{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Reflections","title":"Friday of the Thirteenth Week After Trinity","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":283,"description":"September 4, 2026\n\nToday's Reading: Ephesians 4:1-24\nDaily Lectionary: 2 Kings 2:1-18; Ephesians 4:1-24\n\n“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-12)\n\nIn the Name + of Jesus. Amen.\n\nThese are some of the most misunderstood words in Holy Scripture. The question is, who does the work of ministry? Is it the apostles, prophets, etc.? Or is it all the saints? In recent years, many churches, pastors and even denominations have said that it is the saints who do the work of ministry. That means all the people are ministers, every believer a minister, every believer a missionary, and so it goes. Pastors simply are CEOs to get the people to do ministry acts.\n\nBut this is not the original Lutheran teaching. The original Lutheran teaching is that Ephesians 4:11-12 refers to apostles, prophets, etc., namely those men who held the Office of the Holy Ministry as God’s pastors. And these men in the Office of the Holy Ministry alone do the work of the ministry. Not all Christians are ministers (see also 1 Corinthians 12:29). This original Lutheran teaching is found in one of the writings of the Lutheran Confessions of 1580. One place comments on Ephesians 4:8-12, saying: “And [Paul] enumerates among the gifts specially belonging to the Church pastors and teachers, and adds that such are given for the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” (Treatise 67, Triglot pg. 523). Faithful Lutherans throughout the centuries have pledged to teach no other teaching except that which comes from Scripture and is confessed by these Confessions.\n\nWhy does it matter who does the works of the ministry? The answer involves the doctrine on which the Church stands or falls, justification. We are right with God not by our works, but on account of Jesus Christ, who was crucified for our sins and is risen from the dead. Therefore, the highest...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/P3eUvssXYVZBQK4BZg1UEKstUh8zuVz_CoZCK6YjRSs/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzI1MTcyLzE3MDI0/Mjg1MzAtYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}