Brenner presents first convention essay
Filed Under: christs love our calling, Convention, essay
Synod convention tradition calls for one or more theological essays to be presented to convention delegates. Rev. John Brenner, a professor at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., presented the first essay of this convention on Tuesday morning. President Mark Schroeder asked Brenner to expand on the first half of the convention theme, "Christ's Love: Our Calling."
Brenner described for delegates how Christ demonstrated his love for us by giving us the means of grace to create and sustain our faith. Brenner emphasized throughout that "Our God accomplishes salvation for us from beginning to end." This creates a tension, though, that Brenner described in his essay: "In carrying out the work God has given the church to do, we will want to avoid two extremes: 1) doubt in the power of God that leads to substituting personality or human methods or efforts for the means of grace; 2) a careless attitude that fails to treasure the means of grace in our own lives or that leads to laziness, lack of effort, lack of preparation, lack of planning, or lack of interest in proclaiming the gospel to others."
Brenner spent the first half of this year researching and developing this essay. He says, "As Lutherans, we have a unique understanding of scriptural truth. I would like delegates to come away treasuring what God has given us, treasuring the means of grace in their own lives."
Rev. Jon Schroeder, pastor at Faith, Sharpsburg, Ga., will present Wednesday's essay, which is titled, "Our Calling."
