This church confesses the crucified and resurrected Jesus of Nazareth, as testified to in the Gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke (& Acts), and John (& Revelation), as the image & Son of our heavenly Father, the eternal Lamb & Word of God made flesh, the giver of the Holy Spirit, the only Lord to be listened to and obeyed, and the only Savior of all creation. Our Lord Jesus Christ, as revealed in the Gospel accounts, is the only rightful lens, interpreter, and fulfiller of the Holy Scriptures (Old & New Testaments). Through our Lord Jesus Christ, we accept all the prophetic and apostolic books of the Holy Scriptures as the inspired Word of God and as the only rule and norm of all faith and practice (2 Tim 3:16-17).
How do we live?
This church pursues and follows the Way of Life that our Lord Jesus Christ has revealed through his own example and teachings that are found in the Gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke (& Acts), and John (& Revelation). No Way of Life that is in conflict with the example and teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ is accepted in this church. Our Lord Jesus Christ summarized his own example by humbly washing his disciples’ feet (John 13) and summarized his own teachings in his Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5—7).
Our Way of life as taught by Jesus is one of Faith, Hope, & Love (1 Cor 13:13):
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- The Way of Faith is practiced in the sacrament of Baptism.
- The Way of Hope is practiced in the sacrament of Repentance.
- The Way of Love is practiced in the sacrament of Communion.
Through the sacraments of Baptism, Repentance, & Communion, the Creator keeps us on the Way of Jesus.
Baptism:
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- Surrendering to the Creator by letting go of control, people-pleasing, and human-reliance while following with submission, worship, and trust.
- Listening to the Creator by letting go of distraction, arrogant certainty, and hypocrisy while following with focused attention, humble learning, and undivided allegiance.
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Repentance:
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- Confronting your past by letting go of blame-shifting, secrecy, and fixation while following with self-examination, vulnerability, and forgiveness.
- Waiting on the Creator’s future by letting go of anxious fear, desire, and depression while following with patient prayer, contented peace, and joyful suffering.
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Communion:
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- Sharing with the church by letting go of self-interest, competition, and ownership while following with self-sacrifice, cooperation, and generosity.
- Caring for all creation by letting go of self-indulgence, empty-busyness, and violence while following with self-care, restful work, and kindness.
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