who we worship

  • God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He is one in essence while eternally existing in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are the one and only living and true God. (Genesis 1:1, 26,27; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2)

  • God as Father reigns with providential care over his universe, his creatures, and over the stream of human history according to the purpose of his grace. He is all powerful, all loving and all wise. God is the Father of truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in his attitude toward all people. (Genesis 1:1; Ex 3:14; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 42:5-8; 64:8; Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 23:9; 28:19; Mark 1:10-11; John 4:24; 14:6-13; Romans 8:14-15; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; 1 Timothy 1:17)

  • Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Though he preexisted eternally as God, Jesus Christ was conceived of the virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit, lived a sinless human life, and offered himself as the perfect penal substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. After three days, he physically arose from the dead to demonstrate his power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. He will return again someday to establish his kingdom here on earth. (Matthew 1:22, 23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14, 15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3, 4; Acts 1:9-11; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:13-22; 1 Timothy 6:14, 15; Titus 2:13)

  • The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows spiritual gifts by which they serve God through his church. He seals the believer eternally for God. As Christians we seek to live under his power daily. (John 16:7-13; 14:16, 17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 3:16; 2 Corinthians 1:22; 3:17; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 1:13; 4:30; 5:18)

Speaker addressing an audience on a church stage with musical instruments and a welcome banner behind him

why we worship

  • The Bible, comprising the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, is God’s very Word to us. It was written by human authors under the divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth and authority for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is inerrant in the original writings and is the infallible truth in all matters it speaks on. The criterion by which the Bible is to be interpreted is Jesus Christ. (Psalm 12:6; 119:105, 160; Proverbs 30:5; 2 Timothy 1:13; 3:16; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:20, 21)

Audience members raising their hands during an indoor presentation in a brick-walled hall

Who we are in christ

  • People were created innocent and in the image and likeness of God, for fellowship with God, but our first parents sinned bringing forth death (which means separation from God) to themselves and their posterity. As a consequence all people are now sinners both by nature and by choice, are alienated from God, and apart from salvation through Jesus Christ are eternally separated from God. (Genesis 1:26, 27; 2:17; 3:6, 19; Romans 3:10-18; 5:12-21; Ephesians 2:1-3)

  • Salvation is a gift of God and is received by individuals only through repentance and personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. People are justified by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, apart from human merit, works, or ceremonies. All true believers, “born again” by the Spirit through faith in Christ, are kept secure in Christ forever and will exhibit the present evidence of a transformed life. (John 3:16; 10:27-30, 14:6; Romans 3:23; 8:33-39; 2 Corinthians 5:17 Ephesians 2:8-10)

  • People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are literal realities of eternal existence. (Matthew 1:8; 2:44,46; John 2:25; 3:16; 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15)

Black-and-white photo of a diverse group of people gathered indoors, with a woman gesturing and speaking beside a man in a baseball cap and cross necklace.

how we worship

  • The local church is the tangible manifestation of the universal church, the body of Christ. Its two ordinances are Baptism (of believers only, by immersion) and the Lord’s Supper. (Matthew 3:13-17; 26:26-30; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29; 12:13; Colossians 2:12)