We believe God exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and that He is a being of unimaginably wonderful power, goodness, and love.
Genesis 1:1, 26,27, Psalm 118:1, Psalm 145:1–9, Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14
God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace.
He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all men.
Genesis 1:1; 2:7; Exodus 3:14; 6:2-3; 15:11ff.; 20:1ff.; Leviticus 22:2; Deuteronomy 6:4; 32:6; 1 Chronicles 29:10; Psalm 19:1-3; Isaiah 43:3,15; 64:8; Jeremiah 10:10; 17:13; Matthew 6:9ff.; 7:11; 23:9; 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; Romans 8:14-15; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 4:6; Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
He was born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless human life, and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
Matthew 1:22, 23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14,15; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14,15; Titus 2:13
We believe that the Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God.
He is present in the world to make us aware of our need for Christ. He lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He empowers us to live for Christ, gifts us with different spiritual gifts, and guides us in truth.
2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18
We believe the world exists because God created it, that it belongs to Him and therefore we should cherish and care for it.
Genesis 1:1, Psalm 24:1–2, Isaiah 40:25–26, 1 Corinthians 10:26
We believe all human beings have dignity because they were created by God in His own image, and great worth because they are valued by God beyond our ability to measure.
Genesis 1:27, 31, Psalm 8:3–6, John 3:16, Romans 5:8
We believe this world also has pain and suffering because human beings have fallen and sinned, and are estranged from God, from each other, from ourselves, and from creation.
We believe sin has broken all things leaving the world in desperate need of salvation.
Genesis 3:17, Romans 3:23, Colossians 1:21, Titus 3:3
We believe that salvation is God’s free gift to us but we must accept it.
We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life, confess Him as our Savior and Lord, and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.
Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1
We believe that because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true believer is secure in that salvation for eternity.
If you have been genuinely saved, you cannot “lose” it. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives us this security.
John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25, 10:10,14; 1 Peter 1:3-5
We believe that people were created to exist forever.
We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.
Matthew 24:30–31, Luke 12:40, John 3:16, Romans 6:23 Romans 8:37–39, Revelation 21:1–5
We believe God wins.
He does not intend for sin and suffering to get the last word, but is at work to redeem and reconcile what He has made. We live with hope because one day Jesus will return, love and peace will prevail, and God will set the world right.
Isaiah 11:6–9, Colossians 1:21–23, Revelation 21:1–5
We believe God has revealed the truth about Himself in the scriptures of the Old and New Testament, which are our authoritative guides in faith and action.
It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter.
Matthew 4:4, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Timothy 3:16–17
We believe that the Church is the body of Christ, of which Jesus Christ is the head.
The Church is not a building or an event, but rather the community of people who have put their trust in Jesus Christ. We believe the church ought to be living proof of a loving God to a watching world.
Matthew 18:18–20, John 1:12–13, Acts 1:8, Galatians 3:28, 1 Peter 2:9
We believe that baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
It is an act of outward obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior.
The Lord’s Supper is a meaningful and symbolic act of obedience whereby believers, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, remember the sacrifice of Jesus and anticipate His second coming.
Matthew 3:13-17; 26:26-30; 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11; 14:22-26; Luke 3:21-22; 22:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:35-39; 16:30-33; 20:7; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 10:16,21; 11:23-29; Colossians 2:12
The institution of marriage is God’s idea. From the beginning of Creation, God has uniquely designed and specifically instituted marriage as a covenant solely between one man and one woman.
We believe that God ordained the institution of marriage as a gift to humanity. God declares, and the entirety of scripture confirms, that God has established the marriage of one man and one woman for unique oneness, and to provide a living example of Christ’s relationship with His bride, the church. Marriage is more than a civil contract; it establishes a covenant relationship that is united by God.
Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 2:18, 20-24, Ephesians 5:21-32, Philippians 2:1-11
Fellowship Church firmly believes in recognizing the contribution that women make to our families, church, and community.
The Scriptures highlight the value and significance of women from the beginning pages to the end. We affirm that men and women are created in God’s very own image (Genesis 1:26-28). Therefore, men and women have equal worth, value, dignity, and significance regardless of gender (Galatians 3:28).
Just as our Triune God is one in essence and different in role, by God’s good design, we believe men and women are equal in essence and have different roles.
In no way do we believe that one role is more important than the other. The difference in roles has nothing to do with the value of roles. In light of this, we believe women can fulfill any role in the church based on giftedness and effectiveness, except for the office of elder (or pastor). Throughout the Scriptures, we see women called to various types of important ministry and leadership opportunities. Still, we believe the New Testament model reserves the position and responsibilities of elder for qualified men (1 Tim 2:12-3:1, 1 Tim 5:17, Titus 1:7, 1 Peter 5:1-2). Elders are called to lead effectively (1 Tim 5:17), preach the word (Titus 1:6-9), anoint and pray for the sick (James 5:14), shepherd the flock (1 Peter 5:1-2), be an example for others to follow (1 Peter 5:1-2), set church policy (Acts 15:22-35), and ordain other leaders (1 Tim 4:14).
1 Peter 4:10 encourages us, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” Therefore, we believe men and women should take their God-given gifts and use them to serve others. At Fellowship Church, we encourage women to participate in the Great Commission, make disciples, lead in mission efforts, baptize new believers, dedicate children, and teach under the covering of the Lead Pastor (and elders). We also encourage women to interview for high-level leadership positions at the church and serve on non-governing lay leadership boards (Missions, Finance, and Deacons). We hope to unlock the power and potential of every woman in this church to see God’s Kingdom come and His will being done on earth as it is in Heaven and best represent His character and image to the world around us.
