Following Jesus
We believe that Jesus calls people who have experienced the
joy of new birth to follow Him as disciples. By calling His
followers to take up the cross, Christ invites them to reject
the godless values of the world and offer themselves to God
in a life of service. The Holy Spirit, who lives in every Christian,
empowers believers to overcome the acts and attitudes of the
sinful nature. Filled with love and gratitude, disciples delight
to obey God.
United in a Distinct Community
Christians enjoy fellowship with God and other believers. At
baptism believers are joined to the local church, commit themselves
to build up the body of Christ and witness to the good news
of the Christian hope. In community members grow in maturity
as they demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit, use their spiritual
gifts and practice mutual accountability in the disciplines
of the Christian life. Christians confess sin, repent and experience
God's grace in the life of the Christian community.
Demonstrating True Faith
Jesus teaches that discipleship is the way of self-denial and
promises blessing for those who suffer for righteousness. Disciples
are to resist worldly values and systems, the sinful nature
and the devil. Disciples give generously and reject materialism
which makes a god out of wealth. Disciples treat others with
compassion and gentleness and reject violence as a response
to injustice. Disciples speak honestly to build others up and
reject dishonest, vulgar, and careless talk; they seek to avoid
lawsuits to resolve personal grievances, especially with other
believers. Disciples maintain sexual purity and marital faithfulness
and reject immoral premarital and extramarital relationships
and all homosexual practices. To be a disciple means to be true
to Jesus in everyday life.
Psalm 1; Psalm 119; Amos 5:24; Matthew 5-7; Matthew 18:15-20;
Mark 8:34-38; John 8:31-32; John 13:34-35; John 15:14-15; Acts
2:41-47; Romans 1:24-32; Romans 8:1-30; Romans 12; I Corinthians
6:9-11; I Corinthians 11:1; I Corinthians 12:1-13; II Corinthians
8-9; Galatians 2:20; Galatians 5:16-26; Galatians 6:1-2; Ephesians
4:11-12, 15-16; Ephesians 5:1, 18; Philippians 2:6-8; Colossians
3:1-17; I Thessalonians 4:3-8; I Thessalonians 5:17; I Timothy
1:9-11; I Timothy 2:1-8; I Timothy 4:6-8; II Timothy 3:14-17;
Hebrews 12:1-3; Hebrews 13:4-5; James 1:22-27; James 4:7; I Peter
2:20-25; I Peter 3:15; I Peter 5:8-9; I John 1:3; I John 6-9;
I John 2:15-17.
