Since the completion of The Receptive Life, our little community has been a bit quiet, but behind the scenes there has been a lot of activity.
Lord willing, in July, Dr. Schulz and I would like to launch a new study rooted in The Formula of Concord (one of the confessional documents in our Lutheran Book of Concord).
The working title is … With Intrepid Hearts.
As the Lutheran Confessors declare:
… we wish to testify to those now living and those who shall come after us that this declaration … is our faith, doctrine, and confession, in which we are also willing, by God’s grace, to appear with intrepid hearts before the judgment-seat of Jesus Christ, and give an account of it.
Conclusion to the Formula of Concord
The spirit of the age is alive and active. From within and without it attacks the Word (in Scripture and incarnate, in Jesus). Its language is theological deceit. The work of its hands is social disorder and cultural decay. And its end goal is the physical destruction and spiritual death of all of the Triune God’s good creation.
With Intrepid Hearts is an in-depth study and practical application of the Formula of Concord (Epitome and Solid Declaration ) and it will help Lutheran Christians …
- firmly believe
- clearly teach
- and boldly confess
… the Truth of the Word of God (in the Scriptures and incarnate in Jesus) in an anti-Christian world.
Below is a brief historical summary of the Formula of Concord, an outline and overview of the proposed material, a video conversation with Dr. Schulz introducing the content, a sample of the study notes, and a brief description of the process and proposed schedule.
Some Historical Background
The devil, his works, and ways never change.
Whether it is in Genesis 3, the Early Church, the Reformation, or our current age … he always attacks the Word, tells the same lies, distorts the Truth, and attempts to disorder and corrupt the Beautiful, the True, and the Good of God’s creation.
In the Editor’s Introduction to the Formula of Concord, (Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions, Second Edition), Paul T. McCain writes:
Following Luther’s death in 1546, it seemed that the shining light of the Gospel would be snuffed out. Threats from without, and controversies within, endangered the Lutheran Church.
The survival of Lutheranism was a result of God’s gracious work through brave laypeople and pastors who refused to compromise the teaching of God’s Word. The story from 1546 until 1580 (when the Book of Concord was published) is one of courage and cowardice, weakness and strength. All Christians and, most important all who bear the name Lutheran need to learn about this struggle for the truth.
The controversy that raged for thirty-five years concluded with thousands of lay leaders, pastors, and theologians agreeing to live in harmony with one another on the basis of a common confession of the faith, the Lutheran Confessions, as contained in the Book of Concord of 1580.
… The Formula of Concord encourages us to stick to the patten of sound doctrine and refrain from introducing novel ways of speaking about Bible teachings. We should use the very words and phrases used in the Lutheran Confessions to explain the Bible.
… Following the publication of the Book of Concord in 1580, the Lutheran Church was blessed with a period or remarkable growth and development and a full flowering of uniquely Lutheran schools and culture … the peace and stability brought about by the Book of Concord allowed Lutherans to begin mission work in North America, Ethiopia, India, and other places.
Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions, Second Edition, Paul T. McCain p. 443-ff
Outline of the Formula of Concord
Here is an overview of the chief articles discussed in the Formula of Concord (Epitome and Solid Declaration ) …
- The Summary Content, Rule, And Norm
- I. Original Sin
- II. Free Will
- III. The Righteousness Of Faith Before God
- IV. Good Works
- V. The Law And The Gospel
- VI. The Third Use Of God’s Law
- VII. The Holy Supper Of Christ
- VIII. The Person Of Christ
- IX. The Descent Of Christ To Hell
- X. Church Practices
- XI. God’s Eternal Foreknowledge ‹Predestination› And Election
- XII. Other Factions ‹ Heresies› And Sects
Video Conversation with Dr. Schulz
Dr. Schulz and I thought it might be a good idea to record a “pre-launch” video. This would present a compelling case for why we should study the Formula of Concord and outline what value or benefit the course might bring.
Here is an overview of our conversation …
- “With Intrepid Hearts”
- Definition and origin of “intrepid” hearts
- What it means to “confess” …
- What are the Lutheran Confessions?
- The Creeds … “What do you believe?”
- Symbols, witnesses, testimonies
- Modern day lessons from the framing of the Formula of Concord
- Through conflict the Triune God forges a clear confession
- The Word of the Lord remains forever (and nisi per verbum)
- We teach nothing new
- A model for theological discussion and disputation
- We aim to teach the devil to death
- Big questions demand big answers
- Explore. Explain. Examine. Expand.
- Plan. Process. Resources.
You can access the video below … (or here)
To help you navigate the content, I have embedded some chapter headings in the video. You can find those content breaks in the top right hand of the video window.
The entire video is also searchable and a text transcript is provided. You can access that function by hovering over the “magnifying glass” in the top right corner.
PDF Draft of Study Notes
Linked for your review is the latest PDF draft of the study notes.
The notes are filled with quotations from the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions (Concordia Triglot text). Hopefully, they will give enough context to facilitate some deeper conversations.
Proposed Process and Schedule – Beginning in July
- During the week I’ll provide you with a number of “teaching” videos. I will try and keep them brief, clear, simple, and on target. This will help us read through and study each of the articles of the Formula of Concord
- Throughout the study, Dr. Schulz and I will record a number of videos that will supplement each week’s study. I’ll try and ask Dr. Schulz some really good questions and, as always, he will deliver a deeper level of understanding and application of the Scriptures, the work of Christ, and the articles of our faith.
- You are always welcome to comment in the community forum and ask your questions.
You can sign up for With Intrepid Hearts community course by going to …
When you sign up, you’ll receive the videos sent directly to your inbox and directions on how to access the private Lutheran Spirituality community. It will be hosted on a new web resource called Lutheran Spirituality (here).
Thanks again for being a part of this project. If done well, I think it will help all of us firmly believe, clearly teach, and boldly confess the Word (in Scripture and in Christ).
May the Lord favor the work of our hands.
Paul