There is only one true God.

• He is the creator and ruler of the universe. He has always existed as three in one: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God has revealed himself to us through creation, His Word, and His Son. God loves all people.

• Scriptures for further study: Genesis 1:26-27; Deuteronomy 6:4; Job 38:1-41; John 3:16; Romans 1:19-20; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:6

Jesus is the son of God.

Jesus, a co-equal with God, was with God in the beginning. He came to earth and

became a man in order to demonstrate God’s love by dying on a cross. He paid the

penalty that we owed for our sins. Jesus was buried but came back to life,

conquered death, and assures eternal life to all who believe in Him. Jesus desires a

relationship with all people. The essence of the Christian faith is following the

teachings of Jesus.

Scriptures for further study: Matthew 1:22-23; John 1:1,14,18; Acts 10:37-43; 1

Corinthians 15:3-4; Ephesians 2:4-8; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians

1:15-21; Hebrews 1:1-3

The Holy Spirit dwells inside every member of God’s family.

The Holy Spirit is co-equal with God and God’s Son. He is a helper and guide. When

a person is saved, He comes to live in our physical bodies. He gives us direction in

life and transforms us into people who are more like Jesus.

Scriptures for further study: John 14:16-17; John 16:7-13; Acts 2:38; 1 Corinthians

6:19-20; Ephesians 3:16-20; Ephesians 5:18

The Bible is God’s written word.

We believe the Bible, God’s Word, is inspired or God-breathed. God reveals himself to us through his Word. He also reveals how to live a life that honors Him. The Bible is completely true and is the ultimate authority for Christians and the church. The Bible points us to God’s will.

Scriptures for further study: Psalm 19:7-11; Psalm 119:105; John 17:17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21

We are created in the image of God.

God gives all people free will. He allows us to choose to love him and that is his greatest desire for all people. Because of the first man’s (Adam) sin, all people are born with a sinful nature. As a result, we are separated from God. No one can achieve a right relationship with God on their own.

Scriptures for further study: Genesis 1:27; Genesis 3:1-24; Psalm 8:3-6; John 4:24; Ephesians 1:4-6; Romans 3:23

Everyone sins. Sin separates us from God because God is perfect.

God can’t be in the presence of sin. It is impossible to overcome sin through our own efforts. When Jesus died on the cross, he paid the price for our sins. When he came back to life he conquered death for us, too. We are saved by God’s grace through faith. When a person decides to follow Jesus, they are baptized, or immersed, in water.

Scriptures for further study: Isaiah 59:2; John 3:16; John 14:6; Acts 2:37-39; Romans 3:10-23; Romans 6:3-4; Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Ephesians 2:1-10; Titus 3:3-8

The church is the body of Christ.

The church is made up of followers of Jesus. The church is not a building or one particular group of believers. God wants his people to gather regularly to worship Him, use our gifts to serve Him, and encourage one another. The church exists to share the Good News of Jesus with the world.

The church shows the world what God is like.

Scriptures for further study: Matthew 16:15-18; John 17:20-23; John 13:34-35; Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Peter 2:4-10

All people have an eternal destiny.

Those who choose to follow Jesus will spend eternity with God in heaven. Those who do not follow Jesus will be eternally separated from God in hell.

Scriptures for further study: Ezekiel 18:20; Matthew 7:21-23; Matthew 10:28; Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 16:19-31; John 14:1-6; Romans 6:23; Philippians 3:17-21; Revelation 20:15

Marriage is between a man and a woman.

We believe God designed marriage to be between a man and a woman. Any sexual activity outside of marriage is sin.

Scriptures for further study: Genesis 1-2, Exodus 20:14, Matthew 19:4-8, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-13, Galatians 5:19-21, Colossians 3:5, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8, 1 Timothy 1:8-11, Hebrews 13:4