Foolish for God
Vicar Nader Hanna

Confessing the Faith, Laying Foundations, Planting Seeds
Pastor Jim Toma

Top Ten Ways that the Law is Abused, Misused and Confused
Pastor Samuel Schuldheisz

Top Ten Ways That The Gospel Is Abused, Misused and Confused
Pastor Samuel Schuldheisz

Top 10 Signs Your Church Needs a Spiritual Bail-Out
Pastor Samuel Schuldheisz

Christ Have Mercy: How to Put Your Faith in Action
Book by Matthew Harrison, reviewed by Pastor Samuel Schuldheisz

Dirty Jobs: The Doctrine Of Vocation In Action
Pastor Samuel Schuldheisz

Looking For Love In All The Wrong Places
Pastor Samuel Schuldheisz

Top 10 Reasons to Attend a Lutheran Potluck at Redeemer
Pastor Samuel Schuldheisz

What to Expect on a Sunday Morning
Pastor Daniel Harmelink

Friends and Members
Pastor Daniel Harmelink

Getting Connected
Pastor Daniel Harmelink

How to “Shop” for a Church Home
Pastor Daniel Harmelink

How to Jumpstart Your Faith
Pastor Daniel Harmelink

How Do We Give Thanks to God for 45 Years of Grace?
Pastor Daniel Harmelink

Whose Mission Is It Anyway?
Pastor Daniel Harmelink

Throwing Ink at the Devil
Pastor Daniel Harmelink

Date of Easter
For those who wonder how the date is determined.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that, in the Lord, your labor is not in vain. (1 Co 15:58)

The context of this verse is “the resurrection of the dead.”  Paul was talking about the resurrection of the dead; that there is a resurrection from the dead, that you and I will rise from the dead, that our earthly life is not all there is, that the end of 60, 70, 90, a hundred years of your life is not the end of our existence.  Therefore, we can, and we ought to live our lives in light of eternity in light of this hope.  In other words, we have more light than the person who doesn’t have this hope of eternal life.  When you have more light, you know your bearings better, you find your way better, and you avoid falling into pits, traps and off cliffs!

On the other hand, because we see something that other people can’t see, we don’t make sense to them. Our choices, the way we live our life doesn’t make sense to the people around you.  They would think you are stupid, and that you’re wasting your life.  And they are, at least, partly right.  We’re actually commanded to waste our life.  “Whoever finds his life (said Jesus) will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matt 10:39).  That’s just a part of being in the kingdom of God, the Kingdom of opposites.  You go high by going low; you find your life by losing it!  The kingdom of God has to be the kingdom of opposites because the world is turned upside down.  So, if someone concerned about your mental health tells you “You’re wasting your life”… say:  “Thank you for your affirmation, that’s exactly what I want to do; waste my life for Jesus, and by doing that I’m finding true life… I’m finding meaning and purpose for my life.”

So, I beseech each one of us to continue to be the idiot for Jesus he or she is and to continue wasting your life for His sake and the sake of His Gospel, because this is what truly means to be alive…. And I can’t find better words to encourage you than the same verse I started with.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that, in the Lord, your labor is not in vain. (1 Co 15:58)

Redeemer Lutheran’s Mission Statement: Redeemer Lutheran is enabled by God’s grace to witness clearly to Christ and His Word through caring service.

Now in our 55^th year of serving the Lord in the community of Huntington Beach, we continue to move forward in faith under the Scriptural banner of “Clear Witness + Caring Service – Together”.

There is a rhythm to our Christian life, a divine dialogue where God speaks and we respond. Gift and Response. God gives us his forgiveness, life, and salvation in Word and Sacrament; and we respond in thanks and praise. Gift and response. This is the language of the Christian faith, as illustrated in the picture to the right.

Our life together at Redeemer Lutheran Church is no different. Gift and Response. God loves us. We love others. God gives us eternal life. We respond in our life with thanks, praise, offerings, and our lives of stewardship. God serves us, we serve our neighbor in Christian love and humility – all sustained by God’s grace in Word and Sacrament.

God has richly blessed our congregation. And, now by his grace, we look for ways to share these blessings with others in our congregation and community this coming year. In order to facilitate this, the pastor, vicar, and elders have been hard at work outlining what we’re about here at Redeemer Lutheran. And we’ve come up with the following three headings that fit our mission statement above: Confessing the Faith, Laying Foundations, Planting Seeds. After each section you will find a number of goals (short and long term) that will guide us in keeping with Christ’s call to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:16-20) and equip the saints for service in love (Ephesians 4).

Please take the time to read the following priorities and goals for the upcoming year, pray for our life together in Christ, and look for opportunities to serve our congregation and surrounding community in the coming year.

It is a joy to serve among you as pastor as we provide “Clear Witness + Caring Service – Together” for all.

Pastor Jim Toma

Confessing the Faith

Fundamentals of the Christian Faith

1. Divine Service is where Christ Serves us with his Divine gifts every Sunday. God’s Word, Baptism, the Absolution, and The Lord’s Supper are God’s gifts that make up Divine Service. This is the heart of our life in Christ. Everything we do and say at Redeemer leads us to Christ’s gifts of Word and Sacrament, or flows from it. We see this happening already in the early church in Acts 2:42. Our love and service to our neighbor begins at the altar and goes out from there. This is why receiving Jesus’ Word and Sacrament is a priority here at Redeemer.

2.  Holy Baptism. This is not only the gift of salvation we receive on the day of our Baptism it is our life long, eternal gift. We say, “I am baptized”, instead of “I was baptized”. This shapes our vocation, teaching, life together, witness, etc., in other words, everything we say and do is founded also upon Baptism.

3. Know What We Believe and Why We Believe It. Our life together within the congregation, and our outreach in the community depend upon this. We must be prepared to give a reason for the hope that is within us when asked (1 Peter 3:15). Declare and Defend classes are one of the ongoing means to achieve this goal. We will continue to offer these, as well as other opportunities in the near future. This is also the purpose of our regularly offered bible classes on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Studying God’s Word is to be a priority for all members at Redeemer.

4. What is the Church? In Luther’s Large Catechism he gives us a brief definition of the Church: Everything, therefore, in the Christian Church is ordered to the end that we shall daily obtain there nothing but the forgiveness of sin through the Word and signs, to comfort and encourage our consciences as long as we live here… As Scripture teaches us, the Church is a communion of saints, a fellowship in Christ’s body, Christ’s bride, a house of living stones, a flock, and so forth. This is our identity as members of the body of Christ. Knowing this shapes how we live and act in our daily lives inside and outside these walls. This is why gathering together as Christ’s people around Word and Sacrament is a priority at Redeemer (Hebrews 10:23-25).

5. What is the calling (i.e. vocation) of Pastor and People in the Church? The office of pastor is one of servant and messenger. Being a messenger of God’s Word is also the vocation (calling) of every Christian, wherever we live and spend time in our daily life. Clear Witness and Caring Service are to be priorities for the pastor and people at Redeemer. For more Scripture on the office of pastor see Titus 1 and 2; 1 and 2 Timothy; and Corinthians 4:1-2.

6. Our life together in the congregation is one of mutual trust. The devil loves to create chaos in the church by driving wedges between pastor and people, and people and pastor, and people and people. If you have an issue for the pastor or someone else, set up a meeting with that person and/or the pastor. Remember Matthew 18. Clear Communication is to be a priority at Redeemer.

7. How do we live a life of Good Works? (i.e. sanctification). Consider the words of Martin Luther’s explanation of the 3^rd article of the Apostles’ Creed:

I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith; in which Christian Church He forgives daily and richly all sins to me and all believers, and at the last day will raise up me and all the dead, and will give to me and to all believers in Christ everlasting life. This is most certainly true.

• • See also Ephesians 2:8-10. Good works are also a gift from God, just like our salvation. Live in your Baptism! Be who you are called to be in Christ! This means that the calling in our congregation for pastor, leaders, and all members is one of humility, service, compassion, and sowing seeds of the Gospel (See Matthew 13). Therefore, living in response to God’s love is to be a priority for each of us at Redeemer.

Confessing the Faith Goals for 2019-2020

• Continue and expand a regularly scheduled midweek service (in addition to the normal Advent and Lenten Wednesday Services). Currently, we have this service on Wednesdays evening with brief “times off after Christmas, Easter and in the Summer for respite for Pastor and those assisting. In 2019, we will be adding a short message to the Service of Light, looking toward including Holy Communion at some level of frequency.
• Declare and Defend evangelism training seminar. This Saturday morning breakfast seminar continues to serve us in equipping the saints and teaching us practical tools for speaking the Gospel to others in our daily lives. We will continue hosting this on a regular basis through 1517 and through Pastors Toma, Jasa, Pierson, and Nader.
• Host a Monthly breakfast bible class. This monthly gathering includes a variety of topics and speakers, as we equip the saints, teach the faithful, reach the lost, and care for all. In this past year we have had an excellent turn out for our guest speakers, and look for more in 2019.
• A Family Worship Night With the help of the Deaconess and the Board of Education, I would like to explore making this a regular, ongoing event for the benefit of our members, prospective members, and our neighbors. It would facilitate education and discussion on the importance of the order, meaning, and importance of the Divine Service and the parts of the liturgy we use weekly. Think of this like a liturgy 101 education evening. Date TBA.

 Laying Foundations (for the present and future)

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:1-5

In Ezra and Nehemiah, before the temple or the walls were rebuilt, the worship life of Word and Sacrament  was renewed. Secondly, the Word of God was studied more intentionally and publicly among the people. For Israel, everything flowed from God’s saving gifts and presence in the temple. Our life in Christ at Redeemer is the same. Everything we say and do flows from and leads to the place where Christ gives us his Word and Sacrament in water, word, body, and blood.

Therefore, in the coming year, Redeemer will continue to look for ways to increase our understanding, support, and participation of God’s calling to be about “Clear Witness + Caring Service – Together” in the following areas.

1. Prayer and Study of God’s Word. Attending services and bible studies is vital and indispensable to receiving God’s promises, our growth in the Christian faith, and our work in mission and outreach. Hearing God’s Word together, responding to God’s Word and Sacrament with prayer, thanks, and our offerings, praying together, kneeling at the Communion rail together, sharing joys and burdens of our neighbor together. This is the life of the congregation under the grace of God. Therefore, it will be a priority of each congregation leader to attend weekly services and studies. We continue to encourage additional opportunities for Bible studies through our Deaconess and other capable members of the congregation.
2. Understanding Scripture’s teaching on Vocation. Vocation means calling. Our first calling is faith in Christ in Baptism. Second, our calling in the Christian life takes place where we live and work: home, church, and our community. How do we serve God in each of these areas? What are we called to do in each place, context? Vocation is where each of us are evangelists, speaking the Gospel and showing compassion to those we come in contact with each day. It will be a priority to teach the Scriptural doctrine of Vocation at Redeemer so we can better understand and grow in our life of love and service.
3. Stewardship. Stewardship is an important part of our mission statement: “Clear Witness + Caring Service – Together”. Through God’s gifts of stewardship we are able to fund the work of the Gospel, provide people with opportunities to serve, and connect the needs of our congregation and community with the gifts and skills God has given each of us. The old adage of “time, treasure, and talents” is certainly true when it comes to stewardship. However, we need to see stewardship as more than those three words, and rather as a part of our life in Christ as fruit is to an apple tree. It is a matter of God’s Love, our response.
4. Plans for Ministry Staffing:
   1. Pastor Toma has been called as a sole pastor (and pastor of souls). He is walking in the path where two had walked before. If we wish to continue the wealth of worship, Bible study and fellowship opportunities, as well as the outreach emphasis we have begun, we must carefully plan our use of manpower and other resources. The process has begun by:
   2. Deaconess Pat Anderson as a part time diaconal servant. In this capacity, she will assist pastor in congregational visits, outreach (especially through her musical talents, Bible studies, and other duties as assigned (see Deaconess Job Description).
   3. Elders are encouraged to call their assigned members, stay informed of their needs, and visit them in times of need. Elders may also be trained to bring and serve Holy Communion to their members when needed and as authorized by the Pastor.
   4. Other help is still needed in order to properly care for the Redeemer flock and to continue the Gospel outreach to the community beyond our walls. Some possibilities may be: 1) Commissioning a deacon to assist with service and communion and to serve Holy Communion to shut-ins and the sick; 2) seeking a retired pastor to work part-time on member visits, outreach, and pulpit supply; 3) training and empowering Elders to do more of these tasks.

5. Mercy/care for members. (i.e. member visitation, member assistance, pastoral care, etc.). God calls us to “Caring Service” at Redeemer Lutheran. A great strength of this congregation continues to be the personal level of care that the pastor, vicar, elders, and members are able to extend to one another. Caring for our members in body and soul is to be a priority of the pastor, vicar, elders, and all members.
6. Mercy / care for community (homeless, poor, etc.). In Huntington Beach there is an urgent need for homeless care. And this is an area where Redeemer can be a salt and light in our community. We changed our policy by discontinuing the distribution of food bags according to recommendations from the HB Police Homelessness Task Force. We also changed our bus pass distribution policy so that anyone who wants a bus pass must provide documentation of appropriate use in order to receive a second buss pass, thus allowing us to better use our resources for those who are in need. We also have established a list of resource providers for homeless services.
7. Community visibility / presence is an important part of being known and active in our community. Please share any ideas or experience you may have with pastor, vicar, the elders, or the Board of Evangelism. The following list is by no means exhaustive. These are simply ideas to get us started.
   1. Presence at community events / forums.
   2. Music Academy
   3. Preschool
   4. More visible signage
   5. Free ads in newspapers and community bulletin boards and public service media.
   6. Social media
   7. Direct mailing to the neighborhood around Redeemer.
   8. Community adult ESL classes
   9. Scholastic tutoring for elementary aged children (focusing on Hispanic community).
   10. Continue use of our facility for Boy Scouts, Sewing Group, Al Anon, as possible without impeding on Redeemer programs.
8. Facilities. Facilities should support God’s work of receiving the Gospel in Word and Sacrament and responding with thanks and praise by spreading that Word in our community. In order to carry out the work that our Lord has called us to do here at Redeemer (Clear Witness + Caring Service – Together), our church and school need facilities that do not hinder, but support the work of the Gospel. This means that we are called to be good stewards of what we already have, making the most and best of what God has given us. Caring for our current facilities while at the same time planning for the future as the building fund continues to grow. When the building fund was started it was given the name “Forward in Faith”, and that’s exactly what we’re called to do when it comes to facilities here at Redeemer. Therefore, Redeemer voted this past summer to approve the building update for the preschool modular classrooms. This has now been completed!
9. Campus Safety. We have formed a committee for safety that is tasked with looking out for ways to improve our security and attempt to mitigate any risk. We need to continue to move forward with training and evaluation of our security and safety risks. Goal: First, I would like to have the board of trustees explore the feasibility of a security door/buzz lock and camera system on the church office door. Second, we should utilize the digital training resources provided through Church Mutual.

Planting Gospel Seeds: Outreach and Evangelism at Redeemer

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:10-11

1. Lead with our strengths. Redeemer is blessed with many opportunities for “Clear Witness and Caring Service” in many ways. When it comes to our ongoing work of speaking the Gospel and sowing these seeds in our community, we begin with those areas which are strengths. As I see it, here are several areas in which we have a good history and potential for continued faithfulness in making disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:16-20).
   • Christian education of all ages.
   • Music for all ages, both in the various choirs, Sunday School, and Music Academy.
   • Our preschool and the families we have the opportunity to witness to and care for.
   • Mercy work on an individual and congregational level.

Goal: Each member pray and think about where you can be involved in any of the areas listed above? Think and pray about other strengths God has given Redeemer Lutheran that can be shared with our community.

2. Pray for the Church daily. Thankfully the future of the church isn’t in our hands. It’s in Christ’s. The hands pierced for us…the future of the church isn’t found in the visions and plans of men but in the promises of God and in the plans he works through us. 1 Corinthians 12:12ff – For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.   Make the work of the Gospel here at Redeemer a part of your daily prayers.

 Why Do You proclaim the Gospel to others? This coming year, I would like each of us to think about this question: Why do you want people to come to Redeemer Lutheran? How you answer this question, is a good place to start when inviting our neighbors and friends to come and see. The deeper our faith grows in and receives God’s Word and Sacraments, the more we respond in our daily life with the fruits of faith. 

4. Vocation (i.e. our daily callings in all of life) is where each of us is in a mission field every day. You are each on the front lines daily with people of all kinds of religious beliefs. We have God’s Word of life they so desperately need. Look for opportunities in your vocation to share the gospel and show care for those in need. Look for more studies on this in the coming year.  

5. Lutheran Emergency Response Training. (LERT) is a service provided by our LCMS office of national missions. Following our initial seminar and training of this in the fall of 2016, we have since continued to work on building a small team of individuals who are prepared to help in the event of a disaster. Pastor Toma also has organized regular meetings between Redeemer and several of the Heil corridor churches and religious institutions (i.e. Mormons). We have also joined in an emergency amateur radio network, linking us to other churches and the local government emergency radio communication centers. We should explore expanding our emergency preparedness by purchasing and outfitting a LERT equipment trailer. A good place to start would be to contact La Mesa Lutheran Church where such a trailer already exists. 

6. How can we possible do all these things? It all seems overwhelming. Take heart. Be of good cheer. Do not be afraid. Our Lord has promised to be with us always. And he has left us everything we need: his Word, Baptism, Forgiveness, and Lord’s Supper. He has blessed us with the resources and people to be a blessing to others as well. Therefore, let us love others as Christ has first loved us.

 Remember the encouraging words of St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 3: I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.

Planting Seeds Goals for 2017-2018

1. Hosted the Lutheran Emergency Response Training (LERT) session – October 8^th, 2016. Ongoing.
2. Sunday Morning Bible Study on Evangelism in the Scriptures and practical application here at This will be held a minimum of two times this year, led by Pastor/others.
3. Bible studies and resources on Christian vocation and how that relates to evangelism, stewardship, and our Christian life of mercy. Ongoing (especially in relation to Campus Ministry, Ethnic Ministry and Lutherans for Life).
4. Continue to network with local Huntington Beach Homeless Committee.

Join Us For Church Services – Click Here

Sunday morning services will be familiar to some and a new experience for others.  The services revolve around the Word of God in what is heard, said and sung.

• Families are encouraged to worship together.  We do not exclude young children from worshipping with their parents in the sanctuary.
• Redeemer Lutheran provides a staffed nursery during services for children five years old and younger.
• Although pew Bibles and hymnals are provided, you are encouraged to bring your personal Bible and follow along during the readings and sermon.
• Attire should be appropriate for the Lord’s house, as you are able.  We ask men to take off caps / hats as a show of reverence for the Lord’s house.
• The Lord’s Supper is celebrated on the first and third Sundays of each month.  For more information on who is invited to receive the Lord’s Supper at Redeemer Lutheran, please go to “Join Us for Church Services.”
• Services usually include a “Children’s Message” on those Sundays the Lord’s Supper is not celebrated.  Your child is encouraged to come to the front of the sanctuary to learn more about the Biblical theme of the day.
• You are encouraged to respond to the Bible readings, prayers and special music with a hearty “Amen.”
• We ask that out of respect for the Lord’s services, cell phones be silenced and put away.
• At Redeemer Lutheran, our guests are not asked to identify themselves, stand up or wear name stickers.  (We do have a welcome gift that is available from the ushers or pastor if you wish.)
• Faith-strengthening Bible studies between the two Sunday morning services for children, youth and adults.

Please come and check out Sunday morning services and studies.  They are the indispensable core of all we’re about at Redeemer Lutheran Church and School.

It is increasingly tempting in our disposable, consumer culture to choose a church home by the same standards we use when choosing a car or carpet.  The institutions of marriage and the family, the workplace and the Church are under attack by those who would try to convince us that it’s all about our own perceived happiness, fulfillment and self-gratification.   (And if “my needs” are not being “filled” to my current liking, then I’ll just walk away and find some other “product.”)

But God in Christ through his Word and Spirit calls each of us to responsibly investigate Christian congregations and test them to see if what is believed, taught and confessed squares with what the Bible calls us to believe, teach and confess.  This is why it is indispensable to “be in the Word of God” — so we truly know the measuring stick with which everything in the Christian Church is measured and re-measured.

So how does one evaluate a congregation that calls itself “Christian”?   How do we responsibly kick the tires and make sure the air conditioner works and the car hasn’t been salvaged after a month underwater?

There’s always a better question to ask than “How did that church experience make me feel?”

There are many items that could be mentioned, but here are seven important guidelines to keep in mind.

1. WHAT ARE THE NON-NEGOTIABLES OF THE CONGREGATION – IN WORD AND DEED?

What teachings or convictions will the congregation suffer all instead of changing or sidelining (if any)?  Does the life of the congregation give credence to the Reformation rubric: “Scripture alone, grace alone, faith alone, Christ alone”?

2. IT’S MORE AND MORE ABOUT WHAT’S NOT BEING BELIEVED, TAUGHT AND CONFESSED.

The easy thing is to evaluate a congregation or a Sunday service on what is said and sung.  But these days it is often more helpful to not only ask, “What was that all about?” but also, “What was missing?”  Have the following been slowly and silently covered in bubble wrap and dragged into the back storage shed when no one was looking:

• the three universal creeds;
• the use of physical, doesn’t-change-every-week Bibles and hymnals;
• a confession of sins and absolution (that doesn’t try to be cute or creative but actually announces the clear forgiveness of sins for the sake of Christ);
• a biblical, trinitarian invocation and benediction (instead of invoking some “great and awesome architect of the universe”);
• Christ and the Word of God presented faithfully with a Law and Gospel distinction;
• a well-grounded biblical understanding and a comfort level when it comes to the identity, mission and calling of the congregation and its members

3. DOES THIS CONGREGATION UNDERSTAND HERSELF AS THE BRIDE OF CHRIST AND A MEMBER OF THE ONE HOLY, UNIVERSAL (CATHOLIC) CHRISTIAN CHURCH — OR IS IT A KINGDOM UNTO ITSELF?

The Christian Church on earth has not been called to create little, self-contained religious country clubs.  Is there something bigger than the ego of the senior pastor or the glory of the campus facilities?  What elements of Sunday services and Bible studies are held in common with the whole Christian Church on earth?  Are the kids ushered away for “Children’s Church” during services or does the congregation worship together as a church family?

4. IS THE WORD OF GOD SPOKEN AND SUNG WITHIN A PROPER LAW / GOSPEL DISTINCTION — AND ARE CHRIST AND HIS GOSPEL OF GRACE GIVEN THE LAST WORD?

One of the great graces given to the Lutheran Church is the biblical distinction when it comes to the two very different ways God’s Word comes to us and to the world.  These two distinctions are “Law” and “Gospel.”   Responsibly evaluating a Christian congregation means knowing where this distinction comes from, what it actually is and how it plays itself out in the life of the congregation.  A great place to go to get a better handle on Law and Gospel is “Handling The Word Of Truth” By John Pless.

5. FAITHFULNESS TO THE WORD OF CHRIST AND THE DESIRE TO SHARE HIS SAVING GIFTS WITH OTHERS.

There is something more important that being “relevant” or “creative” or “dynamic” or “on the cutting edge.”   Wherever there is the desire to be faithful to the one authority in the congregation (the Bible) there will also be the desire to share undeserved gifts of salvation with other undeserving family members, work associates, friends and neighbors.  Congregations are, at the end of the day, called to (paraphrasing one Lutheran pastor) get the Word of Christ straight and get the Word of Christ out.

6. CHECK OUT WHAT’S GRACING THE SHELVES OF THE CHURCH BOOKSTORE AND THE PASTOR’S STUDY.

Is there more than drippy, subjective devotionals about the inner life of the Christian?  Are there resources for those who have just received Christ by faith and others who are looking for a little theological meat?

7. IS HOLY BAPTISM REGULARLY UPHELD AS THE FOUNDATION AND CORNERSTONE OF OUR IDENTITY AS CHRISTIANS?

Do Bible studies and services and sermons often remind the faithful that we are who we are before God through the eternal promises given by Christ in, with and under the water of the baptismal font?  (Does the baptismal font have a prominent place in the sanctuary or is it wheeled off into the closet whenever it isn’t needed?)