October 2026

Each October, Lutherans remember October 31, 1517, when Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses helped ignite what became the Protestant Reformation. But the Reformation is more than an event we remember. It reminds us that Christ is continually calling His Church back to the heart of the Gospel.

The Reformation was not simply about changing the Church. Luther wanted the Church to return to its foundation: Jesus Christ and the Word of God. The great rediscovery of the Reformation was that sinners are justified by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ—not because we have earned God’s favor, but because Christ has accomplished our salvation through His death and resurrection.

That message never grows old.

Yet churches can become comfortable. We can begin doing things simply because “that is the way we have always done them.” Traditions can be wonderful gifts, but every congregation must occasionally ask: Are we faithfully carrying out the mission Christ has given us?

The Reformation reminds us that the Church is always in need of renewal—not because the Gospel changes, but because we constantly need to be called back to the Gospel.

That is why I am excited about the North American Lutheran Church’s Renew process. Renew is a free resource designed to help congregations prayerfully examine their ministry and discern where God may be leading them next.

Renew encourages congregations to ask important questions:

What is God already doing among us?

What are our strengths?

Where do we need renewal?

Whom is God calling us to reach?

What is our next faithful step?

Through prayer, Scripture, conversation, a congregational health survey, and practical planning tools, Renew helps churches move from simply maintaining ministry toward intentionally participating in Christ’s mission. The NALC describes the process as appropriate for congregations that are thriving, struggling, or simply wondering, “Where do we go from here?”

Perhaps that is one of the best ways we can honor the Reformation.

We do not honor Luther merely by remembering what happened five centuries ago. We honor the Reformation when we continually return to Scripture, proclaim Christ crucified and risen, and ask how the Holy Spirit is calling us to faithfully serve our neighbors today.

Our challenge is simple:

Keep the Gospel at the center.

Hold firmly to God’s Word.

Be willing to examine what we are doing.

And never become afraid of faithful renewal.

The Gospel does not need to be reinvented. But the Church continually needs to be renewed by it.

This Reformation season, may our prayer be:

“Lord Jesus, reform and renew Your Church—beginning with us.”

Pastor/Dean Doug Hedman (East Iowa Mission District)

September 2026

What Is the Church?

When many people hear the word “church,” they immediately think of a building. They picture a sanctuary, steeple, stained-glass windows, or a place where worship services are held. While church buildings are important places where Christians gather, the Lutheran understanding of the Church goes much deeper.

According to Scripture, the Church is first and foremost the people of God. The Church is the community of believers who have been called together by the Holy Spirit through the Gospel. As we confess in the Apostles’ Creed, we believe in “the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints.” The Church is not defined by bricks and mortar but by people united in faith in Jesus Christ.

Martin Luther described the Church as the assembly of believers among whom the Gospel is purely preached and the Sacraments are rightly administered. Wherever God’s Word is proclaimed and the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion are celebrated according to Christ’s institution, there the Church is present.

This understanding reminds us that the Church is God’s creation, not ours. We do not build the Church through our own efforts. Rather, God gathers His people through His Word. Through the preaching of the Gospel, the Holy Spirit creates faith. Through Baptism, God adopts us as His children. Through Holy Communion, He strengthens us in faith and fellowship.

The Church is often described in Scripture as the Body of Christ. Christ Himself is the head of the Church, and every believer is a member of that body. Just as a human body has many parts with different functions, God gives various gifts and callings to His people for the building up of the Church and the service of the world.

The Church is also both visible and invisible. The visible church consists of congregations and Christian communities that gather for worship and ministry. The invisible Church is known perfectly only to God and includes all true believers in Christ throughout the world and throughout history.

As members of Christ’s Church, we are called to gather regularly for worship, hear God’s Word, receive His Sacraments, pray for one another, serve our neighbors, and share the Gospel. The Church is not merely a place we attend; it is a community to which we belong through faith in Christ.

In a culture that often emphasizes individualism, the Church reminds us that we were created for fellowship with God and one another. Together we worship, learn, encourage, forgive, and grow as disciples of Jesus.

The Church’s mission remains the same as it has been from the beginning: to proclaim Christ crucified and risen for the salvation of the world. Everything the Church does flows from this Gospel message.

As we gather week after week, may we remember that we are not simply entering a building. We are joining the people of God, gathered by His grace, nourished by His Word, strengthened by His Sacraments, and sent into the world to bear witness to Jesus Christ.

“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20)

In Christ, Pastor Doug