The tea on our core beliefs
Who is God?
God is God. Eternal. Perfect. Loving. Just. Righteous. Kind. Patient. Gracious. And Real. He is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in one. The Creator of our universe. Its Sovereign Ruler and Judge. His name is YHWH (Yahweh).
Genesis 1:1, Genesis 1:26-27, Genesis 3:22, Psalms 90:2, Matthew 28:19, 1 Peter 1:2,
2 Corinthians 13:14, Isaiah 46:10
What does God think about me?
God really loves you. It’s more than a ride or die type of love. It’s a no limits, no conditions, “I love you when you hate Me” brand of love. You vibing? But sin has separated us from that love. So God went out of his way to bring us back into the fam through Jesus. When we make Jesus our Lord, we get full access to all of God’s goodness. There’s no wart or wound that’s beyond His holy renovation.
Genesis 1:27, Genesis 3, Psalms 8:3-6, Isaiah 53:6, Isaiah 59:1-2, Jeremiah 31:3, John 3:16, John 14:21, John 15:13, 1 John 3:1, 1 John 3:16, 1 John 4:9-10, Romans 5:8-10, Romans 8:35, 1 Corinthians 13
Is Jesus a good teacher or God?
Jesus is a great teacher. No doubt. But that’s not all. He's God. The Son of God. And the Messiah (or Savior) of the world. He’s a big deal. Because He’s the only person who has died to bring us into a right relationship with God. That's a lot to digest, but there’s more to chew on. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. He died on a cross. Rose from the dead three days later. Demonstrated power over sin and death. Ascended to Heaven. And catch this. He’s returning to reign.
Matthew 1:18-23, Isaiah 9:6, John 1:1-5, John 14:10-30, Hebrews 4:14-15, Romans 1:3-4, Acts 1:9-11,
1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Titus 2:13, 1 Timothy 6:14-15
How do I relate to Jesus?
Jesus gets us. He laughed. He cried. He worked. He hung out. He was tempted by sin (but didn’t mess up). He was loved by crowds and canceled by them. He experienced loneliness. He felt depressed. He endured physical pain and death. He knows what you are going through. Right at this moment. You could say He’s your BFF. But Jesus is not just part of the squad. He leads it. He doesn’t follow you. You follow Him. He isn’t just part of your life. He’s the whole reason for it. He’s your friend and your King. With His leadership, you will go to better places and spaces. You’ll listen to wiser voices and make righteous choices. You’ll put love into action and make gentleness your reaction. He’ll teach you the Way — the method and manner to live. Show you the Truth — all facts. No cap! And give you Life — everything you need to live this life well. (Bonus! You get eternal life, too).
What's the Holy Ghost and is it going to haunt me?
The Holy Spirit is not a "ghost" like you see in a movie. So don't worry about rattling chains and jump scenes. It’s God’s Spirit. He shows people why they need Jesus. Enables us to understand God's Word. And empowers us to make good choices through biblical wisdom, encouragement and conviction. When you truly accept Jesus as Lord, you'll get all the Spirit has to offer.
2 Corinthians 3:17, John 16:7-13; John 14:16-17, Acts 1:8, 1 Corinthians 2:12; 1 Corinthians 3:16,
Ephesians 1:13, Galatians 5:25, Ephesians 5:18
What's the deal with the Bible?
You're wondering if the Bible is relevant and trustworthy? That's cool. So, let's sort a couple of things out. The Bible is not just a book. It's a collection of writings. From a variety of authors. Written over several thousand years. From several locations. And in three languages. The most miraculous thing is that the writings agree and the prophecies have proven true. That’s why we believe God inspired these men to accurately write history, wisdom, poetry, prophecy and practical advice. The Bible is God's letter to us about love and hope, life and liberty, redemption and restoration. We believe it is the ultimate source of Truth and the most practical book for life. Those who study the Bible uncover gems that help them live their best lives. That’s because the Spirit opens our eyes to all the hidden Easter eggs. When we humbly (and regularly) apply the truths, our lives are transformed, making us more loving, kind, forgiving, generous, merciful, joyful, peaceful and thankful.
2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Timothy 1:13, Psalms 119:105,160, Psalms 12:6, Proverbs 30:5
Why do I need to be saved?
Nobody is perfect (except Jesus). And, no matter how good we try to be, we still mess up. That's what "Sin" is — the wrongs we think, say and do. Nowadays, in our you-do-you culture, sin is a dirty word. But it's also a dirty word to God. Because it eternally separates us. It's pretty easy to rationalize our choices or try to make up for sin by doing good things. But no matter how many good things we do or self-improvement classes we take, we'll never do enough to erase the stain of sin. We simply can't "earn" a ticket to Heaven on our own. We have to be saved by the grace and mercy of Jesus. That's done by admitting the wrong things we've done, turning away from sin, and by faith asking Jesus to forgive us and be our personal Lord and Savior. When we've done that, we're adopted into God’s fam and ready to be baptized.
John 3:16, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 14:6; John 1:12; John 10:29, Titus 3:5, Galatians 3:26, Romans 5:1; Romans 10:9-10, 2Timothy 1:12; 1 Peter 1:3-5, Hebrews 7:25, Hebrews 10:10-14
Why do I need to go to church?
If you've been hurt by the church or bored by it, we are so sorry. We admit. The Church is imperfect. It is filled with hurt people (like you) who hurt people. And sadly, until Jesus returns, every Church will be imperfect. So, we get your reluctance. We could slide into all the theological reasons why you "need" to go to church. Like God exists in community. How He did some seriously fire miracles in Egypt to free His people to worship together. We could tell you how Jesus went to "Church" his whole life even though it treated Him with the worst kind of church hurt. But you don't need a churchy answer. You need a reason. Here it is: The Church needs you. Your voice. Your energy. Your fire. Your integrity. Your ideas. Your story. Your gifts. The Church needs you. And Jesus wants you to love His Church. With you, the only "institution" Jesus created can shine more brightly and serve our broken world more boldly. Would you give her another try?
Acts 2:42, Acts 4:32-25, Romans 12:4-5, Hebrews 10:24-25, Ephesians 4:14-16, Matthew 16:17-19, Matthew 18:20, Matthew 28:19-20, Malachi 3:8-10
What happens when we die?
Culture tells us that Heaven and Hell are mythical places for weak-minded people. Or they paint it as a lonely cloud with a personal harp and halo. BORING! So let's get something straight. Jesus didn't die on a cross and rise from the dead for a mythical sphere or a basic eternity. He died so we could spend eternity together in His home — Heaven. Heaven is epic. It's more perfect than we can imagine. We'll always be in the presence of God. We’ll enjoy the best music, food and jobs. And there will never be any pain or suffering. Hell, on the other hand, is the exact opposite. It's eternal separation from all things Good. There is pain, misery and demons — and the air conditioning is always broke. Your decision about Jesus — whether you have faith in Him or not — determines your eternal "zip code".
John 3:16, 1 John 2:25, 1 John 5:11-13, Romans 6:23, 1 Corinthians 2:7-9, Revelation 20:15,
2 Corinthians 4:15, John 10:29, 2 Timothy 1:12, Hebrews 7:25, Hebrews 10:10-14, 1 Peter 1:3-5