WE ARE AN “OPEN BIBLE CHURCH”
Open Bible Churches are an association of churches and ministers with a mission to globally make disciples, develop leaders, and plant churches. Our premise is that we are more effective in fulfilling mission by collaborating together than by functioning as disconnected islands. We strive to maintain a healthy balance of mutual accountability without undue control. Our name reflects our foundation; we embrace the Bible as God’s Word and seek to build who we are, what we believe, and what we do on the Bible, which must be open in order to discover and apply its truth. Jesus commanded His followers to be the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13) so we desire to relationally authenticate what we believe. Our delight is to honor the Lord God, follow Jesus Christ, and allow the Holy Spirit to empower and guide us in our service.
We Value…
- We value relevant Bible teaching as the key to life and church change.
- We value each person’s unique God given giftedness which is to be used in unified team ministry and meaningful service.
- We value a growing and authentic intimacy with God and people.
- We value excellence as it honors God and inspires people.
- We value small group communities and loving relationships where life-change happens best.
- We value building relationships with our community and with people who are far from God.
- We value intentional acts of kindness which can change people and a community.
- We value the development of emerging leaders to help reach our community and world.
- We value unity among Christians.
- We value an ongoing and growing culture of thankfulness.
- We value a growing culture of generosity.
We Believe In…
ESSENTIAL BELIEFS: WE HAVE UNITY
“There is one Body and one Spirit…there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism and one God and Father of us all…”
Ephesians 4:4-6 (NIV)
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NON-ESSENTIAL BELIEFS: WE HAVE LIBERTY
“Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters… Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls… So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God…So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God.” Romans 14: 1,4,12,22 (NIV)
ALL OUR BELIEFS: WE SHOW LOVE
“…If I hold in my mind not only all human knowledge but also the very secrets of God, and if I have all the faith that can move mountains – but have no love, I amount to nothing at all”
1 Corinthians 13:2 (Ph)
Our Essentials…
About God
We believe that God is the loving Creator of all that exists, both seen and unseen. God is eternal and completely good, knowing all things, having all power and majesty. God exists as the Trinity, in three persons, yet one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God passionately desires relationship with us, and towards this end, continually invites us into a relationship of faith, friendship, learning, and service. Genesis 1:1, 26, 27 | John 14:6-9, 15-17 | John 16:7-1 | John 3:16-17 Matthew 28:19 | 2 Corinthians 13:14 | 1 John 4:9-10
About Jesus Christ
We believe that God expressed himself in human form through Jesus Christ, the Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, performed God ordained miracles and was crucified for the sins of us all. He was buried, rose from the dead, and ascended to heaven to the right hand of the Father and we await His personal return in power and glory. Colossians 1:13-23 | Colossians 2:8-14 | 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 | Matthew 22:36-40 | John 14:1-3 | Hebrews 1:1-3 | Acts 10:42-43 | Luke 23:44-24:53 | Philippians 2:5-11 | Romans 5:6-11
About the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. We believe that the Holy Spirit is sent from God to live inside all who believe in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit fosters unity, interdependence, productivity, Christ-like character, and love for all of God’s creation. The Holy Spirit provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Holy Spirit provides healing for our bodies, teaches, comforts, and empowers us and gives each of us Spiritual Gifts according to His Word and purpose. Romans 5:5 & Romans 8 | 1 Corinthians 12-14 | Galatians 5:16-25 | Ephesians 3:16; 4:3-4; 5:18 | Acts 1:4-8 | Romans 4:1-5 | John 14:26 & John 16:7-15
About the Bible
We believe that God speaks to us in the Bible, and that it is our privilege to seek to understand God’s message and apply it responsibly to our lives. The Bible is our standard in all we say and do. We believe the Bible to be the inspired and infallible authoritative Word of God. God’s unchangeable Biblical message ought to be presented in relevant and contemporary ways, free of religious jargon and understandable to the people of our community. Matthew 5:17-19 | Acts 17:11 | 2 Timothy 2:15 & 2 Timothy 3:14-17 | Hebrews 4:12 Joshua 1:7-8 | 2 Peter 1:16-21; 3:14-18 | Psalm 19:7-11 & Psalm 119
About Human Beings
People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin”. This attitude separates people from God and causes many problems in life. Genesis 1:27 | Psalm 8:3-6 | Isaiah 53:6a | Romans 3:23 | Isaiah 59:1-2
About Salvation
We believe that all people are created with dignity and value in the image of God, to live in a vital relationship with God. However, through our sin (failing to live by God’s moral standards), we break our intended relationship with God and we experience the destructive consequences of that broken relationship, spiritually and socially, in this life and beyond. However, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to rescue us from those consequences and to restore our broken relationships with God and others, through Christ’s death on the cross, a perfect act of redemption for each of us. Salvation comes to people on the basis of God’s grace through their faith in Jesus alone. They receive the free gift of forgiveness and are spiritually reborn through repenting of their sin and believing in Jesus Christ. Those who put their trust and hope in Christ and receive God’s free gift of grace shall have a place in eternity with Christ. Those who do not, shall have a place eternally separated from the Love of God. Good works and a holy life, although totally unable to save anyone, are the natural product of repentant, believing people. 1 Peter 2:24, 3:18 | John 3:16 and John 5:24 | Romans 3:9-28 Romans 6:23, & Romans 10:9-10 | Ephesians 2:1-10 | Titus 3:3-8 | James 2:14-26
About Eternity
People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God though forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally together with God is Heaven. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence. John 3:16; 14:17 | Romans 6:23; 8:17-18 | Revelation 20:15 | 1 Corinthians 2:7-9
Together we…
GATHER
But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto myself.” – John 12:32 We believe that gathering together and celebrating the goodness of God is an extremely important part of our walk with Him. As we gather we get to build each other up, share each others burdens, share in each others joys, and grow in our understanding of God’s Word and how it applies to our lives. We want to be world changers by creating disciples of Jesus, and then teaching others to live as He did. Gathering builds unity and momentum, from there we can reach people in our world with the hands, feet, and heart of Jesus.
GROW
It’s so important for each person of faith to constantly and consistently be nurturing; sinking our roots deeper to grow in our faith. The sign of a healthy relationship and walk with Jesus is personal, and spiritual growth. We believe that as we grow in our walk with Jesus, the fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5) will be evident both inwardly and outwardly. Through our growth we serve, raise leaders, and become an impact in the world around us. Through our service in schools, local charities, other churches, and global missions, we are
all invited to grow in service to Jesus and one another.
GO
Whether its our Mexico Missions team, resources to missionaries around the world, serving in our local schools, benevolence to people in need here and abroad, we believe that giving and going are natural reactions to the generosity of Jesus. These are a few of the ways we can actively engage in the biblical call to give of ourselves and resources. Jesus commanded us to GO (Matt 28:19), and we can’t expect people to come to us. Jesus went out to people, he met people where they were and we are called to GO out to our community and spread the joy, love, kindness, grace, and hope of Him to the world.