What Christians Believe – The Essentials

The Essentials are the core biblical priorities that define every Christian’s life. These actions strengthen our devotion to Jesus Christ, deepen our love for God, and for other people, and they cause us to grow in personal holiness.

Worship

Are you devoted to truly worshiping our God in spirit and in truth, both individually and corporately?

Deut 6:5; Ps 95:6; John 4:23-24; Rom 12:1; Heb 10:24-25

Bible Study

Are you faithfully spending time in God’s Word?

Deut 6:6-9; Josh 1:8; Job 23:12; Ps 1:2; 19:7-11; 119; John 17:17; Acts 2:42; 17:11; Rom 15:4; 2 Tim 3:14-17; 1 Peter 2:2

Prayer

Is prayer a regular, purposeful part of each day? Do your prayers include adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication?

Ps 55:17; Dan 6:10; Matt 6:9-13; Rom 12:12; Eph 6:18; Phil 4:6-8; Col 4:2; 1 Thess 5:16-18; 1 Peter 5:7

Fellowship

Do you have deepening spiritual relationships with other Christians?

John 13:34; 15:12, 17; Acts 2:42; Heb 3:13; 10:24-25; 13:1; 1 John 2:7-11; 3:11-18, 23

Service

Are you using your spiritual giftedness in the church?

Rom 12:6-8; 1 Cor 12:4-7, 11; Eph 4:11-12; 1 Peter 4:10-11

Evangelism

Have you shared the gospel with someone recently? Are you praying for the salvation of others?

Matt 9:37-38; 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 8:31; Rom 10:14; 1 Tim 2:1-4

Distinctive

The Sufficiency of Scripture

We believe God has provided us with everything necessary to nurture and sustain spiritual life in the Scripture.1 That means we are committed to teaching and counseling directly and exclusively from the Word of God.2 We do not believe that secular psychology has any legitimate role in the believer’s sanctification.

  1. Ps 19:7-11; 2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:3
  2. Ps 19:7; 119:9,11; John 15:3; 17:17; 1 Thess 2:13; 5:14; 2 Tim 4:2; James 1:2

A Changed Life

We believe that all those whom God has genuinely saved by grace through faith alone are new creatures in Christ1 and will demonstrate that new life by submission to Christ and obedience to God’s Word.2 All Christians sin3, sometimes horribly, and sometimes for extended periods without repentance.4 But a decreasing pattern of sin and an increasing pattern of holiness will characterize every Christian’s life.5

  1. John 3:3; Rom 6:4; 2 Cor 5:17
  2. Matt7:21; Luke 6:46-49; Rom 10:9-10
  3. James 3:2; 1 John 1:8-10
  4. Sam 11:26-12:15
  5. John 15:1-11; Gal 5:19-25; Eph 2:10; Phil 1:6; 2:12-13; 1 John 1:6-7; 3:4-10