Connect
Love for one another marks a true disciple, and our love thrives when we are connected.
“By this they will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)
Grow
As we remain in Christ, He matures us both personally and collectively.
“Remain in me as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself… Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” (John 15:4–5)
Serve
We serve God, the Church, and our community.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…” (Matt. 28:19–20)
Statement of Faith
God
We believe in one God (1 Cor. 8:6; 1 Tim. 1:17; 2:5), Creator of all things (Gen. 1:1; Acts 17:24; Col. 1:16), holy (Lev. 11:45; 1 Peter 1:15–16), infinitely perfect (Matt. 5:48), and eternally existing (Exod. 3:14; Deut. 33:27; Ps. 90:2) in a loving unity (John 3:35) of three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19–20). Having limitless knowledge (Job 37:16; 1 John 3:20) and sovereign power (Jer. 32:27; 2 Cor. 6:18; Rev. 1:8), God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself (Eph. 3:11) and to make all things new for His own glory (Rev. 21:5).
The Bible
We believe that God has spoken in the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, through the words of human authors (2 Peter 1:20–21). As the verbally inspired Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16), the Bible is without error in the original writings (John 17:17). We hold to single authorial intent (the human authors knew what they were writing and had a single intention of its meaning) and single Authorial intent (God knew what He was writing through human agency and the principles of one single intent of the biblical text has potentially multiple facets and fulfillments based on God’s overall redemptive work through over thousands of years). The Bible is His revelation disclosed in written form (Rev. 1:1) that describes His will for salvation (2 Tim. 3:15) and the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged (Matt. 4:4). Therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises.
The Human Condition
We believe that God created Adam and Eve in His image (Gen. 1:26–27), but they sinned when tempted by Satan (Gen. 3:6–7). In union with Adam, human beings are sinners by nature and by choice, alienated from God, and under judgment (Rom. 5:12). Only through God’s saving work in Jesus Christ can we be rescued, reconciled, and renewed (Rom. 5:18–19).
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate (John 1:1, 14), fully God (John 8:58) and fully man (1 Tim. 2:5), one Person (refers to Himself as “I” not “we”) in two natures. Jesus—Israel’s promised Messiah (Matt. 16:16–17)—was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary (Matt. 1:20–21). He lived a sinless life (2 Cor. 5:21), was crucified under Pontius Pilate (Acts 3:13; 13:28), arose bodily from the dead (John 20:20), ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9–11) and sits at the right hand of God the Father (Acts 2:33; Heb. 10:12) as our Advocate (1 John 2:1).
The Work of Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute (Rom. 8:3; 1 Thess. 5:10), shed His blood on the cross as the perfect, all–sufficient sacrifice for our sins (Eph. 5:2; Heb. 9:25–28). His atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for salvation (Col. 1:20).
The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit, in all that He does, reveals the Lord Jesus Christ (John 15:26; 16:14). He convicts the world of its guilt (John 16:8). He regenerates sinners (Titus 3:5), and in Him they are baptized into union with Christ (1 Cor. 12:13) and adopted as heirs in the family of God (Gal. 4:4–7). He also indwells (1 Cor. 6:19), illuminates (John 16:13), guides (John 16:13), equips and empowers believers (Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 12:11; Rom 8:26) for Christ–like living and service.
The Church
We believe that the true church comprises all who have been justified by God’s grace through faith alone in Christ alone (Rom. 3:23–26; Eph. 2:11–22). They are united by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13), of which He is the Head (Col. 1:18). The Lord Jesus mandated making disciples, baptism, observing His teachings (Matt. 28:19–20), and the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:23–25), which visibly and tangibly express the gospel. Though they are not the means of salvation, when celebrated by the church in genuine faith, these ordinances confirm and nourish the believer (John 6:55).
Christian Living
We believe that God’s justifying grace must not be separated from His sanctifying power and purpose (Rom. 6:11–14; Eph. 4:22–24; 1 Thess. 4:3–8). God commands us to love Him supremely (Matt. 22:37) and others sacrificially (Matt. 22:39; Eph. 5:1) and to live out our faith (2 Cor. 5:7) with care for one another (Gal. 6:1–2). In obedience to Christ’s commission, we are to make disciples among all people, always bearing witness to the gospel in word and deed (Matt. 28:19–20).
Christ’s Return
We believe in the personal, bodily return of our Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Thess. 4:13). The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God (Mark 13:32), demands constant expectancy (Matt. 24:42–44; 25:1–13) and, as our blessed hope (Titus 2:13), motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission (Matt. 24:45–51).
Eternity
We believe in two possible future states for all mankind; hell and the new heavens and the new earth (Rev. 21:1). We believe hell is a place of eternal conscious judgment for those who reject God and the Gospel of His Son (Matt. 25:30, 41, 46; Mark 9:43; Luke 16:22–24; Rev. 14:9–11); they will be shut out from the presence of God and His Son forever (2 Thess. 1:8–10). We believe the new heavens and the new earth is a place where God will dwell forever with His redeemed people (Rev. 21:3–4; 22:3–5). Believers will exist forever in glorified bodies (1 Cor. 15:42–44) like Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:48–49) never to sin or be removed from God’s presence ever again (1 Thess. 4:17).