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What We Believe

We Believe...

  • In an age of anxiety, we believe that real peace comes from Jesus Christ.
  • In an age of confusion, we believe that the Bible is the word of God without error.
  • In an age of doubt, we believe that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
  • In an age of guilt, we believe that Jesus died on the cross to remove the power of sin from our lives.
  • In an age of hopelessness, we believe that Jesus rose physically from death --and so will we rise.
  • In an age of skepticism, we believe that God is at work in the sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion.
  • In an age of despair, we believe that God promises to heal and transform us.
  • In an age of violence, we believe that God calls us to embody his love in the world.
  • In an age of constant change, we believe in the unchanging Holy Trinity --Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

    We Believe and Teach . . .

    . . . that we cannot get to Heaven by our own efforts.

    God demands that we be perfect.
    "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:48)

    We are all sinners.
    "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

    We deserve both physical death and eternal death in Hell.
    "For the wages of sin is death." (Romans 6:23a)

    . . . that God has provided a way for us to get to Heaven.
    God the Father sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to bear the punishment that we deserve.
    "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

    By faith we believe in Jesus as our Saviour from sin.
    "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

    We receive the gift of faith through the Word of God.
    "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." (Romans 10:17)

    . . . that our lives have meaning because of God's love for us.
    Now we can live life to its fullest.
    "I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10)

    God will hear and answer our prayers.
    "Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me." (Psalm 50:15)

    Now we can live for God and do good works to his glory.
    "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)

    . . . that the Bible is the Word of God and the only source of spiritual life.
    The Bible is the unchanging and error-free Word of God.
    "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)

    The Bible centres on Jesus Christ.
    "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (John 20:31)

    The Bible is our guide in everything we think, say, and do.
    "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." (Psalm 119:105)

    The Bible quotations above were taken from The Holy Bible: New International Version Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society


Participating in the Lord's Supper:
     If you are a visitor, please introduce yourself to our Pastor prior to worship. At St. Paul, in keeping with our Lord's instruction as to how His Supper is to be distributed and in keeping with the ancient practice of the Christian Church, we practice Close Communion. As we prepare to celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion, it is important for us to follow the guidelines that our loving God gives us in his Word. Communion means “with union.” In the Lord’s Supper we celebrate and participate in three distinct unions.
     First, there is the union between Jesus’ body and blood with the bread and the wine (Mt. 26:26-29; Mk. 14:22-25; Lk. 22:14-20; 1 Cor. 10:16). Because Jesus’ body and blood are truly united in, with, and under the bread and the wine, participants are warned against receiving this Supper in an unworthy manner (1 Cor. 11:27), and urged that they recognize this union so that they do not bring judgement upon themselves (1 Cor. 11:29).
     Secondly, there is the union between Jesus and the individual communicant, with the communicant urged to examine him or herself (1 Cor. 11:28) before receiving the supper.
     And thirdly there is a unity between each of the communicants (1 Cor. 10:17). So that we are true to the teachings of Scripture, we ask that only those who are confirmed members of St. Paul, or other WELS or ELS churches, come forward to receive the Lord’s Supper. If you are interested in becoming a member of our family of faith, we encourage you to speak with our Pastor following the service. We would love to have you.

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