We Believe...

Sola Scriptura (By Scripture Alone) We believe that the Bible (The Old and New Testaments)are the inspired Word of God and the ultimate source of authority for the Christian faith and practice.

"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right." ~2 Timothy 3:16, NLT

The Gospel

Forgiveness of sins and the gift of salvation are available to all people. The Gospel is the focus of all we do here at St. Luke, when we preach, teach, care for one another, fellowship, meet, and worship because of the Gospel. We believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, and that is Good News for all. God saved us by His grace when we believed. And we can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. The Gospel binds us in commitment and service. It has been our strength in the past and will most definitely be our hope for the future.

See John 3:16; Romans 1:16-17; Ephesians 2:8

The Bible

We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. It is the story of God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and what he has done for us. Therefore, we affirm that the Bible is the sole authority for Christian faith and practice.

See 2 Timothy 3:16, Romans 15:4, 2 Peter 1:21

Salvation

We believe that all of us are sinners, we cannot save ourselves, and we need Jesus to save and rescue us from sin and death. Therefore, salvation is not something we earn but a gift from God, received when, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we place our personal faith in Jesus Christ. We affirm salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone, apart from our deeds.

See Ephesians 2:8-9, John 1:12, 1 Peter 2:24, Romans 3:23-26

Worship

While a personal relationship with Christ is of the utmost importance, we believe God's command is clear. We are to meet together, celebrate His name, be empowered by His Word, build each other up, partake of the sacraments, and remember and celebrate His day. We value worship because in worship we give thanks to God for all He has given, is giving, and will give us. Some people love the rich, historic sounds of traditional liturgy with hymns and organ. Others connect deeply through contemporary songs and modern expressions of praise. It can sometimes feel like two different musical languages, but at their core, they tell the same story, and both praise the Lord.

See Psalm 95:6, Ephesians 4:13-14, Ephesians 5:16, Hebrews 10:25

People

Growth

We believe in the worth and value of all people. We are all created in God’s image, and every human, no matter your race, background, financial status, or even the sin you struggle with, you matter to God. Your worth is not dependent on your accomplishments, but on God’s love. You matter to God so much that Jesus, God the Son, willingly gave up His life for you. The amazing news of the gospel is that everyone can become a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ. We affirm and acknowledge the dignity of every human being from conception to death.

See Genesis 1:27, Psalm 139:13, Matthew 6:26, Luke 12:27, Romans 5:8

Growing in our walk with the Lord is less like flipping on a light switch and more like watching a garden slowly come alive. Seeds of faith are planted through God’s Word, watered through prayer, and warmed by the quiet work of the Holy Spirit. Some days the growth feels obvious, full of green shoots and blossoms. Other days it seems hidden beneath the soil. Yet the Lord is faithful in both seasons. As we return again and again to Scripture, gather with fellow believers, receive His forgiveness, and place our lives in His hands, He patiently shapes our hearts. Step by step, sometimes slowly and sometimes in surprising leaps, He draws us closer to Himself, teaching us to trust Him more deeply and to reflect His love more clearly in the world around us

See Hebrews 6:1, 2 Peter 3:18

Baptism

We believe that by the power of God's Word, we are joined with Christ in the waters of baptism. Through baptism, God gives the gift of new life. We affirm the baptism of all people, including children and infants. If you have any questions please contact Pastor Phil.

See Matthew 28:19, Romans 6:3-4, Colossians 2:12

Communion

Communion Patrice

The Lord's Supper is for followers of Jesus. When we eat the bread and take the cup, we proclaim Jesus' death until He comes again. We take communion in remembrance of Him and what Jesus did for us on the cross.

We believe that Christ is truly present in the bread and the cup. We believe that we are eating bread and drinking from the cup, but that the elements do not change into His body and His blood. Still, we believe that Christ is present. He is in, with, and under this sacrament. He truly comes to us with His grace in this meal.

See Matthew 26:26-29, Luke 22:19-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-32

You don’t have to be a member of St. Luke Lutheran Church to share in the Lord’s Supper with us today, but we do ask this:

1. Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?

2. Do you believe that His body and blood are truly present in, with, and under the bread and the cup? This mystery builds your faith through the forgiveness offered in Christ?

3. Do you acknowledge with those whom you take communion with today that you are of one faith, the Christian faith?

If you can say yes, then you are welcome to the Lord’s table today.

It is our practice at St. Luke to instruct our children before they receive the Lord’s Supper. This instruction begins in grade six, and confirmation takes place at the end of seventh grade. To avoid confusion, we ask that guests and visitors with children respect this practice. We invite children and those not receiving communion to come forward for a blessing during the communion service.

Marriage

We believe that the scriptures teaches that marriage is the union of one man and one woman, united together as long as they live. If you have questions about this, please talk to the pastor.

See Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:15, Ephesians 5:31

For more information visit https://www.lcms.org/social-issues/marriage

Children and Youth

Children are a blessing from God. Jesus welcomed children, and so do we. We allow kids to be kids here at St. Luke and proclaim that they are not the future of the church, but a valuable part of it. Kids need the love and forgiveness of Jesus just as much as everyone else.

See Psalm 51:5, Psalm 127:3, Matthew 19:14

Service

We believe that God has given followers of Jesus gifts and talents to serve Him and love others. As the church, we want to encourage you in the discovery of your spiritual gifts and to provide an environment where you can serve using the gifts and talents you have.

See: Ephesians 4; Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12

These are brief descriptions and scriptural references for a variety

of theological issues that provide the framework for our preaching, teaching and leadership at St. Luke Lutheran Church.

For more information please speak with Pastor Phil.

In all of this, we affirm and identify with the Lutheran confessions and teachings as part of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

We affirm the centrality of grace alone, faith alone, and the Word alone.