Doctrinal Statement

This church affirms the following truths as its basic faith and teaching, believing them to be the essential and constituent elements of the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints:

1.  We believe in THE HOLY SCRIPTURES:  accepting fully the writings of the Old and New Testaments as the very Word of God, verbally inspired in all parts and therefore wholly without error as originally given of God, altogether sufficient in themselves as our only infallible rule of faith and practice (Matt. 5:18; John 10:35; 12:42; 17:17; II Tim.3:16; II Peter 2:21).

2.  We believe in THE ONE TRIUNE GOD:  who is personal, spirit, and sovereign (Mark 12:29, John 4:24; 14:9; Ps. 135:6); perfect, infinite, and eternal in His being, holiness, love, wisdom, and power (Ps. 18:30; 147:5; Deut. 33:27); absolutely separate and above the world as its Creator, yet everywhere present in the world as the Upholder of all things (Gen. 1:1; Ps. 104); self-existent and self-revealing in three distinct Persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (John 5:26; Matt. 28:19; II Cor. 13:14), each of whom is to be honored and worshipped equally as true God (John 5:23; Acts 5:3-4).

3.  We believe in THE LORD JESUS CHRIST:  who is the Second Person of the Triune God, the eternal Word and Only Begotten Son, our great God and Savior (John 1:1;3:16; Tit. 2:13; Rom. 9:5); that, without any essential change in His divine Person (Heb. 13:8), He became man by the miracle of Virgin Birth (John 1:14; Matt. 1:23), thus to continue forever as both true God and true Man, one Person with two natures (Col. 2:9; Rev. 22:16); that as Man, He was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin (Heb. 4:15; John 8:46); that as the perfect Lamb of God He gave Himself in death upon the Cross, bearing there the sin of the world, and suffering its full penalty of divine wrath in our stead (Isa. 53:5-6; Matt. 20:28; Gal. 3:13; John 1:29); that He arose again from the dead and was glorified in the same body in which He suffered and died (Luke 24:36-43; John 20:25-28); that as our great High Priest He ascended into heaven, there to appear before the face of God as our Advocate and Intercessor (Heb. 4:14; 9:24; I John 2:1).

4.  We believe in THE HOLY SPIRIT:  who is the Third Person of the Triune God (Matt. 28:19; Acts 5:3-4), the divine Agent in nature, revelation and redemption (Gen. 1:2; Ps. 104:30; I Cor. 2:10; II Cor. 3:18); that He convicts the world of sin (John 16:8-11), regenerates those who believe (John 3:5), and indwells, baptizes, seals, empowers, guides, teaches, and sanctifies all who become children of God through Christ (I Cor. 6:19; 12:13; Eph. 4:30; 3:16; Rom. 8:14; John 14:26; I Cor. 6:11).

5.  We believe in THE CREATION AND FALL OF MAN:  that he was the direct creation of God, spirit and soul and body, not in any sense the product of an animal ancestry, but made in the divine image (Gen. 1:26-28; 2:7; 2:18-24; Matt. 19:4; I Thes. 5:23); that by personal disobedience to the revealed will of God man became a sinful creature and the progenitor of a fallen race (Gen. 3:1-24; 5:3), who are universally sinful in both nature and practice (Eph. 2:3; Rom. 3:23; 5:12), alienated from the life and family of God (Eph. 4:18; John 8:42-44), under the righteous judgment and wrath of God (Rom. 3:19; 1:18), and have within themselves no possible means of recovery or salvation (Mark 7:21-23; Matt. 19:26; Rom. 7:18).

6.  We believe in SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH:  that salvation is the free gift of God (Rom. 3:24; 6:23), neither merited nor secured in part or in whole by any virtue or work of man (Titus 3:5;  Rom. 4:4-5; 11:16), but received only by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:15; 6:28-29; Acts 16:30-31; Eph. 2:8-9), in whom all true believers have as a present possession the gift of eternal life, a perfect righteousness, sonship in the family of God, deliverance and security from all condemnation, every spiritual resource needed for life and godliness, and the divine guarantee that they shall never perish (I John 5:13; Rom. 3:22; Gal. 3:26; John 5:24; Eph. 1:3; II Peter 1:3; John 10:27-30); that this salvation includes the whole man, spirit and soul and body (I Thes. 5:23-24); and apart from Christ there is no possible salvation (John 14;6; Acts 4:12).

7.  We believe in RIGHTEOUS LIVING AND GOOD WORKS:  not as the procuring cause of salvation in any sense, but as its proper evidence and fruit (I John 3:9-11; 4:19; 5:4; Eph. 2:8-10; Titus 2:14; Matt. 7:16-18; I Cor. 15:10); and therefore as Christians we should keep the word of our Lord (John 14:23), seek the things which are above (Col. 3:1), walk as He walked (I John 2:6), be careful to maintain good works (Titus 3:8), and especially accept as our solemn responsibility the duty and privilege of bearing the Gospel to a lost world in order that we may bear much fruit (Acts 1:8; II Cor. 5:19; John 15:16); remembering that a victorious and fruitful Christian life is possible only for those who have learned they are not under law but under grace (Rom. 6:14), and who in gratitude for the infinite and undeserved mercies of God have presented themselves wholly to Him for His service (Rom. 12:1-2).

8.  We believe in THE EXISTENCE OF SATAN:  who originally was created a holy and perfect being, but through pride and unlawful ambition rebelled against God (Ezek. 28:13-17; Isa. 14:13-14; I Tim. 3:7); thus becoming utterly depraved in character (John 8:44), the great Adversary of God and His people (Matt. 4:1-11; Rev. 12:10), leader of all other evil angels and spirits (Matt. 12:24-26; 25:41), the deceiver and god of this present world (Rev. 12:9; II Cor. 4:4); that his powers are supernaturally great, but strictly limited by the permissive will of God who overrules all his wicked devices for good (Job 1:1-22; Luke 22:31-32); that he was defeated and judged at the Cross, and therefore his final doom is certain (John 12:31-32; 16:11; Rev. 20:10); that we are able to resist and overcome him only in the armor of God and by the Blood of the Lamb (Eph. 6:12-18; Rev. 12:11).

9.  We believe in THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST:  that His return from heaven will be personal, visible, and glorious—a Blessed Hope for which we should constantly watch and pray, the time being unrevealed but always imminent (Acts 1:11; Rev. 1:7; Mark 13:33-37; Titus 2:11-13; Rev. 22:20); that when He comes He will first by resurrection and translation remove from the earth His waiting Church (I Thes. 4:16-18), the pour out the righteous Judgments of God upon the unbelieving world (Rev. 6:1-18:24), afterward descend with His Church and establish His glorious and literal kingdom over all the nations for a thousand years (Rev. 19:1-20:6; Matt. 13:41-43), at the close of which He will raise and judge the unsaved dead (Rev. 20:11-15), and finally as the Son of David deliver up His Messianic Kingdom to God the Father (I Cor. 15:24-28), in order that as the Eternal Son He may reign forever with the Father in the New Heaven and the New Earth (Luke 1:32-33; Rev. 21:1-22:6).

10.  We believe in FUTURE LIFE, BODILY RESURRECTION, AND ETERNAL JUDGMENT:  that the spirits of the saved at death go immediately to be with Christ in heaven (Phil. 1:21-23; II Cor. 5:8), where they abide in joyful fellowship with Him until His second coming, when their bodies shall be raised from the grave and changed into the likeness of His own glorious body (Phil. 3:20-21; I Cor. 15:35-58; I John 3:2), at which time their works shall be brought before the Judgment Seat of Christ for the determination of rewards, a judgment which may issue in the loss of rewards, but not the loss of the soul (I Cor. 3:8-15); that the spirits of the unsaved at death descend immediately into Hades where they are kept under punishment until the final day of judgment (Luke 16:19-31; II Peter 2:9 ASV), at which time their bodies shall be raised from the grave, they shall be judged according to their works and cast into the place of final and everlasting punishment (Rev. 20;11-15; 21:8; Mark 9:43-48; Jude 13).

11.  We believe in THE ONE TRUE CHURCH:  the mystical Body and Bride of the Lord Jesus (Eph. 4:4; 5:25-32), which He began to build on the day of Pentecost (Matt. 16;18; Acts 2:47), and will complete at His second coming (I Thes. 4:16-17); and into which all true believers of the present age are baptized immediately by the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 12:12-13 with 1:2); that all the various members of this one spiritual Body should assemble themselves together in local churches for worship, prayer, fellowship, teaching, united testimony, and the observance of the ordinances of our Lord (Heb. 10:25; Acts 2:41-47), among which are the following:  the Baptism of believers by Triune Immersion (Matt. 28:20), the Laying on of Hands (I Tim. 4:14; II Tim. 1:6), the Washing of the Saints' Feet (John 13:1-17), the Lord’s Supper or Lovefeast (I Cor. 11:17-22; Jude 12 ASV), the Communion of the Bread and Cup (I Cor. 11:23-24), and Prayer and Anointing for the Sick (James 5:13-18).

12.  We believe in SEPARATION FROM THE WORLD:  that since our Christian citizenship is in heaven, as the children of God we should walk in separation from this present world, having no fellowship with its evil ways (Phil. 3:20 ASV; II Cor. 6:14-18; Rom. 12:2; Eph. 5:11), abstaining from all worldly amusements and unclean habits which defile mind and body (Luke 8:14; I Thes. 5:22; I Tim. 5:6; I Peter 2:11; Eph. 5:3-11; Col. 3:17, Eph. 5:3-5; 18; I Cor. 6:19-20), from the sin of divorce and remarriage as forbidden by our Lord (Matt. 19:9), from the swearing of any oath (James 5:12), from the use of unbelieving courts for the settlement of disputes between Christians (I Cor. 6:1-9), and from taking personal vengeance in carnal strife (Rom. 12:18-21; II Cor. 10:3-4). 
 
 

Core Values

GODLY LEADERSHIP we value pastoral and lay leadership that is characterized by a close relationship with God, a special anointing for its tacks, and love and commitment to the Church of Jesus Christ.  We note looking for perfection, but a sincere effort to walk with God. I Timothy 3:2-13 

DEPENDENCE UPON GOD we affirm the Bible’s teaching that “unless the Lord build the house, those who labor, do so in vain”.  Of ourselves we can do nothing.  We will encourage by teaching and example to rely upon God for all.  Psalm 127:1a 

CULTURAL RELEVANCE we try to adapt our ministry to current needs and trends in American Live, without compromising Biblical absolutes.  We attempt to communicate the good news of Jesus Christ to our community in ways it can understand.

I Corinthians 9:18-27, I Corinthians 10:32-33 

EVANGELISM The lostness of mankind constrains us to be involved in reaching the lost at home and abroad.  The health of our church is related to our efforts in missions, and the results.  We will encourage every believer to be “missionary” to those around them and to be involved in fulfilling the Great Commission.  Matthew 28:18-20 

STEWARDSHIP we believe that God is indeed the owner of all and has entrusted His children with the responsibility and blessing of giving.  We embrace systematic, proportionate giving, not only of our money but of all the resources God has given us.  Malachi 3:8-10 

BIBLICAL COUNSELING more and more people need to know how to address their problems and challenges from a biblical perspective.  We will seek to provide a listening ear and to offer Bible principles in a loving no-judgmental, confidential manner.  When people’s needs are beyond our expertise we will refer them to reputable, Christina counselors.  Proverbs 22:20-21, II Timothy 3:16 

STONG FAMILIES Society is tearing the family apart.  Our church must seek to strengthen relationships within the home.  We will endeavor to help every marriage and family in need without compromising the teachings of the Bible.  Ephesians 5:22-6:4, I Peter 3:1-7, Matthew 19:4-6 

WELL-MOBILIZED LAITY Every Christian in our church has been given a spiritual gift(s) intended for service, we will seek to provide an atmosphere where those gifts can be discovered, develop and used for God’s glory.  Though we understand the special leadership role that has been given to our pastor, we value the involvement of our laity.  Every Christian should have at least one area responsibility within the ministry of the church.  Romans 12:6a, I peter 4:10, I Corinthians 12:27 

BIBLE CENTERED EXPOSITION we believe the Bible is God’s inspired Word, the authoritative and trustworthy rule of faith and practice for Christians.  In all of our ministries we will seek to expose our people to the Word of God, helping them develop a clear understanding of God’s overall will for His people.  II Timothy 2:14-17 

PRAYER we are convinced that GOD desires His people to pray and that He hears and answers prayer.  Therefore our ministries will be characterized by a reliance upon prayer in their conception, planning and execution.  Luke 18:1, Philippians 4:6&7, I Thessalonians 5:17, James 5:16 

INSPIRING WORSHIP knowing that God is both worthy and desirous o our praise and adoration, we will seek to discover how to worship Him in Spirit and in truth.  Our desire is to have a well planned balance of worship in both its traditional and contemporary forms.  The goal especially or our worship services will be to meet God.  Psalm 100, Psalm 150, John 4:23 

COMMITTED CHRISTIANS in a society where commitment to anything is unpopular we will continue to hold forth the ideal that God wants to be first in people’s lives.  We will seek by example and teaching to encourage Christians to stand up for their faith and be willing to died Christ if so called upon.  Matthew 6:33, II Corinthians 8:5, Philippians 1:21 

QUALITY CHRISTIAN EDUCATION The church is to make disciples.  We can do that by providing Bible knowledge and its application to daily live.  We intend to give the educational arm of the church the ideas, resources, people, and facilities it needs to present each person mature in Christ.  Proverbs 22:6, II Timothy 2:15 

ENCOURAGEMENT everyone needs to be built up, valued and made to feel a part.  Following the examples of Barnabas, Jesus and other who were such a blessing to those around them, we will seek creative ways to encourage on another in the faith.

I Thessalonians 5:11, Ephesians 4:29 

• Church Membership
• Child Dedication
• Baptism
• Communion
• Salvation