The glorious Easter Gospel is to be preached throughout the world and applied to folks in the local congregation so they have faith in Christ. As the Lutheran Confessions state, “that we may obtain this faith, the office of teaching the Gospel and administering the sacraments was instituted. For through the Word and sacraments, as through instruments, the Holy Spirit is given, who works faith where and when it pleases God in those who hear the Gospel. That is, God, not because of our own merits, but for Christ’s sake, justifies those who believe that they are received into favor for Christ’s sake. (AC V). Faith comes by hearing Paul says and then asks the question, how can they hear unless someone preaches? That is once again becoming an important question. As calls were extended at the recent meetings of our Council of Presidents it became apparent that there were many more calls than there were seminary graduates to fill them. We pray that God would send laborers into the harvest fields but fewer than ever are responding to the call.
