STATEMENT OF FAITH

Disciples Made & the Fully Alive Community

The Bible

The bible is God's revelation of Himself and was written under His inspiration. The bible contains the story of mankind’s creation, fall, redemption through Jesus, restoration, and promised glorification. The bible teaches us what we are to believe and how we are to live in order to participate in Jesus’ Fully Alive life. The bible has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth for its matter. 

God

There is one God. He is the Creator, Redeemer, Provider, and Ruler of the universe. To Him we owe the highest love and obedience. God reveals Himself to us in three Persons: as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

God the Father

God as Father demonstrates His affection and authority, providing care and rule over us as His children. 

God the Son

Jesus is the Son of God and Son of man, therefore both divine and human. Jesus lived Fully Alive. Through His death on the cross and physical resurrection from the dead, Jesus overcame sin and death and paved the way for men and women to live Fully Alive through Him.

God the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the presence of God in those who have placed their faith and trust in Jesus for salvation and for living the Fully Alive life. The Spirit enables and prompts men and women to believe Jesus, obey His commands and participate in the restoration of intimacy and influence. The Spirit helps us cultivate Jesus’ character in our lives by developing the fruit of the Spirit, and architects our personal calling by depositing spiritual gifts and life experiences that influence how we serve God through His church. 

Men and Women 

Men and women were created by God in God’s own image and are the crowning work of His creation. Men and women together, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, are to be fruitful and multiply as they exercise God’s redemptive dominion over creation. Because they are made in the image of God, dignity and respect are due to every man and woman.

In the beginning men and women were innocent of sin, enjoying the Fully Alive life they were created to enjoy. Both disobeyed God, falling from their original innocence and inheriting a nature inclined toward things other than God and His authority. Jesus, in John 10:10, claims there is a thief that influenced this decision and continues to influence men and women away from God and His authority.

Jesus’ Gospel

In John 10:10-11, Jesus declares that He is the good shepherd who “came that we might have life and have it to the full.” Salvation is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord, and is demonstrated by partnering with the Holy Spirit to develop character and calling through the continual process of turning away from sin that leads to death, and acting in trust of Jesus’ good news that leads to life. 

Jesus’ Kingdom

Jesus is King of all creation, and He came to earth to inaugurate the kingdom of God. God’s kingdom is defined as anywhere life on earth is happening “as it is in heaven.” God’s kingdom is spelled out in Jesus’ teaching and is marked by love, beauty, justice, and peace. Therefore, followers of Jesus should live as citizens of God’s kingdom, partnering with the Holy Spirit to overcome all contempt, greed, self-centeredness, discrimination and immorality with the redemptive love and grace of Jesus. 

Disciple-Making 

Becoming a disciple and leading others to become disciples is Jesus’ core strategy for expanding the kingdom of God. Disciples are “made” as they become more Fully Alive… partnering with the Holy Spirit to develop spiritual fruit (Character), stewarding their Spirit-given gifts (Calling), and expanding Jesus’ kingdom on earth (Impact). Disciples do not simply go to church… they are the church, and are called to serve every sector of society with the principles of righteousness, truth, and love. 

Unity

Jesus calls us to unity. 

Satan influences division through lies and deception. In all things, disciples must resist Satan’s efforts to divide and deceive. 

Jesus is the truth that sets disciples free. In all things, disciples of Jesus must prioritize unity and truth equally as they grow individually and serve the world together. 

To remain focused on our mission to make disciples as we balance unity and truth, the following guides our posture in the world: 

• Since God wants all people to be saved, then we are for all people.

• Unity is built on the essentials listed in this document and is required for shared leadership.

• Unity is maintained as we posture ourselves with humility, deference, and gentleness around non-essentials and this posture is required for shared leadership.