Luther's primary concern was that the gospel be proclaimed for the people, in their context, and that liturgical practice always embody that proclamation, even if it meant instituting reforms slowly. . .

Luther lifts up the historical pattern as the church has practiced it, that is, a pattern centered in word and sacrament. The translation of word and sacrament into new contexts is what becomes the essential task of the theologian.

Luther's primary concern was that the gospel be proclaimed for the people, in their context. . .

The questions or criteria for translation may be the following:

Do these practices proclaim the gospel, the paschal mystery?

Does this liturgical pattern and its practice immerse people into the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ?

Luther insists throughout the German Mass that the order of liturgy forms a community through the proclamation of the word. And "word" is here understood to be not only the word preached but also the word distributed, the visible (tangible) word. At the center of worship is word and sacrament.

~ Dirke G. Lange, The German Mass and Order of the Liturgy 1526