News & Events

The Institute of Lutheran theology not only provides programs to train pastors and teachers, but it also provides educational and devotional resources for individuals and congregations. These resources are provided free of charge and made available through our web page. Please subscribe to and use any of these resources.

The Institute of Lutheran theology not only provides programs to train pastors and teachers, but it also provides educational and devotional resources for individuals and congregations. These resources are provided free of charge and made available through our web page. Please subscribe to and use any of these resources.

Transfiguration Sunday

Transfiguration Sunday

That voice of God speaking from the brilliance of the cloud commended those three disciples to “Listen!” to the beloved Son—that is, listen to Jesus. That command echoes through centuries until it comes to us, and we hear it with our own ears.  “Listen to him!”  “Hear him!”  “Obey him!”  Yes, obey him. A feature of Scripture is the word that most often calls forth obedience from us is the word that commends us to listen… to hear… and, to obey. Obedience is the spontaneous result of hearing properly. To hear properly is hearing God’s Word as the living and active Word which accomplishes the purpose for which God speaks it (Is. 55:11). God’s Word is God’s work… God’s work upon whomever hears it. Hearing God’s Word properly brings into spontaneous existence the result intended in God’s purpose. Hearing God’s Word of Law brings into spontaneous existence the obedience that Word commands. When the old sinful being in us tries to insert an act of will… an act of submission… or an act of choice between the hearing and the doing… the spontaneity is destroyed. Religious obedience results. Hearing God’s Word of Gospel brings into spontaneous existence the faith that Word promises. This is a faith that possesses you. When the old sinful being in us tries to exhibit some virtue called faith, the spontaneity of faith is destroyed. It becomes a work of ourselves rather than the work of the Holy Spirit.

Prayers from those who are hard of hearing…

Father in heaven, open my ears… let me listen to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen

Father in heaven, open my ears… grant your Word to work upon me and give me faith in your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen

Father in heaven, open my ears and give me such hearing of your Word that I am held in the faith of Jesus Christ. Amen

Father in heaven, open my ears… let me listen to my neighbors that their needs would be known to me, and I would work to fulfill them in the name of Jesus. Amen

Father in heaven, open my ears… grant your Word to work upon me so that, for the love of my Lord Jesus Christ, I serve those needy neighbors of mine. Amen

Father in heaven, open my ears and let me hear the needs of my particular neighbor, the Institute of Lutheran Theology, that I would be instrumental in fulfilling ILT’s needs for Jesus’ sake. Amen

Father in heaven, open my ears, that I would be sustained throughout the days of my baptism by the hearing of your Word which delivers me into the faith of Jesus Christ. Amen