What We Believe

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At Augustana Lutheran Church, our faith is centered on Jesus Christ, who reveals the heart of God through love, mercy, and forgiveness. We believe that through Word and Sacrament, Christ meets us where we are, heals what is broken, and calls us to live as instruments of His grace in the world. Our theology is deeply rooted in the Lutheran tradition and lived out in practical ways that reflect Christ’s compassion, humility, and truth.

Our Core Theological Beliefs

Grace Alone

We believe that salvation is entirely the gift of God’s grace. We cannot earn it or achieve it by our own efforts—it is freely given through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God’s grace meets us in our weakness and restores us to new life. Every act of worship, service, and fellowship flows from gratitude for that undeserved mercy.

Faith Alone

Faith is trusting in God’s promise of forgiveness and new life through Christ. It is not merely believing about God but placing our lives into God’s hands. Faith is a living, breathing relationship sustained by the Holy Spirit and nurtured through prayer, Scripture, and community.

Scripture Alone

We hold the Holy Scriptures as the inspired Word of God and the foundation for faith and life. The Bible tells the story of God’s relentless love for creation and guides us toward truth, justice, and peace. Through preaching, study, and reflection, we listen for how God continues to speak to us today.

Word and Sacrament

We believe that God’s grace comes to us in tangible ways—through the spoken Word, through Baptism, and through Holy Communion. In Baptism, we are claimed as God’s children and washed into new life. In Holy Communion, we are fed with Christ’s own presence, strengthened for service, and united with believers across time and space.

The Church as a Hospital for Sinners

We see the Church not as a gathering of the perfect but as a hospital for sinners—a community where grace is practiced and healing begins. Here, confession and forgiveness are not rituals of shame but gifts of renewal. The Church exists to offer Christ’s mercy to a hurting world.

Our Practical Expression of Faith

Worship that Restores

Our worship life is grounded in the liturgy yet open to the movement of the Holy Spirit. Through Word, song, prayer, and Sacrament, we experience God’s renewing presence and are sent out to serve our neighbors with joy.

Service that Heals

Faith is not confined to Sunday mornings. It takes shape in how we live and love throughout the week. Through ministries like our Food Pantry, community partnerships, and recovery outreach, we serve others as Christ serves us—with humility, compassion, and generosity.

Community that Welcomes

We believe the Church is called to be radically inclusive, reflecting the wide welcome of Jesus. All are invited to the table. All are valued as children of God. We celebrate the diversity of God’s creation and seek to be a place where questions are welcomed, wounds are tended, and hope is renewed.

Discipleship that Grows

We are a community of lifelong learners. Through Bible study, discussion, and prayer, we grow in faith and understanding, discovering how God’s Word speaks to the challenges of our time. Our goal is not perfection but formation—to become more like Christ in love and service.

In All Things, Christ

At Augustana Lutheran Church, everything begins and ends with Jesus Christ. He is our Savior, our teacher, our healer, and our hope. Through Him, we see what God is like—merciful, forgiving, and steadfast in love. And through Him, we are sent into the world to be signs of that same mercy.

Our calling is simple: To proclaim Christ crucified and risen, to love God and neighbor, and to live as instruments of grace in a weary world.

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