St. John’s Lutheran Church is:
A Confessional Lutheran Church
A Confessional Lutheran church holds to the Lutheran Confessions, a series of belief statements about the Christian faith that were made during the time of the German Reformation. Learn more about them below:
We believe that the Bible is:
Absolute Truth: "I am the LORD, and there is no other... I, the LORD, speak the Truth; I declare what is right." (Isaiah 45:18-19)
The Eternal Word of God: "Your Word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens." (Psalm 119:89)
The Inerrant Word of God: "…the Words of the LORD are flawless..." (Psalm 12:6)
Inspired by God, Written by Man: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
An Evangelical Lutheran church
The term evangelical comes from the Greek word meaning "Gospel," or "good news." We believe that all people have sinned, and God’s punishment for sin is damnation. But the good news is found in Jesus Christ, who perfectly kept God’s law, endured the punishments of death and hell on our behalf, and rose from death on Easter Sunday.
That Gospel message is the centerpiece of our Lutheran faith, and it is not private. We openly confess what Christ has done for us, and we seek to execute the commission Jesus himself gave to the church:
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19-20)
"This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the Truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all men..." (1 Timothy 2:3-6)
A Servant Church
By faith in Christ, we believe that our purpose in life is to glorify God in all we think, say and do. We serve God by serving others.
Therefore, we also recognize that all we have really belongs to the Lord. Compelled by the love of God and out of gratitude to him, we freely dedicate our time, talents, and treasures to the work of his kingdom.
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)
"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:10)
"I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me." (Matthew 25:40)
A Church of Close Fellowship
By our faith in Christ, we share an intimate bond with one another unlike any the world has to offer. Being in agreement with one another in what we believe is foundational to our fellowship with one another. So, we work to support, encourage, and build each other up as a community of believers.
"...if we walk in the Light, as He is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin." (1 John 1:5-7)
"I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought." (1 Corinthians 1:10)