We want to be a gospel-centered church. The gospel is central in scripture, in history, and in our salvation. We also want it to be central in our thoughts, words and actions. The gospel is not only what saves us, but also what helps us continue to grow as we bring the gospel to bear on all of life, all the time. 1 Corinthians 2:2; 15:1-4; Galatians 2:14; Colossians 2:6; Philippians 1:27
We want to be a church that experiences the transforming power of God’s word. Most of us want to experience real change, to grow in our love for God and others. The primary way that happens is by God speaking to us through His word in the Bible at every level: from Sunday morning, to small groups, to one-on-one discipleship, to regular personal Bible reading. Look at the book, it’ll change your life. Proverbs 2:6; Isaiah 55:10-11; Matthew 4:4; 2 Timothy 3:16
We want everything we do to be saturated in prayer. Ultimately, we rely on God Himself to accomplish His mission and even to bring about our commitment to these values themselves. Passionate and humble prayer is how we express our dependence on him. We want to ask boldly and surrender completely. 2 Chronicles 7:14; Luke 22:42; Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6-7; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
We want to be a church that upholds and honors the dignity, value and worth of all human life, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status, or physical & mental abilities. Therefore we should seek the welfare of the city around us by blessing people, families and neighborhoods with mercy, compassion and justice. All people are image bearers. Every age, every stage. Genesis 1:26-27; Jeremiah 29:7; Matthew 22:37-39; James 1:27
We were created for community. Because God has reconciled us to one another, we want to put a priority on personal relationships, from membership, where we commit to one another as family, brothers and sisters in Christ, to group settings, where we have fellowship with one another, to one-to-one, where we can really know each other. Even as we reach out to the community around us, personal relationships are powerful vehicles for communicating the gospel. Genesis 2:18; John 13:34-35; Ephesians 2:19; Philippians 2:5-11
We see God’s heart for multiplication from creation to the Great Commission. We also want to see God’s heart for multiplication at every level of the life of our church, from multiplying growing disciples, to multiplying healthy leaders, and multiplying local churches. Genesis 1:28; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 11-21; 2 Timothy 2:2
We agree that the chief end of man is to enjoy God and glorify Him forever. This is why we gather on Sundays – to worship God and praise His glory. But we also want to bring glory to God from Monday to Saturday, as we submit every single aspect of our lives to the glorious rule and reign of God. We want to worship by bringing glory to God with every square inch of our lives. Psalm 19:1; Isaiah 43:7; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Romans 12:1-2
Declaration of Faith
We believe that the Bible, consisting only of the Old and New Testaments, inspired by the Holy Spirit, is inerrant in the original manuscripts. It alone is the infallible and authoritative Word of God for all matters of faith, conduct and doctrine. (2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
We believe in the triune God, Creator and Sovereign Lord of all that exists. He is infinite in His knowledge, presence, power and wisdom; perfect in love, holiness and justice. God is truly one, yet eternally self-existing in three distinct persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each person of the Godhead is equal in being, nature and power. (Matthew 28:19; Romans 11:33-36)
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the promised Messiah of the Old Testament, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary at the appointed time. He is fully God and fully man without sin. He was crucified, dead, buried, and on the third day He rose bodily. The shedding of His blood is sufficient for the salvation of all mankind. Now He is seated at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for His people, and one day He will return bodily in power and great glory. (Matthew 1:18; Romans 8:33-34)
We believe that the Holy Spirit is Himself God, the third person of the Trinity. He was sent into the world to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. At the moment of conversion, the Spirit regenerates believers, indwells them and baptizes them into the body of Christ. He is given as a guarantee of their full inheritance. He imparts gifts to each Christian, as He chooses, for the edification of the Church. He fills and empowers believers as they submit to Him. (John 16:8-11; 2 Corinthians 12:1-13)
We believe Adam and Eve were created by a direct act of God in His own image. When they disobeyed God, they were judged and punished with physical and spiritual death. As descendants of Adam, all human beings inherit this sinful condition and its consequences, are guilty before God and are totally unable to approach God or to be reconciled to Him on their own merit. (Genesis 1:27; Romans 5:12)
We believe that salvation, found in Christ alone, provides forgiveness of sin and reconciliation to God. It was purchased by the sufficient substitutionary sacrifice of Christ on the cross. It is offered by grace to all people and must be personally received by repentance and faith as God’s gift, apart from any human effort. In salvation, all believers receive the righteousness of Christ and eternal life. True believers persevere. Their lives are to be characterized by spiritual growth. (John 3:16-21; Ephesians 2:8-10)
We believe the church is more than a building or a worship service. The New Testament affirms that the church is the community of all true believers in Christ for all time. Therefore, the church is both local and universal in that God’s people at any level, from local to universal, are rightly considered the church. Both the local church and the church universal are committed to the same purpose: To worship God, encourage and equip believers for mature faith, and make disciples of all nations. Grace Church, then, is committed to “to know Christ and to make Christ known”. (Matthew 28:19; Ephesians 5:25; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 12:28-13:3).
We believe in the reality of the fallen angel, Satan, a created being who rebelled and chose to be the enemy of God and mankind. Satan has a host of demons, that are also fallen angels, to do his work. Although powerful in this age, Satan and his angels are doomed by the sacrificial death of Christ. More numerous are the angels of God that serve Him to accomplish His work and worship Him. (Isaiah 14:12-15; Hebrews 1:14)
Marriage is a unique gift of God illustrating the union between Christ and His church. We believe that God’s exclusive model for marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime of godliness and fidelity. Marriage provides the framework for intimate companionship, sexual expression according to biblical standards, the means for procreation, and is God’s foundation for the family (Genesis 1:27-28; 2:18-25; Proverbs 5:15-22; Song of Solomon; Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:25-33).
We believe in the visible and personal return of Jesus Christ in order to culminate history. At the appointed time, the dead shall be raised and all mankind shall appear before the Lord to give an account. Believers in Christ will be transformed and enjoy everlasting life in the presence of their Lord. Unbelievers will be condemned to everlasting, conscious punishment forever separated from God. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9)
We believe in a believer’s baptism by immersion, as a symbol of entrance into the body of Christ. It is a public declaration of one’s faith. We believe that Communion is a symbolic celebration and remembrance of our Lord’s work of salvation. It is an act of worship that sustains one’s faith. (Romans 6:1-6; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)