What is a Lutheran?
A follower of Jesus Christ and a member of the Christian Church. The Lutheran Church is the oldest Protestant church and one of the largest, with 10 million members in the United States.

How did Lutheranism get started?
Lutherans take their name from Martin Luther (1486 - 1546). Luther had been a lawyer before becoming an Augustinian monk in 1505, and was ordained a priest in 1507.  While continuing his studies in pursuit of a Doctor of Theology degree, he discovered significant differences between what he read in the Bible and the theology and practices of the Roman Catholic Church.  On October 31, 1517, he posted a challenge on the church door at Wittenberg University to debate 95 theological issues (95 Theses).  Luther was eventually ex-communicated and, as a result, formed a new denomination - the present day Lutheran church. Luther's hope was that the church would reform its practice and preaching to be more consistent with the Word of God as contained in the Bible.  Luther taught that people, no matter how hard they try, cannot earn God's forgiveness or a place in heaven.  God is loving, and He offers forgiveness and eternal life as a free gift through faith in Jesus Christ.

What is the core or central teaching?
We have several principal teachings, but the most important is termed "justification by grace through faith." (See Ephesians 2:8-9.)  People don't use the word "justification" anymore, and most are not aware of its meaning. Lutheran scholar Martin Marty defines it like this: "God considers righteous, or makes just, people who make nothing of their own righteousness or justice. Instead, they accept God's gift of Himself, His love, His activity, in the death and rising again of His Son, Jesus Christ.  Since no one deserves such love, people are saved by grace.  Since they are grasped by it and do not reason or work their way into it, this grace is received by faith."

How do Lutherans look at the Bible?
While Lutherans recognize differences in the way the Bible is studied and interpreted, it is accepted as the primary and authoritative witness to the church's faith.  Lutherans believe that the Bible was divinely inspired; in some special way God saw to it that the humans who wrote it - without stepping outside their own personalities and styles, imparted His own truth.

What is a Sacrament?
By Lutheran definition a sacrament is a sacred act, instituted by Christ, ordained by God, promising grace, and combining natural elements with the divine word. Therefore, Lutherans recognize only two sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion. In Baptism God freely offers his grace and lovingly establishes a new community. This can be seen more clearly in infant Baptism.  In Holy Communion - often called the Lord's Supper or the Eucharist - those who come to the table receive in bread and wine the body and blood of their Lord.  This gift is itself the real presence of God's forgiveness and mercy, nourishing persons in fellowship with their Lord and with each other.