Connect and reconnect

This is the official hymn of the 2018-2022 quadrennium of the Lutheran Church in Brazil (IELB). It was composed by Tom Pacheco, Rev. Paulo Brum and I, and it sings the Church's motto for that 4-year span, "We stand firm on our faith" Later, Pastor Brum and I wrote the English version of it. Here are the lyrics, of the hymn, and also notes about the composition which underline and reinforce the message, as well as enhance the hymn listening and singing experience. *Note: in the video, the lyrics are slightly different (1st English version) compared to the lyrics below, which are the final version of the Hymn.   WE STAND FIRM IN OUR FAITH 1. Jesus Christ, our Lord, called as Your flock, we delight in hearing Your Voice teaching to our hearts what Your Word imparts. Law and Gospel, unchanging Light. We stand firm in our faith in You, our Saviour, The Way! You’re the Bread, the Door, Brother, Vine and more; Shepherd in whom we are bless’d. 2. Father, move our hearts, move

This is my first attempt at utilizing recent AI technology for a message video.   This devotion utilizes a message recorded for the "Toque de Vida" ULBRA TV program in Brazil. The video is overdubbed in English by an AI voice.   Song: Preenche o Ser (subtitled)

1.       “Wherever there’s this kind of preaching that assures hearts of how they stand with God, I can conclude that such a sermon is true and presents the pure Word of Christ: (Luther)” ( Kolb and Arand, Genius of Luther’s Theology, page 181). Comment: It is interesting the way in which Luther crams a whole book on Theology of Preaching in one sentence: if you assure hearts where they stand with God, you have preached the Clear Gospel of Christ. This is not to the demerit of preaching manuals and books, but sometimes we get too picky and cranky when judging sermons and preaching. This simple rule from the Reformer serves as a good starting point, from where all the other homiletical analysis could flow.

“Suppose a Final Paper is proposed for orienting mission thinking toward evangelism as a matter of sanctification. What would be the appropriate theological foundations: Why?   Compose a summary of these theological foundations and their supporting rationale."               A MAP on orienting mission thinking toward evangelism as a matter of sanctification could have as base line the following definition: “ Sanctification is The Transformation that happens when someone comes across Great News or a wonderful promise.” (Okamoto)            Great News and Wonderful Promise - From article VI of the CA we learn that   “ It is ordained of God that he who believes in Christ is saved, freely receiving remission of sins, without works, by faith alone.” Sanctification follows this Great News. We are transformed. From losers we become winners, from people of glory we become people of the cross. From dead we are made alive, and that is the reason why we can go and produce fruit, becaus