Books & Beer: On the Spirit and the Letter at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne
The Church has always been a place where men gather not only for worship, but also for conversation, study, and the sharpening of one another in the faith. That kind of fellowship is not accidental. It grows out of a shared life under the Word of God, where doctrine is not abstract, but lived, discussed, and confessed together.
Men’s Fellowship at a Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne
At Redeemer Lutheran Church, the Books & Beer gathering is one small expression of that life. The next meeting will take place on Sunday, April 12th at 7:00 p.m., and all men of the parish, as well as friends who would benefit from and contribute to the conversation, are welcome to attend.
Studying Augustine: Law and Gospel in the Christian Life
This month’s book is On the Spirit and the Letter by Augustine of Hippo. Though written in the early centuries of the Church, Augustine’s work speaks with clarity to questions that remain very much alive today. At its center is the distinction between the Law and the Gospel—between what God commands and what God gives. Augustine wrestles with how the Law, though holy and good, cannot bring life on its own, and how true righteousness comes only through the work of the Holy Spirit. This is not merely an academic exercise. It is a question that shapes the entire Christian life. How does God make sinners righteous? What does it mean to live not under the burden of the Law alone, but in the freedom of the Gospel? These are the kinds of questions that have occupied the Church from the beginning and were later taken up with renewed clarity during the Reformation. In many ways, Augustine’s reflections anticipate the insights that would later be articulated so clearly by Luther. The struggle to understand how God’s Word works, whether it accuses or comforts, whether it commands or gives, is not new. It is part of the Church’s ongoing life of hearing, learning, and confessing.
Christian Community and Conversation in Fort Wayne
The reading itself is manageable, around 100 pages, and is available both in print and online. But the goal is not simply to complete a book. It is to gather, to listen, to speak, and to consider together what these things mean for our lives as Christian men, within our homes, our vocations, and our congregation. The setting is informal, but the conversation is not without purpose. There is value in sitting together, sharing a drink, and engaging in thoughtful discussion that is grounded in the Church’s teaching and tradition. In a time when much of life is hurried or shallow, this is a chance to slow down and give attention to something lasting. If you are able, join us on April 12th. Bring the book, bring a friend, and come ready for conversation.
