God: Lutherans believe in the Trinity, that there is one God in the three persons of the Creator, the Redeemer, and the Sanctifier (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)

Jesus Christ: Jesus is God who came in the form of a baby at Bethlehem and lived and walked among us. The death of Jesus Christ paid the price of sin for all people.

Sin: Sin is our condition as human beings, since the fall in the Garden of Eden. It is our failure to live as God would have us live. We sin through our thoughts, words, and actions.

Justification: This is the prominent position of the Lutheran church, stating that we are saved only through the grace of God in Jesus Christ, and not of our own merit.

Repentance: We receive this free gift of grace through our sincere regretting of our sinful nature, and asking God to forgive us.

Baptism: Baptism is a sacrament that establishes a new relationship with God as we symbolically “die” under the water of Baptism to be “reborn” as children of God. In Baptism, we are promised the forgiveness of sin and eternal life.

The Lord’s Supper (Communion): This is a sacrament in which we receive Christ through the bread and wine. Lutherans believe in the “real presence,” that Christ is in the bread and wine, and that we receive grace when we receive the elements. All people at worship are invited to receive communion. Children of a young age are also invited after a time of preparation.

Creeds: Lutherans profess three creeds, which are statements of faith that summarize the Bible’s teaching. The three creeds are: The Apostle’s Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed.

Worship: The Lutheran church is a liturgical church. This means that the worship follows a traditional form of the mass, with liturgy, candles, cross, altar, vestments, hymns, confession, proclamation of the Word, and celebration of the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

Life after death: Life after death is a mystery. However, Lutherans believe that through the promise of forgiveness, life continues after the grave.

Service: Claiming Christ as the example, the church should be involved in social ministry to alleviate hunger, provide housing for the homeless, and serve the community and the world without restrictions.

Membership: A person becomes a member of the church through baptism. Membership can take place by transfer from another congregation, or through one’s own personal affirmation of faith. Through the desire to become a member, one becomes part of the “family of God,” which is the church.

Ecumenical relationships: The Lutheran church shares a common faith with other churches around the world. The Lutheran church is the largest Protestant denomination in the world, with 66 million members. The Lutheran Church is also respectful of other faiths and encourages dialogue.