WHAT WE BELIEVE

Very simply, we believe that God created and sustains all things. He is not one of many gods; He is God over all. We believe his son Jesus came to earth to show us what His father is like and to die for our sins. It is through Jesus alone, by faith in Him, that we can be forgiven and have hope for heaven. We believe the Holy Spirit that moved so powerfully in the early church is still alive, well, and moving in power in the lives of Christ's followers today. We believe that God's word, the Bible, is the final authority for all matters of life, including faith, money, marriage, family and ministry.

What We Believe About God

  1. There is one God eternally existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Isaiah 40: 18-28; Matthew 28:19; Isaiah 42:1-9; Revelation 1:8, 17-18, John 14:23-27; 16:15; 1 Corinthians 2:9­-16
  2. God revealed himself in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, the inspired word of God, without contradiction, the only reliable guidebook for life. Psalm 119:9, 30, 65-72; Psalm 119:105, 137-­144; Nehemiah 8:9-12; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; Hebrews 4:12-13; 2 Peter 1:16-21; John 20:30-31
  3. God revealed himself supremely in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, born of a virgin, being both fully human and fully divine. Matthew 1:18-­25; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1-14; Hebrews 1:1-14; Isaiah 9:6-7; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 4:14-16

What We Believe About Sin and Salvation

  1. In the beginning God created all things by his Son. He made humanity in the divine image, with free will, moral character, and a spiritual nature. Genesis 1; Colossians 1:15-16; Psalm 104:1-35; Psalm 139:1-18; 1 Corinthians 15:42-49; Romans 1:18-20; Proverbs 16:1­-3
  2. Humanity fell into sin, bringing depravity and death upon the race; as a sinner, each one of us is self-centered and self-willed, unwilling and unable to break with sin which leads to eternal separation from God. Genesis 3:1-24; Romans 3:9-18; Psalm 14:1­-3; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Jeremiah 17::9­-10; 2 Timothy 3:15; Psalm 51; 1 John 3:4-10
  3. On the cross Jesus Christ took our place, bore our sins, died our death, then rose from the grave; and for that reason alone God freely forgives those who repent and believe in faith. Ephesians 2:1-10; John 10:14-18; Romans 3:21-26; Colossians 1:13-14, 2:13-15; Romans 6:1-­14 John 3:16-17; Acts 4:8-13
  4. Those who repent and believe should be baptized with water as a symbol of cleansing from sin, a new life and commitment to Christ. John 3:1­-8; Matthew 3:13-17; Acts 2:36-39; Acts 8:36-40; Acts 10:44-48; Romans 6:1-14; Hebrews 10:19-23

What We Believe About the Holy Spirit

  1. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, guides for life, and empowers for service. His supernatural work makes new life and new birth possible. Galatians 5:16-26; John 16:7-15; Romans 8:5-17, 26-27; 1 Samuel 16:13; Luke 4:18-19; Acts 1:4-8, 2:17-21; Luke 11:9­-13
  2. Gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to all who follow Christ, so that men and women, single or married, young and old, can work together to build up the church and bring the world to Christ. Luke 24:45-49; Ephesians 4:7-16; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; Ephesians 3:7-8; Romans 12:1-8; Ephesians 4:29-32; 1 Peter 4:8-11
  3. Spiritual warfare demands spiritual weapons; the word must be preached in the power of the Spirit, and we must intercede for Christ's victory to be established over principalities and powers of evil. Ephesians 6:10-20; 2 Corinthians 10:3-4; Daniel 10:10-14, 20; Matthew 18:18-20, 1 Peter 5:8-11; Luke 8:26-39; 1 Timothy 2:1-8

What We Believe About the Church

  1. The church is the body of Christ, a redeemed people, obedient to God, a people of love, prayer, and healing. Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 John 2:3-6; John 17:6-26; Philippians 2:3-4; Galatians 6:1-5; 1 Peter 2:21-25; Colossians 4:2-6
  2. God gave the whole church and every member of it the task of making Christ known throughout the world. Matthew 28:16-20; John 15:15-17; Colossians 4:5-6; 2 Corinthians 5:11-6:6; Acts 4:18-31; 1 Timothy 6:11-16; Acts 8:4
  3. We must demonstrate God’s love by caring for those who are deprived of justice, dignity, food, and shelter. 1 John 3:16-18; Matthew 5:13-16; Colossians 3:12-17; Matthew 5:43-48; Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 25:31-46; James 2:14-19
  4. The church observes the Lord’s supper as a symbol of Christ's broken body and shed blood, and the fellowship of his church until his return. Luke 9: 18-22; Mark 10:32-34; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 22:7-23; 1 Corinthians 10:14-17; 11:23-34; Acts 2:46-47
  5. Jesus Christ’s personal return will be visible in power and glory to consummate salvation and judgement, thus the church serves sacrificially and joyfully anticipating eternal life with God. Mark 13:5-31; Revelation 1:5-8; Matthew 13:37-43; 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 51-56; Revelation 21:1-5; 2 Timothy 4:6-8; Revelation 22:12-21

What We Believe About Marriage and Family

  1. Both singleness and marriage are honored by God, who designed marriage to be the union of one man and one woman for life; sexual intimacy is reserved for within this sacred union. Genesis 2:20-25; Ephesians 5:22-33; Song of Songs 2:3-13; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 7:10-16; Matthew 19:3-12