For Such A Time As This
Esther 4:12-17; 1 Corinthians 13:1-8
Recap
Born into a upper middle class German family in 1906; he and his twin Sabine = 6&7 of 8
Born into relative privilege- father was psychiatrist. Mother = teacher, daughter of theologian
Shows interest in theology from a young age
Comes to US in 1930; teaches Sunday School at Abyssinian
Cost of Discipleship - 1937
He actually straddles between traditional conservative and liberal doctrines
o Cheap grace – you can’t just do what you want and take the sacraments
o Rejection of connection to the state – that is also not the way; stand with those on
margins
Confessing Church movement
Comes back to US in 1939 to study again. Within 2 weeks he knows he must go back – even
though he knows the Nazis are watching him
1941 prohibited from publishing
April 5 th 1943 – imprisoned in Tegal Prison - works as chaplain – Letters and Papers from Prison
April 4 th 1945 – led away after his final Sunday Service; April 8 sentenced; April 9 th killed
Key Points
1. The World is a Hot Mess and it needs to be transformed – On Earth as it is in Heaven
2. We too need to be transformed
3. Like Jesus we must be willing to stand for this at all costs
Reflections Questions
1. Take some time to really sit with the idea – On Earth as it is in Heaven. Think about how
different that would be. As you sit with where you are now, do you feel deeply committed to
that vision? Do you feel it is possible? Do you fear the shift required to get there?
2. If you can imagine a new world and the disruption it would take to get there – What kind of
person would you need to be to live in that vision? How would you have to change to be a part
of that new world? How can you embrace the spiritual discipline required?
3. The journey from here to there will require deep disruption and sacrifice. In this season where
we are feeling the disruption, is it possible that this disruption can be part of God’s plan to
transform our world? Imagine what that might look like?