St. John's Sauers Constitution and Bylaws
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We believe . . .
God. We believe in the Triune God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) revealed in Scripture and confessed in the Apostles' Creed, the God who is love. John 3:16 and Matthew 28:19
Jesus. We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man. He is our Lord and Savior, who by taking the punishment for our sin in His death and rising again to new life has redeemed us from sin so that we may live in His Kingdom forever. Colossians 2:9, 1 Timothy 2:5, and 2 Corinthians 5:19
The Bible. We believe that the Bible is God's Word to the world and as such is the final authority for faith and life. 2 Timothy 3:15-17
Humanity. We believe that that all people are sinners by nature, daily fall short of God's requirements, and have separated themselves from God. Romans 3:23 and Ephesians 2:1-3.
Sacraments
Baptism. We believe that Baptism offers all people the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38-39
Holy Communion. We believe that the body and blood of Jesus is truly present with the bread and wine and offers the forgiveness of sins. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Matthew 26:26-29
Belief and Practice of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
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 congregation accepts and preaches the 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 phrases: Grace alone, Faith alone, Scripture alone.
- Grace Alone (Sola Gratia)
God 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 Alone (Sola Fide)
By 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 Alone (Sola Scriptura)
The 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.
Communion Practice of Our Congregation
Holy Communion. The Lord’s Supper is celebrated at this congregation in the confession and glad confidence that, as He says, our Lord gives into our mouths not only bread and wine but His very body and blood to eat and to drink for the forgiveness of sins and to strengthen our union with Him and with one another. Our Lord invites to His table those who trust His words, repent of all sins, and set aside any refusal to forgive and love as He forgives and loves us, that they may show forth his death until He comes.
Because those who eat and drink our Lord’s body and blood unworthily do so to their great harm and because Holy Communion is a confession of the faith which is confessed at this altar, any who are not yet instructed, in doubt, refuse to amend their sinful life, or who hold a confession differing from that of this congregation and The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, are asked, out Christian love for you, not to continue.
For further study, see Matthew 5:23; 10:32; 18:15 – 35; 26:26 – 29; 1 Corinthians 11:17 – 34.
The Lutheran Confessions
Drawn from God's Word, the Lutheran Confessions are a true and binding exposition of Holy Scripture and serve as authoritative texts for the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod accepts the Scriptures as the inspired and inerrant Word of God, and the LCMS subscribes unconditionally to all the symbolical books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church as a true and unadulterated statement and exposition of the Word of God.
We accept the Lutheran Confessions as articulated in the Book of Concord of 1580 because they are drawn from the Word of God, and on that account we regard their doctrinal content as a true and binding exposition of Holy Scripture and as authoritative for all pastors, congregations and other rostered church workers of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
The Three Ecumenical or Universal Creeds
The Defense of the Augsburg Confession
Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope
The Epitome of the Formula of Concord
The Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord
Martin Luther’s Writings
Martin Luther’s Sermons — Extensive collection of Luther’s sermons and other writings.
Selected Works of Martin Luther from Project Wittenberg — An extensive collection of writings by and about Martin Luther.
Luther’s Table Talk — Informal comments by Luther recorded by those who actually listened to him around his own table as he discoursed on a wide range of topics.
Other Publications and Web Resources
For the Life of the World — Online magazine with current stories and theological articles for the laity; you may also subscribe here to the free For the Life of the World quarterly print magazine.
Lutherans for Life and LCMS Life Library — Pro-life resources.
Additional Theology and Prayer Resources
Book of Concord — The Book of Concord is a classic collection of documents stating the doctrinal position of the Lutheran Church.
Luther’s Small Catechism (1986 Translation) — A short, simple summary of Christian doctrine, written by Martin Luther.
Frequently Asked Questions — Dozens of answers to Frequently Asked Questions on many topics from the web site of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.
Christian Cyclopedia — Online edition of Christian Cyclopedia, an excellent resource for theological and historical information.
