Lutheran Life 5
The local congregation is the place where Jesus dwells among us. Not
the golf course. Not on social media. Jesus comes to you in the hearing
of God's Word and the receiving of the Sacraments—through your local
congregation. w
Adapted from Being Lutheran, pages 238–41 © 2016 A. Trevor Sutton. Published by Concordia Publishing House.
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A C C O U N T A B I L I T Y
God holds His people accountable on a local level
through the congregation. Rogue readings of Scripture
are hard to maintain in a confessing community of
believers. Absence from worship and life together is
noticed and addressed by the local congregation.
The local congregation is a conduit for God's love and care
for His people. What may appear to be a tuna casserole
is actually a divine token of support and consolation.
What others deem a box of diapers is really the Body
of Christ swaddling its fellow members in love.
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S P R E A D I N G
T H E G O S P E L
M U T U A L
C O N S O L A T I O N
The local congregation is where Christ is present
and active among His people. That means that it is a
command post for the kingdom of God. As members
of the local congregation make their way out into
the community, they carry the Gospel with them.