Our lifestyle statement is what we practice. Beliefs are not worth much unless they are translated into actions. Based on what the Bible teaches, we feel strongly about the following distinctives and practices:
The Cross of Christ
This is our source of mission, our message, and our hermeneutical filter through which all thought must flow.
Biblical Principles
Trends, fads, ideas, styles, opinions, and philosophies come and go but biblical principles never change and never go out¾principles of authority, purity, Church government, preaching, prophetic presence, and pastoring.
Unity and Diversity
We believe that every local church should be inclusive, not exclusive. Every church should actively seek to include all peoples of all races, ethnic origins, and social economic standings. The Church of Jesus Christ is a multi-ethnic group that has within it the seeds for demolishing the scourge of racial prejudice. God’s purpose is to make all people into one for the glory of God.
Davidic Praise and Worship
We believe that the pattern for NT worship is to be found in the Davidic order of worship described in the Psalms and birthed in the Tabernacle of David in the OT. Within this belief is the concept that we as believers are to be spiritual priests who offer spiritual sacrifices to God. One of the primary sacrifices is the “fruit of our lips” (He. 13:15) or our audible worship characterized by the biblical expressions of clapping, shouting, singing, dancing, lifting hands, bowing and kneeling.
Prophecy and the Laying on of Hands
We believe that prophecy and the ministry of the prophet are to be fully operational in the church today. If the Church is going to be filled with vision and under the full direction of Jesus, the prophetic voice must be heard. We do not accept that this and other ministries were to be confined to an “apostolic age,” but that they are to be fully activated until the physical return of Christ.
Prayer and Intercession
We believe that both personal and corporate prayer are absolutely essential if the Church is to succeed. The NT Church was birthed in prayer, it continued steadfast in prayer, and bathed all its activities and ministries in prayer. The Bible clearly calls the Church “a house of prayer for all nations” (Is. 56:7; Mt. 21:13). If that is the name God has chosen for His house, prayer should be a major focus of all our services. Prayer will be a pipeline through which the Spirit can move.
Local Church
We believe that the local Church is the aspect of the Church that God is focusing on building in these days. Although we all recognize and understand that the larger Body of Christ encompasses all believers, all the plans and purposes of God are going to be demonstrated and fulfilled on the local scene. Every believer must find himself or herself in right relationship to God and to a specific local church to find a place of ministry and fruitfulness. It is essential that rather than criticizing the Church, we do everything we can to make the Church of Jesus Christ glorious. The Church is God’s instrument to extend His purposes on earth today. It is the instrument of the Kingdom.
Eldership Government
We believe that God has a plan and pattern for government in the local church. It is the same form of government God has used in every institution He has established. We refer to this as team ministry or an “eldership” form of government headed by a senior pastor or chief elder. This is a form of government that involves equality and headship modeled in the Godhead, established in the natural family, set up by God in Israel, used in the synagogue and ordained for the Church in the NT (see Acts 14:23; Tit. 1:5; He. 13:17). The elders are to the local Church what parents are to a family. They are the spiritual parents of the local assembly and are responsible before God to establish and equip the members of the Church to be able to function in their God-ordained callings.
The Fivefold Ministry
We believe that the ministries listed in Ephesians 4:11 are to be fully functioning right up till the return of Christ. This includes apostles and prophets, not just pastors, teachers, and evangelists. All these ministries are needed if the Body of Christ is going to be properly equipped and the Church is going to be properly built up.
Restoration of the Church
We believe that the Church that began with great power and anointing, fully functioning as God’s instrument on earth, went through a period of serious spiritual and doctrinal decline through the middle ages. Since Martin Luther’s time, God has been in the process of restoring the Church to its former glory and power. As we get nearer to Christ’s return, we can expect this process of restoration to become complete and we can expect the Church to rise up and be what God has designed for it to be (see Is. 60:1-5). The Church is the final instrument in the hands of the Lord to extend His kingdom on earth. Some other program will not replace the Church or people to finish the commission laid upon it by Jesus Himself.
Restoration of the Family
We believe that at the same time God is restoring His Church, He is also restoring the natural family to its proper place and function. (See Jer. 31:1). One of the things God is doing is turning the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers (Mal. 4:6). God is in the process of healing marriages, strengthening parents, and teaching men and women more about their God-given roles. He is doing this because He wants to use a godly generation to rise up and destroy the works of the wicked one. Such a generation will need to be parented by those who understand God’s purpose and have kingdom priorities established in their lives.
House-to-House Ministry • SMALL GROUPS
We believe that the early Church focused on two equally important expressions of its assembly life: (1) A corporate gathering was vital for equipping the saints and for corporate expressions of prayer and worship, and (2) a ministry was taking place from house-to-house for the sake of fellowship, relationship, nurture and evangelism (Ac. 5:42; Ro. 16:5; 1 Co. 16:19; Col. 4:15; Phil. 2). If the Church today is going to be successful in its ministry to the world and to itself, both expressions must be cultivated to the fullest extent.
The Kingdom and the Church
We believe that the extension of the kingdom of God is the function and ministry of the Church. The Church, which is composed of both redeemed Jew and Gentile, is God’s instrument on earth to establish God’s rule and His reign. The Church is the instrument; the kingdom is the message. If the Church is going to fulfill its God-given calling, it must reclaim its primary function of bringing the lost to Christ and extending the borders of God’s kingdom until the glory of the Lord covers the earth as the waters cover the sea.
The Gifts of the Spirit
We believe that the gifts of the Spirit enumerated in 1 Co. 12:7-11 are not only for today, but also should be desired, sought after, and evidenced in every Church. If there was ever a time these gifts were needed, it is today. We do not believe that these gifts were intended only for the embryonic Church of the first 100 years. They are to be a part of the Church right up till the return of Christ for His perfected bride. See 1 Co. 1:7.
A Mercy-filled Congregation
We as a congregation will do what the Lord requires of us: “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humble with your God” (Mic. 6:8). We will respond to all situations and hold to the truth found in James 2:13 that “Mercy always triumphs over judgment.” We have found God to be extremely rich in mercy: “God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us...” Ep. 2:4.