What We Believe

The Bible

We teach that the Holy Bible is the Living Word of God and functions as the authority in matters of faith and life (2 Timothy 3:16, Psalm 119:105). The Bible is an account of people's experience of God's actions in history. There are many ways to interpret the Bible. While times have changed human behavior has remained much the same.

God

We teach that there is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4), eternally existing in three persons: The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19, Colossians 1:15-20).

Jesus Christ

We teach that Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully human, who by His death and resurrection has redeemed us and is our personal Lord and Savior (Isaiah 9:6, John 11:25).

Jesus was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. Until He was thirty, He worked in a carpenter shop and then for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He wrote no books. He held no office. He never owned a home. He was never in a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place He was born. He never did any of the things that usually accompany greatness. The authorities condemned His teachings. His friends deserted Him. One betrayed Him to His enemies for a paltry sum. One denied Him. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed on a cross between two thieves. While He was dying, His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He owned on earth: His coat. When He was dead He was taken down and placed in a borrowed grave. Nearly Twenty centuries have come and gone, yet today He is the crowning glory of the human race, the adored leader of hundreds of millions of the earth`s inhabitants. All the armies that ever marched and all the Navies that were ever assembled and all the parliaments that ever sat and all the rulers that ever reigned - combined - have not affected the life of man upon this earth so profoundly as that One Solitary Life. ~Anonymous

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is always present at work in a community of believers. Its gifts vary from person to person, subsequently all gifts are celebrated (1 Corinthians 12:4-7, John 20:22).

Human Nature

We teach that no one is perfect and the human condition is by nature sinful and unclean. Human beings need God's love, forgiveness, and abounding grace (Romans 3:23).

Prayer

We believe in the power of prayer and pledge to become more faithful in our collective and individual prayer life (Philipians 4:4-7).

Holy Baptism & Holy Communion

In Holy Baptism, we believe, teach, and profess, that one is initiated into the family of Christ. In Holy Communion, we believe, teach, and profess, that Jesus Christ is truly present in, with, and under, the elements of bread and wine. God's amazing gift of grace refreshes us through life-giving water, and nourishes us to go forth and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:16-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

Our Church

Advent Lutheran Church is part of the body of Christ alive in the world (Romans 12:1-8, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31).

Our Lutheran Heritage and Identity

We believe, teach, and confess, our faith in the Lutheran reformation themes of: grace through faith alone, scripture alone, and Christ alone! A personal relationship with the Triune God is a gift, not an accomplishment (Hebrews 11:1-3, Psalm 119:105, Romans 12:1-8).

For by grace you have been saved through faith.

And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, (Ephesians 2:8)

Advent follows a three-year lectionary of assigned readings for each Sunday. Each Sunday, in worship there is generally a reading from the Old Testament, a Psalm, one of Paul's letters, and from one of the Gospels. This enables worshipers to hear a large portion of God's Word being read over time. To see the texts for the coming week, go to www.lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/

For additional, daily Bible readings, sign up for daily devotional messages from David Lose via http://www.davidlose.net access an on-line Bible click here: https://bible.org/netbible/