We are: Biblical. Confessional. Lutheran.

We teach that the Holy Scriptures, in all their parts, are the inspired, inerrant, infallible Word of God (2 Timothy: 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21, John 10:35).

The Holy Scriptures are the sole source from which all doctrines proclaimed in the Christian Church must be taken and the sole rule and norm by which all teachers and doctrines must be examined and judged.

Holy Scripture sums up all its teachings regarding the love of God to the world of sinners, regarding the salvation earned by Christ, and regarding faith in Christ as the only way to obtain salvation, in the article of Justification. Scripture teaches that God has already declared the whole world to be righteous in Christ (Romans 5:19; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Romans 4:25). Therefore, without any and all works of the Law, by grace alone, for Christ's sake alone, He justifies - that is, accounts as righteous - all those who believe, accept, and rely on, the fact that for Christ's sake their sins are forgiven. St. Paul writes, "There is no difference; for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus," (Romans 3:23, 24). And again: "For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law" (Romans 3:28).

We are Biblical.

“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”

— Romans 10:17

We are confessional.

We accept as our confession the entire Book of Concord of the year 1580 - also known as The Lutheran Confessions. The Lutheran Confessions are not a rule of faith beyond, and supplementary to, Scripture, but a confession of the doctrines of Scripture over against those who deny these doctrines. They are a true, clear, exposition of Holy Scripture. The Holy Scriptures themselves cannot err because they are the very Word of God. The Lutheran Confessions do not err because they are a true and faithful exposition of the Word of God. The Confessions are the doctrinal decisions of Holy Scripture itself, not the interpretation of man.

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

-1 John 1: 8-9

We are Lutheran.

Many would date the beginning of the Reformation to October 31st, 1517, when Dr. Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. But, with so many "Protestant" denominations, what makes the Lutheran Reformation unique?

 The Lutheran Reformation has been referred to by some as, "the conservative reformation." This is because Dr. Martin Luther and the other Lutheran reformers sought to preserve as much of the tradition of the western church as possible. They saw that most of the liturgical heritage of the church was good and edifying for God's people. Therefore, they only sought to make changes where a teaching or practice was contradicting Holy Scripture. This is put succinctly in the Lutheran Confessions: "We do not abolish the Mass, but religiously maintain and defend it. For among us masses are celebrated every Lord’s Day and on the other festivals, in which the Sacrament is offered to those who wish to use it, after they have been examined and absolved. And the usual public ceremonies are observed, the series of lessons, of prayers, vestments, and other like things" (Article XXIV. Defense of the Augsburg Confession).

The term we use, and which is most often used by the historic Lutheran Church for the Sunday worship service is, "Divine Service." The structure of the Divine Service is ancient. It goes back to the early church. In Acts 2:42 we read about the practice of the church after the day of Pentecost: "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." These are the essential elements of the Divine Service. The Holy Spirit gathers the Baptized children of God together in a holy fellowship on the Lord's Day - the Day of His Resurrection - to receive the living and active Word of God, the Holy Sacrament of the Altar ("the breaking of the bread"), and in response to God's gifts of His saving Word and Sacraments, the church responds with prayer, praise and thanksgiving.

As stated above in the section "We are Biblical," our Lord Jesus Christ won salvation on the cross for all people. All who believe in Him are justified (declared righteous by God) - by faith alone, for the sake of Christ alone. This is the chief teaching of Holy Scripture.  In order that we may believe and be saved, our Lord has instituted the preaching of His Word and the administration of His Sacraments. Through the Word and Sacraments, as through instruments, the Holy Spirit creates and sustains saving faith in Jesus Christ. Therefore, our salvation, from beginning to end, is the work of God alone. Jesus won our salvation on the cross. He bestows it upon us through His Word and Sacraments (the Means of Grace).

 In the Divine Service, our Lord Jesus Christ Himself is the One who serves us. Our Lord says, "the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). And so, worship isn't about us serving God; it is about God serving us (see John 13:1-11). When we gather together in the name of the One true God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - the holy name which God Himself put upon us in Baptism, our Risen Lord Jesus Christ is truly present with us through His Means of Grace to create, sustain, and strengthen our faith in Him and love for one another.

St. John Lutheran Church is a member congregation of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. You can find a more detailed confession of our faith and learn more about the LCMS by clicking here .(link to LCMS website)

We are a member congregation of the Iowa District West of the LCMS. Learn more about our District by clicking here .(Link to IDW)

“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat, this is my body.’

Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’”

-Matthew 26: 26-27

Celebration of the Lord’s Supper

The Holy Scriptures teach that 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 drink for the forgiveness of our sins and the strengthening of our faith.

 The Holy Scriptures also teach that this sacrament may be spiritually harmful if misused. "For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself " (1 Corinthians 11:26-29). Accordingly, only those who have been instructed in the faith, and who are able and willing to examine themselves, should commune.

Furthermore, the Holy Scriptures teach that when Christians receive the Lord's Supper together, they bear witness to their unity in all matters of doctrine (Biblical teaching). It is a sign of fellowship - which is created by the Holy Spirit and made manifest in what we publicly confess to believe. It would not be honest or helpful, therefore, to commune with those who do not share the same confession of faith, since we do not want to say one thing with our words and another with our actions. Furthermore, it would not be loving to allow someone to eat and drink to their own judgment. (See: 1 Corinthians 1:10; 1 Corinthians 10:14-22; 1 Corinthians 11:26-29; Philippians 2:1-2; 1 John 2:18-20; Jude 3-4) 

Therefore, only those who have been instructed in the faith, and who are currently members of a congregation of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS) are invited to commune with us. If you are a guest and wish to receive Holy Communion (whether you are a member of an LCMS congregation or not), please speak with our Pastor before the service.