Statement of Faith

What We Believe About the Essentials of Christianity

This is our confession of the historic Christian faith - the core truths that unite us with believers across time and traditions.

The Word of God

We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct [2 Timothy 3:16-17"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17); 2 Peter 1:20-21"Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." (2 Peter 1:20-21); Matthew 24:35"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." (Matthew 24:35); Isaiah 40:8"The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever." (Isaiah 40:8)].

The Triune God

We believe that the one true God exists eternally in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—and that these, being one God, are equal in deity, power, and glory [Deuteronomy 6:4"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one." (Deuteronomy 6:4); Matthew 28:19"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19); 2 Corinthians 13:14"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." (2 Corinthians 13:14); Ephesians 4:4-6"There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4:4-6)]. We believe that God not only created the world but also now upholds, sustains, governs, and providentially directs all that exists [Colossians 1:15-17"The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth...He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." (Colossians 1:15-17); Hebrews 1:3"The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word." (Hebrews 1:3); Psalm 103:19"The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all." (Psalm 103:19)].

God the Father

We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love [John 4:24"God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth." (John 4:24); 1 Timothy 1:17"Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Timothy 1:17)]. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of all people, that He hears and answers prayer [1 Peter 5:7"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7); Matthew 7:11"If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" (Matthew 7:11)], and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ [John 3:16-17"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:16-17); Romans 6:23"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23); Ephesians 1:3-6"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight." (Ephesians 1:3-4)].

Jesus Christ

We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son [John 3:16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)], conceived by the Holy Spirit [Luke 1:35"The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.'" (Luke 1:35)]. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings [Matthew 1:23"'The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel' (which means 'God with us')." (Matthew 1:23); 2 Corinthians 5:21"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21); John 20:30-31"Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God." (John 20:30-31)]. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death [Romans 5:8"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8); 1 Peter 2:24"'He himself bore our sins' in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; 'by his wounds you have been healed.'" (1 Peter 2:24)], bodily resurrection [1 Corinthians 15:3-4"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures." (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)], ascension into heaven [Acts 1:9-11"After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 'Men of Galilee,' they said, 'why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.'" (Acts 1:9-11)], perpetual intercession for His people [Hebrews 7:25"Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them." (Hebrews 7:25)], and personal visible return to earth [Revelation 1:7"'Look, he is coming with the clouds,' and 'every eye will see him, even those who pierced him'; and all peoples on earth 'will mourn because of him.' So shall it be! Amen." (Revelation 1:7)].

Holy Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit, equal with the Father and the Son [Acts 5:3-4"Then Peter said, 'Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.'" (Acts 5:3-4)]. He makes people aware of their need for Christ [John 16:8-11"When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned." (John 16:8-11)], regenerates believers [Titus 3:5"He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit." (Titus 3:5)], and indwells them from the moment of salvation [1 Corinthians 12:13"For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink." (1 Corinthians 12:13); Romans 8:11"And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you." (Romans 8:11)]. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right [Galatians 5:16-18"So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law." (Galatians 5:16-18); John 16:13"But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come." (John 16:13)].

Humanity

We believe that all humanity is created in the image of God and possesses intrinsic dignity and worth [Genesis 1:26-27"Then God said, 'Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.' So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." (Genesis 1:26-27)]. Through Adam's disobedience, all humans inherited a sinful nature, becoming alienated from God and in need of salvation [Romans 5:12"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned." (Romans 5:12); Ephesians 2:1-3"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath." (Ephesians 2:1-3)]. As image bearers of God, all human life has inherent dignity, value, and worth from conception through natural death [Psalm 139:13-16"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." (Psalm 139:13-16); Genesis 9:6"Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind." (Genesis 9:6)].

Salvation

We believe that all people are sinners by nature and choice [Romans 3:23"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)] and are therefore under condemnation. Salvation is God's free gift to all persons who repent of their sins and believe in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection [Ephesians 2:8-9"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9); Romans 10:9-10"If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved." (Romans 10:9-10)]. The believer is thus forgiven of their sin, declared righteous before God (justified), and granted eternal life [Romans 5:1"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1); John 5:24"Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life." (John 5:24)]. Salvation cannot be earned through good works but is entirely of God's grace through faith in Christ [Titus 3:5-7"He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:5-7)].

The Church

We believe in the universal Church, the body of Christ of which He is the head and all saved persons are members [Ephesians 1:22-23"And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way." (Ephesians 1:22-23); Colossians 1:18"And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy." (Colossians 1:18)]. The Church is God's primary instrument for displaying His glory, making disciples, and extending His kingdom in the world [Matthew 28:18-20"Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'" (Matthew 28:18-20); Ephesians 3:10"His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 3:10)].

Mission and Great Commission

We believe that Jesus has commissioned His church to make disciples of all nations [Matthew 28:18-20"Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'" (Matthew 28:18-20)]. This mission is central to our identity and purpose as God's people. We are called to share the good news of Jesus Christ with all people [Romans 10:14-15"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'" (Romans 10:14-15)], live as witnesses to God's kingdom in our daily lives [2 Corinthians 5:20"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:20)], seek the flourishing of our communities through acts of justice and mercy [Micah 6:8"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8); James 1:27"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." (James 1:27)], participate in God's global mission through local and global engagement [Acts 1:8"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)], and make disciples who learn to follow Jesus in every area of life [Colossians 1:28-29"He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me." (Colossians 1:28-29)].

Things to Come

We believe that Jesus Christ will return bodily to judge the living and the dead [Acts 1:11"'Men of Galilee,' they said, 'why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.'" (Acts 1:11); 2 Timothy 4:1"In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge." (2 Timothy 4:1)]. This return will bring about the resurrection of all people and the renewal of all creation [Romans 8:19-22"For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time." (Romans 8:19-22); Philippians 3:20-21"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." (Philippians 3:20-21)]. The saved will enter eternal life in God's new creation where He will dwell with His people, while the lost will face eternal separation from God [Revelation 21:1-5"Then I saw 'a new heaven and a new earth,' for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.' He who was seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new!'" (Revelation 21:1-5); John 5:28-29"Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned." (John 5:28-29); 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18"Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him...And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14,17-18)]. This hope of renewal shapes how we live in the present [2 Peter 3:11-14"Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming...So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him." (2 Peter 3:11-12,14)].

Our Distinctives

What Makes Lilac City, Lilac City

While we hold firmly to historic Christian orthodoxy, every church has its own convictions and practices within that framework. Here's what shapes how we do ministry and what you can expect when you're part of our community.

The Holy Spirit's Gifts Today

The gifts of the Holy Spirit that we see on display in the New Testament are still active within the life of the church. These gifts did not end with the close of the New Testament or the death of the last apostle [1 Cor. 12:1-11"Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, 'Jesus be cursed,' and no one can say, 'Jesus is Lord,' except by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them." (1 Corinthians 12:1-4)]. We believe these gifts should be exercised in love for building up the body of Christ, practiced in an orderly way that promotes peace, and used to exalt Christ and serve others [1 Cor. 14:12"So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church." (1 Corinthians 14:12), 26"What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up." (1 Corinthians 14:26), 33"For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord's people." (1 Corinthians 14:33), 40"But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way." (1 Corinthians 14:40); 1 Peter 4:10-11"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 4:10-11)].

Gender, Marriage and Sexuality

We believe that God created humans as either male or female, and that this binary distinction is established by God at birth as part of His perfect design [Genesis 1:27"So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." (Genesis 1:27); Matthew 19:4"'Haven't you read,' he replied, 'that at the beginning the Creator made them male and female.'" (Matthew 19:4); Psalm 139:13-16"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." (Psalm 139:13-16)].

We believe that marriage is a covenant relationship established by God as the union of one man and one woman [Genesis 2:24"That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh." (Genesis 2:24); Matthew 19:4-6"'Haven't you read,' he replied, 'that at the beginning the Creator made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.'" (Matthew 19:4-6)]. This covenant is a lifelong bond reflecting Christ's relationship with His church [Ephesians 5:31-32"'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church." (Ephesians 5:31-32)], a sacred space for intimate companionship, mutual support, and, when God grants, the nurturing of children [Psalm 127:3-5"Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court." (Psalm 127:3-5); 1 Samuel 1:27"I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him." (1 Samuel 1:27)], and the only context God designed for sexual intimacy [1 Corinthians 7:2-5"But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control." (1 Corinthians 7:2-5); Hebrews 13:4"Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral." (Hebrews 13:4)].

We believe that any sexual activity outside of marriage between one man and one woman is contrary to God's design [1 Corinthians 6:9-11"Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-11); 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8"It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit." (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8)]. This includes all forms of sexual immorality as defined by Scripture.

Church Governance

We believe in the autonomy of the local church under Christ's lordship [Acts 13:1-4"Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off." (Acts 13:1-3)]. Each local church consists of believers who have been baptized upon profession of faith and who have joined together for worship, discipleship, fellowship, and mission [Acts 2:41-42"Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." (Acts 2:41-42)].

Lilac City Church is led by a plurality of qualified male elders and served by deacons [1 Timothy 3:1-13"Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money...In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain." (1 Timothy 3:1-3,8); Titus 1:5-9"The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer manages God's household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it." (Titus 1:5-9)]. We affirm the priesthood of all believers, recognizing that each member has direct access to God through Christ and is gifted for ministry [1 Peter 2:5-9"You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ...But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." (1 Peter 2:5,9); Ephesians 4:11-16"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ...From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." (Ephesians 4:11-13,16)].

We believe the church is called to proclaim the gospel to all peoples through word and deed, which includes caring for the poor, seeking justice, and demonstrating Christ's love through practical service [Matthew 25:31-46"'When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats...Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me...Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'" (Matthew 25:31-32,34-36,40); James 1:27"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." (James 1:27); Galatians 2:10"All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along." (Galatians 2:10)].

The Ordinances

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has given the church two ordinances: Baptism and the Lord's Supper [Matthew 28:19"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19); 1 Corinthians 11:23-26"For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.' For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)].

Baptism

We practice believer's baptism by immersion upon profession of faith, symbolizing the believer's identification with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.

The Lord's Supper

We believe Christ is truly present with us in a spiritual way when we gather at His table [1 Corinthians 10:16-17"Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf." (1 Corinthians 10:16-17)]. When we receive the bread and cup in faith, we share in real spiritual communion with Christ and receive His grace [John 6:53-57"Jesus said to them, 'Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.'" (John 6:53-57)]. We practice believer's communion, welcoming all who have trusted in Christ as Savior and are walking in obedience to Him. While the Lord's Supper is not a means of salvation, it is a sacred moment when believers experience genuine fellowship with the risen Lord [1 Corinthians 11:27-30"So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep." (1 Corinthians 11:27-30)].