Teachings

Different is Good >>> click here for the brochure

Teachings in General: We base all that we believe, teach, and confess on the Holy Bible, which is God's very Word to us (Psalm 119:160; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

Bible Interpretation Method: We use the Historical-Grammatical method; therefore, we take the Bible to mean what it says (unless the context indicates a non-literal meaning). We also allow Scripture to interpret Scripture; therefore, we use the easy-to-understand verses of a particular doctrine to help us understand the ones that are not so easy to understand.

The Way of Salvation:

We believe, teach, and confess that all have sinned (Romans 3:23) and deserve God's eternal punishment (Romans 6:23); nevertheless, God's awesome love moved Him to send His Son, Jesus (John 3:16), to live a sinless life (Hebrews 4:15), receive our sins and our penalty (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 2:2), die to seal His victory (1 Peter 3:18), and rise victorious over sin, death, and the devil (Acts 10:41; 1 Corinthians 15:56-57).

All who, by God's power and the work of the Holy Spirit through the waters of baptism (Acts 2:38-39) and through the Bible (James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23), repent of their sins (Luke 13:3) and believe in Jesus (John 6:47) have received (John 1:12) the gifts of full forgiveness, spiritual life, and eternal salvation!

We are Helpless, so God has done everything for us: >>> click here for a related God Tube

You Gotta Know about Laminin >>> click here to view the You Tube

Other Important Teachings:

·         God:  He is one divine essence, yet there are three Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19)

·         Creation:  God created all things in six days. (Genesis 1:1, 2:2)

·         Original Sin:  Since Adam’s fall into sin, all people are sinful from conception; therefore, all are spiritually blind, dead, and enemies of God, thus deserving of eternal punishment. (Romans 5:12; Psalm 51:5; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 2:1; Romans 8:7; 2 Thessalonians 1:9)

·         Bible:  It is God’s very Word to us, without error, without contradiction, and for our eternal benefit; furthermore, it shows us our sin, our Savior, and the true meaning of life. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Romans 3:20; John 5:39; 14:6; Acts 17:24-31)

·         Jesus:  He is the Son of God, the second Person of the Trinity, who became flesh and dwelt among us in order to live without sin, receive our sins, receive our eternal punishment, and lay down His life for our salvation! (Mark 1:1; John 1:1, 14; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 2:2; John 10:11)

·         Justification:  Since no one can overcome his sin or make himself just in God’s sight, God has done that for us in Jesus! Though no one is able to earn God’s forgiveness, God declares us to be forgiven and justified through faith in Jesus – knowing about Him, believing such things to be true, and trusting in Him for eternal life! (Romans 3:20-24, 28; John 3:16-18)

·         Means of Grace:  Since all are spiritually helpless, God is the one who connects us to Jesus and His Saving work through Baptism and His Word. (Acts 2:38-39; Titus 3:5; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23)

·         New Obedience:  Having been made alive in Christ, the results are the fruit of the Spirit, good works, and a desire to live for Christ. (Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 2:10; 2 Corinthians 5:15)

·         Spiritual Nourishment:  God is the one who strengthens and preserves us unto everlasting life through His Word and the Body and Blood of His Son. (Philippians 1:6; Matthew 4:4; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

·         Repentance:  For all who have become disconnected from God’s eternal blessings, God says: "Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:19) From repentance, good works are bound to follow. (Matthew 13:20-21; Acts 2:36-37; John 5:24; Matthew 3:8)

·         Jesus’ Second Coming:  At the appointed time and like a thief in the night Jesus will return, raise all the dead, separate the believers from the non-believers, give the fullness of eternal life to all believers, and send all non-believers and evil angels to eternal punishment. (Acts 17:31; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; Matthew 24:37-39; Hebrews 9:28; John 5:28-29; Matthew 25:31-46)

·         Law and Gospel:  “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

·         God’s Invitation:  “Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near.” (Isaiah 55:6)

Many in America want a ME CHURCH >>> click here to view

We shouldn't be surprised!  The Bible says: "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine.  Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." (NIV 2 Timothy 4:3-4)
But at Bethlehem: "...you will [hear and] know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (NIV John 8:32)

Some Topical Teachings:

·         Is the Truth Important?  Yes! Jesus said: “…the truth will set you free." (NIV John 8:32)

·         Where is the Truth Found?  Jesus prayed to the Father: "Your word is truth.” (NAB John 17:17)

·         To Whom Should We Listen?  Jesus said: “Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." (NIV John 18:37)

·         Is Jesus the One Way to Heaven?  Yes! Jesus said: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (NIV John 14:6)

·         Can Anyone Earn His Way to Heaven?  No! “You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.” (NAB Galatians 5:4)

·         What about Repetitious Prayer?  Jesus said: "…when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.” (NAB Matthew 6:7)

·         Is Abortion Okay?  No! The Lord made us: “…you created my inmost being; you knitme together in my mother's womb.” (NIV Psalm 139:13) “You shall not murder.” (NIV Exodus 20:13) Killing the born and preborn is murder!

·         Is Homosexuality Wrong?  Yes! “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable.” (NIV Leviticus 20:13)

·         Is it Okay for Pastors/Priests to Marry?  Yes! “When Jesus came into Peter's house, he saw Peter's mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever.” (NIV Matthew 8:14) Peter was married!

·         Let’s Be More Like the Bereans:  “Now the Bereans [of Macedonia in the time of Paul] were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” (NIV Acts 17:11)