Life in Christ: The Goal of Narrative Catechesis
Slow Walking Series
This is part 2 of my video conversation on adult faith formation with the Rev. Dr. Adam Filipek, pastor of Holy Cross and Immanuel Lutheran congregations in Lidgerwood, North Dakota. In this excerpt, Pastor Filipek references the key scriptural texts emphasizing the presence of God that serve as turning points in the biblical narrative. I quote here from Pastor Filipek’s notes sent to me before our conversation:
… catechesis is no longer simply “teaching people about Jesus,” … but rather employs a coherent, unified, grand-sweeping biblical narrative of God’s salvific work in Christ, while simultaneously situating and incorporating an individual’s life into the larger context of this ongoing salvific narrative in a way that cultivates a love of the One True God and a desire to dwell here in time: weekly in the Divine Service, and daily in our respective vocations; and there again in eternity: where we “appear with him in glory” and dwell with him forever. In other words, catechesis should “form Christians” to live their lives in Christ.
This video is about five minutes long. You must be logged into a Google account to view it.
Pastor Filipek’s book on adult faith formation, Life in Christ, will be published by CPH in June 2023. We hope to interview him again to discuss his book when it is available.
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Photo: “The King,” one of the windows at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Lidgerwood, North Dakota, juxtaposing an Old Testament with New Testament narrative to highlight the presence of God revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. Artist: Darla Ruger, http://www.sgofargo.com/index.html
