The Lutheran Way - I Makes A Difference? (Last in Series 9 of 9)

(Practical Application)
 

How does all this “Lutheran Way” work in the “real” world? How does this help me in my vocation, always being ready to give a defense or answer for my faith, including what do I do when inviting someone to our church for Divine Service?
 

Evangelism takes place, not in the Divine Service which is for Christians to have a place to go every week to be strengthened in our faith, but in our daily lives as we live in our various vocations. Evangelism takes place as we are asked and as we give an answer for the hope we have especially in explaining why we do what we do.
 

So when we have someone ask us about our faith and hope, we most certainly express our faith and hope to them, but also we will most certainly do as Andrew did when approached by the Greeks. He invited them to come and see Jesus, and we would do the same, inviting them to come to the Divine Service. Now as we invite them to come to Divine Service, it is especially important we give them instructions in the Divine Service so they will know what to expect. And if they know what to expect, why we do what we do, just think about how much more they will get out of being in the Divine Service. Yes, sometimes it is a lot about the preparation and the teaching which we do.
 

When we invite someone to see Jesus, to come to Divine Service, we explain what we have been learning in these articles, that the Divine Service is God’s Service to us. We explain that our Divine Service follows what we believe. We explain the Means of Grace. We explain the way our building is set up and laid out, i.e., the cross, the font, the altar, the pulpit, the communion rail. We explain each part of the Divine Service and how they point us to Jesus.
 

Finally, we explain our care and concern about their spiritual well being is why we cannot at this time invite them to come to the Lord’s Table, but we would rejoice in their taking an instruction class to learn so that they may join us.
 

After we have explained the Divine Service, our building, and closed communion, then we can rest assured the Holy Spirit will do His part. And we can rest assured that when the do attend a Divine Service, they will also rejoice in the depth of their worship and the gifts which they are given by God through the very means He has given to give us His gifts. And they will rejoice in the lack of distractions which might point them to something other than the Means of Grace and the gifts of God instead of pointing them to their selves.
 

One of the great things about being a Lutheran Christian is the fact we are a teaching church. Much of our history has been of building churches and schools at the same time. And much of our understanding and passing on of the teachings is the heart of carrying on the faith of the Lutheran Church. It is hoped that these articles have helped you get a better understanding of why we do what we do and how we do what we do not only reflect what we believe, teach and confess but are also the teaching tools we use to teach what we believe, teach and confess. And above all it is the hope that these articles will prepare you, not only to give an answer for your hope, but words of instruction, comfort and joy in speaking not only about your faith, but about your church as well. To God be the glory!