Belief Statement
- God’s Existence
We believe that Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three persons in one who exist eternally. (John 14:16-17, 25-26) We believe in the Divinity of Jesus, that God came to Earth in human form for our sake. (John 1:14, Colossians 2:9, Hebrews 2:14-15) The third person of the Trinity is the Holy Spirit whom God sent us as a guide, comforter and companion after Jesus ascended into Heaven. (John 15:26)
- God’s Creation
We believe that God is the Designer and Creator of the Universe. (Nehemiah 9:6)
We believe that God created each of us with a specific purpose and plan. (Matthew 6:25-27) God has placed each of us here as unique individuals with our own unique mission aimed at establishing and extending His kingdom "on earth as it is in heaven." Our potential lies securely and completely in that purpose. (Eph 2:10) For this reason, a person cannot live out his full potential if he does not know God. (Psalm 139:13-16)
- God’s Amazing Gift of Grace
We believe that Jesus received the full measure of God's punishment for our sin when He suffered and died on the cross; we are chosen in Him and can be seen as Holy and Blameless in God’s eyes because He died for us. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15, Ephesians 1:4-10, Romans 8:1-11, 1 Peter 2:24-25) Jesus conquered death, rose again and ascended into Heaven where we will be reunited with Him one day. (Luke 24:1-3, Acts 1:9, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) The gift of Salvation is given to us by God in His infinite loving Grace and is not something that we deserve nor can it be earned. (John 3:16, Ephesians 1:4-10, 1 Peter 1:18-21, 2 Tim 1:9-10) We deserve the wrath of God because of our sin but in Christ Jesus we are made alive and are redeemed by His unending love and sacrifice. (Ephesians 2:1-10) In order to be saved, we need only to ask God's forgiveness for our sin (Acts 3:19) and accept Jesus as our Savior. (John 14:6-7, John 15:5-8) God’s immeasurable Love in the Gospel of Jesus Christ has the power to transform lives. (Romans 8:10-11, Galatians 2:20) He is ready and able to transform us into loving, compassionate, confident people when we are willing to come to God through His Word. (Romans 2:12)
- God’s Children In the World not Of the World
We believe that the real work of the church happens outside of the church when we do as Jesus commanded us--to go and make disciples. (Matthew 28:19, John 14:12-14) God calls us to spread the life-transforming good news of Jesus Christ throughout society. (1 John 2:15-17, 28-29 Romans 8:35-39) The church has a responsibility to exemplify positive change by calling out evil and practicing righteousness, being a voice for the vulnerable among us and thus planting seeds of truth. (Ephesians 6:10-18, 2 Timothy 4:2-5, Titus 2:7-8, 11-15) When you transform individuals, you transform the culture in which you live. (Romans 12:14-21) We must be bold because this work often requires us to go against the grain of society. (Acts 4:29-31, 2 Corinthians 4:2, Ephesians 6:19-20, 2 Tim 1:7) Others may disparage us but we are in good company. (Matthew 10:22) We will happily stand out as being peculiar because we belong to God. (1 Peter 2:9)
- Because God first loved us
We believe that we exist to reflect God's holiness, to reveal God's glory, and witness to the reality of a life-changing encounter with a living Christ (Hebrews 13:20-21, 1 Peter 4:11) We exist to love one another, and to demonstrate an unselfish, love-filled life to the world. (John 13:35) Jesus dwells within the heart of every member of the church and so we are called to declare and demonstrate His Spirit at every opportunity. (Acts 1:8, Ephesians 1:22-23, 2:19-22) That is the purpose of the church. The church cannot save the world--but the Lord of the church can. It is not the church for which Christians are to labor and spend their lives, but for the Lord of the church. (1 Corinthians 3:9,16)
-The Bible
We believe that the Bible is the true, accurate and inspired Word of God. (Mark 13:31, 2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Timothy 3:16) The Scriptures contain authoritative instructions for every area of our lives. (Romans 15:4, 2 Timothy 3:16-17) God’s Word empowers us to cope with any problem, any challenge life sets before us.
-Prayer
We believe that when Jesus' followers gather together and lift their voices in prayer, God moves powerfully. (Psalm 107:28-30, Matthew 17:20, John 14:12-14) God allows us to tap into His miraculous, transformative power if we come to Him with open hearts. (Jeremiah 33:3, 2 Corinthians 5:17, James 5:16) Often our prayers can be too small and we find that we do not have because we do not ask. (Matthew 7:11, Ephesians 3:20, James 4:2,) Taking our big prayers to God enriches our relationship with Him; it won’t change God but it will change us by putting us in a position where our eyes might be opened to see new things. (Ephesians 1:17-18)
-Baptism and The Lord's Supper
Baptism is a beautiful and public symbol of an individual's new life in Christ. (Romans 6:1-11)
The bread and cup represent the broken body and shed blood offered by Christ as our reminder of God's Amazing Grace. (Luke 22:19-20)
-Spiritual Gifts
We believe that the church is a body of true believers which is most effective when it makes use of each member's God-given gifts. (Ephesians 4:12-16, 1 Corinthians 12:12, 18, 21) God knows the potential – the untapped power, dormant ability and unused strength -- that he has instilled in each of us. (Ephesians 2:10) We must not squander but develop our God-given gifts, talents, and abilities in order to impact the world for Christ. (1 Peter 4:10, 1 Corinthians 4:2)
-Freedom
We believe that freedom is ordained by God and all of His people deserve to be able to worship Him freely, in the manner of their choosing and to be free from the bonds of slavery. (2 Corinthians 3:16-18, James 1:25, John 8:30-36) We should be careful not to take for granted our freedom, not all Christians are blessed with the freedom that we enjoy. (1 Peter 2:14)
-Spiritual Growth
We believe that the church should function as a team of people who encourage spiritual growth in one another. This encouragement could include repenting of sins and encouraging each other to resist temptation. Disciples should see one another as instruments of accountability that God can use to help them fulfill their responsibilities as disciples. (Proverbs 27:17, Hebrews 10:24-25) If we're too comfortable in church, we are not growing in faith. As followers of Jesus, sometimes we are required to give up what is comfortable to us. (Matthew 26:41, Luke 14:26-27, Romans 13:11) It is imperative that we continue to grow in our faith. (2 Peter 1:5-9)
We believe that Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three persons in one who exist eternally. (John 14:16-17, 25-26) We believe in the Divinity of Jesus, that God came to Earth in human form for our sake. (John 1:14, Colossians 2:9, Hebrews 2:14-15) The third person of the Trinity is the Holy Spirit whom God sent us as a guide, comforter and companion after Jesus ascended into Heaven. (John 15:26)
- God’s Creation
We believe that God is the Designer and Creator of the Universe. (Nehemiah 9:6)
We believe that God created each of us with a specific purpose and plan. (Matthew 6:25-27) God has placed each of us here as unique individuals with our own unique mission aimed at establishing and extending His kingdom "on earth as it is in heaven." Our potential lies securely and completely in that purpose. (Eph 2:10) For this reason, a person cannot live out his full potential if he does not know God. (Psalm 139:13-16)
- God’s Amazing Gift of Grace
We believe that Jesus received the full measure of God's punishment for our sin when He suffered and died on the cross; we are chosen in Him and can be seen as Holy and Blameless in God’s eyes because He died for us. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15, Ephesians 1:4-10, Romans 8:1-11, 1 Peter 2:24-25) Jesus conquered death, rose again and ascended into Heaven where we will be reunited with Him one day. (Luke 24:1-3, Acts 1:9, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) The gift of Salvation is given to us by God in His infinite loving Grace and is not something that we deserve nor can it be earned. (John 3:16, Ephesians 1:4-10, 1 Peter 1:18-21, 2 Tim 1:9-10) We deserve the wrath of God because of our sin but in Christ Jesus we are made alive and are redeemed by His unending love and sacrifice. (Ephesians 2:1-10) In order to be saved, we need only to ask God's forgiveness for our sin (Acts 3:19) and accept Jesus as our Savior. (John 14:6-7, John 15:5-8) God’s immeasurable Love in the Gospel of Jesus Christ has the power to transform lives. (Romans 8:10-11, Galatians 2:20) He is ready and able to transform us into loving, compassionate, confident people when we are willing to come to God through His Word. (Romans 2:12)
- God’s Children In the World not Of the World
We believe that the real work of the church happens outside of the church when we do as Jesus commanded us--to go and make disciples. (Matthew 28:19, John 14:12-14) God calls us to spread the life-transforming good news of Jesus Christ throughout society. (1 John 2:15-17, 28-29 Romans 8:35-39) The church has a responsibility to exemplify positive change by calling out evil and practicing righteousness, being a voice for the vulnerable among us and thus planting seeds of truth. (Ephesians 6:10-18, 2 Timothy 4:2-5, Titus 2:7-8, 11-15) When you transform individuals, you transform the culture in which you live. (Romans 12:14-21) We must be bold because this work often requires us to go against the grain of society. (Acts 4:29-31, 2 Corinthians 4:2, Ephesians 6:19-20, 2 Tim 1:7) Others may disparage us but we are in good company. (Matthew 10:22) We will happily stand out as being peculiar because we belong to God. (1 Peter 2:9)
- Because God first loved us
We believe that we exist to reflect God's holiness, to reveal God's glory, and witness to the reality of a life-changing encounter with a living Christ (Hebrews 13:20-21, 1 Peter 4:11) We exist to love one another, and to demonstrate an unselfish, love-filled life to the world. (John 13:35) Jesus dwells within the heart of every member of the church and so we are called to declare and demonstrate His Spirit at every opportunity. (Acts 1:8, Ephesians 1:22-23, 2:19-22) That is the purpose of the church. The church cannot save the world--but the Lord of the church can. It is not the church for which Christians are to labor and spend their lives, but for the Lord of the church. (1 Corinthians 3:9,16)
-The Bible
We believe that the Bible is the true, accurate and inspired Word of God. (Mark 13:31, 2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Timothy 3:16) The Scriptures contain authoritative instructions for every area of our lives. (Romans 15:4, 2 Timothy 3:16-17) God’s Word empowers us to cope with any problem, any challenge life sets before us.
-Prayer
We believe that when Jesus' followers gather together and lift their voices in prayer, God moves powerfully. (Psalm 107:28-30, Matthew 17:20, John 14:12-14) God allows us to tap into His miraculous, transformative power if we come to Him with open hearts. (Jeremiah 33:3, 2 Corinthians 5:17, James 5:16) Often our prayers can be too small and we find that we do not have because we do not ask. (Matthew 7:11, Ephesians 3:20, James 4:2,) Taking our big prayers to God enriches our relationship with Him; it won’t change God but it will change us by putting us in a position where our eyes might be opened to see new things. (Ephesians 1:17-18)
-Baptism and The Lord's Supper
Baptism is a beautiful and public symbol of an individual's new life in Christ. (Romans 6:1-11)
The bread and cup represent the broken body and shed blood offered by Christ as our reminder of God's Amazing Grace. (Luke 22:19-20)
-Spiritual Gifts
We believe that the church is a body of true believers which is most effective when it makes use of each member's God-given gifts. (Ephesians 4:12-16, 1 Corinthians 12:12, 18, 21) God knows the potential – the untapped power, dormant ability and unused strength -- that he has instilled in each of us. (Ephesians 2:10) We must not squander but develop our God-given gifts, talents, and abilities in order to impact the world for Christ. (1 Peter 4:10, 1 Corinthians 4:2)
-Freedom
We believe that freedom is ordained by God and all of His people deserve to be able to worship Him freely, in the manner of their choosing and to be free from the bonds of slavery. (2 Corinthians 3:16-18, James 1:25, John 8:30-36) We should be careful not to take for granted our freedom, not all Christians are blessed with the freedom that we enjoy. (1 Peter 2:14)
-Spiritual Growth
We believe that the church should function as a team of people who encourage spiritual growth in one another. This encouragement could include repenting of sins and encouraging each other to resist temptation. Disciples should see one another as instruments of accountability that God can use to help them fulfill their responsibilities as disciples. (Proverbs 27:17, Hebrews 10:24-25) If we're too comfortable in church, we are not growing in faith. As followers of Jesus, sometimes we are required to give up what is comfortable to us. (Matthew 26:41, Luke 14:26-27, Romans 13:11) It is imperative that we continue to grow in our faith. (2 Peter 1:5-9)
