God speaks primarily through His Word.
We believe that God reveals Himself to everyone everywhere through general revelation. We believe God has supremely revealed Himself through Jesus Christ, the Son of God and his incarnate Word. We believe that all of the divinely Holy Spirit inspired, inerrant, authoritative, sixty-six canonical books of the Bible reveal to us Jesus Christ. Because God is a loving Father who speaks, we seek to hear from Him and test everything by the Word of God. The Bible is the authoritative Word of God. It alone is the final authority in determining all doctrinal truths. In its original writing, it is inspired, infallible and inerrant.

(II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20-21; Proverbs 30:5; Romans 16:25-26).

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God reveals Himself in Three Persons.
We believe there is only one true God, who eternally exists as a Trinity of equally divine persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each member of the Trinity thinks, acts, feels, speaks, and relates, because each is a person and not an impersonal force. Each member of the Trinity is equally God, sharing all the divine attributes. Because love and community flow from the Trinity to us through the Holy Spirit, we seek to live in loving community with God and others.

(Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 9:6; Hebrews 3:7-11)

God the Father

At the soul of the Godhead is God the Father.

(I John 5:7; Genesis 1:26)

Jesus Christ

On earth, Jesus was both 100% God and 100% man. Jesus Christ was conceived by God the Father, through the Holy Spirit (the third person of the Trinity) in the virgin Mary's womb; therefore, He is the Son of God. He is the only to have lived a sinless life. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, died on the cross for mankind and thus, atoned for our sins through the shedding of His blood. He rose from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will return again in power and glory.  The physical expression of the Godhead is God the Son.

(John 1:1,14, 20:28; I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Philippians 2:5-6; I Timothy 2:5).

The Holy Spirit

We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling Christians are enabled to live Spirit-Empowered, gifted, and godly lives. The present ministry of the Godhead on Earth today is God the Holy Spirit. 

(Joel 2:28-29; Matthew 3:11; Mark 16:17; Acts 1:5,2:1-4, 17, 38-39, 8:14-17, 10:38, 44-47, 11:15-17, 19:1-6)

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God is creative.

God created the heavens and the earth from nothing exactly as the narrative of Genesis accounts. Creation was good; because of the fall of mankind, the only goodness we experience in this world is reminisce of the design which still functions according to His intentions. As part of redemption, God will be faithful to His covenant with man, creating a new heaven and a new earth. Because God is our Creator we worship Him alone and enjoy his creation gladly.

(Genesis 1, Psalm 8:3-4; 19:1, 4; 139:13-16; Romans 1:19-20.  -  God the Father’s role in Creation: see Genesis 1:1; Psalm 33:6, 9; Hebrews 11:3. God the Son’s role in Creation: see John 1:1-3; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:13-16. God the Holy Spirit’s role in Creation: see Genesis 1:2; Job. 33:4; Psalm 104:30. The earth was created out of nothing: see Hebrews 11:3. The earth was lovingly created: see Genesis 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26. The earth is a good gift to humanity: see Genesis 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31. The earth is a home in which people can worship and enjoy God: see Psalm 19:1-2; Isaiah 43:7; Jeremiah 10:12; Revelation 4:11)

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Gods creative vision for mans image was love.

God lovingly created the first human beings, Adam and Eve, as male and female: equal in dignity, value, and worth. When Man and Women walked instep with God, they mirrored and reflected His image. Mankind stands as God’s sole image bearers. Human life begins at conception; unborn babies are image-bearers of God. We believe that God created marriage solely for one man and one woman, and created sex only for married couples.  Because God created human life and marriage, we value the sanctity of life and godly marriage.

Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7; 5:1-3; 9:6; Romans 1:25; 1 Corinthians 11:7; James 3:9; Psalm 51:5-6; 139:13-16; Isaiah 49:1; Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 1:15; Genesis 2:18-25; Proverbs 5:18-19; Matthew 5:32; 19:9, 18; Mark 7:21-23; Galatians 5:16-24)

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God is the only Judge.

God created the world in a perfect state. In Eden, Satan tempted Eve to mistrust God’s word, and she was deceived. The sin committed by Adam was passed to all human beings, except Jesus Christ, by merit of His Virgin Birth.  Mankind are born sinners by both nature and choice. Fallen people are by nature sinners, children of wrath, and destined to death.  Because we are sinners in need of a Savior and new nature, we trust in Jesus Christ alone for new and eternal life. Through being born-again, we engage in the reality of spiritual warfare and overcome Satan and demons.

(Genesis 1:31; Isaiah 2:2-4; 11:1-9; 32:14-20; 43:1-12; 60:1-22; 65:17-25; Joel 2:24-29; 3:17-18; John 8:42-47; 2 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Timothy 2:14; Romans 5:19; Psalm 51:5; 58:3; Isaiah 53:6; 64:6; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8; Romans 5:12, 19; Ephesians 2:3; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22; Ephesians 6)

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God reengaged relationship with man through Jesus.

We believe that the eternal Son of God and second person of the Trinity became flesh, adding humanity to his divinity, and entered into human history as the God-Man, Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ is the Word, or Logos, of God because He is the personal, eternally existing Creator of the universe, distinct from, yet equal with the Father and Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ was miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the a women named Mary, a virgin, in Bethlehem to redeem sinful mankind as the only mediator between God and man. We believe that Jesus Christ, during the Incarnation, laid aside the exercise of his divine attributes and both lived his sinless life, and performed miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit. Because He is both our Savior and example, we deeply love Jesus Christ and seek to live with and like Him by the enabling power of the Holy Spirit.

(Matthew 1:18, 25; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:27-35).

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God experienced death on The Cross.

Jesus Christ lived a perfectly righteous and sinless life, and yet died in the place of sinners, fully absorbing the wrath of God, paying the just penalty for their sins and reconciling them to God. As our substitute, Jesus Christ suffered and died on The Cross in our place to forgive us, love us, cleanse us, and embrace us as the punishment for our sins was diverted from us to Jesus. Because Jesus died for our sins we seek to humbly confess our sins to Jesus Christ and one another, put sin to death in our life, forgive one another, and happily invite others to do the same.

(Isaiah 53:6; John 1:29; 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15; 1 Timothy 2:1-6; 4:10; Titus 2:11; Hebrews 2:9; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 John 2:2; 4:14; Revelation 5:9, Romans 3:23-25; Hebrews 2:17; 1 John 2:2; 4:10, Isaiah 59:2; Hosea 5:6; John 3:16; 15:13; Romans 5:8; 1 Timothy 1:15-16; Titus 3:4-5; 1 John 4:9-10.)

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God saves mankind through The Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We believe that Jesus Christ, after dying on the cross, arose bodily from the grave on the third day, appearing to many witnesses and proving that he was physically alive. Through faith we are united with the risen Christ through the covenant promises availed to all of man. When we confess Jesus Christ as Lord, we’re raised with Christ, and granted the same Holy Spirit power that raised Christ. We inherit benefits of Jesus’ resurrection which include the forgiveness of sins, justification, sanctification, covenant blood-paid rights, and ultimate glorification. We believe that justification through the work of Jesus Christ is possible by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. His righteousness is imparted to us at the time of saving faith, simultaneous with our justification, and brings us new life by the Holy Spirit, who regenerates us with a new nature and begins sanctifying us to become increasingly more like Jesus. Our identification goes from being sinners damned to a Christless Hell to the Righteous and Redeemed Church in covenant relationship with God. We confidently trust that one day we will likewise rise from our grave to live together as God’s people with Him forever.

(Gen. 1:26-31, 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-21; Isaiah 53:8-12; Matthew 12:38-40; 27:57-60; 28:9; Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:33-34; Luke 24:36-43; John 2:18-22; 19:34-35; 20:17, 20-28; 21:7, 12; Acts 1:3; 1 Corinthians 15:3-6; Romans 6:5; 1 Corinthians 6:14; 2 Corinthians 5:15; Colossians 2:12; 3:1; 1 Corinthians 15:3-58; Romans 4:25; 1 Corinthians 15:20; Acts 13:38; Romans 4:3-5; 5:1, 16-17; Titus 3:7; 2 Corinthians 5:21)

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God empowers believers through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit was given at Pentecost as the promise of the Father, sent by Jesus after His Ascension, to empower the church to preach the Gospel throughout the whole earth. The initial evidence of a person being Baptized in the Holy Spirit is the ability to speak in a heavenly, devotional prayer language.

(Joel 2:28-29; Matthew 3:11; Mark 16:17; Acts 1:5,2:1-4, 17, 38-39, 8:14-17, 10:38, 44-47, 11:15-17, 19:1-6)

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God moves through The Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

God is active today (Hebrews 11:6 "...Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."). The Gifts of the Spirit are active on earth and in the church - The Holy Spirit is revealed through a variety of spiritual gifts which build and sanctify the church, demonstrate the validity of the resurrection, and confirm the power of the Gospel. Believers are commanded to earnestly desire the manifestation of the gifts in their lives. These gifts always operate in harmony with the Scriptures and should never be used in violation of Biblical parameters.

(Hebrews 2:4; Romans 1:11, 12 :4-8; Ephesians 4:16; I Timothy 4:14; II Timothy 1:6-7; I Corinthians 12:1-31, 14:1-40; I Peter 4:10)

The devotional gift of an inspired heavenly, prayer language as well as the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

are active until the Jesus Christ returns.

(1 Corinthians 13:8-12; Rev. 1:7; Gen. 32:30; Judges. 6:22; Exodus 33:11; Rev. 1:7; John 1; John 1:14a; Revelation 19:13b; John 21:25; John 20:30-31; Matthew 4:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; 1 John 3:2,3; Acts 2:17; 1 Cor. 12:31; 14:1. The gifts follow believers: Mark 16:17. Christians hear God’s Voice: John 10:27).

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God’s plan to reach the world is the empowered, generous, and sending church.

We believe that the local church is an organized community of regenerated believers who confess Jesus Christ as Lord, while the universal church is comprised of all God’s people in all times and places. Jesus died to build His church, so Christians gather regularly under qualified leadership for preaching, worship, baptisms and communion, and the like. Churches are unified by the Spirit in love, are corrected for holiness, and scatter to fulfill the great commandment and the great commission as missionaries to the world. Because we are also members of God’s universal church, we partner with other Christian local churches and ministries for Kingdom ministry and are devoted to building up our local church family. The church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of Jesus' great commission. Every person who is born of the Spirit is an integral part of The Church as a member of the Body of believers.

(Acts 2:42, Matthew 2:11; 4:9; 8:2; 28:9; Acts 2:47; Romans 1:9; 12:1; Revelation 7:15; 19:10, Ephesians 4:4, Proverbs 19:11; Matthew 18:15-22; Acts 20:25–31; Romans 13:1-7; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 6:1-8; 2 Corinthians 2:5-11; 11:3-4, 13-15; Galatians 1:6-9; 5:7-15; 6:1-5; Philippians 3:2-3; Colossians 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 11, 14-15; 1 Timothy 1:4-7, 18-20; 4:1-8; 5:19-21; 2 Timothy 2:14-26; 4:1-5; Titus 3:10-11; Hebrews 10:24-25; 13:17; James 3:1; 1 John 2:19; 3 John 1:9-10, Matthew 5:43-45; 6:24; 22:39; Luke 6:32; 10:30-37; Romans 13:9-10; Galatians 5:14; Ephesians 5:25; 6:1-4; 1 Timothy 5:17; Titus 2:4; Hebrews 13:2, 17; James 2:8; 1 John 3:14, Matt. 28; Acts 1:8; 2:47; Acts 13:43; 17:4, 17; 18:4; 19:4, 26; 26:1–28; 28:23–24; 2 Cor. 5:11, 20; Col. 1:28–29, Acts 2:41-47.)

Church is both All-Church, Larger, Sunday Gatherings, and personal, geographic, demographic, interested Small Groups.

(Acts 5:48, Act 20:20)

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God saves us from the penalty of our sin.

Mankind was created good and upright, but by voluntary transgression fell; our only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. We’re redeemed by repenting (turning) of our sin, and confessing Jesus Christ as Lord. When we repent, we commit to turn away from sin and to follow Christ, which allows us to receive His redemption and to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Thus, through repentance we receive forgiveness of sins which grants salvation (eternal life begins when we accept Christ, not when you die).

(Acts 2:21, 3:19; I John 1:9)

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God offers freedom for His Church through a process of Sanctification.

Sanctification is the ongoing process of yielding to God's Word and His Spirit in order to complete the development of Christ's character in us. It is through the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that the Christian is enabled to live a godly life in a decaying world.

(I Thessalonians 4:3, 5:23; II Corinthians 3:18, 6:14-18, II Thessalonians 2:1-3, Romans 8:29, 12:1-2, Hebrews 2:11)

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God pursues us in Covenant.

God makes and keeps His covenant promises. These ratified agreements reveal His loving grace and mercy. Employing blood as the currency of sacrifice in the Old Testament was a genius effort of God to engage in an atoning system that Satan could not pervert or usurp (Satan has no blood). While Old Testament blood sacrifices atoned (covered) sin, the Blood that Jesus Christ shed on the Cross of Calvary was sinless and is 100% sufficient to cleanse and wash away the sin of mankind. Jesus allowed Himself to be punished for both our sinfulness and our sins, enabling all those who believe to be free from the penalty of sin, which is death. Because God welcomed us into eternal covenant relationship, we seek to live in gracious loving relationship with Him and others. 

(Luke 1:72; 1 Chronicles 16:15; Psalm 105:8; Ezekiel 16:60)

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God immersed Himself in our story, and welcomes us to

follow Him in that immersion: Baptism.  

(Mark 16:15-16, Hebrews 6:1-2)

Christians are baptized (Greek: to immerse), in three distinct ways:

Baptism into the Family of God:

Baptism into the "Family of God" is the spiritual regeneration called salvation: being born-again. We’re immersed in the Family of God through repenting of our sin, and the accepting of Christ by confessing Him as Lord.

(I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 4:5; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Col 2:12)

Following Jesus by being Baptized in Water:

Following faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the new Christian is commanded by the Word of God to be baptized in water. The decent into the water characterizes death in Christ, while being lifted from the water is a picture of being raised to life in Christ.

(Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Matt 28:19; Matt 28:19; Acts 8:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 10:43, 48; Acts 19:1-7; Acts 19:3-5)

Baptism in the Holy Spirit:

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to all believers. This experience takes the Spirit-Filled Christian and immerses them in the Holy Spirit of God. This gives believers the innate ability to speak in an inspired and heavenly devotional prayer language.

(Matt 3:11; Mark 1:8; John 1:33; Matthew 3:11; John 7:37-39; Act 2:4; Isa. 28:11, 12; Mark 16:16, 17; Acts 2:4-46; Acts 19:17; Acts 19)

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God wants His Church to remember Jesus, especially in community.

The Lord's Supper is a unique time of communion in the presence of God where elements of meal are taken in remembrance of Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross. The first communion was with a Small Group of Christ-Followers, and the book of Acts details the early church meeting in homes for the, “breaking of bread…”  Whether celebrated in Group, or at a church gathering, we take communion in remembrance of Jesus Christ.

(Matthew 26:26-29; I Corinthians 10:16, 11:23-25) and (Acts 5:48, Act 20:20).

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God’s Will is not ambiguous.

We can understand the Will of God - foolish people do not.

Ephesians 5:17

"Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is."

The "mystery" of God's Will cited in other portions of Scripture are speaking of the plan of redemption that was hidden from Satan. The mystery is revealed in Christ's finished work on the Cross.

Ephesians 1:7-10

"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed..."

God is sovereign, meaning: Supreme, Independent, Excellent, First. 

Predestination does not mean predetermination. God’s foreknowledge of who would accept Christ did not limit the provision of the redemption work (Romans 8:29-30 “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son…”). God's Will is not robotic, sterile, and predetermined to happen exactly as He desires. 

Romans 8:20-21

"...Creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God."

         The fall of man shows us God's Willingness to allow His perfect Will to not happen. In another part of scripture we read that Jesus was “crucified before the foundations of the world” (1 Peter 1:20, Revelation 13:8) showing us that God has always had full foreknowledge of what man will do. Foreknowledge of mans destiny (predestination) is not predetermination. Though God knows what we will ultimately do, His goodness extends grace to all. We have been sovereignly Willed a free will of our own. That is, power of choice and decision to accept Christ, walk in His victory, fulfill our call - or not.

God is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9).

The plan of salvation is open to all (John 3:16).

Romans 9 clearly teaches God's sovereignty and the immutability of God's election: 

Namely, His right to deal with Israel as He pleases.

We have to choose Gods best (Deuteronomy 30:15-19). 

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God's Will is His Word - that's how He provides for His family.

His Will for our lives as believers is to become whole and successful in every area of life. The full meaning of the word Salvation (Greek: Sozo) is to be complete and lacking nothing: spiritually, mentally, physically or financially. We realize these gifts by exercising our faith (in the same way we believe God's Word on Salvation and receive it freely by faith).

Believers should seek the full benefits of Christ's provision in order to better serve others:

Spiritual Rebirth

     (John 3:3-11; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Romans 10:9-10).

Mental and Emotional Peace

     (2 Timothy 1:7, 2:11; Philippians 4:7-8; Romans 12:2; Isaiah 26:3).

Physical Healing

     (Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24).

Financial Provision

     (Mal 3:10-11; Luke 6:38; 2 Cor 9:6-10; Psalms 34:10; Phil 4:19).

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God transforms us through worship to live by design.

Human beings, made in the image of God the Trinity (who is Himself a worshiping community), are unceasing worshipers created to continually outpour all they are, all they do, and all they can ever become to God. Worship includes praise, proclamation, service, participation, sacrifice, and submission. We believe that the corporate worship of a local church is to be God-centered. We believe that the corporate church worship should include Bible preaching, Communion, Baptism, prayer, Scripture reading, financial giving, singing and music, and the like. Worshippers embrace all of life, including our corporate church gatherings, as an opportunity to passionately worship God in practical ways.

(Hebrews 13:15-17, Matthew 4:8-10, Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34; 2 Corinthians 8–9; Colossians 3:16; 

1 Timothy 2:1; 4:13; and 2 Timothy 4:2)

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God’s pattern of giving is our example of stewardship and generosity.

Christians are called to be stewards who gladly acknowledge that they belong to the Lord, that everything they have belongs to the Lord, and that everything ultimately belongs to the Lord. Stewards should value both work and Sabbath so that their time and energy are well managed. Spiritual gifts are a special grace of the Holy Spirit, given to us at our new birth to serve the mission of Jesus, and continue to the present age. Because God has been generous to us, we seek to love and serve others as generous and wise stewards for God.

(Haggai 2:8; Malachi 3:8; Romans 1:6; 1 Corinthians 4:7; Ephesians 2:10; Genesis 2:2, 15; Exodus 20:8-11; Proverbs 18:9; 21:25; Ecclesiastes 3:22; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Colossians 3:23-24; 2 Thessalonians 3:10; Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 28-30; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Peter 4:11)

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God is sending Jesus again to reign through the redemption story.

The time between Jesus’ resurrection and our resurrection is a lengthy ministry season of love, grace, and mercy as news of the gospel goes forth, inviting sinners to repent of sin and enjoy the present and future salvation of Jesus Christ. At the ascension, the angels said, “This same Jesus will come back in the same way you saw him go into Heaven”. The “Church-Age” will end at the Second Coming Jesus Christ: He will physically and visibly return to earth for the second time for the resurrection of the saints and rapture of the Church. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 says, “...the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” This will occur at a date undisclosed by the Scriptures. Following the tribulation, Jesus will reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords for eternity. Because our eternal home is in the Kingdom of God, as we journey home our mission is to joyfully invite others to join us while we throw parties, have fun, and make friends to practice for eternity.

Our eternal destination of either Heaven or hell is determined

by our response to the Lord Jesus Christ. 

(1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Genesis 2:7; Genesis 2:17; Romans 5:12; Ecclesiastes 3:20-21; 12:7; Psalm 104:29; 146:4; Hebrews 9:27; James 2:26; Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:46; John 14:3; John 14:3; Acts 17:30-31)

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