What We Teach
The scriptural concept of doctrine includes the entire message of the gospel—its teaching about God, salvation, sin, and righteousness—and the right understanding and proclamation of sound doctrine is central to the life of our church.
The Gospel
Being a Christian is more than identifying yourself with a particular religion or affirming a certain value system. Being a Christian means you have embraced what the Bible says about God, mankind, and salvation. Consider the following truths found in the Bible.
Distinctives
A brief overview of what we believe about several key areas of doctrine and practice. For a full explanation of what we believe, see our Doctrinal Statement.
Biblical Eldership
Biblically, the focal point of all church leadership is the elder. An elder is one of a plurality of biblically qualified men who jointly shepherd and oversee a local body of believers.
Church Discipline
One means by which the church seeks to lovingly restore wandering believers is the process of church discipline. In Matthew 18, the Lord explains to His disciples how to respond when a fellow believer sins.
Church Membership
To become a member of a church is to formally commit oneself to an identifiable, local body of believers who have joined together for specific, divinely ordained purposes.
Marriage and Sexuality
We teach that marriage was given by God as part of His common grace, and that it has no meaning other than as He has provided (Gen. 2:18–24).
Divorce and Remarriage
Since divorce is only a concession to man’s sin and is not part of God’s original plan for marriage, all believers should hate divorce as God does and pursue it only when there is no other recourse.
Evangelizing Children
For many believers, fulfilling Christ’s command to make disciples of all nations begins at home—with their children. In fact, few experiences bring greater joy to Christian parents than seeing their children come to faith in Christ.
The Gift of Tongues
The gift of tongues was a divinely bestowed supernatural ability to speak in a human language that had not been learned by the one speaking.
Lordship Salvation
The gospel that Jesus proclaimed was a call to discipleship, a call to follow him in submissive obedience, not just a plea to make a decision or pray a prayer.
The Role of Women
In fulfilling the divinely given roles taught in the New Testament, women are able to realize their full potential because they are following the plan of their own Creator and Designer.
Roman Catholicism
Because the Roman Catholic Church has refused to submit itself to the authority of God’s Word, it has set itself apart from the true body of Christ.
The Sufficiency of Scripture
It is significant that one of the biblical names of Christ is Wonderful Counselor (Isa. 9:6). He is the highest and ultimate One to whom we may turn for counsel, and His Word is the well from which we may draw divine wisdom.
The Sovereignty of God
Scripture teaches that God orders everything, controls everything, and rules over everything—including the election and salvation of believers.