The Church
 
We believe our church (congregation) is to follow the biblical design for The Church which is the community of redeemed believers past, present, and future whose Lord is Jesus Christ and whose mission it is to continue the work He began with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.  We believe that, as the Body of Christ, the Church is to carry out the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).  As the Bride of Christ, the Church serves in anticipation of His Second Coming.    
                                                        

We believe that the Church –

  • Exists to glorify God (1 Peter 4:11)
  • Is established and sanctified by Christ and can do nothing without Him (Matthew 16:15-19, John 15:5, Acts 1:1-2, 1 Corinthians 1:2, Ephesians 3:20-21)
  • Is charged in the “Great Commission” with making disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and teaching them to observe his commands.  (Matthew 28:19-20, 1 Peter 3:15,)
  • Is the Body of Christ, following His example of obedience, carrying out the work He began, worshiping and serving in unity (Acts 2:42, 46-47, Romans 12:4-13, 1 Corinthians 12:4-31, Ephesians 1:22-23, Ephesians 2:19-22, Ephesians 3:10-12, Ephesians 4:11-16, Philippians 2:2-11, Colossians 1:18,24 Revelation 2-3)
  • Is the Bride of Christ, longing for His return and eternal life in Him (John 3:29, 2 Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 5:22-33, Revelation 19:7, Revelation 21:2-3, Revelation 22:12-16)

 The “One Anothers”

            John tells us that anyone who does not love his brother cannot love God.  Jesus said the command to love your brother is like the command to love God.  The two are inseparable.  This list does not include verses that deal with treatment of “brothers,” “neighbors,” and “everyone.”  It does not include similar instructions that employ the words “unity” or “united.”  This list only contains verses that include the phrases “one another” or “each other.”  But, these are enough to paint a picture of what a loving, supportive institution the church is to be.  Where the phrase is followed by multiple citations, it is because the phrase appears the same way in each. 

Love one another (John 13:34, John 13:35, 1 John 3:11, 1 John 3:23, 2 John 5)                 

Love each other as I have loved you (John 15:12)                                                    

Love each other (John 15:17)                                                                                    

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love (Romans 12:10)                                   

Honor one another above yourselves (Romans 12:10)                                                         

Live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16, 1 Peter 3:8)                                            

Let no debt remain outstanding except the continuing debt to love one another (Romans 13:8)           

Let us stop passing judgment on one another (Romans 14:13)                                            

Accept one another as Christ accepted you (Romans 15:7)                                     

Instruct one another (Romans 15:14)                                                                                    

Greet one another with a holy kiss (Romans 16:16, 1 Corinthians 16:20, 2 Corinthians 13:12) Agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you (1 Corinthians 1:10)

Have equal concern for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25)                                                   

Bear with one another in love (Ephesians 4:2)                                                                      

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other (Ephesians 4:32) 

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19)                

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21)                         

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another

(Colossians 3:13)                                                                                                       

Teach and admonish each other (Colossians 3:16)                                                              

Love each other…more and more (1 Thessalonians 4:9-10)                                                 

Live in peace with each other (1 Thessalonians 5:13)                                                           

Spur one another on toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24)            

Encourage one another (Hebrews 10:25)                                                                              

Keep on loving each other as brothers (Hebrews 13:1)                                             

Confess your sins to each other (James 5:16)                                                                      

Pray for each other (James 5:16)                                                                                          

Love one another deeply, from the heart (1 Peter 1:22)                                                        

Above all, love one another deeply because love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8)   

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling (1 Peter 4:9)                                            

Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another (1 Peter 5:5)                                         

Greet one another with a kiss of love (1 Peter 5:14)