Grace, Peace, and Mercy be to you, from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

"With intrepid hearts we believe, teach, and confess…" These words are from the Formula of Concord, one of the founding documents of our Lutheran Confessions, found in the Book of Concord. So what are these confessions and what does it mean to be Lutheran? Why were the founders of what we see today as Lutheranism willing to die for these confessions? "Intrepid hearts indeed! What could possibly be so important that you would stake your eternity on it? What gives a person such courage and conviction? Only one thing – the truth … the truth of God’s Word." (Concordia The Lutheran Confessions, A readers Guide to The Book of Concord, pg. 9)

Within Lutheranism it has always been stated that The Bible alone is our source and guide for doctrine, so what are these other confessions? Why was the "joint" service in Yankee Stadium against our doctrine? What has happened to, and why was Pastor Todd Wilken fired from KFUO radio station? Why does it matter that our mission projects also reflect the doctrine that we have promised to uphold?

Our congregational constitution states,

"Article III – Confessional Standard-

This congregation and all its individual members accept without reservation:

1. The Scripture of the Old and the New Testament as the written Word of God, inspired and inerrant, and the only rule and norm of faith and practice.
2. All the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church as a true and unadulterated statement and exposition of the Word of God to wit: the three Ecumenical Creeds (the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creed), the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles, the Large Catechism of Luther, the Small Catechism of Luther, and the Formula of Concord. To this extent we affirm that only such hymns, prayers, and liturgies shall be used in the public service of the congregation and in all ministerial acts as conform to this confessional standard. Likewise, in all classes of instruction in Christian doctrine only such books shall be used to conform to this standard."

When we install and or ordain our pastors we ask them to hold to these confessions. Do we know what these confessions state? It is time again to review these confessions and to recommit ourselves to the Biblical doctrine to which we hold.

Thursday evenings we have set aside for Adult Bible classes. This next series of studies will be pointed toward looking at our Lutheran Confessions. Please prayerfully consider attending our Concordia Catechetical Considerations beginning at 7:00 PM. on Thursday evenings starting on May 15, 2008.

Our first topic will be the Augsburg Confession, and what is the Augsburg Confession?

The Story of the Augsburg Confession

On January 21, 1530, Emperor Charles V called for a general assembly –and imperial diet—to be held in Augsburg, Germany. Convened to deal with the threat of the Turks to the empire and the Lutheran – Roman Catholic disagreement that was dividing the Church, the assembly was held later that year.

For the assembly, the Lutherans prepared a confession of what they believed and taught on the basis of Holy Scripture. Using previously drafted documents and the guidance of Dr. Martin Luther, Philip Melanchthon, a professor friend and colleague of Luther, wrote the Augsburg Confession in both German and Latin. Dr. Luther did not attend the assembly in Augsburg because he was under imperial ban. That ban declared he could be killed on sight by anyone. Thus, Luther stayed safely in a castle at Coburg under the protection of the Elector of Saxony.

On behalf of the Lutherans, on June 25, 1530, a layman, Dr. Christian Beyer, read the German version of the Lutheran confession before the assembled emperor, rulers, and churchmen. At the conclusion of his presentation, Chancellor Beyer said to Emperor Charles V, "Most gracious Emperor, this is a Confession which, with the grace and help of god, will prevail even against the gates of hell." That day in Augsburg was truly the birthday of the Lutheran Church.

Please join us as we look into what it means to be Lutheran and to study more closely what we believe, teach, and confess.

In His Name

Pastor Jim