What We Believe
The best way to learn what Good News believes and teaches is to sign up for our “What Does This Mean?” class. In the meantime, here are some ways to describe the truths that we firmly hold to as a church and lovingly hold out to our community:
Christian
We believe and teach that no amount human effort can possibly earn God’s favor or lead to eternal life. Thankfully, God’s love caused him to send his Son Jesus Christ to live and die for us. God offers forgiveness and salvation to the whole world as free gifts. Everyone who puts their trust in Christ as their Savior will be saved.
Gospel–Centered
Our church’s name, “Good News” comes from a Greek word from the New Testament that’s translated “gospel.” As a gospel–centered church, we not only believe the gospel as the only way of salvation. We put that gospel to work in every facet of our ministry because it is the message God uses to work faith and transform lives.
Sacramental
God created humans with bodies and souls. Jesus redeemed humans in both body and soul. God will raise humans so that they live eternally with both body and soul. It’s no surprise, therefore, that God’s power is at work in our lives through both body and soul. The good news isn’t merely something we hear with our ears and then process in our minds. In the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion, it’s something we touch, taste, and see with our bodies. Through these visible, outward acts, Jesus is among us and the Holy Spirit is at work in us.
Biblical
We believe that every word of the Bible is God’s Word. We also believe that the Bible is its own best interpreter. Rather than approaching the Bible with a predetermined idea of what it says, we let the Bible speak for itself. Even more than the specific doctrines we confess, this approach to reading the Bible and this process for understanding it define us.
Lutheran
The truths that Martin Luther reclaimed for the church at the time of the Reformation are often summarized with the Latin expression: sola gratia, sola fide, sola scriptura. Lutherans believe that our salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, on the basis of Scripture alone.
Confessional
The teachings that Lutherans confess on the basis of God’s Word are summarized in the Book of Concord of 1580. This collection of nine documents includes statements of faith that unite us with all Christians and statements that summarize what Lutherans specifically believe.
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS)
We belong to a nationwide church body known as the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, or WELS. It is the third largest Lutheran church body in America. For more information about WELS and what we believe, click here.