What We Believe
What does Lutheran mean?
“Lutherans” have historically been Christians who truly believe what the Bible says and hold it as the only rule of faith. When Martin Luther attempted to reform the Christian church in the middle ages to return to the Biblical and apostolic teachings and practices that had been handed down from the early church, those who agreed with the teachings of Martin Luther (that Scripture alone is the supreme authority in all matters of doctrine and practice) were called “Lutherans.” Sadly there are now people who call themselves “Lutheran” who do not have the same beliefs that were handed down from Christ and His apostles through the ages and which Martin Luther believed and taught. Zion Lutheran Church of Avilla is joyfully part of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod which does indeed share the apostolic faith that Martin Luther taught from the Bible. A synod is a body of believers that walks together in the faith and confesses the same beliefs. These beliefs are found in the Lutheran Confessions (The Book of Concord) which we believe is merely a correct explanation of doctrine found in the Bible. These documents confess and organize what the Bible clearly states and help provide comfort to the troubled soul.
If you would like to know more about Lutherans or the LC-MS, please click here.
To read Luther's Small Catechism, a succinct confession of the whole Christian faith, click here.
For an online version of the whole Lutheran Confessions, that is the Book of Concord, click here.
What we believe about..
God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)
We believe in the one holy, true, and triune God. The is only one God, yet three persons. We neither
confound the persons nor deny the unity of God. Rather, we confess the mystery of triune God - Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit subsisting as one God. Below, in italics, is a confession of this Trinity in the words of the
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
We believe the Father is all powerful and all knowing. He is the creator of all things, visible and invisible.
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
from thence he will come to judge the living and the dead.
We believe the Son, Jesus Christ, became man in order to redeem us from our sinful state. He fulfilled the law perfectly which we were incapable of in order to reconcile us to himself. He was crucified for our transgressions and rose again that we might have eternal life. He will come again on the last day.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Christian Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
and the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
We believe that the Holy Spirit creates and sustains our faith in Christ.
*italicized sections are the three parts to the Apostles Creed
Creation, Fall, Redemption
We believe that God created the world and it was good (Genesis 1:1). He created Man and Wife that together became one. Adam and Eve, the first Man and Wife, became prideful and turned against God. Because of this, the entire world fell and despised God and his Word. We all now are born into sin. However, God, in his infinite mercy, does not leave us to die in this fallen state. He sent his son, Jesus Christ, to redeem us and redeem the world. In Christ's crucifixion and resurrection, the world is made new and your sins are forgiven. We now eagerly wait for the second coming of Christ in which both heaven and earth will be made new.
Doctrine, Practice, and the Means of Grace
We believe that as Christians, it is important to maintain the historic and true faith passed down to us and clearly shown in the Bible. This faith is in Jesus Christ alone who saves us. In response to this Gospel, and as commanded in God's Word, we practice this faith in works of love. We also practice this faith in Worship in which receive God's gifts. God gives us these gifts of grace by using what we call "means of grace". These means of grace consist of the preached Word of God, Holy Baptism, and the Lord's Supper (view our communion statement here).
Feel free to contact Pastor Schleider with any questions about our Belief or Practice at Zion.