LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2019, Page 91

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CONVENTION ESSAYS

Joy:fully Lutheran: Rejoice, Pray, Give Thanks
LCMS First Vice-President Rev. Dr. Herbert C. Mueller Jr.
67th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod • July 21, 2019
Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ!
“Pastor,” she said, “we don’t want Lutheran theology!
We want biblical theology.” I was brought up short. I
had been showing my Bible class the Lutheran
approach to the book of Revelation. So I told them the
reason I am Lutheran is simply that Lutheran theology
IS biblical theology. 1 We are “Joy:Fully Lutheran”
because our teaching from the Bible brings the greatest
possible comfort for hurting and broken people. I was
new in that parish, so we spent the next year or more in
class exploring how every aspect of Lutheran biblical
theology is laser-focused on bringing maximum comfort
to dying sinners, that is, hurting and broken people,
one and all. “With joy,” as Isaiah said, we were
“drawing water from the wells of salvation” (Is. 12:3).
Clear Lutheran theology points unerringly to Christ. In
the introduction to the Convention Bible Study, Pastor
Tim Pauls writes, “Joyfully Lutheran’ makes … sense …
because joy is found where Christ is found, and Lutheran
theology is all about being found in Christ, with
Christ.”2
Christ for you is the reason St. Paul could write our
convention theme verse: “Rejoice always!

4. Joy in Prayer, Even in Suffering
5. Christ for You at the Altar
6. Joy Even Through Our Tears
CHRIST FOR YOU AT THE FONT
Joy begins with Christ for you at the font. Baptism, in the
Scriptures, is God’s work, God’s doing. The God of the
universe puts His name on you, claims you for His own,
unites you with His Son in His death and resurrection.
There is nothing in all the universe more sure and
certain than the name of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit, into whom we are baptized. God
insists on having YOU! Years ago I conducted a graveside service for a little girl, Melanie was her name, who
lived 30 minutes after birth. But she was baptized! God
Himself had placed His own triune name on her. With
her parents, through our tears, we could revel in Christ
for us, Christ for their little girl. So also you, all who are
baptized, be comforted! Know that the triune God will
never abandon His name. We may run from Him, but
He always remains true to His promise. God Himself
has buried us with Christ “in baptism in which we were
also raised with Him through faith in the powerful

Pray without ceasing! Give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1
Thess. 5:16–18). Christ crucified for your sins and raised
again for your justification, 3 is the core of our theology,
the center around which everything turns.
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Christ for you brings joy.
Christ for you enables us to pray.
Christ for you is the reason we give thanks in all
circumstances.
Christ for us is why we are “Joy:Fully Lutheran.”

So explore with me… Christ for you and for all
1. First, Christ for you at the Font
2. Christ for Sinners Brings Joy in Forgiveness
3. [Christ for you brings] Joy in Vocation and
Witness
Convention Essays

PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2019 (67TH) LCMS CONVENTION | 91