All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2Timothy 3:16-17
Philosophy of ministry
We believe that the book of Acts of the Apostles, as well as the epistles of the New Testament give us the principles by which the church is to function. We place great importance on the exposition of the Scriptures, and a specific emphasis on verse-by-verse, chapter-by-chapter teaching through the entire Bible. We rely strongly upon the ministry of the Holy Spirit and seek to remain flexible to His leading. We believe that the Holy Spirit's leading will always be consistent with the clear teaching of the Scripture. We are convinced that where God guides, He provides. Therefore we trust the Lord to provide for and to build His church. We seek to worship and serve the Lord within the context of our culture, yet we recognize that the culture must conform to the Scriptures, not the Scriptures to the culture.
what we believe
1. We believe that there is one living and true GOD, eternally existing in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in power and glory; that this triune God created all, upholds all, and governs all things. (Genesis 1:1, Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 44:8 and 48:16, Matthew 28:19-20, John 10:30, Hebrews 1:3)
2. We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, fully inspired without error, and the infallible rule of faith and practice. The Word of God is the foundation upon which this church operates and is the basis for which this church is governed. We believe that the Word of God supersedes any earthly law that is contrary to the Holy Scriptures. (Isaiah 28:13, Nehemiah 8:8, John 17:17, 2Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12, 1Peter 1:23-25, 2Peter 1:3-4 and 1:21)
3. We believe in the person of God the Father, an infinite, eternal, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love; that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men; that He hears and answers prayer; and that He saves from sin and death all those who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (Deuteronomy 33:27, Psalm 90:2, Psalm 102:27, John 3:16 and 4:24, 1Timothy 1:17, Titus 1:3)
4. We believe in the person of Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings, His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and His personal, visible return to earth. (Isaiah 4:14; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:23; Mark 16:19; Luke 1:34-35; John 1:1-2, 8:58, and 11:25; 1Corinthians 15:3-4; 1Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:8; 1John 1:2; Revelation 1:8)
5. We believe in the person of the Holy Spirit, Who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgement; and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower for ministry all who believe in Jesus Christ. (Acts 1:8; 2Corinthians 3:18; John 16:8-11; Romans 8:26, and 15:13,16; Hebrews 9:14)
6. We believe the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and that He is an abiding Helper, Teacher, and Guide. (John 6:13, 14:16-17, and 16:8-11; Romans 8:26)
7. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and in the exercise of all Biblical gifts of the Spirit according to the instructions given to us in 1Corinthians 12-14. (1Corinthians 14)
8. We believe that all people are sinners by nature and, therefore, are under condemnation; that God saves and regenerates based upon faith by the Holy Spirit, those who repent of their sins and confess Jesus Christ as Lord. (Acts 8:15-17; Ephesians 2:1-3 and 8-9; Romans 3:23 and 5:8; Titus 3:5)
9. We believe in the universal church, the living spiritual body, of which Christ is the head and all who are born again are a part of the Body of Christ. (1Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 4:15-16)
10. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ instituted two ordinances for the church: 1) full immersion water baptism of believers;
2) the Lord's Supper. (Matthew 28:19; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:38; 1Corinthians 11:23-26)
We also believe that the Lord Jesus Christ validated the ordinance of marriage. (Matthew 19:4-5; John 2:1-11)
11. We believe in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ which is His personal, visible return to earth and the establishment of His millennial kingdom, in the resurrection of the body, the final judgement and eternal blessing of the righteous and endless separation of the wicked. (Matthew 16:27; Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11-16, 20:11-15)
12. We believe in a literal Heaven and a literal Hell and that all those who place their faith, hope, and trust in Jesus Christ will spend eternity in Heaven with the Lord, while those who reject Jesus' free gift of salvation will spend eternity separated from the Lord. (Psalm 9:17; Matthew 5:3, 5:22, 18:9, and 25:31-34; Mark 9:42-49; Luke 12:5; John 3:18; Hebrews 12:23; 1Peter 1:4; Revelation 14:10-11 and 20:11-15)
13. We believe in the Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church where all believers will meet the Lord in the air and be taken out of this world prior to the Tribulation that will come upon the earth. (Isaiah 26:20; Matthew 24:29-31; Luke 21:36; Romans 1:18 and 5:9; 1Thessalonians 1:10, 4:13-16, and 5:9; 2Peter 2:7-9; Revelation 3:10, 5:7-10, and 7:13-14)
14. We believe in the creation and God as the Creator. We believe that God created man and that He created them male and female. As such, He created them different so as to compliment and complete each other. God instituted monogamous marriage between male and female as the foundation of the family and the basic structure of human society. For this reason, homosexuality and all other sexual preferences or orientations are unnatural, sinful, and unacceptable to God. Accordingly, this ministry will not perform any marriage ceremonies between two individuals of the same sex. It will not condone or recognize such same-sex marriages, civil unions, or domestic partnerships even if the state passes laws that provide for recognition of such unions.
15. We believe that marriage is exclusively the legal union of one genetic male and one genetic female sanctioned by the state and evidenced by a marriage ceremony. We also believe that legitimate Biblical sexual relations are exercised solely within marriage. Hence, sexual activities such as, but not limited to, adultery, fornication, pre-marital sex, incest, polygamy, homosexuality, transgenderism, bisexuality, cross-dressing, pedophilia, and bestiality are inconsistent with the teachings of the Bible and the Church. Further, lascivious behavior, the creation, viewing, and/or distribution of pornography and efforts to alter one's physical gender or gender related appearance are incompatible with a true Biblical witness. (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; John 4:16-18; Romans 1:18-32; 1Corinthians 5:11, 6:9-11, 6:18-20, 7:1-3, and 7:8-9; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-7; 1Timothy 1:9-11)