OUR CORE VALUES
We believe that God’s word is true. We believe it is the final authority and that it is powerful enough to change lives. We also believe it should be central in our lives and the ministries of our church.
We believe that prayer is God’s chosen method for expressing dependence upon and communicating with Him, and therefore, ought to be a priority in our lives both individually and corporately.
We believe that God loves lost people, and therefore, we ought to as well.
We believe that everything we do should reflect God’s unconditional love for us as the model and motivation for our unconditional love for one another.
We believe that healthy small groups will be used by God to facilitate the process of life change, and therefore, we will prioritize small groups as a means of discipleship and spiritual growth in the church.
We believe that the church should be culturally relevant while remaining biblically true.
We believe that God uses biblically sound artistic expression (such as contemporary Christian music, drama, and technology) as a means of worship for believers and outreach to seekers, and therefore, our Sunday morning worship services will be characterized by a contemporary style of worship.
We believe that God’s design is for every believer in the church to be actively involved in ministry both within and outside of the body of Christ.
We believe that children can become believers, grow spiritually and serve the church body, and therefore, we will have ministries designed to equip and facilitate this process.
We believe that expressing God’s grace to one another includes the freedom to apply the Scriptures under the Spirit’s guidance, and therefore, though we may teach, exhort, admonish and correct in regard to matters which are clearly contrary to Scripture, we will not judge one another in questionable or unclear matters.
BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS
The Bible
We believe the Scriptures are infallible, and inerrant in the original manuscripts. They are composed of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament. They are the unique, full, and final authority on all matters of faith and practice, and there are no other writings similarly inspired.
2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16
God
We believe that there is one true, holy God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each of whom possess equally all the attributes of deity and the characteristics of personality.
Jesus Christ
We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal second person of the Trinity who was united forever with a true human nature by a miraculous conception and virgin birth. He lived a life of perfect obedience to God the Father and voluntarily atoned for the sins of all by dying on the cross as their substitute, thus satisfying divine justice and accomplishing salvation for all who trust in Him alone.
John 1:1; John 1:14; John 3:16; Matthew 1:18; 1 Peter 3:18
1 Corinthians 15:1-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit of God convicts individuals of their sinfulness and of the righteousness of Christ, draws them to the Savior, and bears witness to their new birth. At regeneration and conversion, the believer is baptized in the Holy Spirit. The Spirit indwells, seals and gives spiritual gifts to all believers for ministry in the church and society.
Romans 8:9–11; Romans 12:5-8; Ephesians 1:13–14; John 16:7–11; 1 Corinthians 12:1
Mankind
We believe that man was created in the image of God, sinned and thereby incurred physical and spiritual death, which is separation from God. All humans are born with a sinful nature.
Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 3:10; Romans 3:23
Salvation
We believe salvation of mankind is wholly a work of God’s free grace, not the result, in whole or in part, of human works or goodness, and must be personally received by repentance and faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross. The effects of salvation upon man are that he is regenerated, and is brought out from under condemnation and the penalty of sin. He is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, is declared righteous before God, is given eternal life and is brought into fellowship with God.
Ephesians 2:8–9; John 5:24; 2 Timothy 1:9–10; Acts 4:12; Romans 6:23; Romans 10:9–10
The Church
We believe there is one true universal church, which is comprised of all those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The universal church commits, as local assemblies, to pursuing God’s purposes for His church.
1 Corinthians 12:13; Matthew 28:18-19
Human Destiny
We believe the eternal destiny of each person is sealed by physical death. For all mankind there will be a resurrection of the body and judgment which will determine the fate of each individual. Unbelievers will be separated from God into eternal conscious punishment. Believers will be received into eternal communion with God.
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