The Christian FAith
As Lutherans, we believe, teach, and confess that God’s Word in Scripture is the only source and norm for Christian teaching. From God’s Word we learn:
As Lutherans, we summarize these teachings in the Book of Concord, to which we hold firmly because it is a true exposition of Scripture. The Small Catechism is the most well-known document in the Book of Concord and gives a simple introduction to what Lutherans believe.
For further information about our teaching and practice, please check out the "What About?" series here. If you would like to study the Book of Concord, including the Small Catechism, you can find the text here.
- Each and every person is a sinner, dead in trespasses and sins, separated from God and deserving only eternal punishment from him (Romans 3:20; Ephesians 2:1).
- No one can earn salvation by good works (Galatians 2:16-21).
- While we were still sinners, God sent Jesus, true God and true man, to fulfill the Law for us, die in our place for our forgiveness, and rise on Easter (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
- God gives us salvation by grace alone through faith alone on account of Christ alone (Ephesians 2:4-10).
- God gives his life, forgiveness, and salvation today through his Word (Romans 10:17), Baptism (Matthew 28:18-20), and Christ’s true body and blood fed into our mouths in the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
As Lutherans, we summarize these teachings in the Book of Concord, to which we hold firmly because it is a true exposition of Scripture. The Small Catechism is the most well-known document in the Book of Concord and gives a simple introduction to what Lutherans believe.
For further information about our teaching and practice, please check out the "What About?" series here. If you would like to study the Book of Concord, including the Small Catechism, you can find the text here.
The Divine service
The Divine Service is the most important thing that happens every week at Grace. In the Divine Service, Jesus is the One who serves us (Matthew 20:28). Through confession and absolution (John 20:22-23), through the reading and preaching of His Word (Isaiah 55:10-11), and through his true body and blood given in the Sacrament of Holy Communion (Matthew 26:26-28; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29), Christ himself forgives our sins.
Using the orders found in Lutheran Service Book, the Divine Service follows the historic liturgy of the universal Christian Church. This liturgy dates back to the earliest Christians and pulls its words directly from Scripture. Everything that happens in the Divine Service is intended to point us to Christ crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). The hymns we sing help us to praise God as we use words from Scripture to repeat back to Him what He has done for us in Christ (Colossians 3:16). Through the Divine Service, God builds us up into the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). Here we enjoy the greatest fellowship with each other, and we leave to serve our neighbors at every opportunity (Colossians 3:17).
Using the orders found in Lutheran Service Book, the Divine Service follows the historic liturgy of the universal Christian Church. This liturgy dates back to the earliest Christians and pulls its words directly from Scripture. Everything that happens in the Divine Service is intended to point us to Christ crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). The hymns we sing help us to praise God as we use words from Scripture to repeat back to Him what He has done for us in Christ (Colossians 3:16). Through the Divine Service, God builds us up into the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). Here we enjoy the greatest fellowship with each other, and we leave to serve our neighbors at every opportunity (Colossians 3:17).
