What do Lutherans believe? That is one of the most important questions anyone can ask about the Christian faith, and at Calvary Lutheran Church in Chandler, AZ, we are delighted to share the answer. Our mission and beliefs are firmly rooted in the Holy Scriptures, the inspired, inerrant Word of God, and in the Lutheran Reformation heritage that recovered the Gospel of grace for the whole world.
Understanding our mission and beliefs is central to knowing who we are. Calvary Lutheran is a member congregation of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), one of the most doctrinally faithful Lutheran church bodies in North America. Everything we believe, teach, and confess is drawn from Scripture alone, and our goal in every ministry and program is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ clearly and faithfully.
What We Believe: Mission and Beliefs at Calvary Lutheran
If you have ever wondered what do Lutherans believe, the core of our answer is this: every human being is sinful by nature and in need of a Savior, and Jesus Christ is that Savior. He lived a perfect life in our place, died on the cross to pay the full penalty for our sins, and rose bodily from the dead, guaranteeing eternal life to all who trust in Him.
We believe that Scripture alone (sola scriptura), grace alone (sola gratia), and faith alone (sola fide) are the foundations of Christian teaching. These three principles, recovered during the Protestant Reformation by Martin Luther, distinguish Lutheran Christianity and set it apart from both Roman Catholicism and other Protestant traditions.
Our Mission and Beliefs
Our congregation exists to glorify God by proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people, nurturing believers in their faith, and serving our neighbors in love. That mission drives everything we do at Calvary, from Sunday morning worship to weekday Bible studies, from Vacation Bible School to our online sermon library.
Proclaim the Gospel
We share the Good News of Jesus Christ, that He lived, died, and rose again for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life. This message is the foundation of every sermon, every Bible class, and every ministry program at Calvary Lutheran in Chandler, AZ.
Teach God’s Word
We are committed to thorough, faithful teaching of the whole counsel of God. Through weekly sermons, adult Bible classes, Sunday School, Confirmation instruction, and small group studies, we equip believers of every age to know God’s Word deeply and live it out daily.
Serve in Love
Faith in Christ naturally overflows in love and service to others. Our congregation actively seeks opportunities to serve our neighbors in Chandler, the greater East Valley, and the world through local outreach, WELS missions, and individual acts of Christian compassion.
Law and Gospel: The Heart of Our Message
Lutheran preaching and teaching is built on the careful distinction between Law and Gospel. The Law reveals our sin and our need for a Savior. The Gospel announces the free forgiveness of sins that God gives through faith in Jesus Christ. At Calvary, we believe that maintaining this distinction is essential to faithful proclamation and genuine Christian comfort.
When Law and Gospel are confused, the result is either legalism or false assurance. When they are rightly distinguished, sinners find both the conviction that drives them to Christ and the comfort that holds them in His grace. This is at the heart of what Lutherans believe and why we teach as we do.
The Sacraments
Holy Baptism
We believe that Holy Baptism is a means of grace through which God works forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe. We baptize infants as well as adults, trusting in God’s promise that the gift of baptism is for all people, including the children of believers.
Holy Communion
We believe in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Lord’s Supper. In, with, and under the bread and wine, the true body and blood of Jesus are present and received by all communicants. This precious gift offers the forgiveness of sins, strengthens faith, and unites believers with Christ and with one another.
Our Lutheran Heritage and WELS
Calvary Lutheran Church is part of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), a church body of over 1,200 congregations committed to the faithful confession of Scripture and the Lutheran confessions. WELS congregations are united around the conviction that God’s Word is the only norm and rule for all doctrine and practice.
The Lutheran heritage we share goes back to the 16th-century Reformation, when Martin Luther and his colleagues called the church back to the clear teaching of Scripture. Lutherans confess this heritage not out of denominational pride, but because we believe Lutheran theology faithfully reflects what the Bible teaches about God, humanity, sin, and salvation.
Come and See for Yourself
The best way to understand what Calvary Lutheran believes is to come and worship with us. We invite you to join us for Sunday morning worship in Chandler, AZ, where you will hear the Gospel proclaimed from God’s Word, receive the sacraments, and experience the warmth of a congregation that loves Jesus and loves its neighbors.
Whether you are a longtime Lutheran, someone exploring Christianity for the first time, or simply looking for a new church home in the Chandler area, you are welcome here. Come as you are, and let God’s Word speak to you.
To learn more about life at Calvary Lutheran Church, explore our ministries page, find out about our Sunday worship services, or connect with our pastoral staff.
Calvary Lutheran Church is a congregation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS). The LCMS is a confessional Lutheran denomination that upholds the historic teachings of the Christian faith as expressed in the Lutheran Confessions and the Holy Scriptures.
Get in Touch
Our Location
Calvary Lutheran Church, 1270 N. Dobson Road, Chandler, AZ 85224
Call Us
480-963-9397
Our Email
ministry@calvarychandler.net