Section 1: The Scriptures

We believe the Holy Scriptures, as originally written by Spirit-controlled men, were verbally and plenarily inspired . Inspiration is that act of God whereby He breathed out the words of His wonderful Message to mankind. This inspiration includes the very words chosen and extends to every word of the Scriptures. Therefore, the Scriptures are infallible and inerrant in all matters of which they speak (2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pt 1:19-21).

We believe the Scriptures are that collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation, which do not merely contain and convey the Word of God, but are the very Word of God.

We believe in the indestructibility of the Scriptures and that God has preserved it through the centuries by means of faithful copying and translation into many languages. We believe that while no translation is the exclusive possessor of the inspired Word of God, versions that accurately convey the Scriptures, as originally written, are the preserved Word of God (Is 40:8; Mt 5:18; 1 Pt 1:23-25).

We believe in the sufficiency and authority of the Scriptures. It is only by the Scriptures that we can truly know God and His precepts for our lives. Therefore the Scriptures are the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be tried (Ps 19:7-11; 2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pt 1:2-4).

We believe in a historical and grammatical interpretation of the Scriptures in accordance with the immediate and wider contexts, and in harmony with the whole Bible by comparing Scripture with Scripture.

Section 2: God

We believe there is one and only one living and true God, an infinite, intelligent, eternal Spirit who is the planner, creator, maker, and sustainer of all things. He is inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love (Dt 4:35; Is 6:3; Jn 4:24; 1 Cor 8:6; Rev 4:11).

We believe in the absolute sovereignty of God, controlling all things for His glory. His perfect plan, existing before the foundation of the world, will be fulfilled (Ps 115:3; Is 46:9-11; Eph 1:9-11).

We believe in one triune God, eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - each co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, coequal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections (Dt 6:4; Mt 28:19; Jn 14:10, 26; 2 Cor 13:14).

Section 3: Christ

We believe the Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. He became man without ceasing to be God, though He voluntarily humbled Himself by surrendering the full use of His divine attributes. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary through whom He entered into this world to reveal the Father and perform His will in the redemption of sinful men (Is 7:14; 9:6; Lk 1:35; Jn 1:1-2, 14; Gal 4:4-5; Phil 2:5-11).

We believe in the impeccability of the Lord Jesus Christ. Though He was truly tempted, He was not able to sin (Mt 4:1-11; Jn 5:19; Heb 4:15; 1 Jn 3:5).

We believe the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death and shed blood on the cross as our substitutionary, vicarious sacrifice through which the Father was propitiated and believing men justified. This justification is certain and sealed by His literal, physical resurrection from death (Rom 3:24-25; 4:24-25; 1 Cor 15:3-4; 2 Cor 5:21; Eph 1:7; 1 Pt 2:24; Heb 10:1-10; 1 Jn 2:2).

We believe that the risen Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven and is now seated at the right hand of the Father where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Intercessor and Advocate (Acts 1:9-10; Eph 1:20-23; Heb 4:15; 7:25; 1 Jn 2:1).

We believe in the "blessed hope," the personal, imminent, pretribulational and premillennial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His Church, and in His subsequent return to earth with His saints to establish and rule over His millennial kingdom (1 Thess 1:10; 4:13-18; Rev 19:11-16; 20:6).

Section 4: Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit is a divine person, equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same essence (Acts 5:3-4; Heb 9:13-14).

We believe the Holy Spirit was active in the creation of the world. He moved holy men of God to speak the Word of God. He restrains evil until God's purpose is fulfilled. He convicts of sin, of righteousness and of judgment. He bears witness to the truth of the gospel in preaching and testifies to the glorious person of Christ (Gen 1:2; Jn 15:26; 16:7-11; 2 Thess 2:5-7; 2 Pt 1:19-21).

We believe the Holy Spirit is the Agent of the new birth. He baptizes into the Body of Christ and seals the believer for the day of redemption. He empowers, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, comforts, helps and fills believers, producing His fruit in their lives (Jn 3:5-8; 14:26; 16:13; Rom 8:14-16, 26; 1 Cor 12:13; Gal 5:22-23; Eph 1:13-14; 4:30; 5:18-21; 2 Thess 2:13; Titus 3:4-6).

We believe the Holy Spirit bestows gifts to believers and distributes to each one individually as He wills. Certain gifts (speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, working of miracles, gifts of healing, prophecy, and apostleship) were temporary and served to authenticate and establish the truth of the gospel during the foundational days of the Church. Other gifts are permanent and serve to edify the Body of Christ (Rom 12:3-8; 1 Cor 12-14; Eph 4:11-16; 1 Pt 4:10-11).
Section 5: Angelic Beings

We believe angels are spirit beings created by God as ministers and messengers. Although all angels were created holy, certain ones rebelled against God and fell from their state of holiness. Others remained true to God and continue to serve Him in holiness. While angels are superior to man in strength and wisdom, they are not superior to God nor are they to be worshiped by man (Job 38:4-7; Ps 104:4; Col 1:16; 2:18; Heb 1:4, 14; Rev 12:4; 22:8-9).

We believe Satan was once holy and enjoyed heavenly honors, but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, he fell and drew after him a host of angels. Because of this action he is now the malignant prince of the power of the air and the unholy god of this world. He is man's great tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of false religions, the chief power behind the present apostasy, the lord of the Antichrist, and the author of all powers of darkness. He is destined to final defeat at the hand of God's Son and to the judgment of an eternal justice in the Lake of Fire, a place prepared for him and his angels (Is 14:12-15; Ezek 28:14-17; Mt 4:1, 3; 13:24-25, 37-39; 25:41; Jn 8:44; 14:30; 2 Cor 11:13-15; Eph 2:2; 1 Thess 3:5; 2 Thess 2:9; 1 Pt 5:8; 1 Jn 3:8; Rev 12:9-10; 20:10).

Section 6: Man

We believe man was created directly by God in God's own image and after His own likeness. Man was created as an immortal being destined for an eternal existence. Man's creation was not a matter of evolution from lower to higher forms (Gen 1:26-27; 2:7; 1 Cor 15:53-54; Rev 14:9-11).

We believe man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state. All are now sinners by nature and are under just condemnation without defense or excuse. Man is totally depraved and of himself utterly unable to remedy his lost condition (Gen 3:1-7; Jn 1:12-13; Rom 3:10-19; 5:12, 19).

Section 7: Sin

We believe God is not the author of sin but He allowed sin to enter the world as part of the fulfillment of His perfect plan. Sin originated through Satan's rebellion against the holiness of God. The rebellion spilled over into the realm of humanity through the temptation of Eve and subsequent choice of Adam to also rebel against God's holiness (Gen 3:1-6; Is 14:12-15; Ezek 28:15; Eph 1:1-10; James 1:13; 1 Jn 1:5).

We believe sin is anything contrary to the character of God. Through Adam's disobedience all mankind are born sinners, fall short of the glory of God and are dead in their trespasses and sins. Sin brings death to all mankind: physical, spiritual and eternal. Physical death is a separation of the soul from the physical body. Spiritual death is separation from relationship with God. Eternal death, or the second death, is eternal separation from the presence of God in the Lake of Fire (Gen 2:16-17; Rom 3:9-19, 23; 5:12, 19; 6:23; Gal 3:22; Eph 2:1-3; Heb 9:27; James 1:13-15; Rev 20:12-15).

We believe sin has many consequences not only for mankind but for all of creation. Without the intervention of God to graciously provide salvation through the blood of Christ all creation is eternally doomed (Gen 3:14-19; Rom 5:12; 8:19-23).

Section 8: Salvation

We believe God has graciously provided salvation from the penalty, power and presence of sin through the mediatorial work of the Lord Jesus Christ. By the appointment of the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ freely took upon Himself our nature, yet without sin. He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and substitutionary sacrifice for our sins. His sacrifice consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but in making Himself the voluntary substitute in the sinner's place, the Just dying for the unjust. The Lord Jesus Christ bore our sins in His own body and died on the cross, was buried in a borrowed tomb, and gloriously rose again on the third day. This completed work of the Lord Jesus Christ is the good news of the gospel (Is 53; Jn 3:16; 10:17-18; Rom 3:21-26; 1 Cor 15:1-4; 2 Cor 5:21; Gal 1:3-4; Eph 2:4-9; Phil 2:7-8; Heb 2:14-15; 9:11-15; 12:2; 1 Pt 2:21-24; 3:18; 1 Jn 4:10).

We believe that in order to be saved sinners must be born again by believing the gospel. The new birth instantaneously results in a new creation in the Lord Jesus Christ. In the new birth, the one dead in trespasses and sins is made a partaker of the divine nature, receives the free gift of eternal life and the forgiveness of sins. The new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, nor by character, nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth (Jn 1:12-13; 3:3-17; Acts 16:30-31; 2 Cor 5:17-19; Eph 2:1, 8-9; Col 2:13-14; Titus 3:4-7; 2 Pt 1:2-4; 1 Jn 5:1).

We believe in God's electing grace according to the good pleasure of His will. Through His foreknowledge He predestined some to be conformed to the image of His Son. God's foreknowledge is not simply a foresight into the future, but rather involves His sovereign choice independent of the actions of man. Those who are predestined are called, justified and glorified according to His purpose. God alone can open the darkened eye to understand and accept the offer of salvation. We further believe the offer of salvation is made freely to all through the gospel and it is the immediate duty of all to accept the gospel by obedient faith (Jn 3:16-18, 36; 6:37; Acts 2:22-24; 26:17-18; Rom 8:28-30; 10:9-17; 2 Cor 4:3-6; Eph 1:3-6, 2:4-5; Col 3:12; 1 Thess 1:2-4; 1 Tim 1:15; Titus 1:1; 1 Pt 1:1-2; 2 Pt 3:9).

We believe justification is that judicial act of God whereby He declares the believing sinner righteous and no longer under condemnation through the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ, to Whom the sinner is united by believing faith. Every believer is positionally in Christ, completely set apart from sin to God (Acts 13:38-39; Rom 4:1-8; 5:1-2, 9; 6:17-22; 8:1; Gal 3:11-14; 1 Cor 1:2; 6:11; Titus 3:4-7; Heb 10:9-10).

We believe progressive sanctification is the process by which the believer grows in grace and Christ-likeness through the unhindered power of the Holy Spirit. The believer retains his sin nature which is not eradicated in this life. Thus, the believer must continually put off the old man that is corrupted by deceitful desires and strive to put on the new man that is created according to Christ's likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth. When Christ appears at the rapture, the believer will be perfectly sanctified and freed from the very presence of sin (Rom 8:28-30; 12:1-2; 1 Cor 15:49; Gal 5:16; Eph 4:20-24; Phil 3:20-21; 1 Pt 1:13-16; 3:17-18; 1 Jn 1:8-10; 3:1-3).

We believe progressive sanctification involves separation not only from ungodly living but also from ungodly teaching. Though the believer loves all men and seeks their salvation, he cannot have fellowship with unbelievers. The believer also must not associate with other believers who are practicing ungodly lifestyles. Separation from all worldly practices and whole-hearted

devotion to the cause of Christ is the only Scriptural basis for a joyful and useful life (1 Cor 5:7-13; 2 Cor 6:14-18; Gal 5:16-26; Eph 2:10; 2 Thess 3:6-15; 2 Tim 3:1-5; Titus 3:9-11; 1 Jn 2:15-17; 2 Jn 9-11).

We believe in the eternal security of the believer. Nothing can separate him from the love of God and no one is able to snatch him from God's hand. He has been given eternal life, will never perish and is kept by the power of God. It is the privilege of the believer to rejoice in the assurance of salvation through the testimony of God's Word and the witness of the Holy Spirit (Jn 5:24; 6:39-40; 10:27-29; Rom 8:16, 35-39; 1 Pt 1:3-5; 1 Jn 5:13).

Section 9: The Church

We believe each believer is baptized into the Body of Christ by the Holy Spirit at the time of his regeneration through Christ. The Body of Christ is referred to in the Scriptures as the Bride of Christ and called by men "the universal church." The Body of Christ began on the day of Pentecost with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and will be completed when Christ returns in the air and raptures His Bride (Acts 2:1-21; 1 Cor 12:13; Eph 1:22-23; 5:23-24, 30-32; Col 1:18; 1 Thess 4:14-18; Rev 19:7-8; 22:17).

We believe a local New Testament church is a congregation of organized, immersed believers who are associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel (Acts 2:41-42; 6:1-6; 14:21-23; 15:22-23; 20:17-28; 1 Cor 11:2; 1 Tim 3:1-15).

We believe the Scriptures are the sole guide for governing the local church. Whatever the Scriptures affirm, the church accepts as true. No human opinion or decree of any church group can override the Scriptures. Even creeds and confessions of faith which attempt to articulate the theology of Scripture do not carry the Scriptures' inherent authority (Gal 1:6-9; 2 Tim 3:16-17; 1 Thess 2:13; 2 Pt 1:19-21).

We believe the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any religious hierarchy of individuals or any religious organization. The one and only Lord and Head of the church is the Lord Jesus Christ. It is Scriptural for the local church to cooperate with other New Testament churches in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the gospel. Each local church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation. On all matters of membership, polity, government, discipline and benevolence, the will of the local church is final. The decisions of the local church are determined by the vote of its members (Acts 15:22; 1 Cor 5:11-13; 6:1-8; 2 Cor 8:1-5, 16-23; Col 1:18).

We believe the local church is composed of believers who have equal access to God through Christ without regard to any earthly status. No other mediator is needed between God and believers (1 Tim 2:5; Heb 4:14-16; 1 Pt 2:4-5; 1 Jn 1:9; 2:1).

We believe the local church observes the two biblical ordinances of Christ, believer's baptism and the Lord's Supper. Baptism involves the believer's single immersion in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This ordinance shows forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior, in Whom we have died to sin and been raised to a new life. Baptism precedes the privileges of church membership and is the public recognition of the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The Lord's Supper is a memorial service in which the elements of the bread and the fruit of the vine remind us of the love of God in the Lord Jesus Christ, "who spared not His own Son but delivered Him up for us all." It also looks to the future in hopeful anticipation of Christ's soon coming for His Bride. According to the example of the early New Testament church, the Lord's Supper is to be observed in the context of the local church by regenerate, baptized members of that church who are in fellowship with the Lord, having examined themselves so that they might partake in a worthy manner. Other believers who may be present at the observance of the Lord's Supper may also partake, so long as they are in fellowship with the Lord and have examined themselves so that they might partake in a worthy manner (Matt 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 16:14-15, 33-34; Rom 6:3-23; 1 Cor 10:15-1; 11:23-32; Col 2:11-14).

We believe the local church defends the right of every individual to interpret the Scriptures without abuse or restraint. This liberty does not exempt one from responsibility to the Scriptures or from accountability to God Himself (Rom 14:1-8; 2 Cor 4:1-2; Col 1:9-10; 3:16-17; 1 Jn 2:27).

We believe the local church is composed of regenerated, immersed believers. When the members of the local church are believers a oneness in Christ exists, and the members can endeavor to keep the unity of the Holy Spirit in the bond of peace. Church discipline is to be exercised to remove those who prove to be false, ungodly in conduct, or unsound in doctrine (Acts 2:41-47; 1 Cor 5; 2 Cor 6:14; Eph 4:1-3; 2 Thess 3:14-15).

We believe the local church's Scripturally designated officers are pastor (elder, overseer) and deacons, whose qualifications are clearly defined in the Scriptures (1 Tim 3:1-13; Acts 20:17-38; Phil 1:1).

We believe the local church and the civil government are both established by God, Who gave each its own distinct sphere of operation. Neither should control the other, nor should there be an alliance between the two. Believers in a free society can properly influence government toward righteousness, which is not the same as a denomination or a group of churches controlling the government (Mt 22:21; Acts 5:29; 20:28; Rom 13:1-7; 1 Tim 2:1-2; Titus 3:1-2).

Section 10: Last Things

We believe in the blessed hope, the personal, imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ who will rapture His Church prior to the seven year Tribulation period. The Lord Jesus Christ will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God. The dead in Christ will first be resurrected incorruptible and then the living in Christ will be changed, "caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air," and so they will always be with Him. This will all happen in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye (1 Cor 15:50-54; Phil 3:20-21; 1 Thess 1:9-10; 4:13-18; 5:4-10; Titus 2:11-14; Heb 9:28; James 5:8).

We believe the Church age saints will be judged at the Bema of Christ. The Judgment Seat of Christ is a judgment of works, not of salvation. These saints will receive reward or lack thereof for the things done in the body, whether good or bad (Rom 14:10-12; 1 Cor 3:9-15; 2 Cor 5:10).

We believe the Tribulation is Daniel's seventieth week and will take place here on earth. It will be a time of great trouble when God's righteous wrath will be poured out onto mankind. The Tribulation ends in the gathering of the nations to the battle of Armageddon and the return of Christ to the earth (Dan 9:24-27; 2 Thess 2:1-12; Rev 5-19).

We believe in the premillennial, bodily return of the Lord Jesus Christ with power and great glory. He will set up His earthly kingdom and rule from the throne of David for a period of one thousand years, ruling with a rod of iron. During this period Satan will be bound until the very end, when he will be loosed in order to deceive the nations and lead one final revolt against

Christ. Satan will be defeated and cast in the Lake of Fire forever (Is 9:6-7; 11:1-9; Ps 2:7-9; Mt 24:29-30; Lk 1:30-33; Acts 1:11; Rev 19:1-20:10).

We believe in the resurrection of the righteous. Church age saints will be resurrected at the rapture. Old Testament and Tribulation saints will be resurrected at the end of the Tribulation period. This is the first resurrection, and all who have a part in it will experience eternal joy in the very presence of God (Dan 12:2; Lk 14:14; Jn 5:28-29; 1 Cor 15:51-52; 1 Thess 4:16; Rev 20:4-6).

We believe in the resurrection of the wicked of all ages after the Millennium, when they will stand before the Great White Throne in judgment. This is the second resurrection, and all who have a part in it will experience the second death, which is an eternal separation from the very presence of God in the Lake of Fire (Dan 12:2; Jn 5:28-29; Rev 20:5, 11-15; 21:8).

We believe the present earth and heavens will be destroyed by fire, the elements of which will be melted with a fervent heat. According to His promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells (2 Pt 3:10-13).

Section 11: Creation

We believe God created the universe in six literal, 24-hour periods. We reject evolution, the Gap Theory, the Day-Age Theory, and Theistic Evolution as unscriptural theories of origin (Gen 1-2; Ex 20:11).

Section 12: Dispensations

We believe the Scriptures interpreted in their natural, literal sense reveal divinely determined dispensations or rules of life which define man's responsibilities in successive ages. These dispensations are not ways of salvation, but are stewardships by which God administers His purpose on earth through man under varying responsibilities. Dispensational dealings depend upon changed situations in which man is found in relation to God due to man's failures and God's judgments. Though several dispensations cover the entire history of mankind, only three of these are the subject of extended revelation in the Scriptures: Mosaic Law, Church Age, and Millennial Kingdom (Gen 2; 3:23-25; 8:13-9:17; 12:1-4; Ex 20; Jn 1:16-17; Acts 2; 2 Cor 3:7-18; Gal 3:13-25; Eph 1:7-10; 3:1-10; Col 1:24-27; Rev 20:1-6).

Section 13: Evangelism and Discipleship

We believe the solemn obligation and glorious privilege of the saved is to witness by life and word to the truths, admonitions, and directives of the Scriptures. The burden and effort of this local church should be to support missions and missionaries, who, in agreement with our doctrinal beliefs and practices, endeavor to carry the Scriptures to all mankind (Acts 1:8; 13:1-3; 2 Cor 5:18-20; Phil 2:14-16; 1 Thess 1:6-10).

Section 14: Civil Government

We believe civil government is of divine appointment for the interest and good order of human society. Authorities are to be prayed for and conscientiously honored and obeyed, except in things opposed to the will of God (Mt 22:21; Acts 5:29; Rom 13:1-7; 1 Tim 2:1-2; Titus 3:1-2; 1 Pt 2:17).

Section 15: The Sanctity of Life

We believe all human beings are created in the image of God. The weak, vulnerable, infirm, handicapped, preborn and needy deserve our respect and care (Gen 1:26-27; 9:6; Ps 82:3-4; Gal 6:10; James 2:1-9).

We believe human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. Abortion is murder. We reject any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the physical or mental well being of the mother are acceptable (Gen 25:21-26; Ex 4:11; 20:13; 21:22-24; 23:7; Deut 32:39; Ps 51:5; 139:13-18; Is 44:24, 49:1, 5; Jer 1:5; Lk 1:44; Jn 9:1-3; Rom 8:28).

We believe the direct taking of an innocent human life is a moral evil, regardless of the intention. Life is a gift of God and must be respected from conception until natural death. Thus we believe that an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder contrary to the will of God. Discontinuing medical procedures that are extraordinary or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be a legitimate refusal of over-zealous treatment (Gen 9:6; Ex 20:13; 23:7; Deut 32:39; Ps 72:13-14; Job 2:7-10; Rom 13:8-10).

We believe capital punishment is a legitimate, God-ordained right and responsibility of human government in order to punish the one who takes innocent human life through an intentional, premeditated murder (Gen 9:6; Ex 21:12-14; Rom 13:1-5).

Section 16: The Sanctity of Marriage

We believe the only Scriptural marriage is the joining of one man and one woman for life (Gen 2:23-24; Rom 7:2-3; 1 Cor 7:10-11; Eph 5:22-23).

We believe God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage between one man and one woman. Any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God's gift of sex. God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one's gender by surgery or appearance (Gen 2:24; 19:1-13; Lev 18:1-30; Dt 22:5; Mt 5:27-28; Rom 1:18-32; 6:15-23; 1 Cor 5:1-13; 6:9-20; Gal 5:16-21; Eph 5:3-5; Col 3:5; 1 Thess 4:1-8; Heb 13:4).

We believe God disapproves of and forbids divorce and intends marriage to last until one of the spouses dies. God regards divorce and remarriage as adultery. While God is faithful and just to forgive the sins of the repentant, there are consequences because of sin. Divorced and remarried persons or divorced persons who are in fellowship with the Lord may use their spiritual gifts and be greatly used of God for Christian service, but they are not eligible to hold the offices of pastor or deacon (Mal 2:14-17; Mt 19:3-12; Mark 10:2-12; Rom 7:1-3; 1 Cor 7:10-16; 1 Tim 3:2, 12).

Section 17: Family Relationships

We believe men and women are spiritually equal in position before God but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home and the church. The husband is to be the leader of the home, and men are to be the leaders (pastors and deacons) of the church. Accordingly, only men are eligible for licensure and ordinations by the church (Gal 3:28; Col 3:18-19; 1 Tim 2:8-15; 3:4-5, 12; Titus 2:1-8).

We believe God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. The husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church. The wife is to submit herself to the Scriptural leadership of her husband as the church submits to the headship of Christ. Children are an heritage from the Lord. Parents are responsible for teaching their children spiritual and moral values and leading them through consistent lifestyle example and appropriate discipline, including Scriptural corporal correction (Gen 1:26-28; Dt 6:4-9; Ps 127:3-5; Prov 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; Eph 5:22-33; 6:1-4; Col 3:18-21; 1 Pt 3:1-7).

Section 18: Lawsuits Between Believers

We believe Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the church to resolve personal disputes. The church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between members. However, a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from another Christians' insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander (1 Cor 6:1-8; Eph 4:31-32).

Section 19: Corporate Worship

We believe worship, whether private or public, individual or corporate, must be done in spirit and truth. Such worship is not bounded by space or time, and should take place anywhere and at any time. True worship comes from the heart as the individual communes with God, giving Him all the glory, honor and praise. True worship must be genuine and without pretense, always agreeing with the truth of the Scriptures (Mt 15:8-9; Jn 4:24; 1 Cor 10:31).

We believe the corporate worship of the church must glorify God by its proclamation of the Word, the lifting up of its prayers, the outpouring of its giving, the voicing of its songs of praise, the administration of its ordinances, and the unity of its fellowship. Such worship is offered by Spirit-filled believers, who use their spiritual gifts in the equipping and edifying of the Body of Christ (Acts 2:41-47; 11:27-30; 12:5; Eph 4:11-16; 5:18-19; 1 Pt 4:10-11).

We believe the preaching of the Word of God holds unrivaled priority in the corporate worship of the church. It is by the preaching of the Word that the person and will of God is made known to mankind. It is by the proclamation of His message that sinners are saved and believers are built up in the faith. True preaching never uses deceit or flattery. It never seeks personal fame or glory from men. True preaching always gives all the glory to God. Men are entrusted with the sacred privilege and responsibility of preaching the Word of God in the church (1 Cor 1:17-31; Col 1: 24-29; 1 Thess 2:1-13; 2 Tim 4:2).

We believe prayers should be offered by the spiritual leadership of the church, as well as the entire body of believers. Such prayers should involve praise, thanksgiving, and petitions. Men should lead in the public prayer of the church (Acts 4:24-30; 6:4; 12:5; Rom 12:12; Eph 6:18; Phil 4:6; Col 4:2; 1 Thess 5:17; 1 Tim 2:1-8).

We believe the church worships God by the giving of their own selves for the work of the ministry, as well as of their finances and possessions. Giving should also be directed toward those in need, both to individuals and to other local churches. Giving should never be done out of compulsion, but rather as an outpouring of compassion from the heart (Acts 6:1; 11:27-30; Rom 15:26-27; 1 Cor 16:2; 2 Cor 8-9).

We believe singing and music plays an important role in the worship of the church. All singing and music must direct the glory to God, extolling His Person and attributes. Singing and music must never seek glory or fame for the performer. Its content or styles must never contradict the truths and principles of God's Word, nor conform to the Satanically controlled world system (Rom 12:1-2; 1 Cor 10:31; Eph 5:18-19; Col 3:16; James 5:13).

We believe the two ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper are integral to the corporate worship of the church. Both are powerful pictures and reminders of Christ's death for us, and serve to build up and unite believers in the local assembly (Acts 8:12; 10:47-48; 16:14-15; 18:8; 1 Cor 10:14-17; 11:23-26).

We believe that true worship will necessarily result in true fellowship and unity within the body. Such fellowship is integral to the health of the church, and is also a powerful witness to the lost world (Acts 2:41-47; Jn 17:11, 20-21; Phil 2:1-11; 1 Jn 1:1-7).

We believe true worship is only possible as the Holy Spirit enables and empowers His people to serve the Lord in the beauty of holiness and love. The Holy Spirit has given to each believer at least one spiritual gift, and oftentimes many more, for the edification of the body. It is only as all the members of the body fulfill their spiritual roles and responsibilities that the church is able to grow up in all things into Him who is the Head-the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 12:3-8; 1 Cor 12; Eph 4:11-16; 5:18-21; 1 Pt 4:10-11).

Section 20: Israel

We believe in the sovereign selection of Israel as God's eternal covenant people. Though she is now dispersed because of her disobedience and rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ, she will be gathered again in the Promised Land after the completion of the Church Age and will be saved as a nation at the second coming of Christ (Gen 13:14-17; Ezek 37; Rom 11:1-32).