Before He ascended into heaven, our Lord Jesus Christ commissioned His Church to make disciples of all nations
BY baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and
BY teaching them to observe all things that He has commanded (Matthew 28:19-20).
Therefore, as we strive to fulfill this "Great Commission," we, the baptized people of God gathered by His grace at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lexington, Kentucky, commit ourselves to:
- the preaching and teaching of the Law and Gospel and the administration of Baptism and the Lord's Supper for the goal of repentance and the forgiveness of sins in Jesus' name;
- the regular reception and use of the Gospel and the Word of God in all its public forms: preaching, teaching, Lord's Supper, liturgy, absolution, and the mutual sharing of the Gospel in Christian fellowship.
- ongoing catechesis (instruction) of all ages from the Holy Scriptures, the Lutheran Confessions, and the evangelical liturgy and hymnody of the Lutheran tradition;
- prayer, both corporate and private, for all needs and circumstances of people, and the encouragement of every member in the daily devotional life of study and prayer;
- building up our fellow members in love;
- promoting and guarding purity of doctrine and practice; this involves joyfully promoting Biblical Christianity/Confessional Lutheranism; this also involves combating false doctrine and practice.
- faithfully living out our calling and position in life as a member of Christ's royal priesthood seven days a week, and the intentional outreach by the congregation to the surrounding community;
- being faithful stewards of all that God has given us; this includes first-fruits, proportionate giving of offerings, both corporately and individually, as a tangible and concrete expression of our gratitude to God for His manifold gifts to us;
- the recruiting, training, and support of future pastors and teachers of the church and the support and sending of missionaries, at home and abroad, in cooperation with other congregations who share a common confession of the Christian faith with us.
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