in silent confession when the liturgy calls us to do so in the weekend service, but when it comes to times of confession in small-group settings, we often settle for less-indicting statements like “I’m struggling with . . .” Even then, we have the gnawing sense that our vague, toothless non-confessions aren’t fulfilling the exhortation of James 5:16, “Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed.”

Three Reasons We Avoid Confession

Our failure to engage in the corporate dimension of confession stems from at least three possible sources.

1. What Will They Think?

The first is a disconnect between our so-called public and private lives. We fear what people may think of us if we really told them our secret thoughts, our implacable greed (not simply monetary), our censorious spirit, our constant irritability. Wouldn’t they second-guess our every action? Wouldn’t we lose their respect? Failure to confess sin to others is, in essence, a failure of integrity.

2. Whom Do We Fear?

And this is intimately connected to the second source — a misplaced fear. Tragically, we more greatly fear those with whom we have sin in common than the one whose very presence is the splendor of holiness. He knows precisely and intimately (and with perfect clarity) all the dimensions of our sinful hearts (Psalm 44:20–21; Proverbs 21:2; Luke 16:14–15). From him we cannot hide (Jeremiah 23:24). Isn’t it a prick of insanity that we fear those who could do nothing more than shame us rather than the one before whom we will one day appear and the secrets of our hearts will be disclosed (Luke 12:45, 8:17; Romans 14:10)?

3. What Is Confession?

Both the first and the second sources are linked to a third — a deficient understanding of what confession is and does. Confession is not optional for Christians. John asserts that the mark of genuine fellowship with God is not only the recognition of one’s proneness to sin (1 John 1:8) but also corresponding confession (1 John 1:9). And, as we’ve already seen, it is expected in corporate life, according to James 5:16.

Why We Confess

For Christians, confession of sin, ultimately, is application of the gospel. Authentic confession of sin is a mingling of humble contrition before God, faith-filled appropriation of the grace of reconciliation, and heartfelt gratitude for the satisfaction that has been accomplished in the cross of Christ. “The Christian way,” writes Martin Luther, “essentially consists in acknowledging ourselves to be sinners and in praying for grace” (Luther’s Large Catechism).
Confession of our sin before God also acknowledges our very real need for his sanctifying grace — for though we are manifestly set apart as God’s own children (1 Corinthians 6:11), we still sin (see Colossians 3:1–11). Thus, confession is part of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. That’s why Bonhoeffer says that “confession is discipleship” (115).
Jesus teaches us that regular confession should be a vital part of our fellowship with God (Luke 11:4), especially in the context of secret prayer (Matthew 6:6). The Scriptures also provide us numerous models for expressing genuine contrition over sin (Psalms 51 and 130). By exhortation (James 5:16) and example (Acts 5:1–11), we are warned against a hardness that avoids confession (1 John 1:8) or a deadly pride that seeks its public exercise (Matthew 6:1–18; especially Luke 18:9–14). Most of all, the Scriptures remind us that the purification and expiation that come in response to confession are grounded not in our own actions, but in the perfection of Christ’s broken body and shed blood (1 John 1:9–2:2).

Confessing in Community

Finally, the Scriptures also teach us the importance of community in dealing with our sin. Confession of sin in the presence of others is applying and celebrating the gospel, together. We are sanctified sinners who all need more grace for holiness, and we must rehearse this together. John beautifully captures this: “My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:1–2).
Confession to one another celebrates the expiation of our sin and the sanctifying work of God through the cross of Christ (1 John 1:9). Confession to another Christian also guards us from absolving ourselves without true repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10). Bonhoeffer writes that God gives us certainty that we are dealing with the living God “through our brother” (116).
When we bring our sins to another Christian, they become concrete and their ugliness cannot be hid from view. Confession, whether in secret prayer or in the presence of a caring fellow Christian, honors Christ (Galatians 6:2). “It is fitting,” writes John Calvin, “that by the confession of our own wretchedness, we show forth the goodness and mercy of our God, among ourselves and before the whole world” (Institutes, III.IV.10).

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John 12 Sunday school Dec 6th 2015

Jesus’ own opening quote – “If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?  No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”

Read John 12: 27-36

The Son of Man Must Be Lifted Up

²⁷ “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. ²⁸ Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” ²⁹ The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” ³⁰ Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. ³¹ Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. ³² And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” ³³ He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. ³⁴ So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” ³⁵ So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. ³⁶ While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”

Details

Vs 27 - Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.
This passage foreshadows what event later in Jesus’ passion? Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus says, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
What is the prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane in Reference to? Crucifixion
Revelation 5, 1 of me & Cait’s favorite chapters of Scripture
What is Jesus’ purpose for suffering? Rev 5: 9-14 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth. Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, ¹² saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”¹And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Vs 28-30 – Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” ³⁰ Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine.

The Father’s seal of approval on Christ’s saving work

Lets look at the 2 other passages where God speaks during Jesus’ ministry passages. In Matt 3, Luke 9  & our passage here John 12. What are the messages from God? “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” “I have glorified your name (Jesus), and I will glorify it again.”

Vs 31 – Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. Who is the ruler of this world in our passage? 2 Corinthians 4:4 - In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. The phrase “god of this world” (or “god of this age”) indicates that Satan is the major influence on the ideals, opinions, goals, hopes and views of the majority of people. His influence also encompasses the world’s philosophies, education, and commerce.

How will Jesus overcome Satan?

 Vs 32-34a – And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Being “lifted up” reminds the Jews of what famous event in Israel’s history? The Bronze Serpent in Numbers 21:4-9, “From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.”

How does the OT Bronze Serpent parallel looking to Jesus lifted up & being saved?

Vs 34b-36a – Who is this Son of Man?” So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light. more light & darkness metaphor from John What does it mean that Jesus is the Son of Man?  From a OT vision a Messianic prophecy Daniel 7:13-14  “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”

The description “Son of Man” was a Messianic title. Jesus is the One who was given dominion and glory and a kingdom. When Jesus used this phrase, He was assigning the Son of Man prophecy to Himself. The Jews of that era would have been intimately familiar with the phrase and to whom it referred. Jesus was proclaiming Himself as the Messiah.

@@@ if there is time The Unbelief of the People John 12:36b-43

When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. ³⁷ Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, ³⁸ so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

Ish 53 – “Lord, who has believed what he heard from us,
    and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

³⁹ Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said,

Ish 6 – “He has blinded their eyes
    and hardened their heart,
lest they see with their eyes,
    and understand with their heart, and turn,
    and I would heal them.”

⁴¹ Isaiah said these things because he saw (the Messiah’s) glory and spoke of him. ⁴² Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; ⁴³ for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

Fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy – judgment on unbelieving Israel & Isaiah saw an enthroned God & the coming of a Suffering Servant

What event does this remind you of from 3 chapters ago (or my sermon, last week)?

Having just preached on John 9 of course this reminds me again of the Blind man who received his sight & having received his sight his OWN parents would rather throw him under the bus & NOT defend him or the man who had healed him but left their OWN son to defend himself before the Pharisees. This passage raises a hard question what do you make of the passage saying people COULD NOT believe in Jesus in order to fulfill Scripture, what implications does that lead to?  

RC Sproul famous Presbyterian theologian, is fond of saying the theological question he gets asked the most is: “What of the innocent Amazonian native that’s never heard the gospel?” Do not stress, Sproul says, the “innocent” Amazonian native who’s never heard the gospel will go straight to heaven when he dies for being “innocent.” The same question another way however is what happens to the guilty Amazonian native that’s never heard the gospel?

Closing quote from Matthew Henry, “the sin of our souls was the trouble of Christ’s soul, when he undertook to redeem and save us, and to make his soul an offering for our sin.”