Scriptures, Creeds and Confessions

The ELCA's official Confession of Faith identifies the Scriptures of the Old and

New Testaments (commonly called the Bible); the Apostles’, Nicene and

Athanasian Creeds; and the Lutheran confessional writings in the Book of

Concord as the basis for our teaching. This Confession of Faith is more than

just words in an official document. Every Sunday in worship Trinity Lutheran

Church hears God’s Word from the Scriptures, pray as Jesus taught and come

to the Lord’s Table expecting to receive the mercies that the Triune God

promises. Throughout the week our members continue to live by faith, serving

others freely and generously in all that they do because they trust God’s

promise in the Gospel. In small groups and at sick beds, in private devotions

and in daily work, this faith saturates all of life.

Teaching for a life of faith

This connection to all of life is the clearest demonstration of the authority that

the canonical Scriptures, the ecumenical Creeds and the Lutheran

Confessions. The Holy Spirit uses these witnesses to create, strengthen and

sustain faith in Jesus Christ and the life we have in him. That life-giving work

continues every day, as Martin Luther explained in the Small Catechism: the

Holy Spirit “calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies the whole Christian church

on earth and preserves it in union with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.”