What We Believe
The faith we confess — and teach in every classroom.
What Lutherans believe is at the heart of everything Martin Luther School does. Our confession is simple and Christ-centered: God saves sinners by His grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, revealed in His Word. You are welcome here no matter where you are on your faith journey.
This page is our confession of faith — the teaching that shapes every subject, every chapel, and every relationship at MLS. If you are weighing whether a Lutheran school is right for your family, or wondering how we differ from other churches that use the name “Lutheran,” our Faith & Values page answers those questions directly.
“For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.”
Romans 3:28 (ESV)
We Believe in the Triune God
Martin Luther School is a mission ministry of Immanuel Lutheran Church (LCMS). Together, our school and congregation teach and respond to the love of the Triune God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — confessed in the words of the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds that Christians have prayed for nearly two thousand years:
God the Father
The Creator of all that exists, who made us and still cares for us, and who loves the world He has made.
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” — Genesis 1:1
God the Son
Jesus Christ, who became human to suffer and die for the sins of all people, and rose again in victory over sin, death, and the devil.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son.” — John 3:16
God the Holy Spirit
Who creates and strengthens faith in our hearts through God’s Word and through Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
“No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit.” — 1 Corinthians 12:3
These three persons are one God — equally God, together from all eternity. Jesus Himself gives us this name for God when He sends His disciples to baptize “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). Many families in the Joplin area ask, “What does it mean to be Lutheran?” The short answer will sound familiar to anyone who loves the Bible: we are Bible-believing Christians who trust that God saves us by His grace, through faith in Jesus — not by anything we do on our own.
Grace Alone. Faith Alone. Scripture Alone.
“Count it one of the highest virtues upon earth to educate faithfully the children of others.”
Martin Luther (1483–1546)
Our school and congregation hold to the Bible-based teaching of our namesake, Martin Luther, whose recovery of the Gospel reformed the Christian Church in the 16th century. That teaching can be summarized in three phrases — the three “Solas” of the Reformation:
Grace Alone (Sola Gratia)
God loves people even though they are sinful and do not deserve His love. He sent Jesus, His Son, to save the ungodly. Salvation is a gift — never something we earn.
“By grace you have been saved through faith… it is the gift of God, not a result of works.” — Ephesians 2:8–9
Faith Alone (Sola Fide)
By His death in our place, Jesus won forgiveness and eternal life for all people. We receive it not by earning it, but simply by trusting Him.
“The righteous shall live by faith.” — Romans 1:17
Scripture Alone (Sola Scriptura)
The Bible is God’s true and trustworthy Word, without error in all it teaches. It is our highest authority for what we believe — above any tradition, opinion, or trend.
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching.” — 2 Timothy 3:16
Word and Sacrament — How God Comes to Us
Here is one place Lutherans may sound a little different from what you’ve heard in a Baptist or non-denominational church — and it’s worth understanding, because it’s deeply biblical. Lutherans believe God is not far off, waiting for us to reach up to Him. He comes down to us, delivering His forgiveness and life through things we can hear, see, and taste: His Word, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. We call these the Means of Grace — the ordinary ways God chooses to hand out His grace.
The Word
When the Bible is read and preached, God is not just giving us information about Himself — He is actually at work, creating faith and delivering forgiveness through it.
“So shall my word be… it shall not return to me empty.” — Isaiah 55:11
Holy Baptism
Baptism is God’s work, not ours — His promise to us. Through water joined to His Word, He forgives sin and gives new life. Because it’s His gift, it’s for people of every age, including children.
“Baptism… now saves you.” — 1 Peter 3:21 · “The promise is for you and for your children.” — Acts 2:38–39
The Lord’s Supper
In the bread and wine, Jesus gives us His own body and blood, exactly as He said, for the forgiveness of our sins and the strengthening of our faith.
“This is my body… this is my blood… for the forgiveness of sins.” — Matthew 26:26–28
If infant Baptism or the Lord’s Supper is new to you — or different from your home church — that’s completely understandable, and you are still fully welcome here. Our Faith & Values page walks through these gently, from a Baptist and evangelical starting point, and answers the honest questions families ask most.
Law and Gospel — Reading the Bible Rightly
Lutherans believe the most important skill in reading the Bible is telling apart two things God says in it. His Law shows us our sin and our need for a Savior. His Gospel is the good news that Jesus has already met that need. Confuse the two and faith turns into either despair or pride. Keep them straight and the whole Bible opens up as one story of rescue.
“The law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.” — Galatians 3:24
This is why a Lutheran education never reduces the faith to “be a good kid for Jesus.” Children first learn that they are loved and forgiven in Christ — and good works grow out of that gift rather than trying to earn it (Ephesians 2:10). It changes how a child handles failure, forgives a friend, and faces a hard day.
The Bible and the Small Catechism
Everything above is drawn straight from Scripture — and it comes to life for children in Luther’s Small Catechism, the little book at the heart of a Lutheran education.
The Small Catechism is a short, memorable summary of the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Sacraments — written by Martin Luther so that ordinary parents could teach the faith to their children at home.
“These words that I command you today shall be on your heart… You shall teach them diligently to your children.” — Deuteronomy 6:6–7
Our students learn the Catechism by heart, and families are always welcome to read along. You can find the full text free at catechism.cph.org. (The Catechism is part of a larger collection called the Book of Concord for those who wish to go deeper — but the Small Catechism is where nearly every Lutheran family begins.)
Because we hold Scripture as God’s inspired, trustworthy Word, we don’t adjust its teaching to fit passing cultural trends. We teach it as true, reliable, and enough for faith and life.
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
Matthew 24:35 (ESV)
To read more about the Lutheran faith, visit The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
Faith in the Classroom
At Martin Luther School, our beliefs are not confined to religion class — they are the foundation of everything we teach. Every subject, from math to science to language arts, is taught knowing that all truth and all creation belong to God. Students receive daily religious instruction, memorize Scripture and catechism, and attend weekly chapel in the church sanctuary.
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.” — Proverbs 1:7
Our goal is to nurture children who understand what they believe, why they believe it, and how to live out their faith with confidence and compassion. Everything we teach flows into our mission: to kindle character, spark joy, and ignite curiosity through the light of Christ (2 Timothy 1:6).
Families of all Christian backgrounds — and those exploring the faith for the first time — are warmly welcomed at MLS in Joplin, MO. We believe every child is a gift from God, and our calling is to share the love of Jesus with each one.
“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD.” — Psalm 127:3
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Proverbs 22:6 (ESV)
Common Questions About What We Believe
What does it mean to be Lutheran?
To be Lutheran is to be a Bible-believing Christian who confesses that we are saved by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, revealed in Scripture alone. Lutherans hold to the historic creeds of the Christian Church and to the Book of Concord. At MLS, being Lutheran means the Gospel of Jesus is at the center of everything — not just religion class.
What does “grace alone” actually mean?
It means salvation is entirely God’s gift. We cannot earn God’s love or work our way to heaven. Because we were sinners who could not save ourselves, God sent Jesus to do it for us. As Romans 5:8 puts it, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” A child raised on grace learns that their worth comes not from performance but from the God who created and redeemed them.
What is Luther’s Small Catechism?
It’s a short, memorable summary of the basics of the Christian faith — the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Sacraments — written by Martin Luther so parents could teach their children at home. Our students learn it by heart, and you can read it free at catechism.cph.org.
Do I have to be Lutheran to believe this — or to enroll?
No. Many of our families come from Baptist, non-denominational, Catholic, and other backgrounds, and they are a valued part of our community. We teach the Christian faith openly from a Lutheran perspective, but we never pressure a child or family to leave their home church or join ours. For more on how this works day to day, see our Faith & Values page.
How is what we believe taught to students?
Through daily religion class, Scripture and catechism memory, weekly chapel led by Pastor Ramstad, DCE Jason Glaskey, and Principal Mollie Ramstad — with students assisting each week — and the rhythm of the Church Year. Just as importantly, it’s woven through every subject, because all of creation and all of learning belongs to God.
Come Learn With Us
Whether your family is Lutheran, exploring Christianity, or simply looking for a values-based education in Joplin — you are welcome here. Our faith is something we share gladly, not something we impose.
Have questions about Jesus or the Lutheran faith? Make an appointment with Pastor Chris Ramstad — call the church office at (417) 624-0333, or stop in near the flagpole entrance anytime.
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Martin Luther School is affiliated with the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) and accredited through National Lutheran School Accreditation. Located at 2616 S Connecticut Ave, Joplin, MO 64804. Phone: (417) 624-1403.