“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” This is the third commandment. And Luther’s explanation, easily committed to memory, goes “We are to fear and love God so that we do not neglect his Word and the preaching of it, but regard it as holy and gladly hear and learn it.”

The Second Commandment, according to the Lutheran listing, has to do with the Name of God: “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.” And Luther’s explanation is as follows, “We are to fear and love God so that we do not use His name superstitiously, or use it to curse, swear, lie, or deceive, but call on Him in prayer, praise and thanksgiving.”

In reviewing the Ten Commandments there is a good reason why the first Commandment comes first. It is because it is the most important. In fact, were we to keep the first Commandment, the other nine would be no problem whatsoever!

It is a Lutheran insight to understand God’s Word speaking to us primarily in two ways. First, God’s Word comes to us as Law. His commandments indicate his perfect will. And second, God’s Word comes to us as Gospel or promise. These promises are based on what the Lord has mercifully done for us on our behalf.

It has long been held by Christians, even well before Luther, that the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, and the Lord’s Prayer serve as a solid foundation for learning the essential elements of the Christian Faith.

People leave or become inactive in their congregation for many reasons. Some are prompted by an aggravation and the separation happens immediately. In far too many other cases the inactivity is gradual and often has nothing to do with a provocation, dissatisfaction, or sharp complaint.

My concluding argument has to do with the comprehensive scope of the liturgy.

This week I want to share with you the liturgy’s expression of durability. It can be very comforting to have something solid to stand on!

This time around I want you to consider how the use of the Divine Service demonstrates our connection with other Christians and Congregations, both present and down through the ages. Truly we are a part of what we confess each Sunday, “the communion of saints”.

Again this week I share with you why I have come to treasure the historic liturgy of the Church, especially as we know it in the Lutheran Tradition.