Confessional? by Vicar Jacob Garrison

If you go to our website, goodshepherdlincoln.org, the first thing you will read underneath our name is “A Confessional LCMS Congregation in Lincoln, NE.” Maybe you’ve wondered about that word “confessional” before. Usually when people see “confessional” associated with a Lutheran church they think the congregation has a more traditional worship style. Most of the time they would be right, but that’s only accidental to the actual definition of the term. So, what does “confessional” mean and why is it the first descriptor our congregation uses in describing itself?

The word “confession” has various uses within the Church. If someone was to say, “I went to confession,” we would know that they were referring to confessing their sins. But when we use the word “confessional,” it is not referring to our confession of sin, but instead to our confession of faith found in the Lutheran Confessions. The Lutheran Confessions are documents found in the Book of Concord: the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creed, the Augsburg Confession, the Apology to the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles, the Tractate, Luther’s Small and Large Catechisms, and the Formula of Concord. There is also an appendix to the Book of Concord which includes recommended quotations from early Church Fathers. “Confessional” indicates that we at Good Shepherd believe and teach according to what is written in these documents, and that we are willing to suffer all things, even die, before denying what they say because they accurately summarize what God Himself teaches in the Bible. All of the documents point towards man-kind’s justification by faith in Jesus Christ.

Confessional is a good first descriptor for our congregation for two reasons. First of all, other people around the world who hold to the Lutheran Confessions will immediately know that we are a trustworthy congregation. If you haven’t noticed, we immediately at-tract Lutherans who are new to the area, including Concordia students, for this reason. Second, even for people who have no idea what the Lutheran Confessions are, it asserts that we believe in the clarity and sufficiency of the Scriptures as the absolute truth regard-ing the Christian faith while distinguishing ourselves from the Christian milieu around us. Many churches of different denominations advertise themselves as “Bible believing,” which is nice, but when it comes to what their members actually believe, there is a lot of uncertainty and variation because they refuse to use confessions. We believe the Bible is so clear that we are able as Christians to say together what the Bible teaches in the form of confessions.

The Christian Church has been confessional since it’s conception. God and His Word do not change, so we should not change what we say about who He is. Good Shepherd confesses the one true faith with all the saints past, present, and — Lord willing — future.

VICAR FAREWELL POTLUCK
Join us as we bid farewell to Vicar Garrison on Sun-day, August 11 with a potluck meal in the fellow-ship hall following the second service (approximately 12pm). Those with the last name beginning with A-K please bring a main dish and a dessert. Those with the last name beginning with L-Z please bring a main dish and a side dish. Contact Sarah Kaldahl to help with set up, trays, drinks, and clean up.

CONCORDIA BIBLE SALE
Concordia Publishing House is having a 25% off sale on Bibles. This sale includes many of the versions (thumb-indexed, hardback, leather covered, and large-print) of the Lutheran Study Bible. If you have been thinking about purchasing a new Bi-ble, now is the time! You may access the information and order at cph.org or call (1-800-325-3040 to place your order.

RED CROSS BLOOD DRAW
The next opportunity to donate blood at Good Shepherd will be on Friday, August 16th from 8 am—2 pm. To make an appointment, visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter: GoodShepherdLutheranLNK. For more information, please check the clipboard at the Information Center.

INSTALLATION
Seminarian Trevor Flanick will be installed as Good Shepherd’s vicar on Sunday, August 18th. We will also be welcoming him and his family at the church picnic sometime in September. Details are pending.

PUZZLE IN THE FELLOWSHIP HALL
The large puzzle on an easel in the fellowship hall will soon be used to measure our progress in paying down the mortgage principal. We are currently in the process of figuring out just how far we have come. Watch for visible evidence of our progress!

CHURCH COUNCIL MINUTES
The church council minutes for June 2024 have been approved at the July meeting and are available on the bulletin board in the fellowship hall and on the table in the narthex where you pick up your bulletin for worship services. Every month the minutes from the previous month will be made available. If you have any questions, please contact Sue Stolcpart or Joe Ehrich.