About Faith...
Faith is God's work in us, that changes us and gives new birth from God. (John 1:13). It kills the Old Adam and makes us completely different people. It changes our hearts, our spirits, our thoughts and all our powers. It brings the Holy Spirit with it. Yes, it is a living, creative, active and powerful thing, this faith. Faith cannot help doing good works constantly. It doesn't stop to ask if good works ought to be done, but before anyone asks, it already has done them and continues to do them without ceasing. Anyone who does not do good works in this manner is an unbeliever. He stumbles around and looks for faith and good works, even though he does not know what faith or good works are. Yet he gossips and chatters about faith and good works with many words.
Faith is a living, bold trust in God's grace, so certain of God's favor that it would risk death a thousand times trusting in it. Such confidence and knowledge of God's grace makes you happy, joyful and bold in your relationship to God and all creatures. The Holy Spirit makes this happen through faith. Because of it, you freely, willingly and joyfully do good to everyone, serve everyone, suffer all kinds of things, love and praise the God who has shown you such grace. Thus, it is just as impossible to separate faith and works as it is to separate heat and light from fire! Therefore, watch out for your own false ideas and guard against good-for-nothing gossips, who think they're smart enough to define faith and works, but really are the greatest of fools. Ask God to work faith in you, or you will remain forever without faith, no matter what you wish, say or can do.
"An Introduction to St. Paul's Letter to the Romans,"
Luther's German Bible of 1522
by Martin Luther, 1483-1546
Translated by Rev. Robert E. Smith
A Wonderful thing happened [when the angel announced this birth to the
shepherds]. All of this occurred, to present this birth to us with tender,
loving care and to attract hearts to it, so that these hearts might love
Christ.
If this birth had been proclaimed to the nobles of this world; If the
shepherds had measured themselves against the standard of these important
fellows; If the shepherds had compared to royal wisdom and wealth, they would
have been afraid, because power frightens and wisdom intimidates people.
If Christ had come with trumpets sounding; If he had a cradle of gold, His
birth would have been a stately thing. But it wouldn't comfort me. So, He had
to lay in a poor girl's lap and be scarcely noticed by the world. In that lap I
can come to see Him; In this way He now reveals Himself to the distressed.
Yes, He would've had greater fame, if He'd have come in great power, splendor, wisdom and high class. Yet, He will come some day, in another way, when He comes to oppose the great nobles. But now He comes to the poor, who need a Savior. Then He will come as judge to oppose those who oppress the poor now.
At Noon on Christmas Day of 1530
by Martin Luther, 1483-1546
Translated by Rev. Robert E. Smith
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod...
In grateful response to God's grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacraments, the mission of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod is vigorously to make known the love of Christ by word and deed within our churches, communities, and the world.
LCMS Mission Statement
Belief & Practice
Overview
With the universal Christian Church, The Lutheran Church‑Missouri Synod teaches and responds to the love of the Triune God: the Father, creator of all that exists; Jesus Christ, the Son, who became human to suffer and die for the sins of all human beings and to rise to life again in the ultimate victory over death and Satan; and the Holy Spirit, who creates faith through God's Word and Sacraments. The three persons of the Trinity are coequal and coeternal, one God.
Being "Lutheran," our congregations accept and teach Bible-based teachings of Martin Luther that inspired the reformation of the Christian Church in the 16th century. The teaching of Luther and the reformers can be summarized in three short phrases: Grace alone, Faith alone, Scripture alone.
Grace aloneGod loves the people of the world, even though they are sinful, rebel against Him and do not deserve His love. He sent Jesus, His Son, to love the unlovable and save the ungodly.
Faith aloneBy His suffering and death as 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. God creates faith in Christ and gives people forgiveness through Him.
Scripture aloneThe Bible is God's inerrant and infallible Word, in which He reveals His Law and His Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ. It is the sole rule and norm for Christian doctrine.
Who is Jesus?
For more than 2,000 years people have asked the question, "Who is Jesus?". We were not present when Jesus lived on this earth, but in the Bible we have the record of his birth, life, death on the cross, and resurrection. Study of the Bible, God's Word, will enable you to seek out the answer to this age-old question.
What does "Synod" mean?
The word "Synod" in The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod comes from Greek words that mean "walking together." The term has rich meaning in our church body, because congregations voluntarily choose to belong to the Synod. Though diverse in their service, these congregations hold to a shared confession of Jesus Christ as taught in Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions which they believe are a correct interpretation and presentation of Biblical doctrine. Contained in The Book of Concord: The Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, these statements of belief were put into writing by church leaders during the 16th century. The simplest of these is Luther's Small Catechism. The Augsburg Confession gives more detail on what Lutherans believe. Read an article from the May 2004 Lutheran Witness about what a "Synod" is.
*Text source Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
More Lutheran Study Resources
- A series of educational pamphlets
29 pamphlets, written by former Synod President A.L. Barry
Abundant Life Weekly Devotional Schedule
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Sunday Worship Service - 11:00am each Sunday
Engaging, upbeat, inclusive praise worship service. - Grace Alive! - 10:00 am Sunday mornings
Fun Sunday educational program for children. - Life Together Sunday - 10:00 am Sunday mornings
Fellowship and scriptural study for adults. - Life Together Tuesday - 6:30 pm- 8:30 pm Tuesdays.
A special time for prayer, praise, fellowship, and bible study.
6740 Albemarle Rd
Charlotte, NC 28212
Mail To:
Abundant Life Lutheran Church
P.O. Box 25262, Charlotte, NC 28229
(704)531-9000
Rev. Wally Shifflett, Pastor e-mail