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“Christ is Risen!”. We serve a living Savior Who is with us!. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Jesus in Luke 19:10 (ESV ). God the Father created e very h uman being.
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“Christ is Risen!” We serve a living Savior Who is with us!
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” • Jesus in Luke 19:10 (ESV)
Jesus Christ, God’s Only Son and our Savior, shed His blood to redeem every human being.
The Holy Spirit is working through the Means of Grace, seeking to call, gather and enlighten all.
Every Human Being will live for all eternity. Question is: Where?
Christianity in the United States is in Decline From 2007 to 2014, Americans who say they are Christian fell from 78% to 71%. The pace is not slowing down.
The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod is in Decline From 2001 to 2010 membership declined 10%. The pace is continuing in the current decade.
One Reason… The main source of growth in the LCMS comes from one source: “natural growth” (current member families having babies.) This is true across Christian denominations.
Another Reason: The constant bombardment of cultural ideas designed by hell to discount and destroy the Christian faith, such as: evolution, individualism, redefinition of marriage, and so much more…
In the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod: • More than 1/3 of LCMS Lutherans come to faith as adults. (For several years the LCMS has had more Adult Conversions than Infant Baptisms.)
In the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod: • Our Infant Baptism rate is only about 25% of what is was in 1960 • We fail to retain (lose) about 75% of those we do baptize by the time of college graduation.
Men are more likely than women to identify as a “none”, which is the answer given to the question, “With which religion do you identify?”
About 1 in 3 young adults identify as a “none” – affiliated with no religion at all. Some are open to learning about Jesus.
How many people are entering eternity without Christ? The need to share the Gospel is current, urgent and great!
“Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.” Jesus in John 4:35-37 (ESV)
The Father calls people to a saving faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior by the working of the Holy Spirit through the Word! Law and Gospel. Every Sunday in your congregation!
This love says: I love you, not because you are good or bad; for I draw my love, not from your goodness, as from another’s fountain, but from my own little spring, from the Word, which is grafted in my heart and which bids me to love my neighbor. Then it flows out abundantly and is there for all who need it, touching both the good and the bad, friend and foe. Luther, M. (1999). Luther’s works, vol. 51: Sermons I. (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald, & H. T. Lehmann, Eds.) (Vol. 51, pp. 269–270). Philadelphia: Fortress Press.
This love says: I love you, not because you are good or bad; … Indeed, it is ready most of all for enemies, because they are the ones who have more need that I should help them out of their misery and sins and especially for the greatest good I can do them, namely, to pray for them and do whatever I can that they too may become good and be delivered from sins and the devil. Luther, M. (1999). Luther’s works, vol. 51: Sermons I. (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald, & H. T. Lehmann, Eds.) (Vol. 51, pp. 269–270). Philadelphia: Fortress Press.
Look! this is a love that flows out of the heart, not into it; for it finds nothing in it from which it can draw this love, but because he is a Christian and lays hold of the Word, which in itself is altogether pure, it also makes his heart so pure and full of genuine love that he lets his love flow out to every man and does not stop at anybody, no matter who the person is. Luther, M. (1999). Luther’s works, vol. 51: Sermons I. (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald, & H. T. Lehmann, Eds.) (Vol. 51, pp. 269–270). Philadelphia: Fortress Press.
Need Help? • Help from the Indiana District: • Demographic Studies • A current demographic study of the area around your congregation is available – helping you identify who lives near you! • Building Bridges Personal Evangelism Workshop • A 1-day workshop training people to reach out with the Gospel in day-to-day living that can come to your congregation.
Need Help? • Help from LCMS Witness & Outreach • Community Canvas Guide • A full guide to running an effective community canvas beginning with whether or not a community canvas would be effective in your setting. • Weekly Evangelistic Thoughts based on weekly Scripture readings • God the Father desires all to be saved in Christ. See God the Father’s heart for the lost in weekly Scripture readings.
How I Became a Lutheran For years, my husband and I shared daily meditations from God’s Word, but without attending any church. Yet, there was a hunger for something more than our daily meditations provided. We attended a New Year’s Eve Service at Grace Lutheran Church, were warmly welcomed and invited to return. I became aware of what I was missing in our daily meditations: community, Christ-centered worship and the teaching of God’s Word.
How I Became a Lutheran I began hesitantly, though with an open mind. Not raised Lutheran, it took some rearranging of my thinking. I attended a Lutheran version of the ALPHA Class, went on to study Luther’s Small Catechism, and continued attending Divine Services. God knew what I needed and provided abundantly. I came seeking God, and discovered the riches of His grace through Jesus Christ. I joined the church; my husband also attends Divine Services and is on this journey with me. Julia S. – Grace Lutheran, Columbus, IN
How I Became a Lutheran A Hollywood movie in real life! I grew up in Mexico and came to the US to play tennis for Indiana Tech. Waiting for a flight in the Fort Wayne airport, I asked the gentleman next to me about an announcement I’d missed. I noticed his Fort Wayne seminary sweater, and from his brief explanation, we started exchanging emails. He visited the church I was attending at that time and shared some thoughts about the day’s sermon.
How I Became a Lutheran He pointed out how God is the one that gives faith; it’s not from our efforts. I then went to St. Paul with him and found it very interesting. I started seeing that there was much law and tiny Gospel at my church, so I visited St. Paul again. On that visit, a very friendly lady kindly came to welcome me. The following week a couple from the church came to share with me what Lutherans believe. All three have become super dear friends.
How I Became a Lutheran Long story short, I started attending St. Paul’s more frequently, then Bible study, and they were going through the foundations of Lutheranism! How could it have been better?!! So finally I went through adult instruction and became a member. I love the people, the services, and hearing Jesus died for me every Sunday! Stephanie P. – St. Paul’s Lutheran, Ft. Wayne, IN
The Christian Faith is Still Alive and Well in the US! The people of the Christian church still model faith practices. A recent sociological study discovered that the percentage of the population who have a strong affiliation with the Christian faith, believe the Bible is God’s Word, and engage in prayer has not declined but has remained constant over many years.
It’s Not About Guilt. It’s about Being Faithful.
The Holy Spirit alone creates faith where and when He wills. The Holy Spirit calls, gathers, enlightens and keeps the whole Christian church.
So… What is our role? What are we called to do in response to the Gospel?
When we have Christ by true faith, then he causes us to live in such a way that we are strengthened in faith, in such a way that I do these works which I do for the benefit and the good of my neighbor. For my Christian name would not be sufficient, despite my baptism and my faith, if I did not help my neighbor and draw him to faith through my works in order that he may follow me. Luther, M. (1999). Luther’s works, vol. 51: Sermons I. (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald, & H. T. Lehmann, Eds.) (Vol. 51, p. 116). Philadelphia: Fortress Press.
Then a person, after he has given all glory to Christ, is always remembering to do to his neighbor as Christ has done to him, in order that he may help him and everyone else. Thus Christ lives in him and he lives for the betterment of his neighbor, giving to everyone a good example of doing all things in love. Luther, M. (1999). Luther’s works, vol. 51: Sermons I. (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald, & H. T. Lehmann, Eds.) (Vol. 51, p. 116). Philadelphia: Fortress Press.
Jesus says of the Holy Spirit, John 16:8 ”And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Jn 16:8–13). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
Jesus says, John 16:12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Jn 16:8–13). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
