We Believe - Hosanna Lutheran Church

Easing Concerns You Might Have

As members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the people of Hosanna Lutheran Church share with all Christians a worldwide community of faith. Through Christ, we are united with other Christians.

As Christians, we believe that Christ lives among us today by the power of God's Spirit, present when the Good News is preached and the sacraments—baptism and communion—are administered.

As Christians we are called to live our lives in service to the world. Through acts of love and justice, worship and witness, we share God's boundless love. We recognize a wide fellowship of churches and we work alongside them in ministry and service, both in the United States and around the world.

What Is Christianity?

To define it simply, Christianity is one of three major monotheistic religions. Christians believe in Jesus Christ and follow his teachings. We believe Jesus is God's own son, sent by God to become human. As the son of God, Jesus is divine, but he was also a human being who lived among us on earth, over 2,000 years ago. Followers of Jesus are part of God's people, whose heritage includes the Jewish people and the Christian Church throughout the world today.

Who was Jesus?

As a person, Jesus of Nazareth was a Jew who lived in Israel under Roman rule in a province the Romans called Palestine. He
travelled around the region with his disciples, teaching about God and spreading a message of God's love, peace, hope and forgiveness. He healed the sick, fed the hungry and spoke out against injustice. He gathered many followers who were passionate about his teachings. As his following grew, some of the religious leaders became increasingly distrustful and
angry with him, until he was arrested, tried, sentenced to death and finally executed on a cross.

But death did not contain him. On the third day after his crucifixion, the day Christians call Easter, Jesus appeared among his followers as the risen, living Lord. He continued to teach, spreading the Good News, sharing the story of his life and resurrection to people for forty days before returning to heaven. His story and teachings are related in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the four books that open the New Testament portion of the Bible.

What if I haven't been to church in a long time or never been to a church?

Has it been a long time since you've been to church, or never been? Are you new to the area and looking for a church? Are you apprehensive, not knowing what to do, how to act, or what to say?

Don't worry. Chances are others are in a similar place in their journey, and the people of Hosanna are committed to helping you feel welcome. Come give us a try. More importantly, connect with the one who gave himself for YOU.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16).

Why should you come to worship?

A church goer once wrote a letter to a newsletter editor complaining that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday...

"I've gone for 30 years," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard some 203,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a
single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors wasted theirs by giving sermons at all."

This started a controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column for several weeks until someone wrote:

"I've been married for 30 years. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the
entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this.. They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do
my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for
nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!" When you are DOWN to nothing, God is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment!

What is "faith" and how do you get it?

Faith is a gift from God. It is the conviction that Jesus died for us and that through him we are forgiven. Faith is simply trust in God
alone.

You receive faith as you hear or read of the Good News of Jesus Christ as revealed in the Bible.

What if I am not Lutheran?

That's fine. Not all of us are Lutherans by birth. We are Christians first, Lutherans by choice. Come and learn what we are about.

What's "Lutheran"?

The Lutheran Church was named for Martin Luther, though he preferred that he and his followers be called Christians. In the 16th century, Luther challenged some of the teachings and practices of the church of his time, calling the church back to its roots in Scripture. The change that followed became known as the Reformation.

See "Martin Luther: Reluctant Rebel" for more on Luther's life and teachings.

Lutherans are part of God's unfolding plan.

When we gather for worship, we connect with believers everywhere and of every time.

When we study the Bible and pray, we are drawn more deeply into God's saving story.

When we serve others and address social issues that affect the common good, we live out our Christian faith.

Hosanna invites you into our community of faith. Welcome, and explore.