Beliefs
A building is only as strong as the foundation on which it rests. The church is built on the foundation of Jesus Christ our Lord and the word of God. John the apostle said our foundation is, “The word of God and the testimony of Jesus” (Rev 1:9). The Bible is the foundation for our church ministries and mission. The Apostles’ Creed written about A.D. 700 sums up the Christian faith:
I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into Hades; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from there He shall come to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Bible
We believe in the Bible as God’s only inspired, inerrant, and authoritative revelation of himself and his will given to us (2 Tim 3:16-17).
God
There is only one God, who eternally existing in three Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. We believe God is our Creator, Redeemer, and Father (1 John 5:7; Matt 28:19).
Jesus
Jesus is the only Son of God, the Savior of the world, and Lord of all (John 1:1-14). He was born of the virgin Mary (Matt 1:18), lived a sinless life (2 Cor 5:21; Heb 4:15), worked miracles (Acts 10:38), died for our sins on the cross (1 John 2:2), rose from the dead (Luke 24:39), ascended to heaven as our High Priest (Heb 4:14), and will return at the end of age to rule and reign as Lord of all (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18; Rev 20:6).
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead, co-eternal, co-equal, and co-existent with the Father and the Son. When we receive Jesus as our Savior the Holy Spirit lives within us (1 Cor 6:19) and gives us power for life and ministry (Acts 1:8). We believe in the baptism and infilling of the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13; Acts 2:1-4). The Holy Spirit transforms us in the image of Christ (2 Cor 3:18), assists us in prayer (Rom 8:26-27) and imparts spiritual gifts for ministry (1 Cor 12:1-11).
Salvation
When we are born again, we are saved from the penalty, power, and punishment of sin. We have eternal life. Salvation comes “by grace through faith” apart from our works (Eph 2:8-10). Salvation requires to a person to repent of their sins and to confess “Jesus is Lord” (Luke 24:46-48; John 1:12; 3:3-8; Acts 2:38-39; Eph 2:8-9).
Church
The church is the family of God made up of all believers. The church is the center of God’s activity in the world. All Christians are members of the church which is the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27), the temple of God (Eph 2:19-22), and the bride of Christ (Eph 5:32; Rev 19:7; 21:9). Christians are called to give their time, talent, and treasure to serve the church and to love the church just as “Christ loved the church, and gave himself up for her” (Eph 5:25).
Healing
Divine healing is provided through Christ’s atonement (1 Peter 2:24). We practice the sacrament of anointing the sick with oil, representing the Holy Spirt, and the prayer of faith in Jesus’ name (James 5:13-15). Healing also means living a healthy lifestyle as we follow God’s word (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
Spiritual Growth
As Christians, we are to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). Spiritual growth is also called sanctification and spiritual formation (Rom 8:29; Gal 4:15; 1 Thessalonians 4:3). Spiritual growth produces the fruit of maturity and ministry (Gal 5:22-23) and is the evidence of discipleship (John 15:8, 16).
Eternal Life
Jesus guarantees all believers eternal life in heaven with him (John 3:16; John 4:1-3). Heaven is a real place for the eternal soul (2 Cor 5:1). We are confident to stand before God in the righteousness of Christ (2 Cor 5:21; Rom 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; 1 John 4:17). Eternal judgment awaits the ungodly (Heb 9:27; John 5:28-29; Rev 20:11-15).
Sacraments
We practice the sacrament of Holy Communion, also called the Eucharist and the Lord’s Supper, to remember the sufferings of our Savior on the cross (Matt 26:26-30; 1 Cor 11:23-26). We practice the sacrament of Christian Baptism as a sign of one’s confession of faith in Jesus (Matt 28:19; 1 Peter 3:20-22).
Worship
The church's main purpose is to worship God. The Westminster Confession of Faith teaches, “The chief end of humanity is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.” Jesus said, “God is spirit and true worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). Paul the apostle challenges us, “whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Cor 10:32). We gather for worship as the church on Sunday, the Lord’s Day to "enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise" (Psalm 100:4). We worship with such biblical expressions as singing (Psalm 9:11; Eph 5:19), music (Psalm 33:2), silence (Hab 2:20), lifting hands (Psalm 63:4; 1 Tim 2:8), praise (Psalm 47:1; 132:16), prayer (Acts 4:31), and giving (1 Cor 16:1-2). Jesus promised his presence when we gather: "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them" (Matt 18:20).
Preaching
The preaching of the gospel and teaching of God’s word is our top priority in worship. “We will give ourselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the word" (Acts 6:4). Evangelism, discipleship, and revival come through hearing the word of God. We accept the Bible as the word of God. "And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe" (1 Thessalonians 2:13). Preaching is based on the premise: “Man will not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matt 4:4).
Spiritual Gifts
We practice the gifts of the Holy Spirit in worship (1 Cor 12:7-11) and follow biblical guidelines for orderly worship for the strengthening of the church (1 Cor 14:26-40). Spiritual gifts are a sign of God’s presence (Mark 16:20; Hebrews 2:3-4).
Holy Communion
The sacraments of Holy Communion and baptism are rich with spiritual meaning. The bread and the wine of Holy Communion remind us, "Christ died for me." As we rise from the waters of baptism, we declare, "Christ lives in me." Holy Communion is called by several names in the New Testament: The Lord's Supper (1 Cor 11:20), the breaking of bread (Acts 2:42), communion (1 Cor 10:16), and the Eucharist, meaning "thanksgiving" (1 Cor 10:16). Christian communion is the fulfillment of the Jewish Passover (1 Cor 5:7) and a sign of the new covenant foretold by the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah and fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Matt 26:28; Heb 8:1-13). Jesus gave us this sacred meal to remember his sufferings for our salvation: “Do this in remembrance of me” (1 Cor 11:25). We not remember the cross, anticipate his return for we “proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Cor 11:26). Eating and drinking represents the spiritual nourishment we receive through our faith in Jesus. We examine ourselves before taking the sacrament (1 Cor 11:28). Everyone is welcome at the Lord’s Table (1 Cor 10:21). Jesus himself serves us the sacrament for it is his meal for us.
Baptism
The sacrament of Christian baptism is a confession of faith in Jesus. Baptism is a sign of forgiveness sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16), confession of faith (Rom 6:1-10), obedience to Jesus (Matt 28:19), and repentance of sin (Acts 2:38). Baptism is an outward sign of an inner work of God’s grace. It is an external expression of an eternal experience! Baptism does not save us from our sins or even add to our salvation. Rather, it declares to others that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
We baptize believers in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matt 28:18-19). Since baptism follows salvation, we do not baptize infants. Only when a child or adult makes a personal confession of faith in Christ, do we offer baptism We baptize by immersion as general practice (since the word baptize means to immerse) and also by sprinkling in special circumstances. Baptism represents spiritual washing from sin, dying with Christ on the cross canceling the power of sin and death, and rising out of the water to live a new life! (Rom 6:4)
Giving
Financial giving of tithes and offerings is God’s command and our privilege. Giving is worship to God (Prov 3:9), expresses love for God and those in need of the gospel (James 2:15-17; 1 John 3:17-18), and comes from a grateful heart (2 Cor 8:11-12). “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor 9:7). We give because God provides. Jesus said, “Freely you have received; freely give” (Matt 10:8). Giving is a part of all Sunday worship historically (1 Cor 16:2). Christians give three kinds of offerings: The word tithe means first tenth of one’s income (Malachi 3:9-10; Matt 23:23), freewill offerings (2 Cor 9:6-8), and gifts to assist the poor (Gal 2:10; 6:10).