What We Believe

As a member congregation of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), the beliefs and teachings of Zion Lutheran Church are the same as those found in The Lutheran Confessions written in the Book of Concord.   A brief review of these beliefs follows.

Scripture

The Bible is truly the Word of God.  This Word of God is inerrant, infallible, and the only source and norm of our Christian faith and life.  

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. 
2 Timothy 3:16

God

We believe in God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three divine persons in one eternal being.  As we confess in the Athanasian Creed, "we worship one God in Trinity and Trinity in unity, neither confusing the persons nor dividing the substance." [1]

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
Matthew 28:19-20 | Emphasis added

Holy Baptism

Jesus instituted this Sacrament after his resurrection, as we read in the passage above (Matthew 28:19-20).  In Holy Baptism, the Holy Spirit "works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare." [2]

The Sacrament of the Altar
(Holy Communion)

"It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink." [3]  

Jesus instituted this Holy Meal on what we now call Holy (Maundy) Thursday, as it is recorded in Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-24, Luke 22:19-20, and 1 Corinthians 11:23-25. This institution is summarized as follows in Luther's Small Catechism:

"The holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and St. Paul write: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: 'Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.'

"In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, 'Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.' ” [4]

We take Christ at His word and believe that we truly receive His body and blood under the bread and wine.  When we partake of this Holy Sacrament, we believe that, through faith, we receive the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.

Concerning this Sacrament, we follow the ancient practice of Closed Communion.  We welcome to the altar all members in good standing of the congregations of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.  If you are not a member of an LCMS congregation, and wish to receive Holy Communion, please speak to the Pastor before the service.

Eternal Salvation

This is a gift of God, freely given by His grace through faith in Jesus Christ. 

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9

Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.
Acts 16:31

The Church

The Church is the sum of all true believers in Jesus Christ.  As it is stated in the Augsburg Confession, "Our churches teach that one holy Church is to remain forever. The Church is the congregation of saints in which the Gospel is purely taught and the Sacraments are correctly administered." [5]

Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
    his praise in the assembly of the godly!
Psalm 149:1

References

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2025).

[1] From "The Athanasian Creed" in The Ecumenical Creeds, Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions, Pocket Edition. © 2005, 2006 Concordia Publishing House.
Source: https://bookofconcord.cph.org/en/ecumenical-creeds/athanasian-creed/ The Trinity - One God, One Lord, and yet three distinct persons; God the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

[2] From "The Sacrament of Holy Baptism" in Luther's Small Catechism. © 2019 Concordia Publishing House.
Source: https://catechism.cph.org/en/sacrament-of-holy-baptism.html

[3] From "The Sacrament of the Altar" in Luther's Small Catechism. © 2019 Concordia Publishing House.
Source: https://catechism.cph.org/en/sacrament-of-the-altar.html

[4] From "The Sacrament of the Altar" in Luther's Small Catechism. © 2019 Concordia Publishing House.
Source: https://catechism.cph.org/en/sacrament-of-the-altar.html

[5] From "Article VII. The Church" in The Augsburg Confession, Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions, Pocket Edition. © 2005, 2006 Concordia Publishing House.
Source: https://bookofconcord.cph.org/en/augsburg-confession/chief_articles/article_vii/