|
| |
 We, the members of the First Lutheran Church are committed to
proclaim the gospel to each other, our community and the world. The gospel calls
us to be responsible, to care and to serve through education, evangelism and
worship.
We are members of
The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.
We are created by the Father, redeemed by Christ and empowered by the Spirit. We
worship regularly, use the Sacraments, study and teach God's Word, pray and use
our gifts and talents in God's service. Most of all, we care for others and
share the good news of God's grace so that Christ may be glorified and all
people may know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Through our lives we bring
Christ to the heart of Birmingham.
First Lutheran Church was founded in October 1887 with C.E. Scheibe
installed as pastor of the new Zion Lutheran Church which was later renamed
First Lutheran Church.
Located in the historic Highland area of the Southside in
Birmingham, First Lutheran Church is strategically positioned to fulfill its
motto, "Bringing Christ to the heart of Birmingham".
- Established in 1887
- Members of
The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
- Meaningful Christ-centered worship each Sunday
- Religious education through Bible study for all ages
- Active, organized youth groups for junior high and high
school members and their friends
- Young Adult student group
- Nursery for children under 4 during the Sunday School hour and
late service
- Spiritual counseling by our Pastor
- Library with over 2000 books, videos and cassettes for all
ages
- Vocal and Bell choirs
- Mid-week and Sunday evening Bible studies.
About the Lutheran Church
|
|
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, Scripture alone, Faith
alone. |
Grace alone
|
| 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
|
| 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
|
| 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. |
| The word "Synod" in The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod comes
from the Greek words that mean "walking together." It has rich meaning in our
church body, because the congregations voluntarily choose to belong to the
Synod. Diverse in their service, these congregations hold to a shared confession
of Jesus Christ as taught in Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions. The
congregations of the Synod are "confessional." They hold to the Lutheran
Confessions as the 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.) |
|
