Statement of Faith
OUR MISSION IS: "To provide a quiet, peaceful, and natural environment prepared for adult discipleship programs that nurture Christian character and enrich the church".
God
We believe in the one God, the source of all life, who rules over all eternally as Father, Son and Holy Spirit and who lovingly and justly cares for all of creation. 1
The Bible
We believe God reveals himself in both the Old and New Testaments and that all Scripture is inspired by God, thus without error. We look to the Holy Bible as the final authority in all matters of life and faith. 2
Humanity
We believe God created men and women in his image, giving value to all people. As such, we believe that gender is given and informed by God. 3
Sin and Separation
We believe that even though people are created in the image of God, they have been separated from their Creator through sin. Sin is opposition, both individual and corporate, to God’s good purposes and results in physical and spiritual death. 4
The Person and Work of Jesus Christ
We believe that in order to restore us to himself, God the Father sent Jesus Christ the Son to earth where, being fully God and fully man, he revealed God’s heart for humanity through his teachings and miracles. Through his sinless life and physical death and resurrection, Christ reconciles us to God. 5
Salvation
We believe it is through faith in Jesus Christ, that we are saved out of sin and into the life God has for us, both now and in eternity. We believe Jesus is the only means of reconciling people with God. Christians treat people of other faiths with respect but proclaim Christ as the only way of salvation. 6
Nature and Mission of the Church
We believe that those who follow Christ and look to him for salvation collectively make up the Church, the beloved Bride of Christ. The local church serves as a context for worship, discipleship, and community. Because the good news of salvation is for all people, the mission of the church is to make disciples of all nations by inviting people into repentance, baptism, and ongoing life change into Christ-like attitudes and behaviors. 7
Discipleship
We believe those who follow Christ are called to follow him in a costly life of service to God, turning from unrighteous ways of living into a life of joyful obedience. This lifelong process of becoming like Christ is empowered by the Holy Spirit and supported by the church. 8
Holy Living
Rather than look to ourselves or culture to inform identity and practices, believers look to the example of Christ, prompting of the Holy Spirit, and teaching of the Bible. Regarding sexuality. we believe sexual expression belongs within the context of marriage, which was intended to be between a man and a woman, and to reflect the relationship between Christ and the Church. Because all of humanity is broken by sin, the Church is called to respond to the whole of this reality with both compassion and truth, pointing people to the loving, redemptive work of Jesus. We believe that all people are equally loved and valued by God, and we condemn all forms of hatred and harm towards any group of people. 9
Christ’s Final Triumph
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ will one day return and that those who have accepted Christ will be resurrected to eternal life and joy with the Lord, while those who have rejected Christ will face everlasting punishment and separation from God. 10
Biblical Support
1 Genesis 1; Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Psalm 8:6; 19:1-6; 24:1-2; 89:11; 95:5; 104; Isaiah 40:12-31; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hosea 11:1-4; Matthew 1:18-25; 28:18-20; John 1:1-18; 14:26; 15:26; 16:7-15; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4; Romans 8:1-17; Ephesians 1:15-2:22; 3:14-21; Philippians 2:6-11; Colossians 1:15-20
2 Exodus 6:2-8; Psalm 119; Matthew 5:17-18; Luke 24:27, 44-47; John 1:16-18; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12; 2 Peter 1:16-21
3 Genesis 1-3; Exodus 20:13; Job 31:15; Psalm 139:13-16; Isaiah 40:27-31; 44:24; Matthew 25:31-46; John 10:11; Romans 8:18-25; 2 Corinthians 5:16-19; Galatians 3:28; Hebrews 11:3
4 Genesis 1-3; 6:11-12; Psalm 14:1-3; 36:1-4; 52:1-7; 58:1-5; 82; Isaiah 53:6; Ezekiel 16:49-50; Mark 7:20-23; John 3:3-5, 14-17; 8:34, 44; Romans 1:18-32; 5:12-21; 6:23; 8:18-25; 1 Corinthians 15:20-27; 2 Corinthians 5:16-19; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 1:4, 9-10; 2:1-3, 11-22; 1 John 1:8-10
5 Exodus 34:6-7; Isaiah 53; 66:12-13; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hosea 11:1-4; Matthew 1:18-25; 5-7; Luke 4:18-19; John 1:1-18; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Ephesians 1:4, 9-10; Philippians 2:6-11; Colossians 1:15-20; 1 Peter 2:21-25; 1 John 2:2
6 Exodus 15:2; Psalm 68:19-20; Isaiah 43:1; Mark 10:45; John 1:12; 3:1-21; Romans 3:24-26; 5:8, 12-21; 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 5:14-21; Ephesians 1:5-10; 2:8-9; Colossians 1:13-20; Hebrews 2:14-18; 9:15-28; 1 John 1:8-10; 4:7-11; Revelation 4:8-11; 21:1-5; 22:13
7 Matthew 5:13-16; 16:13-20; 28:18-20; Luke 24:45-49; John 17:1-26; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4, 37-47; 11:1-18; 15:1-35; Romans 12:3-8; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; Galatians 3:26-28; Ephesians 2:11-22; 3:10-11; 4:4-6, 11-16; 1 Peter 2:9-12
8 Psalm 1; 119; Matthew 5-7; Mark 8:34-38; John 8:31-32; 13:34-35; Acts 2:41-47; Romans 6:4; 8:1-30; 12; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 11:1; 12:1-13; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 8-9; Galatians 2:20; 5:16-26; 6:1-2; Ephesians 4:11-12, 15-16, 24; 5:1; Colossians 3:1-17; 1 Timothy 1:9-11; 2:1-8; Hebrews 12:1-3, 7-11; James 1:22-27; 2:15-2:22; 3:14-18; 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9; 1 John 1:6-9; 2:15-17
9 Genesis 1:26-28; 2:24; 5:1-2; Exodus 22:16-17; Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Matthew 5:32; 10:34-39; 19:1-12; Mark 3:31-35; 7:9-13; 10:6-11; Romans 7:2-3; 14:12; 1 Corinthians 7:8-40; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21; 6:14-15; Philippians 2:6-8; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; 1 Timothy 1:9-11; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; Hebrews 13:4-5; 1 Peter 5:8-9
10 Matthew 24:29-31; 25:13; Mark 13:32-37; Luke 23:43; John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 3:13-15; 15:26; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 5:1-11; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-12; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:26-28; Revelation 20:11-15; 21-22