The premise on which this thesis is based is that without a foundation in Law and Gospel we are unable to live liberated, grace-filled lives that include all of Creation and each other. This foundation is not necessarily gained through theological study, but rather it is more accessible as the eschatological platform of the homiletic experience. We, the Parish Project Group and I, worked through the concept that the parish would gain infinitely more familiarity with the concept of Law and Gospel as a doctrine being held in balance, in tension with one another, as opposed to one half of the doctrine over the other. This doctrine was introduced inductively through the sermon, allowing the congregation to absorb and model this behaviour for not only themselves but the wider community as well. In addition, once the congregation became familiar with Law and Gospel preaching, the completion of the eschatological hope was to match this with Liberation Theology and thus model this balanced doctrine in the wider community. This is important because if a congregation is unable to be knowledgeable of the role of Law and Gospel within their lives; they are doomed to live by their own sense of law often without any accompaniment of gospel to leaven the burden. In this project, I have learned that the congregation is open to such preaching, especially if such is consistent throughout the preaching schedule. As a result, what we have discovered is a congregation that is willing to work together with the light and joy of Christ visible for all to see.
