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St. John's Lutheran Church Sketch

Reformation Sunday

October 25, 2026

St. John’s Lutheran Church – LCMS
1101 6th Street, Sutherlin, OR 97479
Pastor Hoffman: pastor@brandthoffman.com
Office: sjlc1950@gmail.com • 541-459-3701
saintjohnslcms.org • Live Stream: tinyurl.com/streamstjohn
The Order of Worship
Divine Service III (LSB p. 184)
Opening Hymn: LSB 657: A Mighty Fortress is Our God

Psalm 46
Sermon Hymn: LSB 578: Thy Strong Word

Closing Hymn: LSB 644: The Church's One Foundation

The Readings from Holy Scripture
First Reading
Revelation 14:6–7
Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
Lector: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Epistle Reading
Romans 3:19–28
Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
Lector: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Holy Gospel Reading
John 8:31–36

Pastor: The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the 8th chapter.

People: Glory be to Thee, O Lord.

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
Lector: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise be to Thee, O Christ.
Life of the Parish
Sunday, October 25 – Reformation Sunday
• 9:00 am Adult Bible Class & Sunday School
• 10:00 am Divine Service

Wednesday, October 28:
• 1:00 pm Bible Class
Note on Holy Communion: All who have been prepared in the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod to receive the Lord’s Supper are welcome to the table. If you have not been prepared, please hold off and speak with Pastor Hoffman after the service.
Sermon Say What?

As you listen to the sermon on the Reformation texts (especially Romans 3:19–28 and John 8:31–36), keep these questions in mind:

  1. According to Romans 3, why can no one be justified by works of the law, and how is the righteousness of God given to us instead?
  2. In John 8 Jesus says, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” What kind of slavery does He free us from, and how does that freedom change the way we live?
  3. How does Psalm 46 (“God is our refuge and strength”) give confidence to the justified sinner on this Reformation Sunday?