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God
We believe in God revealed in the Bible,
as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is holy, all-knowing, all-powerful,
and loving. Genesis 1:1-3 2
Corinthians 13:14 Matthew 3:16-17 John
10:30
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Father
We believe that God the Father created
the universe from nothing. In love, He sustains His creation and
desires an intimate relationship with all people. Genesis 1:1 John 3:16-17
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Jesus the Son
We believe that because of His love for
us, God became a human being, Jesus Christ. He was miraculously
conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit, and physically
born of Mary. We declare that God Himself, In Jesus Christ, has
come in the flesh (is incarnate). Being fully divine and fully
human, He lived the life of a servant, and in His death and bodily
resurrection, Jesus won for us victory over death and the power
of the devil. We experience forgiveness through the death and
resurrection of Jesus Christ and are made acceptable to our Holy
Maker, and enjoy a close relationship with Him. Romans 5:8-9 Romans 6:23 2
Corinthians 5:21 Hebrews 2:14-15 1
Peter 1:18: 2:24
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The Holy Spirit
We believe that God the Holy Spirit works
in people's lives and brings them to faith in Jesus Christ. He
desires to be so fully active in believers that they are filled
to overflowing with His presence and are empowered with His gifts
to witness to Jesus and to do the work of the Church. The Holy
Spirit working in the Christian's life is love, joy, peace, goodness,
kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, patience and self-control. Acts 1:8; 2:1-42 1
Corinthians 12:4-11 Galatians 5:22-23
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The Bible
We believe and have experienced that the
Bible is the living Word of God. God reveals His character and
will in the Bible and we see our own sinful reflection and learn
of God's offer of eternal life in Jesus Christ. The entire Bible
is inspired by God. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 2
Peter 1:20-21
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How We Read the Bible
We believe Christians should read the Bible
in the light of Jesus Christ, through the lens of both Law and
Gospel, and by interpreting Scripture with Scripture. God's Holy
Spirit can lead Christians through His written Word to eternal
truths which transcend cultural contexts. Living under the whole
counsel of God in the Bible, Christians can know God's will and
be led in truth.
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Sin
We believe that sin separates us from God.
Sin is our rebellion against His will and our brokenness in relationships—with
God, others, and ourselves. We sin in thought, word, and deed
because we are born sinful and are naturally self-centered. Isaiah 59:2 Luke 24:46-47 Romans
6:23
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Grace
We believe that we enter into a relationship
with God not by anything we do, but solely by what God has done
for us through Jesus. Knowing that we are sinners, we trust completely
in God's amazing grace (unearned merit and favor) to save us from
condemnation and to give us an eternal home with Him. Ephesians
2:8-9 Galatians 2:16 Grace
is “God's Riches at Christ's Expense.”
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Jesus’ Return
We believe that, as He has promised, Jesus
is coming back to earth. Although, we don't know when, we do know
why. Jesus is coming to judge the living and the dead and to fulfill
His promise to give all believers eternal life. We desire to share
this hope we have in Jesus with all people. Acts
1:11 Mark 13:32-37
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Faith at Work
We believe that our primary call from God
is to make disciples of Jesus Christ by baptizing and teaching
others what He has commanded us. We engage in actions of love
and mercy as a demonstration of God's love, not to earn God's
approval, but because we are thankful for eternal life received
in Jesus. Matthew 28:18-20 1
John 3:16-18 Ephesians 2:8-10
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The Christian in the World
We believe that as disciples of Jesus Christ
we are called to interact with others in the world. This means
we are to relate in such a way as to induce a thirst for God through
lives of love and integrity. We are to bring clarity to issues
by speaking the truth in love. We do not relate to the world through
intimidation or manipulation, but by persistent, loving witness
to Jesus Christ. Matthew 5:13-16 2
Corinthians 10:4-6 Ephesians 4:15
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Human Sexuality
We believe that our sexuality is a good
gift from God. Sexual intimacy is blessed by Him when it is the
channel of God’s Will. Monogamous heterosexual marriage
has always been God’s Creative Will. It is also God’s
Will to channel his mercy, love, and forgiveness to people through
many other relationships, including other monogamous covenantal
relationships of fidelity that seek God’s forgiveness, strength,
and direction. We all fall short and sin against our Father by
sinning in and against our covenants of fidelity; but all who
desire to turn from sin, sexual or otherwise, can be forgiven
and renewed by the grace of God in Jesus. Genesis 2:24 Exodus 20:14 1
Corinthians 6:19-20 Romans 1:26-32
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Church
We believe that those who honestly rely
on Jesus as their Lord and Savior are the Church, Christ's body.
Calling us together in local communities, God empowers believers
with differing gifts for the purpose of service together. We cherish
our unity with all believers, locally and around the world, who
preach, teach, and live the Good News of Jesus Christ. 1
Corinthians 12:12-27 Ephesians 4:11-16 Romans
12:3-8
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Baptism
Jesus commanded and we believe, and have
experienced, that through the sacrament of Holy Baptism, God adopts
us as His children. We affirm the practice of baptizing infants
as well as adults because all humans are born with a sinful nature,
and because being part of God's eternal family is entirely His
doing and not our own. Romans 6:4-6 Matthew
18:1-6 Acts 2:39 Acts
16:30-33
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Communion
We believe that in the sacrament of Holy
Communion, God comes to love and forgive us. Through this meal,
He brings us His love in a tangible way and renews us in our relationship
with Him. As He promised, Jesus is truly present in the bread
and wine. Jesus has instructed that we remember Him when we celebrate
this meal. As we come to this Holy Communion, we bring to Jesus
our sin with a sincere desire to be forgiven and to be changed
to be more like Him. Jesus Christ Himself has promised that He
is truly, physically present to bless you and forgive you. We
invite all baptized Christians who believe that they will truly
meet our risen Lord Jesus, here in this Holy Communion, to come
and join us at His Table of Grace. 1 Corinthians
11:23-26 John 6:53-56
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Human Worth
We believe that every human life (born
and unborn) is precious, being created in the image of God. Because
Jesus Christ chose to die for us, every person is loved by God.
Since life is sacred, abortion is not pleasing to God and Christians
are called to value life as God does. Our worth is determined
by God's view of us which is demonstrated in Jesus, not by our
own self-estimation. In some sad situations the choice of abortion
does become the lesser of two evils. God desires that all women
who have experienced the loss of a child through abortion, should
know and experience his forgiving and healing love. Genesis
1:27 John 3:16 Psalm
136 Psalm 139:13-16
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Prayer
We believe that the Lord is powerful and
desires to be active in our lives. Because Jesus died for our
sins, we have the privilege to pray directly to God. He desires
that we speak with Him often as part of a growing relationship
with Him. More than just speaking, prayer involves listening to
God because prayer is two-way communication. One way God speaks
to us is through His written Word. Therefore, regular reading
of the Bible is an integral part of daily prayer since. Luke 11:1-13 Matthew 5:33
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The Apostles’
Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.*
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen
*or “He descended to into hell.”
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The Nicene Creed
We believe in on God,
the Father, The Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father.
Through Him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven;
by the power of the Holy Spirit
He became incarnate from the virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day He rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and His kingdom shall have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord,
the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son He is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen
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