OUR MISSION

We believe that there is only one God, but He exists in 3 persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They’re essentially one, while holding distinct roles. God is the active Creator and Sustainer of the universe. (Matthew 28:19; Colossians 1:15-17; Matthew 3:16-17)

We believe the Bible to be the inspired word of God, free from error, and that it is the perfect guide for our lives (2 Timothy 3:16). The Bible is the only book that can rightfully be called “scripture,” or the word of God. All other books which make this claim are imposters (Romans 15:4).

We believe that God is in the world today as the Holy Spirit, who draws us to faith in Jesus. The Spirit lives in every Christian and gives believers the ability to reflect the likeness and character of Christ as we grow in our faith. The Holy Spirit also gives spiritual gifts to Christ’s followers to help us minister to each other. (Galatians 5:22-26; 1 Corinthians 12)

“The Church” isn’t a building. It refers to all believers in Christ worldwide. We believe that when we become believers and followers of Jesus Christ, every new Christian becomes part of the Body of Christ, or the Church (1 Corinthians 12:13). The Church’s mission is to carry on the work of Jesus Christ on Earth through congregations (churches). Together, all of these groups of believers form Christ’s Church on Earth (Matthew 28:19-20).

We believe that every person will live forever. After physical death, we will either exist eternally separated from God in Hell or, through faith in and obedience to Christ, will be eternally united with Him in Heaven (1 Corinthians 15:42-44; Matthew 25:31-46 ).

We believe that man was created by God in His image. Man is free to make choices, but he is responsible to his Creator for those choices. When the first man, Adam, was tempted by Satan, he separated himself from God by voluntary disobedience. As a consequence, all men are born with a sinful nature (which leads to death) and need to be reconciled to God (which leads to eternal life). (Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 5:12-15; Galatians 5:16-21; 2 Corinthians 5:17-19)

Sin is the exact opposite of God’s character, and it is impossible for God to be in a loving relationship with anyone who sins. The Bible makes it clear that "all [people] have sinned and fall short of God’s glory" (Romans 3:23), and that God’s penalty for our sin is death (Romans 6:23). God came to earth as Jesus Christ to pay the death penalty for us. Jesus is God’s answer to our sin problem. And God holds out Jesus Christ’s offer of forgiveness and a relationship with God as a free gift that we must either accept or reject. God’s gift of forgiveness can never be earned. It can only be received by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), and saving faith requires both belief and obedience. I must believe that Jesus is the one and only Savior and Son of God, trusting him 100% for my salvation. And I must be obedient to God by repenting (making a spiritual u-turn) from my sins, confessing Jesus as the Lord (master) of my life, and being baptized in water (Romans 10:9-10; Acts 2:38-39). Salvation is the starting point of following Jesus for the rest of our lives here on Earth and for eternity in Heaven.

We believe that sexual relations belong only within marriage. Sexual activities such as, but not limited to, adultery, premarital sex, incest, homosexual acts, pedophilia and bestiality are inconsistent with the teachings of the Bible and the Church. Also, lascivious behavior such as the creation and/or distribution and/or viewing of pornography, and efforts to alter one's gender, are incompatible with the Bible’s teaching (Romans 1:18-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-20).

Marriage has been established by God, and this church recognizes marriage as exclusively the legal union of one man and one woman in a lifelong commitment. It is therefore the policy of First Christian Church to forbid any of its clergy from officiating over a same-sex marriage ceremony, and no same-sex marriage ceremonies are permitted on church property. (Genesis 2:20-25; Matthew 19:3-12)

We believe the Lord’s Supper should be observed weekly as the most appropriate way to remember Christ and His death for our sins while looking ahead to His second coming (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

We believe in the personal, literal return of Jesus Christ. He will rapture all His followers (both those who are alive and those who have died) and take them to Heaven, which He is currently in the midst of preparing for all His followers (John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-19).