We are a Lutheran church which believes that we are all broken, sinful people who are saved by God’s undeserved love (some call it Grace), through believing in Jesus Christ whose life is revealed in the Bible.
We believe the Bible is God’s Word for us. It was written by human beings over a period of centuries as people were inspired by God himself to write down their experiences and the truth that God wants us to embrace. The Bible contains different genres of literature: history, poetry, apocalyptic writings, prophecies, and letters.
The Bible reveals
- We have one God who comes to us in three distinct persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 6:4)
- God created this world and everything in it, as well as all who live in it (Genesis 1, Psalm 24:1)
- At just the right time, God sent his one and only Son, Jesus, to be born by Mary who was a virgin and getting ready to be married to a man named Joseph (Matthew 1:18-25)
- Jesus lived on this earth teaching, loving, forgiving, and healing people. (Matthew 5-7, John 8:1-11, Luke 18:35-43)
- Jesus was betrayed by one of his followers and turned over to the local authorities who sentenced him to a cruel death on a cross (Matthew 27, Luke 23)
- Jesus willingly died so that everyone who believes in Jesus will get to be in a relationship with God forever (John 3:16-20)
- Jesus didn’t stay dead, but came back to life and walked the earth for 40 days before returning to heaven (Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20-21, Acts 1:1-11)
- Jesus promises to return to judge the living and the dead (Matthew 25:31-46, Luke 23:43, 2 Timothy 4:1-2)
- Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to be the counselor and guide for God’s people who are the Church (John 15:26-27, John 20:19-23, Acts 2)
- God’s people are to love other people because God loved us first (1 John 4:7-21)
Want to learn more about Jesus? Read more
We believe God has given the Church two sacraments. We believe a sacrament is something God commands which is a sacred act that God does, using earthly elements, which forgives sins. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper (aka Holy Communion) are the sacraments we celebrate at Family of Faith.
Baptism is for people who:
- wonder what God thinks of them
- are just starting a relationship with Jesus
- want a relationship with Jesus
- believe in Jesus, but have not yet been baptized
We baptize people of all ages. Infants and young children are baptized for the same reason adults are baptized: because of the command, promise, and gift of God. What is promised in Baptism is given to all who receive it; therefore, infants and young children also have the promise of God. They too, are made children of God. They too, are included in the words “all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Jesus specifically invites little children to come to Him (Luke 18:15-17).
Baptism is not something we do, but something God does. God Himself is present as His name is joined to the water, with all His power and all His blessings of forgiveness, life and salvation.
Bible verses about baptism:
- Acts 2:38 – “Be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
- Acts 22:16 – “What are you waiting for? Go, be baptized and wash your sins away.”
- Romans 6:3-6 – “If we have been united with Jesus like this [through baptism] in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.”
- Titus 3:5 – “God saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”
- 1 Peter 3:21 – “This water symbolizes baptism that now saves you… by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
- Revelation 22:17 – “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.”
The Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper is a miracle in bread and wine! By the Word of Christ, His very body and very blood are really present in this gift.
Based on Scripture, we ask everyone to examine themselves prior to receiving the Lord’s Supper:
- Do I acknowledge that I am a sinner and deserve God’s wrath and eternal punishment?
- Am I truly sorry for my sins?
- Do I believe that Jesus Christ died for me and shed His blood on the cross for the forgiveness of my sins?
- Do I desire, with God’s help, to conform my life to God’s Word?
- Do I believe that the true body and blood of Christ are miraculously present in the bread and wine in this meal?
If you believe what Christ says about His Supper and share the beliefs we have at Family of Faith Lutheran Church, we invite and encourage you to join us. Young children are encouraged to come forward to receive a blessing, but are generally not served communion until they have gone through instruction, typically during 6th-8th grade. Guests who desire to commune but have questions about our understanding of this Sacrament are encouraged to speak with the pastor or an elder before the service.
You may choose to receive the wine by individual or common cup. The individual cups in the outer rings of the tray and the common cup are filled with wine. If you prefer non-alcoholic wine, please choose an individual cup in the center of the tray.
