Our Distinctives

The Bible

We strive to interpret the Bible literally in its historical and grammatical context so that we do not misuse God’s Word (2 Timothy 2:15).  We use modern translations that fit our goal to interpret the Bible accurately.  We use them so that people will understand what is written (1 Corinthians 14:6-12). 

Mankind/Creation/Church

God spoke the universe into existence out of nothing in six days and rested on the seventh as a pattern for man’s week and to look forward to future rest (Genesis 1:1-13, 2:1-3; Hebrews 3, 4:1-11). 

Though equal in value, men and women have different roles in marriage and the church (Genesis 2:24, Psalm 8:3-8, Ephesians 5:22-33, 1 Peter 3:1-7, 1 Corinthians 11:3, 1 Timothy 2).  God has called men to lead as pastors (1 Timothy 3).

Salvation

God the Father is sovereign in salvation. He chooses who will be saved (Ephesians 1:4, 1 Peter 1:2), draws those people to himself (John 6:35-40, 44, 65), and gives them to God the Son (John 10:27-30).  God’s people cannot lose their salvation because it is God who secures them (Ephesians 1:13-14).  The Christian life is a process of putting off sin and putting on holiness (Ephesians 4:22-24) but no one can achieve perfection until he arrives in God’s presence (1 John 1:8-10). 

The Church

The church consists of those who have believed and are then baptized by immersion (Acts 2:42-47, 8:26-40; Ephesians 1:22-23), gathering in local assemblies to read the Scriptures and pray (1 Timothy 2:1-8, 4:13), being shepherded by pastor(s) (1 Timothy 3, Titus 1) and served by deacon(s) (1 Timothy 3), practicing the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Table (Acts 2:38, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, 12:13; Romans 6:1-23), and caring patiently for members by admonishing the unruly, encouraging the fainthearted, and helping the weak (2 Thessalonians 3, Matthew 18:15-17, 1 Corinthians 5:5, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15; 1 Thessalonians 5:14). 

End Times

Christ will return to rescue his church, to establish a millennial kingdom, to fulfill God’s promises to Israel, and to judge the righteous and the wicked before enjoying eternity with his people in the new heaven and new earth (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20:1-15, Romans 11:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10; Revelation 21:1-27, 22:1-5).  Since Christ can return at any time, God’s people ought to be living in holiness and watching for him (Matthew 24:36; 2 Peter 3:11).