What We Believe

Bible

We believe that the Scriptures in all 66 books of the Old and New Testaments are verbally inspired of God, error free in the original manuscripts, and the supreme authority of faith and practice for followers of Christ.

2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21, Hebrews 4:12

God

We believe there is one living and true God, who is one in essence, while eternally existing in three distinct persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Deuteronomy 6:4

Mankind

We believe that mankind was directly created in the image of God to enjoy His fellowship and fulfill His purposes on earth. However, in Adam, all mankind fell into sin; consequently all people are spiritually dead and subject to the certainty of both physical and spiritual death apart from faith in Jesus Christ.

Genesis 1:26-27, Romans 1:18-32; 3:10-23

The Church

We believe that all who are “born again” by the Holy Spirit belong to the one true church and are instructed by the Scriptures to associate themselves in local, visible churches.

      Acts 2:41-47, Hebrews 10:24-25, 1 Corinthians 12-14

Worship

We believe in worship as a vital part of our service. We believe that true worship is an expression of our love and commitment to God for who He is, what He has said, what He has done, and what He is doing. We believe that God’s people worship Him in Spirit and in truth, and that He is both pleased and present when we do. We believe that worship is an active response to God whereby we declare His worth. We are committed to genuine worship where God’s presence is felt, God’s pardon is offered, God’s purposes are revealed, and God’s power is displayed.
   
  Isaiah 43:7; I Peter 2:9; Psalms 95:6-8; Revelation 14:6-7

Baptism and the Lord's Supper

Baptism is a clear injunction of the Scriptures which outwardly expresses the inward reality of new life in Christ. Our method of baptism is immersion as described in the New Testament and practiced in the early church. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a memorial of Christ and His redemptive death. It is also an expression our fellowship with one another. In communion we are reminded of Christ’s first coming and encouraged to look forward to His coming again.

  Matthew 28:18-20, Romans 6:3-7, 1 Corinthians 11:23-29
 

Discipleship

Once you become a believer in Christ, we believe you should make a commitment to grow. Discipleship is a life-long process of following Christ, which takes faith, patience, endurance, and determination.

John 8:31-32; 15:7; John 13:35; John 15:1-7; Luke 14:26; Luke 9:23; Luke 14:33. Luke 11:1; Matthew 10:24

Stewardship

Biblical Stewardship means receiving and sharing God’s gifts and managing them for God’s purposes. Christian Stewardship is the practice of systematic and proportionate giving of time, talents, and material possessions based on the conviction that these are a trust from God to be used in His service for the benefit of all mankind in grateful acknowledgment of Christ’s redeeming love. Giving is a means of honoring God and is a great indicator of our heart.

I Corinthians 3:9; I Peter 4:10; Luke 6:38

Leadership

We believe that Jesus Christ leads the local church through a plurality of elders who have been called, gifted, and appointed by Him. By seeking the mind of Christ, depending upon the Holy Spirit and diligently examining the Word of God, the elders provide spiritual oversight and direction for the church. The qualifications of elders are character based as defined in 1 Timothy and Titus, and the decisions of the elders require unanimous agreement.

1 Timothy 3:1-13, Titus 1:5-9, Acts 6:1-6

Family

We are a community of caring relationships who care for each other. Our goal is to see every person loved and cared for in such a way that they feel accepted, valued, and have a sense of belonging. We share our lives with others in the body of Christ, getting to know one another and letting ourselves be known. We share hospitality. We seek to be a place of unity and peace amid a de-personalizing society.

1 Peter 4:8; Matt 5:41; Luke 10:34-37; Ephesians 4:2,25-32

The Sanctity of Human Life

We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life.

Ps. 139

Marriage and Family

We believe that marriage is an ordinance of God, established by Him and is the union of one man and one woman for life.We affirm all human beings, are made in God’s image, precious in God’s sight, and deserve the fullest measure of love, respect, dignity, and support. While we fully offer those in any type of personal relationship our love and pastoral support, we nevertheless hold to our beliefs that marriage is intended for and ordained by God as a solemn covenant between one biologically born man and one biologically born woman for life.

Genesis 2:15-25; Matthew 19:1-12

Service

We teach and model servant-leadership through our church members who apply their spiritual gifts to the work of ministry to others. Our desire is to see every member develop their God-given abilities, gifts, and passions. We live to give of our time, talent, and treasures to those in need within and outside our congregation.
 
We are a life focused church, where everyone is encouraged to participate in the mission and goal of the church, seeking opportunities to use their gifting within the body of our local believers.

Mark 12:31; Romans12:6-8; Ephesians 5:1-2; I Peter 4:10-11

The Future

We believe the next great event of human history will be the personal return of Jesus Christ. This is the blessed hope for which all those who love Christ yearn. While the exact time of Christ’s return is unknown; it is imminent and certain.
   
  Matthew 24-25, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18