From Johann Gerhard S Postilla (1613)

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, Our Position in Doctrine and Practice (1893) and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. by Rev. Franz Pieper (synodical essay)

So we first of all hold firmly that discipline in doctrine and life should be exercised in the church. Of course this discipline is not a part of the nature of the church. Even there where discipline in doctrine so collapses, so that everyone can pretty much teach and believe as he likes—even there, there are still true children of God, for even there there are still substantial pieces of the Word of God taught. Also there, where discipline in living is completely missing, where in cases of sin no brother with heartfelt mercy accepts the other with brotherly censure and also the pastor fails to fulfill his duty as the carer for souls [Tr. note: Seelsorgerpflicht— the term Seelsorger almost stands on its own within Lutheran theological terminology, even among English-speakers, but a layman reading this may not be familiar with the term, so it is translated.; also, even a pastor familiar with the term Seelsorger may well not know the word Pflicht—duty, or obligation], also there, God knows to keep individual souls on the way of life and to lead them back onto it, when God’s Word itself has not entirely disappeared from the plan. 22 May Anno Domini 2005 But where things are going on like that, the church does not have the proper outward form as God wants it. According to The Holy Trinity God’s clearly revealed will in the Holy Scripture, the church should have such an outward form, that in it only God’s pure Our Redeemer Lutheran Church Word is proclaimed and seen in a way becoming for the Christian. 407 South Hayes And this outward condition of the church should, when Emmett, Idaho 83617 endangered, be preserved through application of discipline in doctrine and living. Church: 208-365-5231 Pastor Michael L. McCoy 938 W. Broadway The artwork is by Sharon Geiser. Permission to use this copyrighted graphic is Meridian, Idaho 83642 limited to congregational use. Ken Howes has translated the Franz Pieper essay and Home: 208-884-2658 has granted permission for its use here. For a complete, free copy of the essay and/or for a modestly priced audio recording on CD, see the website below. Cell: 208-369-0142 Website: www.scholia.net This bulletin cover provided by www.scholia.net and is made available without cost. Email: [email protected] The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, Our Position in Doctrine and Practice (1893) and the love of God, by Rev. Franz Pieper (synodical essay) and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. So we first of all hold firmly that discipline in doctrine and life should be exercised in the church. Of course this discipline is not a part of the nature of the church. Even there where discipline in doctrine so collapses, so that everyone can pretty much teach and believe as he likes—even there, there are still true children of God, for even there there are still substantial pieces of the Word of God taught. Also there, where discipline in living is completely missing, where in cases of sin no brother with heartfelt mercy accepts the other with brotherly censure and also the pastor fails to fulfill his duty as the carer for souls [Tr. note: Seelsorgerpflicht—the term Seelsorger almost stands on its own within Lutheran theological terminology, even among English-speakers, but a layman reading this may not be familiar with the term, so it is translated.; also, even a pastor familiar with the term Seelsorger may well not know the word Pflicht—duty, or obligation], also there, God knows to keep individual souls on the way of life and to lead them back onto it, when God’s Word itself has not entirely disappeared from the plan.

But where things are going on like that, the church does not have the proper outward form as God wants it. According to God’s clearly revealed will in the Holy Scripture, the church should have such an outward form, that in it only God’s pure Word is proclaimed and seen in a way becoming for the Christian. And this 22 May Anno Domini 2005 outward condition of the church should, when endangered, be preserved through application of discipline in doctrine and living. The Holy Trinity

To place the graphic on this page: Copy the graphic on the previous page. Click on the open space above and a graphic box should appear. Paste the graphic. The artwork is by Sharon Geiser. Permission to use this copyrighted graphic is limited to congregational use. Ken Howes has translated the Franz Pieper essay and has granted permission for its use here. For a Change this frame and the box above by clicking the body of the text and complete, free copy of the essay and/or for a modestly priced audio recording on CD see the website below. adding the particulars. (See the previous page for an example.) This bulletin cover provided by www.scholia.net and is made available without cost.