# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1953_S335
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

“{NTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS 335

{he Lord always bestows His gifts on the Church in a
generous and abundant measure. He gives to the Church
pastors after His own heart who preach God’s Word and
er the Sacraments in the name of the Christian congre-
‘Ie also calls and equips other workers for their respective
érse ministrations of love in every generation.

‘e God’s Word never returns unto Him void, but always
ry accomplishes that which He pleases and prospers in
the thing whereto He sends it. Through the Gospel
ord and Sacraments He is at work in and through the
% call men from sin and death and to make them heirs
ing life. Those who believe in Him enjoy fellowship with
er, are made laborers together with God in the work of
gdom, and by their faith triumph over the world. “For
yer is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the
at overcometh the world, even our faith,” 1 John 5:4.

Mvaithew 28:18-20; John 14:26; 16: 23-24.
ohn 17; Ephesians 5: 25-27; 2:14-22; 2 Timothy 1:9; Romans

cts 1:8; Ephesians 4:7-16; Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians
» Acts 6:1-7; John 13:12-1.

siah 55:10-11; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; John 5:24; 8:31-32; Acts 2:
Galatians 2:20; 1 Corinthians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 6:1.

iii. THE CHURCH AND ITS MINISTRATIONS

All members of the Church are royal priests. In call-
ing a pastor to preach the Word of God and to admin-
ister the Sacraments on their behalf, the members of
ongregation exercise their royal priesthood and by no
inquish it. The privilege and the responsibility of min-
the saints of God remain the privilege and responsibility
embers of the Church.

land From the exercise of this ministry no one is
tivity exempt. Every Christian, man or woman, old or
young, rich or poor, skilled or unskilled, learned
ned, as God gives power and opportunity, is to edify the
God; to feed the lambs and the sheep; to instruct and
e.others; to visit the sick and help the needy and dis-
seek, admonish, rebuke, forgive, and restore the erring;
and remove false teaching; to endeavor to keep the unity
it.in the bond of peace; to speak in defense of all the
g ready to give an answer to anyone concerning the
is in them; and to support with prayers and gifts the
of this ministry in areas and spheres which he himself