 |
Click on any button above to learn more about us or just scroll through the page
|
|
||
|
|
 |
|
|
We seek to make known God's forgiveness, love and new life found only in and through the son of God, Jesus Christ, by leading people from all backgrounds and cultures to him. We seek to help people, who make this step of faith and repentance, to value the fellowship of God's people. In our fellowship they're nurtured to spiritually grow in Christ-like maturity where they're equipped and encouraged to lovingly serve in the family of God and bear witness to Christ in the world. There are three steps in fulfilling our purpose;
|
||
|
To grow in Christ likeness individually and as
a fellowship. To make known God’s love and forgiveness in Christ individually
and through the various ministries of our church.
|
||
|
|
||
|
ABOUT GOD God is the loving Creator of the universe. He
has made all humans in His image. He has always existed in three persons:
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and
are one God.
ABOUT JESUS CHRIST Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is the second
person of the Trinity. He is coequal with God the Father. He is eternal
God. At the appointed time He took upon Himself human nature with all
its essential characteristics yet without sin. He lived a sinless human
life and died a sacrificial death on the cross as our representative
substitute. His atoning death on our behalf for our sins has been accepted
by God. This acceptance is proven by His resurrection from the dead.
Jesus return from Heaven is imminent. His return will consummate His
kingdom and affirm his present reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT The Holy Spirit is coequal with the Father and
the Son of God. He is at work in the world convicting people of their
sin and that through Jesus Christ and only Him can a person be forgiven
and saved. The Holy Spirit lives in every Christian from the moment
they repent and trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. He
empowers Christians to live the Christian life. He enables Christians
to understand the Scriptures and so leads them in accordance with the
Word to do what is right. He endows every believer with gifts for building
up of the church. Christians are commanded to live Spirit filled lives.
ABOUT THE BIBLE The Bible is God’s Word to us. He is its author
and thus it is to be understood as the Word of God. Human writers under
the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit wrote down God’s Words.
It is the supreme source of authority for Christian belief and living.
Because it is inspired by God, it is truth in all that it affirms and
contains all that is necessary for salvation.
ABOUT CREATION AND HUMANITY The earth and universe around us, both its natural,
physical and invisible qualities, were created, and are upheld and sustained
by God. His creation, separate from Him, reflects His glory. Humans
created in His image are meant to be in relationship with Him and be
like Him in character. People are God’s greatest creation-His crowning
work-the climax of His creation. Human nature though capable of good
is in essence corrupt. People do not seek God through their own volition
but rather rebel against His rule. This is called sin. Sin separates
people from God, distorts relationships with other people and the rest
of creation.
ABOUT SALVATION Salvation-a relationship with God is a free gift
. This relationship must be accepted by faith. Sin that separates us
from God can never be worked off by self-improvement or good works.
God’s way of forgiveness and relationship with Him is only through trusting
in Jesus Christ as one’s Lord and Saviour. To ignore God’s way of forgiveness
is to face sin’s penalty-hell-separation from God for eternity. When
we turn from our sin-our self ruled life and ask God for forgiveness
, trusting our lives to Jesus in faith, we are saved. Justification
is by faith in Christ alone. Eternal life with God begins when we receive
Christ in our life by faith and submit to his Lordship.
ABOUT ASSURANCE OF SALVATION Salvation- a right relationship with God, is
secure and maintained by the grace and power of God not the self effort
of the Christian. The Word of God, the Work of Christ and the witness
of the Holy Spirit assure us of our salvation and free us from living
in fear of condemnation and judgement. Out of love and thankfulness
for what God has done for us through His Son we seek to nurture faith,
obedience and holiness of life. Again our relationship with God through
Christ is maintained by the grace and faithfulness of God.
ABOUT THE FUTURE Jesus Christ’s resurrection guarantees the Christian’s resurrection after death. The believer’s resurrection involves entering into the presence of God and being with Him physically forever. At Christ’s return all believers will be given a new and glorified body. Those who have rejected Christ will face judgement for their sins and will be separated from God for all eternity. Revelation 20&21; 1 Corinthians15; John 5:1-29; Matthew 25:31-46; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:3-10; John 3:16; 1 John 2:25, 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15; Matthew 8:5-13, 25:41,46
ABOUT BAPTISM Ordained by Jesus Christ baptism is a sign of
a person’s public repentance and declaration of their faith in Jesus
Christ as their Lord and Saviour. It is also an outward sign and seal
of the inner reality of a person’s union with Christ, of regeneration,
of forgiveness of sins, and of giving up one’s life to God through Jesus
Christ, to walk in newness of life. Infants of one or both believing
parents may also be baptised. Christian parents look forward to the
day when their children will profess with their own lips that Christ
is their Lord and Saviour.
ABOUT THE LORD’S SUPPER On the night he was betrayed , the Lord Jesus instituted the sacrament of His body and blood called the Lord’s Supper to be observed in His Church. The Lord’s Supper provides those who profess Christ as their Lord and Saviour the opportunity to remember He died on the cross in their place for their sins. Because Christ is risen from the dead the Lord’s Supper allows Christians to express their fellowship with each other and with Christ as members of the Body of which He is the Head. Matthew 26:17-30; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:7-22; 1 Corinthians 11:1
|
||
|
BIBLE BASED TEACHING “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful
for teaching rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so
that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work”
We seek to grow together as a Christian community finding nourishment and reason for existence around the teaching, application and authority of God’s Word. We are committed to systematic Bible teaching expressed in a way that is relevant and meaningful. We encourage daily Bible reading and the study of God’s Word in home groups. We seek to remind parents of their responsibility to actively teach and model God’s truth to their children.
THE LOCAL CHURCH “Christ is the head of his body, the church.
He is the source of the Body’s life…..” Christ is the recognised head of our church, not any person, group or religious organisation. Our local church is responsible for selecting leaders and is therefore for the most part self- governing. The Presbyterian denomination, of which we are a part, exists to assist local congregations to fulfill their purpose in service both locally and more widely in the world.
COMMUNITY LIFE “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you
must love one another” Relationships, not programs, are a fundamental feature of our life together. Within the context of relationships we’re committed to growing a Christian community that is honest, vulnerable, prayerful, caring and compassionate. Our church community seeks to provide an environment that encourages people to discover the inherent dignity they have before God and the love He has for them in Christ. This love and acceptance is experienced through relationships with other members of our community.
HOME GROUP MINISTRY All the believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his possessions were his own, but they shared
everything they had. One of the key components of our community life is the development of strong vibrant Home Groups. Home Groups are multifunctional in their role. They facilitate a sense of community in the church by providing the opportunity for people to build meaningful and supportive relationships. They also promote pastoral care, the study of the Bible, prayer and evangelism.
EVERY-MEMBER MINISTRY “Christ loves us, and by His death He has freed
us from our sins and made us a kingdom of priests to serve God” God has given His people gifts to use to build up the body of Christ. For this reason all of God’s people are called to ‘full time’ Christian service, regardless of his or her vocation. We seek to encourage all people in our fellowship to find a place of service and ministry using their God given gifts.
SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in
each church… God sets apart leaders to care for His people. There are leaders involved in many ministries of our church. These leaders all exercise spiritual oversight and take responsibility for those ministries they’re exercising. The overall spiritual responsibility of the church rests in the hands of the elders referred to as the Session.
PRAYER ……”You do not have, because you do not ask God.
When you ask you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you
get on your pleasures” We desire to be a Christian community that acknowledges its dependence on God. For this reason we seek to encourage prayer in the lives of all who attend our church. In prayer we express our dependence and love toward God, we give Him thanks; we confess our sins and make requests of Him.
SHARING CHRIST WITH OTHERS “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone
who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” All Christians are to take responsibility for building meaningful relationships with unbelievers that allow them in God’s time to share the Good News. We encourage believers to invite friends to church and seek from time to time to design meetings and events attractive to the unchurched.
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY “You are not your own, you were bought at a
price” God claims ownership of all that we are and all that we have. To maintain and grow a local church ministry requires the financial support of its member. In our church we encourage every one to give as God challenges and enables.
MISSION (And Jesus said) “Go into all the world and preach
the Good News to all creation” We encourage the work of spreading the Good News in places beyond our immediate area. Such places may be in other suburbs or locations around the world. We encourage people to consider training so they may be sent out to minister in all parts of the world. We support the work of a number of link missionaries through prayer, and giving of money.
OUR ROLE IN SOCIETY “….. let your light shine before men, that they
may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” Our fellowship seeks to be sensitive and responsive to local as well as international needs. Where appropriate and when resources are available we endeavor to support the efforts of those that are working for justice as well as preaching the Gospel. We greatly value the work of those in our fellowship that are involved in a variety of ways either through their employment or use of other talents in the wider community.
|
||
