St. James Lutheran Church is affiliated with The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, a body of Christian believers that numbers some 2.5 million members. We call ourselves "Lutheran" because we believe, teach, and confess the Bible-based doctrines of Martin Luther, the 16th century pastor, theologian, and reformer of the church. The teachings of Dr. Luther and his fellow reformers can be summarized in the following three mottoes:
GRACE ALONE ~ FAITH ALONE ~ SCRIPTURE 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 late Rev. Alvin L. Barry, a past president of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, wrote an extremely helpful set of pamphlets called the What About series. These two-page documents contain brief presentations of the main doctrines of the Christian faith. They're ideal for use in homes, churches, Christian schools, Bible studies, and small group devotions. The entire series of 29 pamphlets is available below. Follow the links below to view or download the files to your computer. Please note that you must have the free Adobe Reader installed on your computer to view or print these documents.
What
About the Gospel?
What
About the Bible?
What
About the Small Catechism?
What
About the Ten Commandments?
What
About the Apostles' Creed?
What
About the Lord's Prayer?
What
About Holy Baptism?
What
About Confession and Absolution?
What
About the Sacrament of the Altar?
What
About Being a Lutheran?
What
About Lutheran Worship?
What
About the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod?
What About Telling the Good
News?
What About Christian
Families?
What About Angels?
What About Death and
Dying?
What About Pastors?
What About
the New
Millennium?
What About
Christian Stewardship?
What About Fellowship in
the Lord's Supper?
What About
the Difference Between the ELCA and the LCMS?
What About the Ordination
of Women?
What About
Homosexuality?
What About Abortion?
What About Living Together
Without Marriage?
What About Creation and
Evolution?
What About the Jehovah's
Witnesses?
What About Islam?
What About Mormonism?