Month: October 2023

Feast of Mary, August 15th, 2023

Summary:

In the sermon titled “Mary,” Fr Dennis navigates through the significant aspects of Mary within the Catholic and Anglican faiths. Beginning with Martin Luther’s reverence for Mary as the “spiritual mother,” he delves into crucial historical perspectives on Mary’s role. He explores the outcomes of the pivotal Council of Nicea in 325 AD and the third council held in Ephesus approximately a century later. These councils played a crucial role in acknowledging Mary as “Theotokos,” or the Mother of God, a concept that was hotly challenged in various religious debates.
The sermon highlights the transformation of Mary’s role during Martin Luther’s era, when the focus of the Church shifted towards broader issues like indulgences and corruption. The sermon also considers the 19th-century doctrine of Mary’s Immaculate Conception, though Fr Dennis points out its lack of scriptural grounding. He also emphasizes the unmatched importance of praying through the intercession of Jesus Christ, a belief upheld by Luther.
In closing, the sermon underscores the importance of Mary’s life rather than the mysteries surrounding her birth and ascension. The conclusion encourages gratitude towards both Mary for her life of humility and Joseph, her supporter. The sermon showcases the extraordinary role of Mary within the Christian faith, emphasizing her as an ideal model within the scripture while underscoring the essential role of Christ as an intercessor of prayers.

The sermon explores the significance of Mary in the Anglican and Catholic churches, discussing historical viewpoints and council decisions. It emphasizes reverence for Mary while encouraging prayers to be addressed through Jesus Christ. Gratitude is encouraged for Mary’s role in bearing the Saviour, and her exemplary qualities are highlighted. The focus is on Mary’s life rather than the details of her birth and death.

Discussion Points:

In this section, there will be a question arising from the sermon/address, followed by a ‘context’ quote, and a challenge in terms of applying the teaching to our lives.

Why is it more important to focus on the life and examples of Mary rather than the details surrounding her birth and death?

• Dennis encourages gratitude for Mary’s role in bearing the Saviour and highlights her exemplary qualities as recorded in Scripture.
• How can we apply the lessons from Mary’s life to our own walk with God and interactions with others?

In what ways did Mary show humility and obedience according to Scripture?

• This question is based on Dennis’ emphasis on the significance of Mary’s life and the qualities of humility and obedience she exhibited.
• What practical steps can we take to follow her example of humility and obedience in our own lives?

Why does Dennis argue that the belief in the immaculate conception of Mary lacks scriptural precedence and denies the humanity of Christ?

• This viewpoint emerged as an extension of Arianism and Nestorianism, asserting that if Jesus was to be without sin, Mary also had to be immaculately conceived.
• How can we critically evaluate the beliefs we hold to ensure they have a strong scriptural basis?

How did Martin Luther’s view of Mary differ from some Church practices at the time, specifically in relation to prayer?

• Luther believed that all prayers should go through the intercession of Jesus Christ, as stated in Scripture, and disagreed with the addition of the line ‘Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us now and at the hour of our death’ to the Hail Mary.
• How can we ensure our prayers align with Scripture and maintain focus on Jesus’ intercession?

Why was it important for the early Church to establish Mary as ‘Theotokos,’ or Mother of God?

• The designation of Mary as ‘Theotokos’ was a point of contention during the Council of Nicea and ultimately affirmed during the third council held in Ephesus.
• How does this title, Mother of God, impact your understanding of Mary’s role in Christian faith?

sermon.tech