Salem Jacksonville

He Is Risen!

Jesus Christ is alive forever. We have a risen and living Savior and Lord, who died and rose again for the sin of all people. May we live each day in the light of that Easter joy with sins forgiven and with Jesus in our lives as an ever present help in every trouble.

MARTIN LUTHER AND THE REFORMATION

   On October 31, 1517 God moved Dr. Martin Luther (A. D. 1483-1546), an Augustinian monk and Doctor of Old Testament theology, to nail what has become known as the Ninety-five Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. These theses or sentences attacked the Roman Catholic practice and teaching of indulgences, which sold forgiveness for money.
   Pope Leo the 10th had issued an official proclamation, called an indulgence, which offered to sell the forgiveness of sins for both the living and dead, without the presence of sorrow over sin or faith in Christ.
   John Tetzel, a Dominican monk, became wealthy selling these indulgences, this forgiveness paperwork, in the area near Wittenberg, Germany where Luther lived. Tetzel was a large, eloquent man with a flare for sales psychology. His arrival was announced some weeks before his visit to a town. When he finally arrived, the whole town would come out to greet him with a great celebration.
   In the town square, Tetzel gave his first sermon on "Hell," in which he pictured the place of the damned in language made vivid with fire and brimstone.
   The second sermon which dramatically portrayed the sufferings of the relatives of the townspeople in "Purgatory" was spoken in the town cathedral. He would ask his audience, if they could not hear the wailing and suffering cries of their relatives rising up from purgatory, while they, their descendants, enjoyed their inheritance here on earth.
   Tetzel's third sermon was on the joys of "Heaven." How sweet and peaceful were the souls in heaven in contrast to the sufferings of the poor souls in hell!
   Now the audience was ripe for the sale of the indulgences. Tetzel sold the indulgence paperwork to the people based on their ability to pay. Businessmen would have to pay as much as $80, while the poor were charged only $7!
   After this selling of forgiveness had gone on for a few years, Martin Luther in righteous indignation posted his Ninety-five Theses against this indulgence traffic. While Luther posted these statements with the intention of sparking a scholarly dialogue within the Roman Catholic Church, God used this event to trigger the Lutheran Reformation, the fruits of which Protestant churches still enjoy, today.
   The Lutheran Reformation continues to be celebrated, because through this renewal of the church the Holy Spirit taught the church the biblical doctrine of justification by God’s grace through faith alone in Jesus Christ as Savior. Justification, this teaching of forgiveness through Christ alone, is the central doctrine of the Bible by which the church stands and continues to grow.

SALEM FAMILY FUN DAY
AUGUST 17, 2008

Our Salem family experienced a mild August day enjoying a dunk tank, 3 on 3 basketball tournament, games, food and a Christian rock concert in the evening. To see the new photo gallery, click below. Thanks to our Thrivent Rep David Hannel for all his efforts and Thrivent funding to make this day happen. There are about 50 photos, some just uploaded on August 27th.

Click Here

VOLLEYBALL FALL/WINTER 2008

Our Girl's Volleyball Team has completed their season. The season ended with 8th grade Recognition Night. Kelsey Leischner is pictured with her parents Matt and Julia Leischner and Josie Nix is pictured with her parents Roy and Phyllis Nix. A big thank you to Bob and Lisa Lewis for the terrific job they do with our volleyball team!!

For Photo Gallery Click Here