We believe EVERYTHING STARTS WITH GOD!
He is the eternal, perfect, personal creator, sustainer and ruler of the universe. He is the only true God. One God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1, 26; Exodus 3:14; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 19:1)
We believe JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD!
He has been crucified on the cross for the sins of mankind, resurrected from the dead, ascended into heaven and seated at the right hand of the Father. His life, teachings, death, and resurrection offer the only true hope for all people. (John 1:14; 3:16; 14:6; Acts 4:7; Romans 5:6-8; 1 Corinthians 15:20-21)
We believe the HOLY SPIRIT IS THE SPIRIT OF GOD!
He convicts people of sin and draws them to Jesus. He indwells the life of each believer. He guides us into truth and seals us for eternity. He gifts each follower of Jesus to be useful in God’s hands in service to the church and world. He empowers the people of God to face the rigors of life on earth. (John 14:5-15; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 12:1-11; Ephesians 1:13-14)
We believe the BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD!
The human authors of the Bible were uniquely led by the Spirit of God. His guidance led them to record His inspired truth. The Bible is authoritative for every believer and it provides the counsel of God for everyday life. (Psalm 119:89; Isaiah 40:8; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21)
We believe SALVATION IS GOD’S GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE!
All human beings are created in the image of God. However, each person is a sinner and is separated from God. Only through accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior can a person be restored into a relationship with God and receive the gift of eternal life. (Romans 1:16-18; 3:23; 6:23; 10:9-13; Ephesians 2:8-9)
We believe the CHURCH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST ON EARTH TODAY!
Jesus established the local church and it exists to perform God’s will on earth. Believers are to invest themselves in the life and work of the local church. (Matthew 16:17-18; Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 12:27)
We believe BAPTISM IS A SIGN OF DISCIPLESHIP!
Baptism is for believers only. Each believer is to be immersed in water as an act of obedience and humility. It symbolizes the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. It also is a sign of the new life each believer has discovered in Jesus. It is a requirement to be a member of our church. (Matthew 3:13-17; 28:18-20; Acts 8:36-38; Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12)
We believe the LORD’S SUPPER SYMBOLIZES THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS!
The elements of the Lord’s Supper represent the body and blood of Jesus. This ordinance is for believers only. It also is a celebration of the community we experience through the new covenant established by Jesus himself. (Luke 22:14-23; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
We believe EVANGELIZING LOST PEOPLE IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH FOLLOWER OF JESUS! Believers are to share the Gospel message with those who are lost. We begin in our own communities, however, Jesus commanded us to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth. We are to join our efforts with other believers to insure all nations hear the good news of Jesus. (Matthew 10:32; 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Romans 1:16-17; Colossians 1:6)
We believe EACH FOLLOWER OF JESUS IS ON A PATH OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION!
Believers are followers of The Jesus Way. This involves a life-long process of discovery. We are to be disciplined in learning spiritual truths and integrating them into our daily lives. This process leads to our transformation and offers us a life of spiritual productivity. (John 3: 3, 7; 14:6; Romans 8:28-30; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18; Colossians 3:1-10)
We believe STEWARDSHIP OF OUR EARTHLY GOODS IS A GOD-GIVEN RESPONSIBILITY!
God has blessed us with earthly resources. We are to honor Him in how we handle our money and our possessions. As obedient stewards, we are to invest our time, talents, and treasures regularly in the work of God’s Kingdom. (Psalm 24:1-2; Malachi 3:8-12; Matthew 6:1-4; Luke 16:13-21; 2 Corinthians 8:1-7)
We believe in the RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST!
In God’s perfect timing, at any moment, and in God’s perfect way, Jesus Christ will return to the earth as Lord. His return will be the fulfillment and final consummation of the purposes of the Kingdom of God. (Matthew 24:29-31; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11; Revelation 21:1-4; 22:1-16)
. . . Biblically-based. We have accepted the authority of the Bible and seek to live by its counsel. We believe God has revealed Himself in His Word.
. . . relational. Our people love each other! Relationships are a key component to the health of our church. We strongly believe in living in community with each other.
. . . inter-generational. Our church is filled with people of all ages. We love it! We worship together, study the Bible together, and engage in ministry together.
. . . gracious. Grace flows freely at our church. We have found a way to balance our theology of sin and our love for sinners. We know people are flawed – but we also know God’s grace is greater than our sin!
. . . diverse. People from all walks of life call our church “home.” It truly is a place where people from across the socio-economic, educational, life-situation, and ethnic and racial spectrum are welcomed and loved. Our diversity leads to some important conversations!
. . . healthy. We promote health at our church. We believe Jesus offers us a way of life! So – we enjoy living! Our church is a place to learn to live life to the fullest.
. . . missional. We care about our community and our world. If you hang out with us – watch out! – you will find yourself involved in ministries from West Bridgewater and beyond!
. . . not afraid to take risks. We believe God has called us to live – by faith! So, we are a church that launches out when we sense God leading us. New ministries in new areas by new means don’t scare us.
. . . active in ministry. There is an atmosphere of expectancy in our church. We expect our people to be engaged in meaningful ministries. Everybody is expected to use their gifts in ministry through our church to make a difference in our world.
. . . Glorifying GOD by Following The Jesus Way. We believe God has created us for His glory. Sin has caused us to fall short of His glory. But Jesus is the exact representation of God’s nature and the radiance of His glory. His way is the way to be rescued. His way is the way for God’s glory to be restored in us!