Our Values

In the Scriptures we find that there are many divine beings; some
named, some not. There are lower gods of various nations, there
is the higher god (the Satan) that rules over the lower gods, and
there is the supreme, Most High, creator-God who’s name is
Yahweh. Yahweh is the God of gods. He has eternally existed in
three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are co-
equal and are one God. The triune God also created other lesser
gods, who fell into rebellion and rule over regions, nations, and
peoples. The Son, Jesus Christ, came to earth, became a human,
and was crowned King in order to take creation back from the
lesser gods.

Genesis 1:1, 26, 27; 3:22; Exodus 20:3; Psalm 82:1, 86:8, 90:2,
95:3, 96:4, 97:9, 136:2; Deuteronomy 10:17; Matthew 28:19; 1
Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14

Humans are made as the image of God and are called to be like
him in character. Humankind is the supreme object of God’s
creative work in the world. People were created to be co-rulers
with God over creation. In fact, Yahweh has crowned humans with
his glory and honor. Although people have tremendous potential
for good, we are constantly tempted to participate in destructive
sinful ways of evil and, therefore, disobedience toward God.
Because of the unsurpassable price Jesus paid on the cross,
unsurpassable worth has been ascribed to all people; past,
present, and future. We all remain the image of God on the earth.

Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23; Isaiah
59:1; John 3:16; Psalm 8

The one and only Word of God is Jesus Christ. He is part of the
triune God. He is the exact representation of God’s very essence.
No one has seen God except for Jesus, who makes him known.
The Christian’s life should be modeled after the teachings and
example of Jesus. Christ bore our sin on the cross and defeated
the powers of darkness that enslave humanity. Through his defeat
of death, he demonstrated the first fruits of the coming
resurrection.

John 1:1-5, 10-14; Revelation 19:13; Matthew 28:18; John 14:6,
9; Hebrews 1:1-3; Matthew 11:27; 1 John 3:16

The Bible is a library of writings that are both divine and human.
Together they tell a unified story that leads us to Jesus. Therefore
we believe the Bible contains God’s Word. The Bible consists of a
variety of books, letters, and songs from the time before Christ’s
birth, called the Old Testament (testament means covenant), and
a collection of biographies and letters written in the first century
that form the New Testament. All scripture is “inspired by God.”
The Bible is not a rulebook. It is the narrative of God’s redemptive
work in creation. The Bible reliably leads us to the source of life
and truth: Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20, 21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm
119:105,160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5

Salvation is the Great Rescue Project of Yahweh. Since the Dark
Powers have been defeated, along with sin which leads to death,
the Eden Project can continue. Salvation includes the restoration
of all things, including Yahweh’s prized image-bearers, human
beings. As they are rescued from their sin and the Enemy’s grip,
they can continue doing the things Yahweh planned for them long
ago. As new creatures, we participate in new creation until our
King returns to finally eradicate all evil and establish heaven on
earth.

Colossians 1:13-23; Matthew 28:18-20, Revelation 21

Jesus Christ established the church to be God’s new community,
which has its roots in the people of God in the Old Testament and
testifies to the presence of the Kingdom of God on earth. Jesus
Christ is the Church’s authority. The Church consists of all those
who trust Jesus as Savior, give him total allegiance as King, and
follow him as Master. The Church is Israel, God’s children, God’s
covenant partner, and citizens of Christ’s Kingdom. The Church is
an apprentice to Jesus, an ambassador of heaven, and a
foreigner to the pagan nations. The Church is the archetype of a
new humanity that carries out God’s will.

Matthew 5:13-16; 18:15-35; 20:26-28; 28:20; John 1:12-13; Acts
2:41-47; Romans 1:16; 2 Corinthians 2:5-11; Galatians 6:1;
Ephesians 2:19, 22; Philippians 2:2-16; Colossians 1:18; 2
Timothy 2:2; Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 John 3:16-19

The baptism of believers is a public witness that they have
received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and are becoming part
of the community of faith. Baptism by immersion symbolizes the
believer’s submission to Jesus Christ and identification with his
death and resurrection. By passing through water, Baptism
represents the escape from oppressive empire into the promised
land of the Kingdom of God.

Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38-39; Romans 6:3-6; 1
Peter 3:21

Communion, the Lord’s Supper, or the Eucharist (Greek word for
thanksgiving) is the corporate act of the church to give thanks to
Jesus, remembering his death and resurrection, and a ‘calling to
account’ one another to act in conjunction with Christ’ authority as
King. Those who ‘sit at the table’ participate with Christ and join
the community of believers who spread his gospel.

The center of the Bible, what Jesus talked about more than
anything else, and the focus of human existence, is the Kingdom
of God. The Kingdom of God is what the Gospel is all about.
God’s Kingdom is Christ’s nation, here on earth, where Jesus
rules and his will is done. The arrival of the Kingdom is the good
news, the Gospel that the Church spreads to the nations who are
enslaved. The people of God, living in the Kingdom, are called to
be a redemptive influence in the world, confronting corporate sin
and seeking to overcome evil with good. They are to be a voice
for righteousness, peace, and justice.

Matthew 4:17, 6:33, 16:19, 25:34; John 18:36; Luke 17:20-21;
Mark 1:15; Daniel 2:44; Acts 28:31; Revelation 11:15