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Our Convictions
The gospel is the power of God to save sinners (Romans 1:16-17). The word “gospel” means “good news.” Fundamentally, it is good news about Jesus Christ (Mark 1:1; Acts 5:42) and His Kingdom (Matthew 4:23; Colossians 1:13-14). It is an announcement: God the Son became man (John 1:14; Colossians 2:9). He lived a perfect life, which no one else can do (Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22). He died in the place of sinners (Romans 5:8; 1 Peter 3:18), and He was buried (Matthew 27:57-61). He rose again from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-8). He ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9-11). He is seated at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 1:3), where He is ruling over all things for His Church (Ephesians 1:20-23), speaking to His Church through His Holy Spirit and the Bible (Hebrews 1:1-2), and is interceding for His people (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 9:24). He will return publicly in judgment (Matthew 25:31-46; Acts 17:31) on a day and at a time no one knows (Matthew 24:36-42). This news is good for those who believe (Acts 16:31), repent and are baptized (Acts 2:38; Acts 17:30), and follow Him (Matthew 7:21-27).
We believe the church should have access to her pastor and that the pastor(s) should be involved in intentional, personal, regular shepherding and discipleship with his congregation. This is because we believe that pastors and elders are to imitate the Good Shepherd in knowing the sheep God has given them personally, in caring for the sheep, in feeding the sheep physically and spiritually through the Lord’s Supper and the Bible primarily, and seeking after sheep that go astray, and in laying down their lives for God’s sheep (John 10:1-18; Matthew 18:12-13; Hebrews 13:7,17; 1 Peter 5:1-4).
We believe every person is made in the image of God and therefore has inherent dignity (Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 139:13-18). We also believe we, as Christians, are strangers and exiles on this earth while we wait for our Lord to return (1 Peter 2:11). We therefore welcome all people from all sorts of backgrounds and life stories to come visit us, without implying approval of choices and lifestyles that are contrary to God’s righteousness revealed in His Word – the same standard by which we will be judged on the Last Day (Matthew 7:21; Matthew 16:27; Romans 2:6,16).