Doctrine and Practice - John 12:20-26

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. I have said before in having the opening devotion, I do not know what our presenter plans to present, so I do not know if I will, but I pray my devotion will neither step on his toes nor steal his thunder. Of course, as I look at the presenters topics for each section I stand in fear and trembling as I may do both, but such is the burden of the opening preacher.
 

A rhetorical question is one asked without needing an answer or that the answer is presumed in the question. The rhetoric of a building or building space is the unspoken statement of the meaning of that space. In other words, when one walks by or into a building, does the building, the furnishings, etc. suggests the usage of that building?
 

“We practice what we preach” means that doctrine and practice go hand in hand; doctrine informs practice and practice teaches doctrine. Thus, the practice and doctrine of a church building go hand in hand as well, which means that the rhetoric of a church building should, in an unspoken way, make a statement concerning what is believed, taught, and confessed. In other words, the building should express the confession of those who worship in the building.
 

With the understanding that doctrine and practice go hand in hand, what does this statement mean in reference to church planting? As our church body, the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod and especially our own Texas District have in recent years been stressing the importance of church planting. And contrary to what those of the previous movements in our church body, the church growth movement, the missional movement and now the church planting movement, or as I think I have heard it stated, the glocal movement might suggest, which is that some of us are more concerned about our doctrine than about saving souls, I would posit that we might suggest the same, that is whenever you are not concerned about doctrine you cannot be concerned about souls.
 

When I am asked if I believe it is more important to be a Christian or to be Lutheran I will say it is more important for me to be Lutheran and a Lutheran Christian, because for me to simply say I am a Christian does not do justice to what I actually believe.
 

I have the privilege of working with several different groups of people, American Heritage Girls as their Shepherd, Trail Life USA as their chaplain, our homeschool group as well as my own congregation. Most of the people in those groups have heard me state time and again that “We get it right when we point to Jesus.” That statement I believe summarizes our doctrine and should be whole heartedly seen in our practice.
 

So, how do doctrine and practice go hand in hand when it comes to church planting and especially in pointing to Jesus? That is hopefully the question we are here to answer this weekend.
 

A few years back when I was the program committee chairman for this group I did a series of meetings, having speakers speak on the topics of doctrine and practice. We listened to one speaker talk about what it means to build a distinctively Lutheran church building, one that points to Jesus. Another talked about a distinctively Lutheran way to educate, one that points to Jesus. Another talked about a distinctively Lutheran way to have divine service, one that points to Jesus. Another talked about a distinctively Lutheran way to preach, one that points to Jesus. Another talked about a distinctively Lutheran way to do evangelism, that points to Jesus.
 

As an example of what I am saying, I would like to tell you about our church building and our Divine Service and how it teaches what we confess and points us to Jesus.
 

When we walk into St. Matthew Lutheran Church, the first thing we see is the cross. To the left in the chancel area is the Baptismal font. The building and the font point us to Jesus. When we begin our Divine Service we do so with the invocation, a reminder of our Baptism and entrance into the Church, Jesus putting His name on us with the voice of the called Pastor and water with his hands. Jesus comes to us through Holy Baptism. Our church building and our Divine Service point us to Jesus.
 

As we look down to the front of the chancel area we see the altar railing where our pastors kneel for confession then rise and through the mouth of the sinful pastor God speaks and does what He speaks, He forgives our sins. We are again instructed through our building and Divine Service, Jesus comes to us through Holy Absolution. We are pointed to Jesus.
 

Next, our eyes move to the right of the chancel area where we see the pulpit, from which the called and Ordained Pastor reads God’s Word to us as if God Himself were speaking His Word to us. And then, from the pulpit we hear him preach and expound in Law and Gospel those very words. Jesus comes to us through the Word of God. And notice it is the Divinely Called Pastor who has been called to read and speak to us the Word of God and point us to Jesus. As disciples of Jesus we are called to come to the Divine Service and be given to so that we might read, learn and take to heart these very words of Jesus read and spoken to us by the Pastor. Our church building and our Divine Service point us to Jesus.
 

Next our attention is drawn to the center of the chancel area where we see the altar where in Jesus comes to us to give us His body and blood in His Holy Supper for the forgiveness of our sins. As the pastor speaks the words of God so the gifts God gives are given to us. God gives and we are given to.  Our church building and our Divine Service point us to Jesus.
 

Finally you will notice in our church that nothing is in the way of the cross, the pulpit, the altar, the font. Nothing draws our attention away to the side or in front of the cross. Nothing points us to ourselves, to our emotions, to our experience, to us. We are pointed to Jesus. Our building, our Lutheran doctrine and practice put our focus where we desire it to be, on Jesus.
 

Please notice how there is no confusion in the chancel area as there is nothing secular to confuse the laity of this part of the church. There are no musical instruments nor screens to distract one’s attention away from where it should be, on Jesus, on the cross of Christ, nor to confuse someone into thinking this may be a building for entertainment. There is simply the things of God for usage in presenting the Means for Grace through which the Holy Spirit gives and distributes the gifts of God.
 

Finally we conclude the service with the Aaronic Benediction and another reminder of God’s name being put on us as we go out into the world strengthened through the means of grace and the gifts God has give us through those very means. Indeed, as we participate in the divine service we will notice that all of what we are doing is saying back to God the very words He has given us to say which reminds us that we worship best when we say back to God the Words He has given us to say. We refrain from pithy man made responseries, creed and substitutes for the Lord’s Prayer insisting that God’s Word is first and foremost.
 

When we change our practices the unintended consequence is that we change our doctrine, just look at the history of the church by the time Luther began the reformation. Little changes crept in little by little until the people were no longer pointed to Jesus. Today, those who fail to be about holding on to the doctrine of the Church have moved the attention of people away from Jesus and to themselves, to their emotion, to their experience, thus, indeed failing in their desire to reach out with the good news. So, I will reiterated, unless you are concerned about doctrine you truly have no concern for souls.
 

I would contend that because doctrine and practice go hand in hand that our practice does instruct in our doctrine and that our doctrine has informed our practice so that they are both consistent and are the best God given way to reach the lost and disciple the saved. Indeed, it is this teaching process that is a hallmark of the Lutheran Church and which empowers and enables every Christian to be a better evangelist always being ready to give an answer to those who ask about our hope in Jesus Christ our Lord.
 

I give thanks to God for being able to serve in a congregation that is concerned about doctrine so that we might always point others to Jesus who is the way, the truth and the life.
 

Finally, after doing all that we can do, we rejoice in the Holy Spirit working when and where He pleases to give, strengthen and keep in faith.
 

Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice. Thanks be to God and to Him be the glory. Come Lord Jesus, come quickly. Amen.