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Our Mission (why we exist as a church)
GSLC exists to bring people into a living and loving relationship with Jesus Christ.
Our Vision (what we hope to become)
GSLC seeks to become an Acts 2 community that allows people the opportunity to
Celebrate in a Spirit-filled, Christ-centered worshiping community.
Grow in their relationship with Jesus through ongoing discipleship opportunities.
Serve in their church, home, and community for the purpose of demonstrating the love of
Jesus.
Connect with other followers of Christ to develop lasting relationships for support and
encouragement
Share their faith in Jesus as a testimony of what He has done through His grace and
forgiveness
What We Believe as Lutherans
The Small Catechism is a brief summary of the most important Christian teachings. In a few pages it sets out all we need to know and believe in order to live as Christians.
It was written by Martin Luther in 1529, but it is not merely a "Lutheran" document: rather, it is a timeless distillation of Christian truth, one from whose insights all Christians can gain a great deal. And for those exploring what the Christian faith is about, this is an excellent place to start.
There are two main sections to the Catechism. The first sets out the fundamental Christian teachings about who God is and what he has done for us:
- The Ten Commandments set out the requirements of God's Law: how God expects us to live our lives, a standard all of us fail to meet, so showing our need for forgiveness from God.
- The Creed summarizes the Bible's teachings about God, and particularly about his Son, Jesus Christ, who was born as a human being, suffered and died for our sins, and was raised to life again at the first Easter, all so that we could receive the forgiveness that the Ten Commandments show we need.
- The Lord's Prayer is the prayer that Jesus taught to his disciples. However, by teaching us what we should ask God for, the Lord's Prayer also teaches us a great deal about what God is like and his priorities for his creation and our own lives. These teachings about God and his love for us - and particularly about the forgiveness, life and salvation that Jesus earned for us - would be of little use unless we had some way of receiving the benefit of these gifts.
The second half of the Catechism applies the teachings from the first half to our lives, by showing how we receive God's blessings in our own lives:
- Holy Baptism: Baptism is the start of the Christian life, in which we receive forgiveness, are rescued from death and the devil, and are given eternal salvation. It is also the basis for our life as Christians, which Luther portrays as a daily return to the waters of Baptism to receive its blessings afresh.
- Confession and The Office of the Keys: The Christian faith is not just about reading words on a page, but about hearing God's message of forgiveness with our own ears. The essence of confession is not our confession, but the words of absolution we hear from our pastor - words which are spoken, and which we are invited to believe, as if Christ himself were saying them to us.
- The Sacrament of the Altar: better known today as the Lord's Supper or Holy Communion, this Sacrament lies at the heart of the Christian church's weekly worship. The Lord's Supper is not merely a symbolic meal, nor is it something that we offer back to God: it is, as Luther puts it, "the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, under the bread and wine", in which "forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us".
- Daily Prayers: If the Lord's Supper is at the heart of our weekly worship together, the heart of our daily lives as Christians is prayer. Ever practical, Luther sets out four short forms of prayer for use at key times of the day - on waking, before sleep, and before and after meals.
For a more extensive treatment of "What Lutherans Believe" check out the following webpage www.bookofconcord.org
Members of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
Lutherans get their name from Martin Luther. He was a German priest who broke away from the Roman Catholic Church in the early 1500's. Luther's writing and teaching sparked the Protestant Reformation.
The teaching of Luther and the reformers can be summarized in three short phrases:
Grace Alone: God loves the people of the world, even though we are sinful, rebel against Him, and do not deserve His love.
Scripture Alone: The Bible is God's inerrant (without error) Word, in which He reveals His Law and His Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ.
Faith Alone: His suffering and death is the substitute for all people of all time. Jesus purchased and won forgiveness and eternal life for them. Those who hear this Good News and believe it, have the eternal life that it offers.
Good Shepherd is part of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
Why is the word "Missouri" in the name?
It's not because all of the members of the denomination live in the state of Missouri! It's simply a reference to the area where many of the founders of this denomination first settled. The word "Synod" means "walking together." Over 6000 congregations in the United States combine efforts in mission and education.
Why is Good Shepherd a Missouri Synod church?
Being a Missouri Synod church, first of all, means that we are founded on, dedicated to, and formed by the Bible. The Missouri Synod teaches that the Scriptures are the sole source and form of doctrine and practice. This is a solidly Biblical church! Second, being a Missouri Synod church means that we are committed to mission. The Missouri Synod, from its outset, made a commitment to local and world mission and outreach. That is still true today as our congregation, working with the Synod and in our own ministries, reaches into the community and the world with the Good News of Jesus. Third, this congregation is a Missouri Synod church because we are dedicated to discipleship. Good Shepherd is striving to have a vibrant children's and youth ministry, meaningful worship, compelling adult education opportunities, and a far-reaching small group ministry are evidence of the LC-MS "DNA" — the value of Christian Education and discipleship.
What's the bottom line about Lutheranism?
There are a few different Lutheran denominations in our country right now. The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod is unique in its solid stand on and teaching of the Bible. In that way it is very similar to many Bible-believing churches in the Evangelical world. The Lutheran church, however, is also a sacramental church. That means that Lutherans believe that baptism and communion are not just symbolic rites done as an expression of personal faith, but ways God is at work in our lives with His grace and blessing. The Bible tells us that baptism and communion bring God's blessing and grace to us. These are special gifts that we receive with joy — gifts that work together with God's Word for the strength of our faith.
To find out more about the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod please check out it is webpage at www.lcms.org
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