Oak Ridge Lutheran Brethren Church

Oak Ridge Lutheran Brethren Church

Discovery Class

Oak Ridge Lutheran Brethren Church

Discovery Class Schedule

Week 1: Page

The Fundamental Doctrines of the Christian Faith 3

Week 2:

Who are the Lutheran Brethren? 5

Week3:

Our Understanding of Congregation14

Week 4:

Our Understanding of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper17

Week 5:

The Mission and Constitution of Oak Ridge Lutheran Brethren Church26

Week 6:

Membership at Oak Ridge Lutheran Brethren Church38

The Fundamental Doctrines of the Christian Faith (Mueller, Christian Dogmatics, pp. 48-56)

1. What is a Primary Fundamental Doctrine?

1. Those doctrines from God’s Word that can not be denied consistently with faith and salvation, being the very foundation of the Christian faith.

1. Those doctrines from God’s Word which are so necessarily known that, when they are not known, the foundation of faith is not savingly apprehended or retained.
2. Simply stated, to deny any one of these doctrines is to deny the Christian faith.

1. The Five Primary Fundamental Doctrines of the Christian Faith.

1. The Doctrine of Sin and Its Consequences

1. The true Christian believes in both the divine Law, which condemns sin, and the divine Gospel, which pardons sin. (Romans 6:23)
2. When a person fails to realize that their sins, both original and actual, merit eternal damnation and trust their own goodness for eternal salvation, they have no interest in the forgiveness of sins obtained by Christ for the condemned sinner. (Luke 18:9-14)

1. The Doctrine of the Person of Christ

1. The true Christian believes that Jesus Christ is simultaneously true man and true God. (Matthew 22:42; Matthew 16:13-17; 1John 1:1-4)
2. The true Christian believes that Christ is the second person in the Trinity.

1)Christ can not be known without the Father. (Matthew 16:17)

2)The Father can not be known without Christ, the Son. (Matthew 11:27)

3)The Father and the Son can not be known without the Holy Spirit. (Romans 8:15; 1 Corinthians 12:3; John 16:13-15)

4)The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one Name. (Matthew 28:19)

1. Saving faith is trust in the divine-human Redeemer, Jesus Christ. (John 3:16; Romans 10:9,10; Acts 4:12)

1. The Doctrine of the Knowledge of the Work of Christ

1. The true Christian believes that saving faith is trust in Christ as the only mediator between God and men who has given his life as a ransom for all. (1 Timothy 2:5,6; Romans 6:10; 2 Corinthians 5:14,15; 1 Peter 3:18)

1)The true Christian trusts God’s grace, secured by Christ’s substitutionary death, for reconciliation to God and pardon from the penalty of sin.

1. The Doctrine of the Word of God

1. The true Christian believes the Word of God, the external Word of the Holy Gospel, is both the object and the means of saving faith.

1)It is the object of saving faith because saving faith trusts Jesus Christ, who is the Gospel, the Word of God. (Mark 1:15; Romans 1:1,2; Luke 8:11-15; John 6:68)

2)It is the means of saving faith since saving faith is kindled only through the Gospel. (Romans 1:16;10:17; John 17:20; 1 Corinthians 15:1,2; 1 Peter 1:23)

a)True saving faith is always God-made, never man-made. (1 Corinthians 2:5; 2 Corinthians 4:6)

1. The Doctrine of the Resurrection

1. The true Christian believes that as Christ was raised from the dead (John 21:14; 1 Corinthians 15:4), so all people will also be raised from the dead on Judgment Day. (1 Thessalonians 4:16; Revelation 20:13)

1)To deny the Resurrection is to deny the entire Gospel. (1 Corinthians 15:12-19)

1. What is a Secondary Fundamental Doctrine?

1. A doctrine that is not essential to faith, but is intended to support faith.

1. A doctrine that serves as a foundation of faith, but not primarily and absolutely.

1. Secondary Fundamental Doctrines include the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

1. These two Sacraments, instituted by Christ, have been given to us as a foundation of faith in the same way as the Gospel Word; this is what makes them Fundamental Doctrines.

1. The same grace and forgiveness that are offered and conveyed to us in the Gospel Word are also offered and conveyed to us in the Sacraments.

1)Forgiveness through Baptism (Acts 2:38; Titus 3:5)

2)Forgiveness through the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:28)

1. They are secondary because it is possible for a person to be ignorant of them or even in error with regard to them and yet be saved, provided the person clings to the promise of forgiveness offered in the Gospel Word.

1)All that is needed for forgiveness has been secured for sinners by the death of Christ on the cross and is offered and conveyed to a person in the Gospel.

2)This does not mean that the sacramental promise is unnecessary. The Sacraments are the visible Word and the individual application of divine grace.

3)To the person who trusts the Gospel Word, the Sacraments offer nothing new with respect to salvation. They seal and confirm the same grace that the Gospel Word announces, gives, and confers. It is in this sense that the Sacraments are not absolutely necessary and why they are Secondary Fundamental Doctrines.

1. The distinction between the Primary and Secondary Fundamental Doctrines must never be abused in the interest of tolerating false doctrine.

1)A denial or hostility towards the Secondary Fundamental Doctrines, which are, as seen above, the same Word of Gospel, must in the end overturn the foundation of faith for it implies resistance to the Gospel Word offered by the Holy Spirit.

a)All the teachings of God’s Word are so intimately interwoven with one another that, if one is denied, all the rest are likewise affected by such denial.

Who are the Lutheran Brethren?

We are a Protestant church with an evangelistic Lutheran tradition. There are 110 Lutheran Brethren congregations in the United States and Canada and over 1,800 churches and chapels in Cameroon, Chad, Japan, and Taiwan. In addition, 13 independent congregations in the United States are served by Lutheran Brethren pastors.

Is the Lutheran Brethren a new denomination?

No. Our synod was organized in December of 1900 when five independent Lutheran congregations met in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to join together for mission projects which were larger than one congregation could handle.

What does the Lutheran Brethren stand for?

A Gospel-centered ministry where salvation by grace alone is proclaimed and where godly living, patterned after the principles of Scripture is encouraged. We believe that Christianity is not only a creed to confess but that it is a life to be lived for God in holiness. For that reason we seek to cultivate a sensitive spirit toward those who have spiritual struggles and try to minister

God's grace to those needs.

How would you describe your worship services?

People are often surprised when they attend our services. The pastor does not wear vestments and the ritual of the Common Service is not used. Recognizing the freedom for different forms of worship allowed by the Lutheran Confessions, and believing that the New Testament worship forms were simple, we center our worship around the singing of gospel and worship songs, traditional hymns, scripture lessons, prayer and the sermon which is based on God's Word.

I see that you have more members overseas. That must mean you have a strong mission program?

Yes. From the very beginning our synod had a vision for world missions, first in China, then in Cameroon, Chad, Japan, and Taiwan where we now have teams of church planters, teachers,

Bible translators, and health workers. All of the national churches are independent of the synod in North America. We serve them at their request. It has been gratifying to see the Lord extend His kingdom through our sister churches overseas. That is why our congregations were willing to spend about $1 million last year for world missions.

In addition to this overseas mission emphasis, our people also sense a burden for people in

Canada and the United States. New congregations are being planned for North America.

What about Christian Education?

We have a seminary and high school located in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. The Lutheran

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Brethren Seminary offers the M.Div. and other degrees. Hillcrest Lutheran Academy is a four-year boarding high school, along with a two-year junior high, accredited by the state of Minnesota. In addition, the Lutheran Center for Christian Learning delivers biblical studies opportunities to adult lay learners, individuals, groups, and congregations.

On the congregational level, our churches conduct Sunday schools, Bible studies, and weekday programs that meet their needs. Confirmation instruction is offered to young people when they reach grade seven or eight. This two-year course of instruction is based on the Scriptures using Luther's Small Catechism as the outline.

David Rinden

Revised October 2001

A BRIEF HISTORY

The Church of the Lutheran Brethren came into being as the result of a spiritual awakening that swept over a large territory of the Midwest just before the turn of the century.

The revival did not only cause people to ask, "What must I do to be saved?" but also, "What is the right order in the House of God, as it pertains to church membership, worship, communion, absolution, confirmation, etc.?" They turned to the New Testament for answers to these questions, and there they could find no Scriptural foundation for accepting the unconverted into full membership. Neither could they find any basis for admitting unconverted to communion and for requiring the oath of confirmation from young people who were not in the right relationship with God. Finally, Scripture indicated simplicity of worship as opposed to the elaborate ceremonies that prevailed in many church services. These matters became questions of conscience, and many said with the saints of old, "We must obey God rather than men."

These convictions led to the organization of several independent congregations founded on Biblical principles. These congregations came to realize that it was not good for them to stand apart; for that reason they felt the need of organizing into a synod to undertake such joint efforts as home and foreign missions, Christian education, as well as other ministries.

In December 1900, representatives from several independent congregations gathered for a convention at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and decided to organize the Church of the Lutheran Brethren. The constitution of the new synod followed closely that of the Lutheran Free Church of Norway, which had been organized in 1877. It recognized the Biblical basis of the Lutheran doctrine, which states that "the Church is the communion of saints." As such, the congregation should consist of only confessing Christians, whose lives give evidence of their faith.

From the very beginning, interest in world missions was strong. The first missionaries were sent to China in 1902, and a fruitful ministry was carried on in the provinces of Honan and Hupeh until the missionaries were evacuated by the Communists in 1947. Missionary work has, however, continued to flourish among the Chinese people with the establishment of a mission on the island of Taiwan in 1952.

It was decided to begin mission work in Cameroon and Chad in 1917. this work has been blessed by God, so that a great number of converts have been won to Christ. In addition to the evangelistic work, seminaries, Bible schools, and a public health program have been established. Two complete Bibles have been translated in two languages with portions of the Scriptures translated in several more.

1949 the synod further expanded its missionary enterprise to include a very neglected field in northern Japan on the island of Honshu. Several churches and a Bible School have been established in Japan.

The Lutheran Bible School began in 1903 in Wahpeton, North Dakota, was moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota, in 1918. In 1935 the school was moved again, this time to Fergus Falls, Minnesota, where it is located at the present time. In 1948 the name was changed to Lutheran Brethren Schools, which includes Hillcrest Lutheran Academy and the Lutheran Brethren Bible College and Seminary.

The Church of the Lutheran Brethren is divided into five districts. Its growth has been conservative rather than phenomenal. Nevertheless, the growth has continued steadily. Many new churches have been organized through the Home Mission Extension Program, and other churches of like convictions have joined the synod.

Because of its stand on church membership, its nonliturgical form of worship and its strong emphasis on evangelism, the Church of the Lutheran Brethren holds a unique position among the Lutherans in America.

HOW WE CAME TO BE

The organization of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren goes back to the turn of the century when five independent Lutheran congregations met in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in December of 1900 to form a new synod. Their purpose was not divisive since they were not splitting from any denomination. Feeling the need to join together for projects larger than one congregation could handle, they organized a new church body.

It might be asked why these congregations did not join synods already established. It is the answer to this question that supplies the reason for the existence of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren.

During the last decade of the nineteenth century and into the twentieth, there was a widespread spiritual awakening in the upper Midwest. This awakening was characterized by a deep conviction of sin and a faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Scores of people entered the kingdom of God, many of them members of Lutheran churches, the predominant religious faith of the region. Some were new immigrants seeking to find meaning for their lives and finding it through salvation in Jesus Christ.

These new converts began to live their lives with great purpose. For them church life took on new meaning. They were no longer content only with Sunday worship services, which in many rural communities were held once or twice a month. Sunday school was rarely planned with adults or new believer in mind. It was considered only for children.

The new converts began to meet for Bible studies and prayer as if drawn together by a magnet. They often met with resistance from the established churches and clergy, but this didn't stop them. When the church resisted, they met in homes because they hungered for the Word of God and the fellowship of believers. Several pastors joined these believers.

As scattered groups of believers began studying the Scriptures, many began to ask questions about how they should live their lives as Christians. Guidance was sought from the Bible. Patterns began to emerge. These new converts began to see that God's will for the believer was to live a godly life, patterned after the principles of Scripture. The Christian life was not only teachings to confess but a life to be lived for God in holiness.

Their study further led them to questions about the church. They observed that many went to Holy Communion but didn't live the Christian life each day. Many trusted in their baptism and confirmation with no seeming evidence of daily spiritual life. Many in church leadership were often the most resistant to Bible study, prayer, and the idea of conversion.

They were led to ask what the Scriptures had to say about the nature of the church. They sought answers and found them in the Bible. Their search led them to the conclusion that the local congregation was meant to be a body of believers in which the Word of God was rightly taught and the sacraments administered in accordance with Christ's command. Membership in this body was to consist only of those who by confession and daily life testified to the saving power of God.

They further concluded that since the worship of the New Testament churches was simple in form, services should be conducted in an orderly manner with the preaching and teaching of the Scriptures holding a central place in the congregation's worship.

They also felt that the local body of believers should be given to regular seasons of prayer and the study of Scripture. Gospel preaching and personal witness, too, should be stressed so that people could come under the hearing of the Word of God, be convicted of sin, and brought to assurance of faith in Jesus Christ. This was not to minimize the effective working of the sacraments. However, the mere ceremonial use of baptism and the Lord's Supper was not to be a "pillow" upon which to rest for assurance of salvation.

-David Rinden

WHY LOW CHURCH LUTHERANS?

As you first enter our church you may be surprised by what you see and hear. Why does the preacher not wear a clerical robe? Why is the ritual of the Common Service not practiced here?

Why are gospel, scripture and praise songs used together with traditional hymns? Even the furniture arrangement of the pulpit and altar may seem different. Do not all Lutheran churches have the same worship service?

These striking differences, which surprise many, are all a part of a form of worship that is often referred to as a LOW CHURCH worship. It is simple, informal worship, in which the preaching of the Word is the central feature. While it is true that the majority of Lutherans have practiced a more liturgical form of worship, low church forms date back to the Reformation (and the New Testament) and were acceptable to the early Lutheran church (Concordia Triglotta, p. 1053). Article X of the Formula of Concord is strong in its statement that the union of the church should be sought in doctrine and not in ceremonies (Triglotta p. 1057). It ends with the exhortation: