The Same Word

Click on the video below (or go to this link http://vimeo.com/24691915) to hear a sermon from the ELCA pastor (Jon Anderson) who serves as bishop of the southwestern part of Minnesota--an area that, in the ELCA, is called the Southwestern Minnesota Synod. 

From what I understand, Jon and his staff prepared and uploaded this sermon so that people in ELCA Lutheran congregations could have this message available to them while their pastors and others are at a synod "assembly" this weekend.

The Word of God speaks no matter what church or synod we belong to.  The Holy Spirit is the same everywhere.  Let's praise God for faithful pastors and people wherever they may be.  Pray that all Christians everywhere would be responsive to the Holy Spirit and obedient to the Word of God.

How does this sermon speak to you about God's Work through the Holy Spirit in your life or in the life of your church?  What does it have to say to those of us who are no longer part of the ELCA?



The following is from the Augsburg Confession:

It is also taught that at all times there must be and remain one holy, Christian church. It is the assembly of all believers among whom the gospel is purely preached and the holy sacraments are administered according to the gospel.

For this is enough for the true unity of the Christian church that there the gospel is preached harmoniously according to a pure understanding and the sacraments are administered in conformity with the divine Word.

It is not necessary for the true unity of the Christian church that uniform ceremonies, instituted by human beings, be observed everywhere. As Paul says in Ephesians 4[:4–5*]: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism.”

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