Statement of Faith
What We Believe . . .
About the Bible
The entire Bible is the inspired Word of God. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit and preserved for us today. The Bible is infallible and inerrant in the original manuscripts. It is the unique, full, and final authority on all matters of faith and practice, and there are no other writings similarly inspired by God.
About God
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. There is one true God, eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and ever-present.
About Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Jesus was born by miraculous conception, lived a sinless human life, and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all by dying on a cross. He rose from the dead after three days, demonstrating His power over sin and death. He ascended into heaven, where He is the only Mediator between God and people, and will return again to earth.
About the Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity. He is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He lives in every Christ-follower from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living and transformation, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. Christ-followers seek to live under His control daily.
About Humanity
We are made in the image of God, to be like Him in character. We are the supreme object of God's creation, being made for relationship with Him. Although we have tremendous potential for good, everyone is marred by an attitude of rebellion toward God called sin. Sin separates people from God. We are incapable of regaining a relationship with God through our own efforts.
About Salvation
Salvation is a gift from God to all people. Men and women can never make up for their sin by self improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as Forgiver and Leader can a person be saved from sin's penalty. When God has truly begun a saving work in the heart of any person, that person is eternally secure and cannot lose his salvation.
About Eternity
People are created to exist forever. After death, every person will either exist eternally separated from God by sin (in hell), or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation (in heaven). Heaven and hell are places of eternal existence.
About the Church
We believe that the local church is a group of believers (Christ-followers) who acknowledge Jesus Christ as their leader and who have agreed together to worship God, edify the believers, evangelize the lost, and serve others according to the unique vision given them. The church has two ordinances: baptism and the Lord's Supper.
About Faith and Practice
Scripture is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. This church recognizes that it cannot bind the conscience of individual members in areas where Scripture is silent. Rather, each believer is to be led in those areas by the Lord, to whom he or she alone is ultimately responsible.
Core Values
Values define how we want to behave when we are working on our mission, purposes and vision. They are ranked so that we know which values have more value when they conflict in any given situation. The questions tied to each value provide a way to keep them practical for each individual within the church.
Biblical Authority
There is truth. It exists. God is the definer of it. Truth provides secure guidance, reliable hope, clarity among confusion. God has spoken and revealed truth to us through the Bible. We value the Bible as the final authority over our lives.
Deuteronomy 4:1-2; Psalm 19:7-10; 119:11, 89, 105, 140; Matthew 5:17-18; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Peter 1:25
Are your priorities consistent with Scripture?
God-Inspired Teaching & Coaching
Understanding the Bible and applying it are not simple tasks. We aren't easily motivated. Change is tough. Sin is too easily justified. Habits happen. So, we all need teachers, coaches, who explain and motivate in relevant, understandable, God-empowered ways. We value God-inspired, biblical teaching and coaching, believing it is the catalyst for life-transformation.
Romans 12:7; 2: Timothy 3:16-17; James 1:23-25
Are you engaged with a teacher and coach?
Dangerous Wonder
Risky. Counter-intuitive. Amazing. Awe. The faith life is dangerous. The Christian journey is fluid. The church's map is unmarked. God is mysterious, wonderful, present, distant, and enjoys doing more for us than we can ever imagine. To follow him is not always safe. To live for him is always exhilarating, contagious, dangerous. We value living so zealously for God that we continually see the wonder of his movements in response to our dangerous faith.
Isaiah 55:8-11; Jeremiah 29:11-13; Matthew 17:20; Acts 2:43; Ephesians 3:14-21
Are you risking for God?
Acceptance & Challenge
All people matter to God and to us. There is no experience necessary. Everyone is welcome. Love is the foundation of all our relationships. We value accepting all people just as they are while challenging them to become all that they can be in a spirit of love and unity.
Matthew 18:14; Luke 5:30-32; Luke 15; John 17:20-21; 1 Corinthians 13
Are you welcoming all people equally?
Relevance & Purity
God's teachings are relevant today. They fit. They make sense. They work. The truth must remain pure while our efforts to communicate it must flow with the shifting of culture. We live in ancient modernity. We value designing our messages and our environments to be culturally relevant while remaining doctrinally pure.
1 Corinthians 9:19-23; Galatians 2:11-14
Are your messages and environments appealing, engaging, and truthful?
The Intimate Journey
Intimacy with God is possible. Transformation happens there. It's our greatest goal. It's a process, a journey, a fascinating one. God wants us to continually be engaged in the journey of life with him, becoming more familiar with his mystery and intimate with his being. We value the journey of seeking by pre-believers and the journey of passionate pursuits by believers toward intimacy and transformation with God.
John 3:16; Romans 12:1-2; Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 12:1
Are you moving along in your journey?
Relational Evangelism
The saving message of Christ--it's the hope of humanity. It is the best gift ever. Barriers, misunderstandings, bad experiences, untruths all hinder its progress. Friendships, relationships, love, care and prayer all expedite its power. We value personal relationships as the most effective way to communicate God's message of forgiveness and life through Christ.
Ephesians 2:8-9; Matthew 9:9-13; Acts 2:42-47
Are you building relationships with unsaved people?
Unleashed Gifts
Time, talent, treasures. Experiences, spiritual gifts, personalities, and passions. All are God-given. All are given to be given again. Strategic alignment of people's gifts creates maximum impact. Opportunity to give full-expression to one's gifts not only produces fruit but tremendous personal fulfillment. We value the discovery, equipping and unleashing of the gifts within people so that the church is effectively and efficiently led and served by those who are qualified.
Nehemiah 1-2; Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4; Psalm 133:1; Acts 6:2-5
Are you serving where you are most fruitful and fulfilled?
Authentic & Strategic Connections
Growth, care, and impact happen best when people synergize their lives with others. We value authentic connections around God-honoring purposes, first of all engaged around church membership and ultimately lived out in various kinds of small groups.
Psalm 27:17; Luke 6:12-13; Acts 2:44-47
Are you on the team and in a small group?
Creative Excellence
God is the ultimate creator. We are creative beings. He is honored and we are inspired by originality, ingenuity and the pursuit of excellence. We value creativity and excellence in everything we do.
Colossians 3:7; Malachi 11:6-14; Proverbs 27:17
Are your ideas fresh and your efforts excellent?