Our Beliefs
What We Believe
The following statements are meant not as a “creed”, but as a means to assure people that we strive to faithfully uphold the essential truths of the Bible. We are a body of Christ who claim not to be the “only Christians” but to be ” Christians only.”
God
There is one God who exists equally and eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This God is the creator of all things, and without him nothing was made that has been made; he is the sustainer of the universe and everything that exists therein. He is merciful, gracious, abounding in loyal love and faithfulness; he is righteous and just.
Jesus
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. He is equal among the Father and the Holy Spirit, coexisting with them as one eternal being. He is fully God and fully man; he is the example of what God intended for all humanity. Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life that was witnessed by multitudes, and died a criminal’s death, taking upon himself the sin of the whole world. He rose from the grave 3 days later, conquering sin and death, and he sits enthroned in Heaven until his inevitable return to reign as King, making all things new.
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit, equal and eternal with the Father and the Son, is the Counselor who makes his home among all who put their faith and trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior of their lives. He exists within every believer, making us temples of God who carry his holiness to a lost world in need of a Savior. The Spirit provides counsel, comfort, and power; he is our advocate, guide, and intercessor.
Scripture
The Bible is the divinely inspired and inerrant Word of God, written by men to reveal the truth of God and his love to the world. We believe in the authority of the Old and New Testaments as the evidence of God’s plan to reconcile the world to himself.
People
All people are created to be the image of God, reigning with him over his good creation; however, humanity chose to define good and bad by their own wisdom, giving up their position as God’s partners. People have great potential for good, but they also have the freedom to choose to do great evil, resulting in rebellion. Humanity’s rebellion against God is called “sin.” All have sinned against God, and this sin separates us from him.
Salvation
Salvation cannot be purchased nor earned. It is a gift extended to us by God’s grace made available only by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Salvation is available to all people and is received by placing faith in Jesus and accepting him as Lord and Savior. That faith is expressed through repentance of sin and baptism by immersion.
DISCIPLES
Jesus has forgiven us of our sins and made us into his disciples. We define a disciple from Jesus’ own words in Matthew 4:19: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” A disciple is therefore defined as one is committed to following, being changed by, and being on mission with Jesus. Disciples of Jesus are called to love God, love people, and make disciple makers.
Relationships
Jesus clearly defined the greatest commandment (Matthew 22: 37-40): to love God and to love people. This love can only be lived out in relationship, first with God, then with people (1 John 4:19). Jesus left us a model for living obediently to this command that we call relational discipleship, which he used to accomplish the mission of making disciple makers. The vehicle we use to accomplish this mission is Life Groups, combining the methods and mission of Jesus. It is amid relationships that the fruit of the Spirit is demonstrated; we mature together in relationships.
The purpose of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus who can make disciples of Jesus. It is by this intentional process that we reach the world for Jesus one person at a time.