Why the Church Exists: Word, Sacrament, and the Mystery of It All

Episode 003 – Why the Church Exists: Word, Sacrament, and the Mystery of It All

What if church isn’t about a great speaker, a cool vibe, or a killer music team? What if it’s about something far more ancient—and far more essential?

In this episode of Anchored in Christ, Doug and Pastor Curt explore what the Church is really built on: Word and Sacrament. These aren’t just buzzwords. They’re the foundational gifts Christ instituted to actually do something—to give faith, forgiveness, and life.

You’ll hear:

• Why the Word of God isn’t just informative—it’s performative. It actually creates faith (Romans 10).

• Why sacraments aren’t symbolic rituals, but concrete, God-given means of grace.

• How water, wine, bread, and spoken words are vehicles for divine mercy—not superstition, but Scripture.

• Why rejecting the sacraments is often less about theology and more about history—and how Protestant anti-Catholic sentiment may have thrown the baby out with the bathwater.

• Why you can’t just “stream church” or “commune with God in nature” and call it the same thing.

Doug reflects on his own journey out of evangelical confusion and into the historic, sacramental church—and why he’s still in awe that this isn’t new, but ancient.

🔑 Word of the Week: Sacrament

Pastor Curt unpacks the biblical roots of the term, especially from 1 Corinthians 4:1, where pastors are called stewards of the mysteries of God (Latin: sacramentum). These aren’t abstract ideas—they’re the tangible ways Christ delivers what He promises.

👂 Whether you’re burned out on church, confused about why it matters, or longing for something deeper than spiritualized self-help, this episode reminds you: God meets you in real, physical things. Not because He has to. But because He wants to.

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