Luke 2 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

Luke 2 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

Luke 2 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

Luke 2 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Martin Luther Nov 10, 1483 Son of hard- working German peasants Studying to be a lawyer Sensitive conscience July 2, 1505 Became a monk

Martin Luther Nov 10, 1483 Son of hard- working German peasants Studying to be a lawyer Sensitive conscience July 2, 1505 Became a monk To the monastery he went like others, and even more than others, in order to make his peace with God. —Bainton, Here I Stand, 27

Martin Luther At the monastery: -Six worship services per day -Plus much more

Martin Luther At the monastery: -Six worship services per day -Plus a variety of disciplines “I tortured myself with prayers, fasting, vigils, and freezing; the frost alone might have killed me…

Martin Luther At the monastery: -Six worship services per day -Plus a variety of disciplines I almost fasted myself to death, for again and again I went for three days without taking a drop of water or a morsel of food.

Martin Luther At the monastery: -Six worship services per day -Plus a variety of disciplines I was very serious about it.” —Carter Lindberg, The European Reformations, 64

Martin Luther At the monastery: -Six worship services per day -Plus much more -After one year he led his first church service

Martin Luther At the monastery: -Six worship services per day -Plus much more -After one year he led his first church service “With what tongue shall I address such Majesty, seeing that all men ought to tremble in the presence of even an earthly prince?

Martin Luther At the monastery: -Six worship services per day -Plus much more -After one year he led his first church service Who am I, that I should lift up mine eyes or raise my hands to the divine Majesty? The angels surround him. At his nod the earth trembles.

Martin Luther At the monastery: -Six worship services per day -Plus much more -After one year he led his first church service And shall I, a miserable little pygmy, say ‘I want this, I ask for that’?

Martin Luther At the monastery: -Six worship services per day -Plus much more -After one year he led his first church service For I am dust and ashes and full of sin and I am speaking to the living, eternal and the true God.” —Bainton, Here I Stand, 30

Martin Luther At the monastery: -Six worship services per day -Plus much more -After one year he led his first church service Hans Luther: “You learned scholar, have you never read in the Bible that you should honor your father and your mother?

Martin Luther At the monastery: -Six worship services per day -Plus much more -After one year he led his first church service Hans Luther: And here you have left me and your dear mother to look after ourselves in our old age.” —Bainton, Here I Stand, 31

Martin Luther At the monastery: -Six worship services per day -Plus much more -After one year he led his first church service -Redoubled his efforts

Martin Luther At the monastery: -Six worship services per day -Plus much more -After one year he led his first church service -Redoubled his efforts Whatever good works a man might do to save himself, these Luther was resolved to perform…

Martin Luther At the monastery: -Six worship services per day -Plus much more -After one year he led his first church service -Redoubled his efforts At times he was proud of his sanctity and would say, “I have done nothing wrong today.” Then misgivings would arise.

Martin Luther At the monastery: -Six worship services per day -Plus much more -After one year he led his first church service -Redoubled his efforts “Have you fasted enough? Are you poor enough? He would then strip himself of all save that which decency required.

Martin Luther At the monastery: -Six worship services per day -Plus much more -After one year he led his first church service -Redoubled his efforts “I was a good monk, and I kept the rule of my order so strictly that I may say that if ever a monk got to heaven by his monkery it was I.

Martin Luther At the monastery: -Six worship services per day -Plus much more -After one year he led his first church service -Redoubled his efforts All my brothers in the monastery who knew me will bear me out.

Martin Luther At the monastery: -Six worship services per day -Plus much more -After one year he led his first church service -Redoubled his efforts If I had kept on any longer, I should have killed myself with vigils, prayers, reading, and other work.”

Martin Luther At the monastery: -Six worship services per day -Plus much more -After one year he led his first church service -Redoubled his efforts All such drastic methods gave no sense of inner tranquility.

Martin Luther At the monastery: -Six worship services per day -Plus much more -After one year he led his first church service -Redoubled his efforts The purpose of his striving was to compensate for his sins, but he could never feel that the ledger was balanced…

Martin Luther At the monastery: -Six worship services per day -Plus much more -After one year he led his first church service -Redoubled his efforts The trouble was that he could not satisfy God at any point. —Bainton, Here I Stand, 33-34

Martin Luther At the monastery: -Six worship services per day -Plus much more -After one year he led his first church service -Redoubled his efforts “Sometimes my confessor said to me when I repeatedly discussed silly sins with him,

Martin Luther At the monastery: -Six worship services per day -Plus much more -After one year he led his first church service -Redoubled his efforts ‘You are a fool… God is not angry with you, but you are angry with God.’ ” —Bainton, Here I Stand, 33-34

Martin Luther At the monastery: -Six worship services per day -Plus much more -After one year he led his first church service -Redoubled his efforts Johann von Staupitz: Relax. Love God! Luther: “Love God? I hated Him!” Staupitz’s response?

Martin Luther At the monastery: -Six worship services per day -Plus much more -After one year he led his first church service -Redoubled his efforts Romans 1:17 – For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—

Martin Luther At the monastery: -Six worship services per day -Plus much more -After one year he led his first church service -Redoubled his efforts a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,

Martin Luther At the monastery: -Six worship services per day -Plus much more -After one year he led his first church service -Redoubled his efforts “Thereupon I felt myself to be reborn and to have gone through open doors into paradise. just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Martin Luther At the monastery: -Six worship services per day -Plus much more -After one year he led his first church service -Redoubled his efforts The whole of Scripture took on a new meaning, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Martin Luther At the monastery: -Six worship services per day -Plus much more -After one year he led his first church service -Redoubled his efforts and whereas before the “justice of God” had filled me with hate, now it became to me inexpressibly sweet in greater love.” —Bainton, Here I Stand, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Martin Luther At the monastery: -Six worship services per day -Plus much more -After one year he led his first church service -Redoubled his efforts “Where men do not know Bethlehem’s babe they rave and rage and strive. just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Martin Luther At the monastery: -Six worship services per day -Plus much more -After one year he led his first church service -Redoubled his efforts The angels proclaimed peace on earth, and so shall it be to those who know and receive this Babe.” —Bainton, Here I Stand, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”