Introduction

• II Thessalonians 2:16

We believe and practice what’s in the Bible – even the controversial stuff!

• I Peter 3:21 – Baptism is required for salvation.
• I Timothy 2:11-15 – Women are to be submissive in spiritual matters.
• I Timothy 1:8-11 – Homosexuality is a sin.
• Matthew 19:9 – Except in the case of adultery, divorce and remarriage is a sin.
• James 2:24 – Man is not saved by faith alone.
• John 6:59-66 – These beliefs make us less popular people, but that has always been the case for followers of Christ.

We organize ourselves as they did in the New Testament.

• Philippians 1:1 – “saints … overseers and deacons”

  • Saints just meant “Christians” in the New Testament.

  • Deacon just means “servant.”

  • Overseers also serve the church and watch out for people’s souls. Overseers are also called bishops, elders, presbyters, shepherds, or pastors. See I Peter 5:2.

    • People today often confuse the term “pastor” with “preacher.”

• Acts 9:26-28 – “associate with the disciples”

• I Corinthians 5:1-2 – The sinful man was to be removed from their group.

We believe God assigns unique work to local churches.

• Churches provided for:

  • Philippians 4:15-16 – teaching and preaching of the gospel

  • I Corinthians 14:26 – worship and spiritual edification

  • Acts 4:32-35 – needy Christians

We believe that nothing is more powerful than the love of Christ!

• Romans 5:6-9; 6:4, 11