Beliefs, Mission & Vision

Olivet is a Christian community where hope is bright. In Olivet, God has created a prayerful, Bible-based, Spirit-led church that welcomes people of all generations and varied faith backgrounds. Yet, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are brought together to focus on Jesus.

Olivet is a Christian community where hope is bright. In Olivet, God has created a prayerful, Bible-based, Spirit-led church that welcomes people of all generations and varied faith backgrounds. Yet, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are brought together to focus on Jesus.

Olivet is a Christian community where hope is bright. In Olivet, God has created a prayerful, Bible-based, Spirit-led church that welcomes people of all generations and varied faith backgrounds. Yet, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are brought together to focus on Jesus.

Encountering and reflecting Jesus will inspire these transformations:

• Relationships in a culture of isolation
• Unity in a culture of polarization
• Hope in a culture of hopelessness
• Rest in a culture of exhaustion
• Gratitude in a culture of entitlement
• Contribution in a culture of consumerism
• Compassion in a culture of apathy
• Truth in a culture of confusion

‍

Encountering and reflecting Jesus will inspire these transformations:

• Relationships in a culture of isolation
• Unity in a culture of polarization
• Hope in a culture of hopelessness
• Rest in a culture of exhaustion
• Gratitude in a culture of entitlement
• Contribution in a culture of consumerism
• Compassion in a culture of apathy
• Truth in a culture of confusion

‍

Encountering and reflecting Jesus will inspire these transformations:

• Relationships in a culture of isolation
• Unity in a culture of polarization
• Hope in a culture of hopelessness
• Rest in a culture of exhaustion
• Gratitude in a culture of entitlement
• Contribution in a culture of consumerism
• Compassion in a culture of apathy
• Truth in a culture of confusion

‍

❤️ Seeking and Loving People as God Sees Them

😇 Understanding our Identity in Christ and Living from it

💪 Building Up the Body of Christ for Ministry

🙏🏼 Becoming a Joyful House of Prayer

‍

Our 2024-25 Objectives

1. Moving away from an inward focus & toward an outward focus
2. Moving away from disconnected individuals & towards a relational community
3. Moving away from practicing religion & towards unwrapping God's gift of grace

‍

❤️ Seeking and Loving People as God Sees Them

😇 Understanding our Identity in Christ and Living from it

💪 Building Up the Body of Christ for Ministry

🙏🏼 Becoming a Joyful House of Prayer

‍

Our 2024-25 Objectives

1. Moving away from an inward focus & toward an outward focus
2. Moving away from disconnected individuals & towards a relational community
3. Moving away from practicing religion & towards unwrapping God's gift of grace

‍

❤️ Seeking and Loving People as God Sees Them

😇 Understanding our Identity in Christ and Living from it

💪 Building Up the Body of Christ for Ministry

🙏🏼 Becoming a Joyful House of Prayer

‍

Our 2024-25 Objectives

1. Moving away from an inward focus & toward an outward focus
2. Moving away from disconnected individuals & towards a relational community
3. Moving away from practicing religion & towards unwrapping God's gift of grace

‍

Human Nature – We believe that human nature is sinful, separates us from God, and is redeemed only by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. (Romans 3:23)

‍

‍Salvation – We believe that Christ alone provides salvation. This salvation is a gift, by grace alone. We partake of this free gift of grace by faith alone . This leads to the assurance of eternal life. (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:28; 1 John 5:12; and John 3:16, 5:24)

‍

The Church – We believe that the one true Christian Church comprises all who have been justified by God's grace through faith alone and in Christ alone. The Bible instructs all Christians to gather together regularly to devote themselves to worship, prayer, biblical teaching, fellowship, service, and outreach to the world. (Ephesians 4:4-6; Romans 12:5; Acts 2:42-47; Ephesians 2:19-22; and Hebrews 10:24-25)

‍

Prayer – We believe in prayer and that God answers prayer according to His will. We encourage everyone to grow in prayer and to develop a prayer-filled life. (James 5:16, and Matthew 18:18-20)

‍

Sacrament of Baptism – We believe, in accordance with Luther’s Large and Small Catechisms, that Jesus instituted Holy Baptism. We believe that God truly acts in this sacrament. Baptism does not guarantee salvation; faith is essential for its effectiveness. (Mark 16:16 and John 3:16)

‍

Sacrament of the Lord's Supper – We believe, in accordance with Luther’s Large and Small Catechisms, that Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper. We believe that God truly acts in this sacrament and that our faith is essential for its effectiveness. Taking this sacrament does not guarantee salvation; it must be received in faith. (1 Corinthians 11:29 and John 3:16)

‍

Changed Life – We believe that being a Christian leads to a changed life. This is called sanctification, which is a lifelong process of growth in selfless love, humility, service, stewardship, and holiness by the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit. (2 Corinthians 5:17; Matthew 7:17-18; 2 Peter 3:18; James 1:22 and 2:17; Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18 and 5:17; and Ephesians 4:22-24)

‍

Marriage – We affirm that God created us male or female. By God’s design, marriage is the union of one male and one female. It is God’s will and intention that human sexual expression and fulfillment take place only within the boundaries of marriage. In light of this, Olivet will neither host nor officiate a marriage ceremony that fails to conform to this biblical definition of marriage. (Genesis 2:24-25; Matthew 19:4-6; Leviticus 18:22-23; Ephesians 5:31; and Mark 10:2-9)

‍

Human Life – We believe in the sanctity of all human life, including the unborn. (Deuteronomy 30:19, Jeremiah 1:5, and Proverbs 31:8)

‍

“Is this a Lutheran church?”‍

Here are the important ways that Olivet is Lutheran:

• We operate out of the core teaching of the Reformation, that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone revealed in Scripture alone with all glory to God alone (The Five Solas).
• We continue the drive to get the Bible in everyone’s hands, hearts, and minds.
• We believe the church should always be reforming (semper reformanda) to correct the faulty teachings and practices unique to each time and place.
• We are a very active member of a post-denominational network of about 1,000 churches called “Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ” (LCMC).
• Furthermore, constitutionally our legal name includes the word ‘Lutheran’ and an affirmation of teachings found in Martin Luther’s Catechisms.

But are there also ways in which we reflect a broader perspective than what most people think of as Lutheran? Yes, that too!

• Our congregation is made up of individuals with exceptionally-diverse faith backgrounds, practices, and beliefs. Few congregations have people both doing the sign of the cross and praying in tongues.
• The word ‘Lutheran’ in America today doesn’t mean what it used to. The largest Lutheran body in America today (the ELCA) makes the news for celebrating transgender pastors and bishops, championing abortion, and opposing Israel and evangelism. That’s what most people think of when they think of ‘Lutheran’ today. The next biggest groups are often thought of as dry, legalistic, finger-pointing, and out-of-touch with the culture today. Neither of those groups reflect where Olivet is at, so it makes no sense to advertise that way.
• The Reformation wasn’t about Martin Luther or his ideas. It was about Jesus. It was a return to Scripture. Luther was constantly pointing to God’s Word. He only wanted people to see Christ, and Luther would be horrified to have the Reformation remembered in any other way.
• In 1522, in his “Admonition Against Insurrection,” Luther said, “I ask that my name be left silent and people not call themselves Lutheran, but rather Christians. Who is Luther? The doctrine is not mine. I have been crucified for no one. St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:4-5 would not suffer that the Christians should call themselves of Paul or of Peter, but Christian. How should I, a poor stinking bag of worms, become so that the children of Christ are named with my unholy name? It should not be dear friends. Let us extinguish all factious names and be called Christians.” So Martin Luther opposed anyone calling themselves ‘Lutheran.’
• In our constitution Olivet proclaims we are “an independent church which identifies with the renewal movement that began with the Lutheran Reformation.” I celebrate this unique identity.

In the ways that most matter we are theologically Lutheran, while we are not culturally Lutheran with respect to the Lutheran pride, sin, and traditionalism which Martin Luther himself abhorred.

‍

Human Nature – We believe that human nature is sinful, separates us from God, and is redeemed only by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. (Romans 3:23)

‍

‍Salvation – We believe that Christ alone provides salvation. This salvation is a gift, by grace alone. We partake of this free gift of grace by faith alone . This leads to the assurance of eternal life. (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:28; 1 John 5:12; and John 3:16, 5:24)

‍

The Church – We believe that the one true Christian Church comprises all who have been justified by God's grace through faith alone and in Christ alone. The Bible instructs all Christians to gather together regularly to devote themselves to worship, prayer, biblical teaching, fellowship, service, and outreach to the world. (Ephesians 4:4-6; Romans 12:5; Acts 2:42-47; Ephesians 2:19-22; and Hebrews 10:24-25)

‍

Prayer – We believe in prayer and that God answers prayer according to His will. We encourage everyone to grow in prayer and to develop a prayer-filled life. (James 5:16, and Matthew 18:18-20)

‍

Sacrament of Baptism – We believe, in accordance with Luther’s Large and Small Catechisms, that Jesus instituted Holy Baptism. We believe that God truly acts in this sacrament. Baptism does not guarantee salvation; faith is essential for its effectiveness. (Mark 16:16 and John 3:16)

‍

Sacrament of the Lord's Supper – We believe, in accordance with Luther’s Large and Small Catechisms, that Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper. We believe that God truly acts in this sacrament and that our faith is essential for its effectiveness. Taking this sacrament does not guarantee salvation; it must be received in faith. (1 Corinthians 11:29 and John 3:16)

‍

Changed Life – We believe that being a Christian leads to a changed life. This is called sanctification, which is a lifelong process of growth in selfless love, humility, service, stewardship, and holiness by the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit. (2 Corinthians 5:17; Matthew 7:17-18; 2 Peter 3:18; James 1:22 and 2:17; Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18 and 5:17; and Ephesians 4:22-24)

‍

Marriage – We affirm that God created us male or female. By God’s design, marriage is the union of one male and one female. It is God’s will and intention that human sexual expression and fulfillment take place only within the boundaries of marriage. In light of this, Olivet will neither host nor officiate a marriage ceremony that fails to conform to this biblical definition of marriage. (Genesis 2:24-25; Matthew 19:4-6; Leviticus 18:22-23; Ephesians 5:31; and Mark 10:2-9)

‍

Human Life – We believe in the sanctity of all human life, including the unborn. (Deuteronomy 30:19, Jeremiah 1:5, and Proverbs 31:8)

‍

“Is this a Lutheran church?”‍

Here are the important ways that Olivet is Lutheran:

• We operate out of the core teaching of the Reformation, that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone revealed in Scripture alone with all glory to God alone (The Five Solas).
• We continue the drive to get the Bible in everyone’s hands, hearts, and minds.
• We believe the church should always be reforming (semper reformanda) to correct the faulty teachings and practices unique to each time and place.
• We are a very active member of a post-denominational network of about 1,000 churches called “Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ” (LCMC).
• Furthermore, constitutionally our legal name includes the word ‘Lutheran’ and an affirmation of teachings found in Martin Luther’s Catechisms.

But are there also ways in which we reflect a broader perspective than what most people think of as Lutheran? Yes, that too!

• Our congregation is made up of individuals with exceptionally-diverse faith backgrounds, practices, and beliefs. Few congregations have people both doing the sign of the cross and praying in tongues.
• The word ‘Lutheran’ in America today doesn’t mean what it used to. The largest Lutheran body in America today (the ELCA) makes the news for celebrating transgender pastors and bishops, championing abortion, and opposing Israel and evangelism. That’s what most people think of when they think of ‘Lutheran’ today. The next biggest groups are often thought of as dry, legalistic, finger-pointing, and out-of-touch with the culture today. Neither of those groups reflect where Olivet is at, so it makes no sense to advertise that way.
• The Reformation wasn’t about Martin Luther or his ideas. It was about Jesus. It was a return to Scripture. Luther was constantly pointing to God’s Word. He only wanted people to see Christ, and Luther would be horrified to have the Reformation remembered in any other way.
• In 1522, in his “Admonition Against Insurrection,” Luther said, “I ask that my name be left silent and people not call themselves Lutheran, but rather Christians. Who is Luther? The doctrine is not mine. I have been crucified for no one. St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:4-5 would not suffer that the Christians should call themselves of Paul or of Peter, but Christian. How should I, a poor stinking bag of worms, become so that the children of Christ are named with my unholy name? It should not be dear friends. Let us extinguish all factious names and be called Christians.” So Martin Luther opposed anyone calling themselves ‘Lutheran.’
• In our constitution Olivet proclaims we are “an independent church which identifies with the renewal movement that began with the Lutheran Reformation.” I celebrate this unique identity.

In the ways that most matter we are theologically Lutheran, while we are not culturally Lutheran with respect to the Lutheran pride, sin, and traditionalism which Martin Luther himself abhorred.

‍

Human Nature – We believe that human nature is sinful, separates us from God, and is redeemed only by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. (Romans 3:23)

‍

‍Salvation – We believe that Christ alone provides salvation. This salvation is a gift, by grace alone. We partake of this free gift of grace by faith alone . This leads to the assurance of eternal life. (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:28; 1 John 5:12; and John 3:16, 5:24)

‍

The Church – We believe that the one true Christian Church comprises all who have been justified by God's grace through faith alone and in Christ alone. The Bible instructs all Christians to gather together regularly to devote themselves to worship, prayer, biblical teaching, fellowship, service, and outreach to the world. (Ephesians 4:4-6; Romans 12:5; Acts 2:42-47; Ephesians 2:19-22; and Hebrews 10:24-25)

‍

Prayer – We believe in prayer and that God answers prayer according to His will. We encourage everyone to grow in prayer and to develop a prayer-filled life. (James 5:16, and Matthew 18:18-20)

‍

Sacrament of Baptism – We believe, in accordance with Luther’s Large and Small Catechisms, that Jesus instituted Holy Baptism. We believe that God truly acts in this sacrament. Baptism does not guarantee salvation; faith is essential for its effectiveness. (Mark 16:16 and John 3:16)

‍

Sacrament of the Lord's Supper – We believe, in accordance with Luther’s Large and Small Catechisms, that Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper. We believe that God truly acts in this sacrament and that our faith is essential for its effectiveness. Taking this sacrament does not guarantee salvation; it must be received in faith. (1 Corinthians 11:29 and John 3:16)

‍

Changed Life – We believe that being a Christian leads to a changed life. This is called sanctification, which is a lifelong process of growth in selfless love, humility, service, stewardship, and holiness by the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit. (2 Corinthians 5:17; Matthew 7:17-18; 2 Peter 3:18; James 1:22 and 2:17; Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18 and 5:17; and Ephesians 4:22-24)

‍

Marriage – We affirm that God created us male or female. By God’s design, marriage is the union of one male and one female. It is God’s will and intention that human sexual expression and fulfillment take place only within the boundaries of marriage. In light of this, Olivet will neither host nor officiate a marriage ceremony that fails to conform to this biblical definition of marriage. (Genesis 2:24-25; Matthew 19:4-6; Leviticus 18:22-23; Ephesians 5:31; and Mark 10:2-9)

‍

Human Life – We believe in the sanctity of all human life, including the unborn. (Deuteronomy 30:19, Jeremiah 1:5, and Proverbs 31:8)

‍

“Is this a Lutheran church?”‍

Here are the important ways that Olivet is Lutheran:

• We operate out of the core teaching of the Reformation, that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone revealed in Scripture alone with all glory to God alone (The Five Solas).
• We continue the drive to get the Bible in everyone’s hands, hearts, and minds.
• We believe the church should always be reforming (semper reformanda) to correct the faulty teachings and practices unique to each time and place.
• We are a very active member of a post-denominational network of about 1,000 churches called “Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ” (LCMC).
• Furthermore, constitutionally our legal name includes the word ‘Lutheran’ and an affirmation of teachings found in Martin Luther’s Catechisms.

But are there also ways in which we reflect a broader perspective than what most people think of as Lutheran? Yes, that too!

• Our congregation is made up of individuals with exceptionally-diverse faith backgrounds, practices, and beliefs. Few congregations have people both doing the sign of the cross and praying in tongues.
• The word ‘Lutheran’ in America today doesn’t mean what it used to. The largest Lutheran body in America today (the ELCA) makes the news for celebrating transgender pastors and bishops, championing abortion, and opposing Israel and evangelism. That’s what most people think of when they think of ‘Lutheran’ today. The next biggest groups are often thought of as dry, legalistic, finger-pointing, and out-of-touch with the culture today. Neither of those groups reflect where Olivet is at, so it makes no sense to advertise that way.
• The Reformation wasn’t about Martin Luther or his ideas. It was about Jesus. It was a return to Scripture. Luther was constantly pointing to God’s Word. He only wanted people to see Christ, and Luther would be horrified to have the Reformation remembered in any other way.
• In 1522, in his “Admonition Against Insurrection,” Luther said, “I ask that my name be left silent and people not call themselves Lutheran, but rather Christians. Who is Luther? The doctrine is not mine. I have been crucified for no one. St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:4-5 would not suffer that the Christians should call themselves of Paul or of Peter, but Christian. How should I, a poor stinking bag of worms, become so that the children of Christ are named with my unholy name? It should not be dear friends. Let us extinguish all factious names and be called Christians.” So Martin Luther opposed anyone calling themselves ‘Lutheran.’
• In our constitution Olivet proclaims we are “an independent church which identifies with the renewal movement that began with the Lutheran Reformation.” I celebrate this unique identity.

In the ways that most matter we are theologically Lutheran, while we are not culturally Lutheran with respect to the Lutheran pride, sin, and traditionalism which Martin Luther himself abhorred.

‍