What We Believe

Our Doctrinal Statement

WHAT WE BELIEVE

   We are Evangelical:

  • We believe the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God. We believe the Bible is the final authority in every area it addresses for every individual Christian, as well as for the church collectively. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:21, John 10:35)
  • We believe there is one God who eternally exists as three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe that all things were created by Him and for Him. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 45:21-22, Matthew 28:19, Colossians 1:16)
  • We believe that God the Son became a human being in the person of Jesus Christ. That He was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless life (for He was without sin), died a substitutionary death for all mankind, was raised from the dead the third day, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God until His enemies are made His footstool. (John 1:1, 14, Matthew 1:18-25, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 3:18, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Hebrews 10:12-13)
  • We believe the Holy Spirit was sent by the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. We believe the Holy Spirit regenerates, indwells, and seals believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, and that He empowers them to live as His witnesses. (John 14:16-17, John 16:7-11, Titus 3:5-6, Romans 8:9, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Ephesians 1:13-14, Acts 1:8, Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12-14, 1 Peter 4:10-11)
  • We believe that God created human beings, male and female, in His own image. He created them sinless, equal in value, dignity, and worth. (Genesis 1:26-28, Ephesians 5:22-6:4, 1 Timothy 3:1-7)
  • We believe that, as a result of the Fall, all people are sinners by nature and in need of a Savior, and that Jesus Christ is the one and only Savior of the world. That salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Him. We believe that all who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved eternally. (Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23, Romans 5:18-19, Matthew 1:21, 1 John 4:14, John 14:6, Acts 4:12, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 10:9)
  • We believe there is one church, the body of Christ, consisting of men and women from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. We believe that each local congregation is an expression of that universal church. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 4:4, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, Revelation 5:9, Acts 2:42-47)
  • We believe in the resurrection of the dead. Believers will be raised to life, and unbelievers to shame and everlasting contempt (hell). (Daniel 12:2, John 5:25-29, Revelation 21:1-22:5)

   We are Continuationists:

  • We believe that all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit mentioned in Scripture are available to, and active in His church today. (John 14:16-17, John 16:7-11, Titus 3:5-6, Romans 8:9, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Ephesians 1:13-14, Acts 1:8, Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12-14, 1 Peter 4:10-11)

   We are Complementarian:

  • We believe that God created human beings, male and female, in His own image. He created them sinless, equal in value, dignity, and worth. According to His purpose and design, God created to fulfill distinct but complementary roles in the contexts of marriage, (which is singularly between a man and woman) family, and the local church.” (Genesis 1:26-28, Ephesians 5:22-6:4, 1 Timothy 3:1-7)

     We are Premillennial:

  • We believe in the pre-millennial return of Christ to the earth, to sit upon the throne of David and rule over the house of Jacob (Israel), and the entire cosmos, forever. (Revelation 20:1-6, Luke 1:31-33, Isaiah 9:6-7)

PRACTICES & TEACHINGS

BAPTISM

Baptism is not a means to salvation, but an act of declaration and testimony of what has taken place in the believer’s life after accepting Jesus Christ. We practice full submersion water baptism and host baptisms regularly. Each believer desiring to be baptized must be able to communicate clearly the message of the gospel, the work God has done in their lives and a biblical explanation of baptism. We don’t practice infant baptism and will insure that young children are able to meet the requirements above and are individually choosing to be baptized.

GIFTS & WORKINGS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The gifts of the Holy Spirit that we see exercised in the Scriptures are available today and are to be eagerly desired and practiced in submission to the Spirit speaking through the Scriptures. The working of His gifts are for the edification of the church. The church should never become to rigid, structured, or produced that there is no longer room for His Spirit to freely move. The gifts and workings of the Spirit should always bring glory to God and never bring confusion or attention to any person other than Jesus Christ. (Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12-14; Ephesians 4:1-16).

THE GOSPEL & EVANGELISM

The Gospel is good news for our hurting and lost world. God’s love story and redemptive plan can be seen from Genesis to Revelation. We feel that the gospel message should be clearly communicated regularly through our teachings. It’s a message that is to be lived out in our individual lives and one of the sole purposes of the church. We believe and encourage that it’s not just the pastors’, Kids Church volunteer’s, or a small-group leader’s job to spread the Gospel. We all are called to go out with the message of His Gospel and the testimony of what He has done in and through us. This can be done in our work places, neighborhoods, schools, families, and by being sent out around the world.

COMMUNION

We regularly partake of communion as a church. We follow Jesus’ instruction to His disciples to do it often and in remembrance of Him and His work upon the cross. This act should never become something that is rote or routine. Partaking of communion also provides an opportunity for us to sit before our Savior’s feet and allow Him to search us. This is also a time to again confess and surrender any sins that His Spirit may reveal. We encourage non-believers to abstain from partaking of communion and encourage them to first surrender their lives to Jesus Christ. We do not use real wine, but grape juice and small pieces of bread.

PRAYER

Prayer is essential for the believer and is our life-line to God. We believe prayer should be something that, as the Word says,  happens “without ceasing.” We can go to God 24/7 with anything and everything. God wants to hear our prayers individually and corporately as the body of Christ. We like to incorporate prayer into our services and also have regular times of prayer, where there is no teaching, but a time of focused prayer and worship.

PROPHECY & END-TIMES

The Bible is filled with prophecies that have already been fulfilled and many that have not. Concerning the end-times, Jesus made it very clear that we would know when we’re close by certain things taking place. However, He also told us that no man knows the day nor hour of His return. Concerning the rapture of the church, there are a few different perspectives and points of view. Sadly the topic of end-times can cause disputes and has split hairs amongst believers for many years.

From our gleaning of Scripture and understanding we take the stance of “pre-tribulation.” The Bible indicates that there will be a time known as the “great tribulation.” Some feel Scripture indicates that the church will be taken up before this time of tribulation (“pre-trib”). Some feel that the church will go through part of this time and will be raptured during it (“mid-trib”). Then there’s the belief that the church will go through this entire set time of tribulation (“post-trib”).

There are several events that will happen after the rapture, which will ultimately lead to Satan being defeated and God reigning eternal. Whether we are pre-, mid-, or post-trib, it shouldn’t really cause division among us and other believers. Believers are all saved and have the hope of heaven— this certainly isn’t a salvation issue!

It is important as well not to find ourselves fearful of these things. This is very exciting for the believer. We are to be living with expectancy and looking to the clouds for Christ’s return. It can be easy to find ourselves consumed with these things. Yes, we want to be consumed with Jesus, but we shouldn’t be consumed with trying to figure out when and how His return will happen. As we wait expectantly for His return, we are called to be salt and light on this earth.