What exactly is a Christian?
A Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ.

What is a Lutheran?
A Lutheran is a particular type of Christian rooted in the reforms of Martin Luther.

What do Lutherans believe about the Word of God?
*Jesus Christ is the Word of God incarnate, through whom everything was made and through whose life, death, and resurrection God fashions a new creation.
*The proclamation of God’s message to us as both Law and Gospel is the Word of God, revealing judgment and mercy through word and deed, beginning with the Word in creation, continuing in the history of Israel, and centering in all its fullness in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
*The canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the written Word of God. Inspired by God’s Spirit speaking through their authors, they record and announce God’s revelation centering in Jesus Christ. Through them God’s Spirit speaks to us to create and sustain Christian faith and fellowship for service in the world.
*They are the authoritative source and norm for our proclamation, faith, and life.

What is a good summary of what Lutherans believe?
We suggest the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, or the Athanasian Creed.

Do Lutherans worship Martin Luther?
No!  We worship the Triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Is Lutheranism the only true religion?
One writer puts it this way – “Yes, but Lutherans don’t believe they are the only ones who have it. There are true Christian believers in a vast majority of the churches, perhaps in all.”

What is the Gospel?
The gospel is God’s good news in Jesus Christ. It announces God’s forgiveness, love, and grace to the entire world.

What is sin?
Sin is a self-centered failure to trust God. When we sin we fail to trust God’s Word by relying upon our own judgement.

Are there different kinds of Lutherans?
Yes. We belong to the largest group of Lutherans in the United States called the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

How do Lutherans worship?
Lutherans follow an ancient pattern of worshipping with four major sections to the worship service, sometimes called liturgy:
Gathering
Word
Meal
Sending

Our worship services are liturgical and involve all who are present in worship. We center our worship on God’s Word and Sacraments.

What sacraments do Lutherans celebrate?
Lutherans celebrate two sacraments – Baptism and Communion. In these sacraments, God comes to us and gives us the presence of Jesus Christ.

Do you have a question you’d like to see on this website?
Then ask Pastor Russell

For more information about the Lutheran Christian faith, go to the ELCA’s Dig Deeper Page.