What we believe

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. Scripture is inerrant, complete, and the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.


The Godhead eternal exists in three persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are one God.


Jesus Christ is God's only begotten Son, was conceived by the Holy Spirit and is the second Person of the Trinity. He was miraculously born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and performed miracles. We affirm His incarnation, teachings, substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and His personal, visible return to earth. Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God the Father and humanity.


The Holy Spirit indwells the believer at the moment of salvation and is the comforter and helper as well as the convicter of sin. We believe that God, in grace, gives gifts to every believer for use in the ministry to which He calls us.


Man was created innocent and fell in the Garden of Eden; therefore natural man is spiritually dead. Man can be saved by God's grace only by believing that Jesus Christ was the only sacrifice for our sins. Man is saved by faith alone—not by works.


The Lord Jesus Christ will come again to earth, personally and visibly, to establish His kingdom and fulfill God's eternal plan for creation. Death seals the eternal destiny of each person. For each person, there will be a resurrection of the body, the final judgment before God, the eternal bliss in heaven for those who are in Christ Jesus, and the endless suffering in hell for those who have not received salvation.

FAQ

Listed below are several questions visitors have asked in the past. We’d be happy to answer any additional questions or give you more detailed explanations if something is unclear to you. After the questions you’ll find some Bible references in parentheses that provide the basis for our beliefs.

When does the service start & end?

We start with a short welcome and greeting at 9:30am. The service typically ends around 10:30am. When the service is over, one of our elders will make announcements and everyone is invited for coffee, juice and snacks downstairs. We believe in the importance of fellowship!

What do you call this service?

This service goes by many names: Worship Meeting, The Remembrance Meeting, and The Breaking of Bread. (Acts 2:42) All these names reflect the purpose of this service. You may know this service as Communion, Mass, or the Celebration of the Eucharist.

What's the purpose of this service?

As the many names of this service demonstrate, we’re here for several purposes. First, we’re gathered here to worship God’s Son, Jesus Christ, for who He is and what He’s done for us. Second, we’re here to remember exactly what Jesus did for us over 2000 years ago when He died on the cross for our sins. Finally, during the service someone will pray and give thanks for the bread and the wine/grape juice because that’s what Jesus asked us to do – remember His sacrificial death for us. (1 Corinthians 11:26)

How is this service different from other church services?

During our other services, such as Sunday School and Wednesday night Bible Study, we grow in our faith by learning and applying biblical principles to our lives. This hour of remembrance, however, is set aside to give our thanks and praise to Jesus Christ. Simply put, this may seem different because the purpose is different – we’re here to GIVE praise, not to RECEIVE teaching or instruction. We firmly believe that it is of utmost importance to give thanks and praise with our entire lives, not just one hour on a Sunday morning. (Romans 12:1)

Why isn't there anyone up front? Where's the pastor?

That might be the biggest difference you’ve noticed since the service began. We believe the Bible teaches that all men who living out their faith, guided by the Holy Spirit, have the responsibility to give thanks and praise to Jesus Christ during this service. We believe that being a pastor is a spiritual gift, and there are some here who have that gift. (I Peter 2:5,9)

Why is it just the men who are speaking?

The Bible teaches about Christians being a “body.” (I Corinthians 10:16-17) It speaks of Christ being the Head of the Body, and men being the head of the household. When men take their role as loving leaders with responsibilities for their families, God gets the glory. In God’s order, women are not to exercise authority over men in the church. Although the women are not giving out songs or praying or reading verses, they have many responsibilities in the church. (I Timothy 2:12)

How can I participate in this service?

You are more than welcome to join us in singing, following along as verses and thoughts are shared, and adding your agreement to prayers by saying “amen.” Because the purpose of this service is one of remembrance of what Jesus Christ has done for us, it only makes sense that this service is meant for those who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 13:15) If you are a Christian who is living for Jesus Christ, we invite you to join us in receiving the bread and wine/grape juice as it comes around at some point during the service. (1 Corinthians 11:28-29) If you’ve never confessed your sins to Jesus Christ and asked Him to save you from your sins and you believe He died on the cross for you, we ask that you not take the bread and wine as it comes around. We’d love nothing more than to talk with you about becoming a Christian!

Do you have any other services?

Yes! And you’re more than welcome to attend any of them. One of those services starts later this morning. After the refreshments are served downstairs, we come back upstairs for a Family Bible Hour (or Sunday School) at 11:15. We do some singing and typically listen to a message from the pulpit. It’s more like a typical church service you may be accustomed to.