What We Believe

We don't ask you to check your mind at the door. Here's where we stand and why.

We're part of a long tradition of Christians who believe the Bible should be the final word on matters of faith and practice. We aren't trying to reinvent Christianity — we're trying to follow the Jesus we find in Scripture as faithfully as we can.

The beliefs below aren't exhaustive, but they represent the core convictions that shape our teaching, our worship, and our life together.

God's Word

We believe God gave us the sixty-six books of the Bible to be received as his inspired, authoritative, and trustworthy word for salvation and life. Despite the complexities of Scripture, it can be understood, trusted, and followed. We are committed to studying it honestly — paying attention to its grammar, history, literary context, and the story of God it tells from beginning to end. Because the Holy Spirit inspired all sixty-six books, we honor Jesus' lordship by submitting our lives to all that God has for us in them.

Psalm 119; Deuteronomy 6:1-9; Acts 2:42; Acts 17:10-11; 2 Timothy 3:16-4:4; 2 Peter 1:20-21

The Gospel

We believe God created human beings in his image to enjoy a relationship with him and one another. But through sin, we lost our way and are now separated from God.

The gospel is God's good news of reconciliation. It was promised to Abraham and David and revealed in Jesus' life, ministry, teaching, and sacrificial death on the cross. Jesus came as the promised Messiah. He ushered in the kingdom of God, died for our sins according to Scripture, was buried, and was raised on the third day. He defeated sin and death, ascended to heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God as Lord. Through the Spirit, we are transformed. Those who trust and follow Jesus by faith will be welcomed into the renewed creation — the new heaven and new earth — where we will glorify God and enjoy him forever.

Genesis 1-3; Romans 3:21-26; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Acts 2:36; Colossians 3:1; Revelation 21:1ff

Salvation and New Life

We believe people are saved by grace through faith. Faith is more than intellectual agreement — it is living allegiance to Jesus as both Savior and Lord. Faith without faithful action is not truly faith at all.

When we commit to trust and follow Jesus, we express this faith by repenting from sin, confessing his name, and receiving baptism by immersion in water. Baptism, as an expression of faith, is for the forgiveness of sins. It marks our entry into the life of discipleship — dying to ourselves and rising to live for Christ. At baptism we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, who indwells, empowers, and transforms us into the image of Christ. A prayerful life, led by the Spirit, is fundamental to genuine discipleship.

We rest in God's sovereign grace and take Scripture at its word — calling people to repent, confess Jesus as Lord, and be baptized into new life.

John 3:3-5, 16; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:1-4; Galatians 3:26-27; Ephesians 2:8-9; James 2:14-26; Galatians 5:16-25

Disciple Making

We believe the core mission of the church is making disciples of Jesus Christ — people who are following Jesus, being changed by Jesus, and committed to the mission of Jesus. Disciple making is more than conversion; it's the ongoing work of learning to obey everything Jesus commanded. To stay focused on Christ's sacrifice, our unity in him, and his coming return, we share communion together in our weekly gatherings.

Matthew 28:19-20; Colossians 1:28; 2 Timothy 2:2; Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 11:17-26

Kingdom Life

We believe in the present reign of King Jesus, the power of the Holy Spirit to transform people, and the priority of the local church. The church at its best looks like an extended family — bound together as brothers and sisters under the lordship of Christ.

God's holiness calls us to reject lifestyles marked by pride, immorality, greed, racism, and the like. God's love calls us to be known by how we love one another and serve our neighbors. Among other things, living as his people means:

  • We stand for the sanctity of life from conception to natural death, because every person bears God's image.
  • We uphold marriage as a covenant between one man and one woman, and believe sexual intimacy belongs within that covenant.
  • We pursue racial justice and reconciliation as a priority of the kingdom.
  • We honor men and women as equal in dignity and worth, serving as partners in ministry, while upholding New Testament teaching that the elder and lead-teaching roles are held by qualified men.
  • We resist the pull of materialism and give generously to serve those in need.

John 13:34-35; Galatians 5:19-23; Colossians 3:5-14; Ephesians 5:21-33; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Matthew 25:31-46

The Return of Christ

We believe Jesus is coming back to bring this age to an end, to judge the living and the dead, and to destroy death — God's last enemy. He will restore all creation, and God will be all in all forever. This is why we have urgency for the Great Commission — until Jesus returns and makes all things new.

Matthew 25:31-32; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28; Revelation 21:1ff

Questions?

These convictions shape who we are, but we know a web page only goes so far. If you have questions about what we believe or why, we'd love to talk.

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