“In the beginning, God…” - Genesis 1:1

God is bigger, better, and closer than we can imagine. God is one, true, and eternal, and is revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is alive, holy, and love. God is the source and sustainer of all that exists and He operates within history to fulfill His redemptive purposes.

“All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” - 2 Timothy 3:16 

The Bible is God’s perfect guidebook for living. The Bible is a holy book that tells God’s story of salvation for all humanity. The Bible is a library of 66 books, written by men as they were inspired by God. The Bible is inerrant in the story of God’s redemption and remains God’s timeless, living, and active Word.

“Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.” - John 20:31

God showed Himself to us through Jesus. Jesus of Nazareth was a real, historical person, and was both fully God and fully human. His coming to Earth fulfilled God’s promise of salvation for His people, and His life among us taught us what God is like. Jesus’ death and resurrection give believers hope of life with God now and forever.

“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

Grace is the only way to have a relationship with God. In the beginning, God created humans to be in relationship with Him, but they “missed the mark” through personal disobedience towards God. Salvation is the complete process by which God redeems His creation and was completed through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God desires for all people to be saved – a work of His free grace, not as the result of human works or goodness.

“The Holy Spirit who lives in us.” - 2 Timothy 1:14 

God lives in and through us now through His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is how we experience God. It is through the Holy Spirit that God communicates with us. It is by the Holy Spirit that God draws us to himself, makes us aware of our need for Him, cleanses us, and guides us day to day.

“I am making everything new!” - Revelation 21:5 

Death is a beginning, not the end. People are created to exist forever, either in union with God through forgiveness and salvation (heaven), or separated from God (hell).

“Now you are the Body of Christ and individually members of it.” - 1 Corinthians 12:27

The people of God are to work together in love and unity to do His work in the world. The Church is the community of those who believe that Jesus is Lord. They have trusted in Him for salvation, and are doing His work in the world. Sacraments of baptism and communion are practiced by believers to signify an inward grace given by Christ to the Church. Baptism is an important practice of the Christian faith that uses water. Baptism is a sacrament observed by most Christian churches. It is a sign and seal of saving grace. Baptism is a public testimony that a person has received Christ. The Lord’s Supper is a special way Christians remember the death of Christ by repeating the last meal Jesus ate with His disciples before His death.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” - Romans 12:2 

When we enter into relationship with God through Jesus Christ a new life begins. New life means that old ways of thinking begin to be replaced with new, godly ideas. Once we enter into faith, we become disciples, as God continually forms us to become more like Him. Spiritual disciplines provide structure and balance for soul care. We make space for connection to God, and encourage open, honest connection to others through practices such as solitude, silence, fasting, Sabbath, Bible reading, worship, prayer, soul friendship, personal reflection, and humble service.