Martin Luther and the Evangelical Church Service

Abstract

Mark F. Bartling’s paper explores Martin Luther’s contributions to evangelical worship, emphasizing the centrality of Word and Sacrament. Bartling outlines Luther’s liturgical reforms, including the Formula Missae (1523) and Deutsche Messe (1526), which aimed to purify Roman Catholic practices while preserving meaningful ceremony. Luther’s worship principles stressed preaching, congregational singing, and catechetical instruction, with flexibility in form but clarity in purpose. Bartling discusses Luther’s pastoral concern for accessibility, reverence, and doctrinal integrity, and evaluates how modern Lutheran services compare. He critiques infrequent communion, lack of daily services, and diminished catechism use, while praising vernacular preaching and hymnody. The paper includes detailed outlines of historical Lutheran liturgies, baptismal rites, and Luther’s hymns, highlighting their theological and musical significance. Bartling concludes by reaffirming the Means of Grace—Word, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper—as the heart of Lutheran worship and assurance. — Abstract generated by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4)