FAQs

We believe that God loves the people of the world, even though everyone is sinful and has rebelled against Him since the beginning in the Garden of Eden. He sent Jesus, His Son, to love the unlovable and save the ungodly.

By His suffering and death as the substitute for all people of all time, Jesus purchased and won forgiveness and eternal life for us. 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.

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.

It is our privilege at Mountain View to bring the saving grace of Christ to His people. Through weekly worship, small group studies, family activities, youth group, Sunday School, and fellowship, we aim to share God's Word and sacraments and surround one another with a Cloud of Witnesses - a family of believers to love, support, and encourage everyone in their faith walk. Together, we enjoy the freedom we have in Christ and the joy found in the certainty of our eternal salvation.

We believe Jesus is exactly who He said He is. Along with the ancient Church, we confess that Jesus is true God and true man in one person. He is the Son of God who was crucified and raised from the dead for the salvation of all who trust in Him.

Christ is not Jesus's last name, but identifies Him as the Messiah (Christ is the Greek translation of Messiah), the fulfillment of the Old Testament promises that God saves His people.

This fulfillment and salvation happened in history in real time and in a real place (first century AD in Israel) through a flesh-and-blood person named Jesus.

The Bible is the true and trustworthy Word of God that records God's love for the world through His Son Jesus. The miracles recorded in the Gospels and the teachings of Jesus are true and accurate.

Jesus physically came to this earth, died on a cross, and three days later rose from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and the Church awaits His second coming when He will judge all people.

Those who trust in Jesus as their Savior will rise to eternal life in heaven.

What's so special about a handful of simple water?

Nothing, until God connects His Word to it! In Baptism, that is exactly what God is doing. He combines His life-creating and life-giving Word with the waters of Holy Baptism, and thereby we are born again of water and the Spirit (John 3:5).

In Scripture, we are promised that baptism works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this.

"Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned" (Mark 16:16).

In and through Baptism, God cleanses us from all of our sins, snatches us from the power of Satan, and gives us everlasting life. It is all God's doing as He gives us His blessing. It is His promise. In Baptism, our Triune God imparts to each of us personally the gifts the Lord Jesus Christ won for the world through His life, suffering, death, and resurrection.

Please see especially Galatians 3:27; Colossians 1:13-14; 1 Peter 3:21; Titus 3:5-7 and 1 Corinthians 6:11.

If you’re interested in being baptized, send an email to churchoffice@mvlcs.org to set up a time to speak with one of our pastors!

All have sinned and stand in need of God's forgiveness. Our sinfulness and the troubles, sorrows, difficulties, and stresses of our life in this fallen world are all reasons we need the Lord's Supper.

As great as is our need, even greater is the life-giving meal He has provided! It is a very personal way God works in our life to save us, to strengthen us and to keep us close to Him. Jesus promised to be with us always, to the very close of the age (Matt. 28:20). Through His precious Word and Sacraments, our Lord continues to fulfill His promise.

Our Lord Jesus Christ instituted the Sacrament of the Altar with these words: "This is My body, given for you. This cup is My blood of the new testament, shed for you for the forgiveness of sins" (Matt. 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25). The Lord's Supper "is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink" (Small Catechism).

We do not try to explain how Jesus is present under the bread and wine of the Lord's Supper, rather we believe, teach, confess, and rejoice that He is present. We Lutherans let the words of Jesus stand without arguing about their possibility or trying to explain how they are true, as Jesus' Word is sure and certain. The Holy Spirit gives us faith to trust in and believe Jesus' words, "Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins." Christ's words of institution retain their validity and power, and thus, by virtue of these words, the body and blood of Christ are truly present, distributed, and received.

If you’re interested in an in-person explanation of what we believe, we offer a class multiple times a year called On-Ramp. This class is designed to give you more information about the Christian faith and beliefs and how they are lived out at Mountain View Lutheran.

Another great resource to answer many popular questions is the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod website.

If you still have questions, please reach out! We are here to help you, no question is off the table! Just email your questions to churchoffice@mvlcs.org, and we will make sure you get an answer. You can also set up a time to meet with one of our pastors if you prefer a face-to-face conversation about what we believe!