What We Believe and Teach at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Lester Prairie MN
Greetings from all the saints in Christ Jesus at St. Peter Lutheran Church. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We thank our God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. We pray that in Christ you are enriched in every way – in your faith – in all your speaking and in all your knowledge because of the testimony about Christ which is confirmed in you. In all our prayers for you, we pray with joy because of the partnership in the gospel that is shared. We further pray that He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ out Lord, is faithful. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Key Beliefs
Simply stated, our congregation believes, teaches and confesses that in Christ alone there is salvation by grace, through faith alone, on the basis of Scripture alone.
We believe that Jesus Christ, True God and true man, is our only Savior from sin and the lord of our life; that God the Holy Spirit creates and preserves faith in us through the Word of God; and that the Bible is the verbally inspired, inerrant Word of God and the only basis and norm for faith in Jesus Christ and for eternal life.
To share this message with the world is the mission of the church and the reason for its existence.
At St. Peter Lutheran Church, we believe:
- In one God who is three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, as He has revealed Himself to us in the Bible.
- That the Holy Bible is God’s written revelation to mankind. It is the only standard for what we believe (doctrine) and for how we live (practice).
- That God created the whole universe. He created human beings for a special
relationship with Himself. We are not merely products of random chance or evolution. - That evil came into the world when the devil rebelled against God and when people gave in to his temptation. Sin separates us from God. Sin robs us of the joy and happiness God intended. If it is not dealt with, it will separate us from God forever along with the devil and all who do evil.
- That Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who became a human being to rescue us from the power of sin, death and the devil. He lived the perfect life for us and took our sins with Him to the cross where He died the death we deserved.
- On Easter He rose from the dead, defeating sin, death and the devil once and for all.
- That the benefits of Christ’s death and resurrection come to us by faith in God, which is established by the Holy Spirit, who brings us to
faith and keeps us in the faith by means of the Word and the Sacraments (Baptism and the Lord’s Supper). - That Christ calls us to share the Good News of His love with you by our words of witness and acts of service.
- Apart from faith in Christ you will be lost forever. With Christ, you can be confident of going to heaven when you die.
- For a short summary of the Christian faith, see Martin Luther’s Small Catechism.
Key Teachings
- The Triune God Who Loves You
- A Bible Which Kills and Brings You Back to Life in Christ
- A Savior Who Saves You
- A Spirit Who Converts You
- A Washing Which Cleanses You
- A Meal Which Forgives Your Sins and Joins You with God
- A Devotional Life Which Blesses You
- Keys Which Lock and Unlock Sin
- Stewardship Which Is Committed
- A Joyous Life with God Which Never Ends
Key Practices
- Infant and Adult Baptism
- Closed Communion- celebrated every 1st and 3rd Sunday
- Worship the Lord in spirit and in truth, using an historic liturgy. (John 4:24, Hebrews 10:23-25)
- Honor the Lord with Biblically-faithful and relevant teaching. (2 Timothy 4:1-5)
- Inspire God’s people to share their faith naturally and with confidence. (Acts 4:19,20, 1 Peter 3:15)
- Provide a variety of opportunities for Christians to grow spiritually through the regular study of God’s Word. (1 Peter 2:1,2, Hebrews 6:1-3)
- Honor the Lord with music and song, praising Him with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. (Psalm 33:1-4, Ephesians 5:19,20)
- Provide Christian care and counseling to help carry each other’s burdens. (Galatians 6:2, Matthew 25:34-36)
- Provide excellence in the Christian education of God’s children. (Proverbs 22:6, Deuteronomy 4:4-7)
- Encourage, train, and equip young people to live faithful lives in their youth. (Ecclesiastes 11:9,10, 1 Timothy 4:12)
- Conduct a ministry of intentional influence beyond our community and support mission endeavors near and far. (Luke 12:47,48, Luke 24:46,47)
- Promote spiritual leadership among clergy and laity to further their calling as servants of the Lord. (Ephesians 4:11,12, 2 Timothy 1:6,7)
- Maintain our facilities as good stewards of God’s gracious gifts. (Haggai 1:4,5, James 1:17)
- Provide opportunities for Christian fellowship and mutual encouragement. (Hebrews 10:23-25)
Faith in Practice
- We believe the congregation is established by God. (1 Corinthians 9:22, Philippians 2:1-4)
- We believe God’s truth is revealed with power in His inerrant, infallible Word. (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20,21, Isaiah 55: 10,1 1)
- We believe the center of Christian doctrine is salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:8-10, 1 Corinthians 2:2)
- We believe followers of Jesus Christ will demonstrate good works and the fruit of the Spirit which is: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control. (Galatians 5:22,23, Matthew 7:16)
- We believe that every Christian is called by God to live a life in vocation and is uniquely gifted for service in love to the neighbor. (Romans 12: 1, I Peter 4: 10)
- We believe integrity is God’s standard for faithful Christian leaders. (Isaiah 51:7,8, Galatians 1:10)
Key Creeds and Confessions
- Apostles’ Creed
- Nicene Creed
- Athanasian Creed
- We confess the Christian Book of Concord as a true exposition of the Word of God.
St. Peter Lutheran Church - Lester Prairie 