What We Believe
Have you ever wondered what the Bible shares with us?
Here is a summary of some of the things the Bible shares with us.
Our Loving Heavenly Father
The Bible and Lutherans teach that God the Father is one of the three persons who are the Triune God. God is a spirit. This means that he cannot be seen or confined to one place. He is called Father because he is the Father of Jesus Christ and of all who believe in Jesus. He has created all things. He is holy, loving, and just. He continues to take care of all creation and all human beings.
Matthew 28:19 Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
John 4:24 God is a spirit.
John 20:17 Jesus said, “I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”
Leviticus 19:2 The Lord said to Moses, “Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.”
Malachi 2:10 Have we not all one Father? Did not one God create us?
Exodus 34:6,7 The LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished.
Romans 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
What is the Bible?
The Bible and Lutherans teach that there is only one true God. This God is invisible, holy, eternal, and has all power and wisdom. In the Bible God reveals himself as three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is why he is called “Triune.” These three persons in one God are all God. They are equal in power, glory and in every other quality. To deny or ignore one person is to deny all of them. It is God who created, redeemed and sanctified us.
Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Matthew 28:19 Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
John 5:23 He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
1 John 2:2 He [Jesus] is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
We Sin. We don't measure up to God's expectations.
The Bible and Lutherans teach that the first man and woman lost the image of God when they gave in to the temptation of Satan and disobeyed God’s command. This brought on them the judgment of God. Since that time all people are conceived and born in sin, desire to do what is evil, and are dead spiritually. Therefore, we are unable to reconcile ourselves to God by our own efforts and deeds.
Genesis 2:17 You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.
Psalm 51:5 Surely I have been a sinner from birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Ephesians 2:1 As for you, you were dead in your trespasses and sins.
John 3:6 Flesh gives birth to flesh.
Psalm 5:4 You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; with you the wicked cannot dwell.
Romans 5:12 Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all have sinned.
1 John 3:4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact sin is lawlessness.
Romans 8:7,8 The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law…Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
Holy Communion
The Bible and Lutherans teach that Holy Communion is a holy act instituted by Christ. Together with bread and wine we receive Jesus’ true body and blood. In this special meal Jesus gives the forgiveness of sins, strengthens our faith, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe. Only people who repent of their sins and receive proper instruction in the Christian faith should be admitted to this sacrament.
Matthew 26:26-28 Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
1 Corinthians 10:16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?
1 Corinthians 11:27,28 Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.
1 Corinthians 10:17 We, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.
Prayer
The Bible and Lutherans teach that believers pray. In the name of Jesus, that is, trusting in his salvation, a believer confidently speaks to God. We present to God our needs, praising him, thanking him, or interceding for others. Prayer is not a way to earn salvation. Christians pray because God commands us to pray and promises to answer our prayers. Sometimes his answer is yes, sometimes no. Sometimes God waits until the time is right to answer our prayers.
Psalm 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock, and my Redeemer.
Psalm 50:15 Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.
Matthew 7:7 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
Matthew 21:22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.
John 16:23 My Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
1 Timothy 2:1 I urge, then, first of all that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray continually.
Ephesians 6:18 Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
1 Timothy 2:8 I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer.
Repentance
The Bible and Lutherans teach that repentance is an acknowledgment of sin and sincere regret for it. A repentant sinner also trusts that God will forgive sin for Jesus’ sake. Repentance is a condition of the heart without which no one can hope to be saved. Every truly repentant sinner is assured of God’s free and full pardon. Therefore, he or she will seek to forsake a sinful life and to live a holy life for God.
Isaiah 55:6,7 Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
Mark 1:15 [John said] “Repent and believe the good news.”
Matthew 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
2 Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret.
Luke 18:13,14 The tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, “God have mercy on me a sinner.” [Jesus said] “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Who We Are Becoming
Desert Hope Project is more than a church gathering — it’s a movement of people committed to:
- Growing in faith
- Serving with purpose
- Loving people well
- Bringing hope to those who feel forgotten
- Raising up the next generation of believers
We believe God is building something special here, and we invite you to be part of it.
