With Intrepid Hearts: A Video/Digital Study of the Formula of Concord

By Paul Arndt missionary at large, With Intrepid Hearts

With Intrepid Hearts is an in-depth study and practical application of the Formula of Concord (the ​Epitome ​and ​ Solid Declaration) and it will help Lutheran Christians …

  • firmly believe
  • clearly teach
  • and boldly confess

… the Truth of the Word of God (in the Scriptures and incarnate in Jesus) in an anti-Christian world.

As the Lutheran Confessors declare:

… we wish to testify to those now living and those who shall come after us that this declaration … is our faith, doctrine, and confession, in which we are also willing, by God’s grace, to appear with intrepid hearts before the judgment-seat of Jesus Christ, and give an account of it.

Conclusion to the Formula of Concord

Below is a brief historical summary of the ​Formula of Concord​, an outline and overview of the proposed material, a sample of the study notes, and a brief description of the process and proposed schedule. 

Some Historical Background

The devil, his works, and ways never change. 

Whether it is in Genesis 3, the Early Church, the Reformation, or our current age … he always attacks the Word, tells the same lies, distorts the Truth, and attempts to disorder and corrupt the Beautiful, the True, and the Good of God’s creation.

In the Editor’s Introduction to the Formula of Concord, (Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions, Second Edition), Paul T. McCain writes:

Following Luther’s death in 1546, it seemed that the shining light of the Gospel would be snuffed out. Threats from without, and controversies within, endangered the Lutheran Church. 

The survival of Lutheranism was a result of God’s gracious work through brave laypeople and pastors who refused to compromise the teaching of God’s Word. The story from 1546 until 1580 (when the Book of Concord was published) is one of courage and cowardice, weakness and strength. All Christians and, most important all who bear the name Lutheran need to learn about this struggle for the truth. 

The controversy that raged for thirty-five years concluded with thousands of lay leaders, pastors, and theologians agreeing to live in harmony with one another on the basis of a common confession of the faith, the Lutheran Confessions, as contained in the Book of Concord of 1580.

 … The Formula of Concord encourages us to stick to the patten of sound doctrine and refrain from introducing novel ways of speaking about Bible teachings. We should use the very words and phrases used in the Lutheran Confessions to explain the Bible.

… Following the publication of the Book of Concord in 1580, the Lutheran Church was blessed with a period or remarkable growth and development and a full flowering of uniquely Lutheran schools and culture … the peace and stability brought about by the Book of Concord allowed Lutherans to begin mission work in North America, Ethiopia, India, and other places. 

Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions, Second Edition, Paul T. McCain p. 443-ff 

Outline of the Formula of Concord

Here is an overview of the chief articles discussed in the Formula of Concord (​Epitome ​and ​ Solid Declaration ​) …

  • The Summary Content, Rule, And Norm
  •  I. Original Sin 
  • II. Free Will 
  • III. The Righteousness Of Faith Before God 
  • IV. Good Works 
  • V. The Law And The Gospel 
  • VI. The Third Use Of God’s Law 
  • VII. The Holy Supper Of Christ 
  • VIII. The Person Of Christ 
  • IX. The Descent Of Christ To Hell 
  • X. Church Practices 
  • XI. God’s Eternal Foreknowledge ‹Predestination› And Election 
  • XII. Other Factions ‹ Heresies› And Sects

PDF Draft of Study Notes and List of OnePage Summaries

Linked for your review is the latest PDF draft of the study notes and OnePage video summaries. 

The notes are filled with quotations from the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions (Concordia Triglot text). Hopefully, they will give enough context to facilitate some deeper conversations.

Proposed Process and Schedule

  • During the week I’ll provide you with a number of “teaching” videos. I will try and keep them brief, clear, simple, and on target. This will help us read through and study each of the articles of the Formula of Concord
  • Throughout the study, Dr. Schulz (the Lutheran Philosopher) and I will record a number of videos that will supplement each week’s study. I’ll try and ask Dr. Schulz some really good questions and, as always, he will deliver a deeper level of understanding and application of the Scriptures, the work of Christ, and the articles of our faith.
  • When you sign up, you’ll receive the videos sent directly to your inbox and directions on how to access the private Lutheran Spirituality community. You are always welcome to comment in the community forum and ask your questions.

You can sign up for With Intrepid Hearts community course by going to …

With Intrepid Hearts (sign up)

Blessings and all gifts needed to us from the Triune God as we “hold to the pattern of sound words” (2 Timothy 1) and “contend for the faith once delivered to the saints” (Jude 3-4).

We stand with intrepid hearts. Come what may, we do belong to Jesus.

Paul

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P.S. If you want to reference all of the videos and courses you can access them here …

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