From The Parish

Foreword
Introduction

PART ONE: ”You Have Made Public Profession Of Your Faith…”

1.Who In The World Are We? Lutheran Nonnegotiables
2.Christ’s Choice For Life: Law And Gospel Applied
3.True Confession: The Spirit Of Augsburg
4.Rerooting In The Community: A Mission Strategy Grows In Brooklyn
5.A Lutheran Spiritual Face In The Public Arena
6.From Pentecost To Politics: How One Parish Tackled The Pornography Problem

PART TWO: ”Do You Intend To Continue In The Covenant God Made With You In Holy Baptism?”

7.Life By Drowning: The Baptized Christian In The World
8.Children Of A Greater God: Catechesis Of The Confessional Heart
9.A River Runs Through It: Evangelism From The Font
10.Bonhoeffer, Youth, And The Church: The Mundane Communio Sanctorum
11.Walking On Water: Mentoring The Next Generation
12.The Habit Of Ecstasy; The Practice Of Prayer; The Journey Of Faith

PART THREE: ”To Live Among God’s Faithful People….’

13.The Community Of Grace
14.The Community Of The Word
15.The Faithful Community
16.The Disciplined Community: Law, Gospel And The Solus Christus
17.Confraternities Of Grace: Small Group Ministry
18.Family Values

PART FOUR: ”To Hear The Word And Share In His Supper….”

19.Eating And Drinking Among The Tombstones
20.Full Communion On The Way Home
21.Embodied Ecumenism: The Unity Of Christ’s Body At The Local Level
22.Assisting Ministers: Identity And Function
23.To Carry God In The Mouth: Singing The Faith

PART FIVE: ”To Proclaim The Good News Of God In Christ….”

24.Bishop And Parish
25.The Triune Shape Of The Church: Episcope And The Trinity
26.Lost And Found: Growth And Evangelism
27.Evangelism, Church Growth And The Swinging Door
28.Hirtabrev. Following Jesus To The Breach
29.Hirtabrev. Come To The Table: Koinonia As Missionary Accountability

PART SIX: ”To Serve All People, Following The Example Of Our Lord Jesus…”

30.The Diaconate: Consecrated DPs
31.Diakonia: A Mom-and-Pop Theological Store
32.Priests And Deacons: Earthly And Heavenly Partnership
33.Servants Of Jesus: Diaconal People Among Us

PART SEVEN: ”And To Strive For Justice And Peace In All The Earth.”

34.Parish Schools: Christ, The City, And The Child
35.To Take Care Of The Body: Social Ministry And Evangelism Through The Parish Social Ministry Committee
36.Requiem
37.A Tale Of Three Houses
38.Give Me That Stranger: The Ministry Of Word And Sacrament C

Additional Info
This is a book about the parish, written from the heart of parish life. Its heart is an edited collection of Lutheran Forum articles, with other published work and new material adding dimension to some of the themes explored in these pages. This collection provides diverse soundings of parish life in the Gospel and suggests a Lutheran theology of the parish, but one that is accessible and relevant across the ecumenical diversity of the One Body of Christ. For pastors and lay readers, this book seeks to support the ministry of congregations, as well as inspiring and provoking dialogue in local parishes.