Our Beliefs
As followers of Jesus, we seek…
UNITY in the essentials,
LIBERTY in opinions and
LOVE in all things
Critical understandings to freedom in Jesus:
Believe in Jesus Christ as God’s only son (John 3:16, Matthew 16:16).
Repent of our sins (Luke 13:3-5, Acts 3:19, Acts 17:30-31).
Confess our faith in Jesus Christ (Matthew 10:32, Romans 10:9-10).
Be baptized by immersion into Christ (Acts 2:38, Galatians 3:27, 1 Peter 3:21).
Live to faithfully love and serve Him and others (Acts 2:42, Galatians 5:25).
These are the beliefs we teach on – our statement of faith – we have outlined the beliefs and supporting scriptures. These are outlined in our ‘Discovering Stone Creek’ course in depth.
- Scripture
- The Bible is the inspired, authoritative, and inerrant word of God.
- The Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture of error.
- Psalm 119:105, 160
- Psalm 12:6
- Proverbs 30:5
- 2 Timothy 3:16
- 2 Peter 1:20-21
- 2 Timothy 1:13
- God
- God is the creator and ruler of the universe. He eternally exists in three persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. These three are coequal and are on God. He is constantly operating throughout history to fulfill His redemptive purposes.
- Genesis 1:1
- Psalm 90:2
- Matthew 28:20
- John 14:26
- 2 Corinthians 13:14
- God is the creator and ruler of the universe. He eternally exists in three persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. These three are coequal and are on God. He is constantly operating throughout history to fulfill His redemptive purposes.
- Jesus Christ
- Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully man – the Son of God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary.
- God the Son became a man in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus died on a cross for man’s sins, rose physically from the dead, ascended into heaven and will come again to earth to consummate history and the eternal plan of God. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as a perfect atoning sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on the cross. He calls us family and friends.
- Isaiah 9:6
- Matthew 1:22-23
- John 1:1-5, 14, 10-30
- Acts 1:9-11
- Romans 1:3-4
- 1 Corinthians 15:1-8
- Philippians 2:5-11
- 1 Timothy 6:14-15
- Titus 2:13
- Hebrews 4:14-15
- 1 Peter 2:24
- Holy Spirit
- God the Holy Spirit comes to live in the Christian and gives…
- Strength
- Guidance
- Spiritual Gifts
- John 16:7-13
- John 14:16-17
- Acts 1:8
- Acts 2:4
- Acts 2:38
- 1 Corinthians 2:12
- 1 Corinthians 3:16
- 2 Corinthians 3:17
- 1 Corinthians 6:19
- Galatians 5:25
- Ephesians 1:13
- God the Holy Spirit comes to live in the Christian and gives…
- Salvation
- Salvation is a gift of God because of His grace to us, cannot be earned, and is not deserved. Each believer must personally appropriate that gift by faith in Jesus Christ alone. Response to that faith is seen in one’s repentant life, confession of Jesus as Lord, baptism by immersion in water, and faithful living.
- Romans 3:23
- Romans 6:23
- Ephesians 2:8-9
- John 14:6
- Titus 3:5
- Galatians 3:26-27
- Romans 5:1
- Romans 6:3-4
- Salvation is a gift of God because of His grace to us, cannot be earned, and is not deserved. Each believer must personally appropriate that gift by faith in Jesus Christ alone. Response to that faith is seen in one’s repentant life, confession of Jesus as Lord, baptism by immersion in water, and faithful living.
- Eternity
- Mankind was created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God (because of sin), or eternally with God because of forgiveness and salvation through Jesus Christ. To be eternally separated – we call this Hell. To be eternally in fellowship with God – we call this Heaven. They are both real places of eternal existence.
- John 3:16
- Romans 6:23
- Romans 8:17-18
- Revelation 20:15
- 1 Corinthians 2:7-9
- Mankind was created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God (because of sin), or eternally with God because of forgiveness and salvation through Jesus Christ. To be eternally separated – we call this Hell. To be eternally in fellowship with God – we call this Heaven. They are both real places of eternal existence.
- Second Coming
- Jesus will return again to this earth and He will gather His church at a time when no one knows.
- Matthew 24:36
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:2
- John 14:3
- Jesus will return again to this earth and He will gather His church at a time when no one knows.
- Humans
- People are made in the image of God to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sinful nature”. Sin separates people from God and causes many problems in this life and the next.
- Genesis 1:27
- Psalm 8:3-6
- Isaiah 53:6
- Romans 3:23
- Isaiah 59:1-2
- People are made in the image of God to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sinful nature”. Sin separates people from God and causes many problems in this life and the next.
- Communion
- We observe communion weekly to remember the death, burial, resurrection and return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Communion is a critical component in our celebration and worship and is provided for all believes following the precedent of the early church who assembled every first day of the week and shared this practice.
- Acts 20:7
- 1 Corinthians 11:23-29
- 1 Corinthians 16:1-2
- We observe communion weekly to remember the death, burial, resurrection and return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Communion is a critical component in our celebration and worship and is provided for all believes following the precedent of the early church who assembled every first day of the week and shared this practice.
- Spiritual Gifts
- Spiritual gifts are available for all times, however, the Holy Spirit gives gifts to whom He will and must be practiced according to the principles found in the Bible and under the oversight of the Elders of each local body of believers.
- Romans 12:3-8
- 1 Corinthians 12-14
- Ephesians 4:11-16
- 1 Peter 4:10-11
- Spiritual gifts are available for all times, however, the Holy Spirit gives gifts to whom He will and must be practiced according to the principles found in the Bible and under the oversight of the Elders of each local body of believers.
- Stewardship / Giving
- The Bible teaches that all we have comes from God and belongs to God. He has given it to us and we are to be good stewards. The church is supported by the members who are faithful stewards. A part of being a good steward is giving back to God the first part of our income for the work of the local church.
- Deuteronomy 14:22-23
- 1 Chronicles 29:16
- Psalms 24:1
- Malachi 3:19
- 1 Corinthians 16:2
- 2 Corinthians 8 and 9
- The Bible teaches that all we have comes from God and belongs to God. He has given it to us and we are to be good stewards. The church is supported by the members who are faithful stewards. A part of being a good steward is giving back to God the first part of our income for the work of the local church.