All of Christ.

The inspiration and authority of Scripture is the most basic issue.  The Church’s authority is not human opinion, man’s reason, or tradition. We must know, believe, teach, and obey the Bible.  Scripture must genuinely govern the life of the church on a practical level day-to-day.  Additionally, we work to be "whole-Bible Christians."  Both Old and New Covenant Scripture must be wisely interpreted, believed, and obeyed.  All other forms of special revelation and the tongues and prophecies associated with them have ceased.  Because Scripture is the ultimate standard, we consider ourselves Reformed and reforming.  Even the points of our confessional documents are subject to examination and critique from the standpoint of God’s perfect Word.

Salvation is by grace alone, not works.  The "Five Points of Calvinism" are an accurate reflection of the teaching of Scripture concerning election in salvation.  Faith and repentance are necessary.  There is urgency about believing and repenting.  Eph 2:8.

God is sovereign over all of life, not just salvation.  There must therefore be an application of the Gospel to society.  Christians must seek a "reconstruction" of society on the basis of Scripture, resulting in selfless service to others.  The Gospel is not a "social gospel," yet the true Gospel speaks to every area of life - education, government, law, business, journalism, etc.  Rom 11:36.

We hold an optimistic view of the future and believe that the world is being changed over time by the faithful preaching of the Gospel of Christ and His discipling of the nations through the work of His people.  Mt 6:10.

Worship is essential, not optional.  It is the joyful focus of every week's beginning.  We practice a "covenant renewal" form of worship in which: God calls us, cleanses us, consecrates us by His word, collects our gifts, communes with us, and commissions us.

We believe that God feeds His whole family in communion.  So every week we invite each baptized member, regardless of chronological age, to partake of the bread and wine.  Rather than being entertained as a passive spectator, each member is called upon to worship the true and living God actively as a participant.  We kneel together for confession, and raise our hands corporately at appropriate times during worship.  The elders encourage attendance and participation in every church gathering, but corporate Lord’s Day worship is essential and attendance therefore mandatory.  Repeated absence, unless Providentially hindered, is a disciplinable offense.  Heb 10:25.

We believe in the necessity of church discipline, especially positive, ongoing discipline by elders (shepherding), but also negative discipline, as it becomes necessary, including excommunication.  The Christian Faith is not just a worldview, it is a way of life.  Personal Godliness is essential as a response to the Gospel.  Discipline may be exercised not only for open immorality, but also for indifference to Christ and His Church.  Mt 18:15-18; Col 3:16.

We discourage regular work activity and commercial activities, and heartily encourage delighting yourself in the Lord and reserving the day for worship, fellowship, and rest and/or acts of service and mercy in His name.  Gen 2:3; Ex 20:8-11.

We expect our members to tithe, and that designated giving would be above and beyond their tithe.  We also expect members give of their time and talents.  God has given various gifts to individuals in the church to be used for the edification of the whole body.  Mal 3:7-10; 1 Cor 12.

Scripture has a covenantal structure.  The mark of belonging to God, whether circumcision or baptism, is given to the household, not only professing adults.  We include children in the sacraments, and hold them accountable for the tremendous privileges they enjoy as Christians.  We believe baptism is effective as a means of God's grace, but not an automatic guarantee of final salvation.  Gen 17:7.

Scripture charges men with the responsibility for leading their families.  In addition to assuming sacrificial responsibility in their homes, men are required by Scripture to do so in the church as well.  We encourage women's ministry and cherish the gifts God has given our wives and sisters, but restrict the leadership of the church to men in obedience to God’s Word.  Deut 6:6-7; Eph 5:21-6:4; 1 Tim 2:12; 1 Cor 14:34-35.

The Word of God calls parents to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  We believe parents should provide a God-honoring, distinctively Christian education for their children either through home-schooling or a Christian school.  Eph 6:4.