Our 24 Essentials
Our Essential Beliefs
Authority of the Scriptures
We believe the Bible is God’s Word and has ultimate authority in our beliefs and actions (2 Timothy 3:16)
The Nature of God and the Trinity
We believe in God the Father and God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, the Three in One. (Hebrews 1:3)
The Nature of Humanity
We believe all people are loved by God and need Jesus Christ as their Savior. (1 Cor. 15:47-49)
Salvation and God’s Purpose of Grace
We believe one comes to a right relationship with God by His grace, through faith in Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:8-9)
The Nature of the Church
We believe the church is God’s primary way of accomplishing His redemptive plan (Eph 4:15-16)
The Ordinances of the Church
We believe that Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the two ordinances symbolizing God’s work in our lives and important to spiritual life and development. (1 Corinthians 11)
The Kingdom of God
We believe in God’s general sovereignty over the universe and His particular rule over those who accept Him as Lord. (1 Peter 2:4-10)
The Lord’s Day
We believe the first day of the week is resurrection day and a day to celebrate His rule in our lives. (Exodus 20:8-11)
Our Essential Practices
Celebration Worship
We worship God for who He is and for what He is doing in our lives. (Psalm 95:1-7)
Bible Study Connection
We study the Bible to know God and His truth and to find direct application into our lives. (Hebrews 4:12)
Christian Community
We fellowship with other Christians to accomplish God’s purpose for our lives, to hold one another accountable and to meet each other’s needs. (Acts 2:44-47)
The Great Commission Cause
We believe that God has put us on this earth to love all people to Christ and to help them in their journey with God and each other. (Eph 6:19-20)
Service
We give our lives away in order to accomplish God’s purpose. (Romans 12:1)
Prayer
We pray to God to know Him, to lay our request before Him and to find direction for daily life. (Ps. 66:16-20)
The Tithe
We give the tithe to accomplish God’s purpose for our lives. (2 Corinthians 8:7)
Spiritual Gifts
We know and use our spiritual gifts to accomplish God’s purposes.
(Romans 12:4-6)
Our Essential Virtues
We strive toward:
Love
To unconditionally and sacrificially love and forgive others (1 John 4:10-12)
Joy
To have inner contentment and purpose in spite of circumstances. (John 15:11)
Peace
To be free from anxiety because things are right with God, others, and myself. (Phil 4:6-7)
Patience
To take a long time to overheat and endure patiently under the unavoidable pressures of life. (Prov 14:29)
Kindness/Goodness
To choose to do the right things in my relationships with others. (1 Thess 5:15)
Gentleness
To be thoughtful, considerate and calm in dealing with others. (Phil 4:5)
Faithfulness
To establish a good name with God and others based on my long term loyalty to the relationship. (Proverbs 3:4-5)
Self Control
To have the power, through Christ, to maintain control of myself. (Titus 2:11-13)