BELIEFS
Disciples of Jesus Christ
Foundation of Our Faith
WE BELIEVE Jesus Christ is the living Messiah, the Son of God, and the perfect image of the Father. We believe His teachings, commands, life, death, resurrection, and return are the center of our faith and discipleship. (Isaiah 9:6-7; Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 16:16; John 1:1-14; John 14:6-9; Revelation 1:7-8).
WE BELIEVE followers of Jesus Christ are called above all to obey His commands and to walk the path He revealed through His teachings, especially through the Sermon on the Mount, which illuminates the narrow path leading to eternal life and the Kingdom of Heaven. (Deuteronomy 30:19-20; Psalms 119:105; Proverbs 4:18; Matthew 5–7; Matthew 7:13-14; Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:15).
WE BELIEVE the Sermon on the Mount is the clearest earthly teaching given by Jesus concerning the heart, behavior, faith, love, forgiveness, prayer, mercy, humility, judgment, and righteousness required of those seeking to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. We believe Jesus taught that those who hear His words and obey them build their lives upon the rock and will endure judgment. (Isaiah 33:22; Matthew 5–7; Matthew 7:21-27; John 13:34-35).
WE BELIEVE Jesus taught the narrow gate is entered through repentance, obedience, faithfulness, love, forgiveness, prayer, spiritual fruit, and doing the will of the Father rather than through empty religion, appearance, or words alone. (Deuteronomy 6:5; Micah 6:8; Proverbs 11:30; Matthew 7:13-23; Matthew 22:37-40; John 15:1-8).
About God
WE BELIEVE there is one living and true God, eternally existing as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God created all things, sustains all things, and rules over Heaven and Earth. (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:6; Matthew 28:19; John 10:30).
WE BELIEVE the Scriptures contained within the Law of Moses, the Prophets, the Psalms, and the direct teachings of Jesus Christ are God’s revealed truth and the foundation for faith, life, wisdom, and discipleship. We believe God’s Word stands above all earthly authority and human tradition. (Psalms 119:160; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 5:17-19; Matthew 24:35; John 17:17).
WE BELIEVE God the Father is eternal, holy, righteous, merciful, loving, and faithful. He hears prayer, forgives sin, and calls humanity into repentance, restoration, and obedience through Jesus Christ. (Exodus 34:6-7; Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalms 90:2; Isaiah 55:6-7; Matthew 6:9-13; John 3:16).
WE BELIEVE Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born according to prophecy, without sin, full of truth and power, crucified, resurrected, ascended into Heaven, and returning again in glory and judgment. (Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2; Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 1:23; John 1:1-14; John 11:25; Revelation 19:11-16).
WE BELIEVE the Holy Spirit proceeds from God and works to convict, guide, teach, strengthen, sanctify, and transform those who follow Jesus Christ. (Ezekiel 36:26-27; John 14:16-17; John 16:13).
About Humanity
WE BELIEVE all people have sinned and fallen short of God’s righteousness and stand in need of repentance, forgiveness, and spiritual rebirth. (Genesis 6:5; Psalms 51:5; Isaiah 53:6; Matthew 4:17; John 3:3-7).
WE BELIEVE Jesus Christ gave Himself for the salvation of the world and calls all people to follow Him through repentance, faith, obedience, humility, mercy, and love. (Isaiah 53:4-6; Matthew 11:28-30; Matthew 16:24-26; John 3:16; John 14:6).
WE BELIEVE true discipleship is revealed through obedience to Jesus’ teachings and through spiritual fruit shown in love, compassion, forgiveness, righteousness, generosity, and service toward others. (Psalms 1:1-3; Proverbs 11:30; Matthew 5:14-16; Matthew 6:14-15; Matthew 7:16-20; John 13:34-35).
WE BELIEVE the Holy Spirit dwells within those who follow Jesus Christ and helps believers walk in truth, prayer, wisdom, righteousness, spiritual understanding, and love. (Ezekiel 36:27; Proverbs 3:5-6; John 14:26; John 15:4-5; John 16:13).
About Discipleship
WE BELIEVE followers of Jesus Christ are called to deny themselves, carry their cross, and follow Him daily through faithful obedience and love. (Deuteronomy 10:12; Micah 6:8; Matthew 16:24-25; John 12:25-26).
WE BELIEVE the greatest commandments are to love God with all the heart, soul, and mind, and to love others as ourselves. We believe these commandments fulfill the foundation of God’s desires for humanity. (Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:37-40; John 13:34-35).
WE BELIEVE prayer is essential for spiritual growth, wisdom, strength, discernment, and hearing God’s direction. We believe Jesus taught His followers to pray faithfully, sincerely, and continually. (Psalms 145:18; Proverbs 3:5-6; Matthew 6:5-13; Matthew 7:7-11; John 15:7).
WE BELIEVE worship should be sincere, Spirit-led, understandable, reverent, joyful, and centered on truth, obedience, thanksgiving, music, and the teachings of God. (Psalms 95:1-7; Psalms 150; Isaiah 29:13; John 4:23-24).
WE BELIEVE God calls His people to humility, servant leadership, simplicity, mercy, peace, forgiveness, and dependence upon the Holy Spirit rather than worldly pride, power, or religious status. (Micah 6:8; Matthew 5:1-12; Matthew 20:25-28; Matthew 23:8-12; John 13:14-15).
About the Kingdom of Heaven
WE BELIEVE Jesus Christ preached the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven and called people to repentance, faith, obedience, spiritual readiness, and righteous living as preparation for eternal life and God’s coming Kingdom. (Isaiah 9:6-7; Daniel 2:44; Matthew 4:17; Matthew 6:10; Matthew 13; John 18:36).
WE BELIEVE the Kingdom of Heaven grows through faithful discipleship, prayer, love, truth, spiritual fruit, forgiveness, and shining God’s Light before others. (Psalms 1:1-3; Proverbs 4:18; Matthew 5:14-16; Matthew 13:31-33; John 15:1-8).
WE BELIEVE Jesus taught there are two paths: the broad path leading to destruction and the narrow path leading to life. We believe the narrow path is illuminated through obedience to Jesus’ teachings and the will of the Father. (Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Proverbs 4:18; Matthew 7:13-14; Matthew 7:21-27; John 14:15).
About the Future
WE BELIEVE Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly to judge the living and the dead, establish righteousness, and fulfill God’s promises concerning His Kingdom. (Daniel 7:13-14; Zechariah 14:4-9; Matthew 24:30; Revelation 19:11-16).
WE BELIEVE in the resurrection of the dead, eternal life for the righteous, final judgment, and eternal separation from God for those who reject His truth and ways. (Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:28-29; Revelation 20:11-15).
WE BELIEVE in a literal Heaven, a restored Kingdom under God’s authority, and the complete victory of God over sin, death, darkness, and rebellion. (Isaiah 65:17; Daniel 7:27; John 14:1-3; Revelation 21–22).
