What does it mean to have a Lutheran education?
What do Lutherans teach?

Lutherans are quite good at two things in particular—singing and teaching. Both gifts spring from our history.

Singing: Martin Luther, in his attempt to bring the Gospel and the worship service back to the people (“the priesthood of all believers”), clothed the Scriptures in song. Lutheran worship was noted for the participation of its worshipers—mostly through song. Our strong choral music program is very Lutheran. 

Teaching: Since Martin Luther was a professor and the Reformation began in 1517 as a debate over 95 Theses or ideas, the movement found its strength in explaining and teaching what it believed to be true from the Bible alone. The Lutherans defended and explained themselves to the Roman Catholic theologians who used the Bible and explanations developed later that were not in the Bible. The ideas that were publicly debated were crystallized into the public stances of our faith, or the teachings of our faith. These teachings are found in our Confessions—the most important ones being the “Augsburg Confession,” the “Formula of Concord” and the “Small Catechism.”  The catechism was designed for the home, so that parents would have guidance in being able to teach their children the fundamentals of the Christian faith in matters of the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and the sacraments.

The main themes you will find in Lutheran teaching are:
1) Grace 
2) Faith 
3) Scripture 
4) Sacraments 
5) Law and Gospel.

Grace: God saves us by his grace; his salvation comes from his loving heart towards a fallen creation. We cannot do anything whatsoever to save ourselves. We are saved only because God is kind to us. His saving kindness was made complete and to last for all eternity when his own Son, Jesus Christ, submitted to death for our salvation. “It is finished,” Jesus cried out on the cross. Or: “It is complete! That is all that is needed!” 

Faith: The benefits of the work of God in Jesus Christ, crucified, risen, and ascended, are given to us through faith. Faith is the hand that opens up and receives the gift that God gives. Even faith itself is a gift from God. God enables and empowers us to believe.

Scripture: We know of God’s grace and his plan of salvation through Jesus only because the Bible reveals it to us. We rely on what God has given us to know.  Our reason, our experience, our church traditions—all fail to be more trustworthy than Scripture.

Sacraments: God continues to express his kindness to us through “means of grace.” In his infinite power and love, he also gives us his forgiving power when he comes to us in water, bread, and wine (baptism and holy communion) to give us a tangible expression of salvation and forgiveness.

Law and Gospel: God speaks to us through the “doubled-edged sword” of the Word of God. One edge is Law, which reveals his will for all human beings and his wrath against sinners who cannot live as he created us to live. The other edge is the Gospel, which reveals his love toward sinners as he makes us holy without any merit or worthiness in us. Lutherans pay attention to how we phrase the work of God so that Law and Gospel are not confused with each other. If we confuse the two, then we often make God’s love conditional or his grace cheapened by our appeal to our good behavio

 

Why are churches involved with Central Lutheran School?  Why do we call this “parochial education” and not “private education?”

The four churches involved in the leading and supporting of Central Lutherans School give the spiritual shape to its Christian education. A “private” education may or may not be Christian. And if it is, it may not be financially or administratively supported by local churches. A “parochial” education is certainly Christian, and it is even supported by local churches. The word means we all live under one spiritual roof of the church. In fact, its members realize such support in a very tangible way as the churches subsidize the educational costs so that as many families as possible might benefit from such Christian education.  There is a close partnership between church, school, and home in a parochial education that may not be there in a private education.

Can we visit the supporting Lutheran Churches? Can I talk to the pastors?

Absolutely! Anytime, anywhere. We would love to answer any questions you have and to encourage you and your family in your faith and Christian life.

What does it mean to have a Lutheran education?
What do Lutherans teach?

Lutherans are quite good at two things in particular—singing and teaching. Both gifts spring from our history.

Singing: Martin Luther, in his attempt to bring the Gospel and the worship service back to the people (“the priesthood of all believers”), clothed the Scriptures in song. Lutheran worship was noted for the participation of its worshipers—mostly through song. Our strong choral music program is very Lutheran. 

Teaching: Since Martin Luther was a professor and the Reformation began in 1517 as a debate over 95 Theses or ideas, the movement found its strength in explaining and teaching what it believed to be true from the Bible alone. The Lutherans defended and explained themselves to the Roman Catholic theologians who used the Bible and explanations developed later that were not in the Bible. The ideas that were publicly debated were crystallized into the public stances of our faith, or the teachings of our faith. These teachings are found in our Confessions—the most important ones being the “Augsburg Confession,” the “Formula of Concord” and the “Small Catechism.”  The catechism was designed for the home, so that parents would have guidance in being able to teach their children the fundamentals of the Christian faith in matters of the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and the sacraments.

The main themes you will find in Lutheran teaching are:
1) Grace 
2) Faith 
3) Scripture 
4) Sacraments 
5) Law and Gospel.

Grace: God saves us by his grace; his salvation comes from his loving heart towards a fallen creation. We cannot do anything whatsoever to save ourselves. We are saved only because God is kind to us. His saving kindness was made complete and to last for all eternity when his own Son, Jesus Christ, submitted to death for our salvation. “It is finished,” Jesus cried out on the cross. Or: “It is complete! That is all that is needed!” 

Faith: The benefits of the work of God in Jesus Christ, crucified, risen, and ascended, are given to us through faith. Faith is the hand that opens up and receives the gift that God gives. Even faith itself is a gift from God. God enables and empowers us to believe.

Scripture: We know of God’s grace and his plan of salvation through Jesus only because the Bible reveals it to us. We rely on what God has given us to know.  Our reason, our experience, our church traditions—all fail to be more trustworthy than Scripture.

Sacraments: God continues to express his kindness to us through “means of grace.” In his infinite power and love, he also gives us his forgiving power when he comes to us in water, bread, and wine (baptism and holy communion) to give us a tangible expression of salvation and forgiveness.

Law and Gospel: God speaks to us through the “doubled-edged sword” of the Word of God. One edge is Law, which reveals his will for all human beings and his wrath against sinners who cannot live as he created us to live. The other edge is the Gospel, which reveals his love toward sinners as he makes us holy without any merit or worthiness in us. Lutherans pay attention to how we phrase the work of God so that Law and Gospel are not confused with each other. If we confuse the two, then we often make God’s love conditional or his grace cheapened by our appeal to our good behavio

 

Why are churches involved with Central Lutheran School?  Why do we call this “parochial education” and not “private education?”

The four churches involved in the leading and supporting of Central Lutherans School give the spiritual shape to its Christian education. A “private” education may or may not be Christian. And if it is, it may not be financially or administratively supported by local churches. A “parochial” education is certainly Christian, and it is even supported by local churches. The word means we all live under one spiritual roof of the church. In fact, its members realize such support in a very tangible way as the churches subsidize the educational costs so that as many families as possible might benefit from such Christian education.  There is a close partnership between church, school, and home in a parochial education that may not be there in a private education.

Can we visit the supporting Lutheran Churches? Can I talk to the pastors?

Absolutely! Anytime, anywhere. We would love to answer any questions you have and to encourage you and your family in your faith and Christian life.