Scholarly Resources from Concordia Seminary

Plenary Presentation: What Happens in the City, Doesn’t Stay in the City

Cities matter. As the city goes, so goes the entire culture of the arts, scholarship, communication, philosophy and commerce. Dense and diverse, cities foster creativity and innovation. They also promote the lively exchange of ideas and continue to be mainstays of economic, political and social influence around the globe. Consequently, cities matter (even for people who might not consider themselves in an urban context). To be sure, there are problems in the city and these problems often spill over into surrounding regions. Yet, the prominence of cities means that faithful Gospel proclamation in the city will spread outward to people all over the world. In Acts 1:8, Jesus leaves the disciples with these words: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Taking our cue from the Book of Acts, Christians have the opportunity – led by the Spirit – to proclaim the Gospel, advocate for justice and instill hope for generations of people living in and around cities. In doing so, Christians point to God’s work of redemption, reconciliation and restoration in Jesus.