What are the means of Grace?

• It is the goods by which God delivers his forgiveness, life, and salvation.  There are three means of grace, "The word, Holy Baptism, and the Lord's Supper."  It is through these means that people come to know Jesus as Lord.

What is the word?

• The word is to be found in the Holy Scriptures.  They are found upon the lips of pastors and teachers.  They are to be found on the lips of friends, relatives, and other Christians as they proclaim the Gospel.  You can hear them in sermons, hymns, liturgy, praise songs, books, and other places.

What is baptism?

• Baptism comes from the Greek word "baptizo" which litteraly means "to wash".  Baptism is regular water combined with the word of God which is poured, sprinkled, or immersed upon an individual.  This baptism isn't physical washing, but a washing of sin or as Paul says "a washing of regeneration" (Titus 3:5).  In baptism our old sinful nature is put to death and we are raised to a new life (Rom. 6).  All who are baptized put on Christ. (Gal. 3:27)  Baptism does save. (1 Peter 3:21)

• All nations are to be baptized. (Matt. 28:19-20)  This includes all races, sexes, and ages.  Even infants are to be baptized.  Think of it this way, consider Lazarus in John 11.  When Jesus came to Lazaraus he had been in the tomb for so long that the King James Version says he stinketh.  In this moment, what could Lazarus do to be risen from the dead?  Could he work his way to resurrection?  Could he speak a prayer or make acceptance?  No.  He was dead.  Only one thing could do that and that was the word of Christ himself.  When you come to be baptized, spiritually you are like Lazarus.  You are dead.  You are as capable in making your salvation as Lazarus was of raising himself from the dead.  Therefore, in your spiritual deadness through his instrument (the pastor or someone else) Jesus says, "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen."  Which is a way of saying, "_______Your Name_____, come out."  You are raised to a new life.  Whether you are 1 week old or 100 years old, you are in the same condition and only Christ can bring you to a new life.

The Lord's Supper

• This is a profound mystery.  Just as Jesus is both true man and true God, so also in the Lord's supper there are two natures in each element.  Your are given bread that with the word of God is also the very body of Christ.  You are given wine that with the word is the very blood of Christ.  Both the body and blood of Christ are present in, with, and under the bread and wine.  This is all given to you for the forgiveness of your sins and the strengthening of your faith.  How this happens is a profound mystery.

Who can partake of the Lord's Supper?

• We follow the historic practice that has come to be known as "closed communion."  That is we ask that an individual be either a member of the congregation, a member of another LCMS church, or if not a member of an LCMS congregation confess to a common belief in the Lord's Supper.  Therefore you are asked to speak with the pastor prior to communing when visitng.