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At Household of Faith, we hold tight to the Bible
as God's holy and complete word. We love expository preaching
- that is, taking a book from the Bible and studying it, week after
week, verse after verse, until we've carefully examined and
scrutinized it in it's entirety. Having a grasp of the whole
book is incredible - we are able to humbly learn wonderful things
from God's incredible gift to us: His Word.
In light of this, we also embrace what we call The
Essential Reforms - core beliefs that define not only who we are as
members of Household of Faith, but give foundation and direction to
our studies both in our "church time" and in our homes as we devote
ourselves to the Scriptures with our families (Acts 2:42).
You can learn more about our core beliefs by
following any of the links below or read our
Statement of Faith.
We are Reformed
in doctrine...
"Reformed in Doctrine" basically means that we rejoice in the
sovereign grace of God in our salvation. However, in doing so, we do
not deny human responsibility before God. In this as in many other
areas of doctrine, there is "a ditch on both sides of the road."...read
more
Exemplary in
Leadership...
Though exemplary leaders have not achieved sinless
perfection, they are to be clear examples of what God intends others
to become in Christ. All church leaders, whether they be Elders or
Deacons, must be far enough along in the process of personal
sanctification that the congregation can safely give heed to their
Bible teaching and follow their example in all areas of life...read
more
Responsible in
our liberty...
This means that we rejoice in the liberty God has
given us under the Lordship of Christ. We have real liberty to live
as we believe is most pleasing to Him. "For you were called to
freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity
for the flesh, but through love serve one another" (Gal. 5:13). Our
liberty is not freedom to serve ourselves only, but to pursue our
highest joy in God by loving one another. We have no liberty to do
what the Bible defines as sin...read
more
Charismatic in
ministry...
This means we believe that the supernatural power and
gifts of the Holy Spirit continue to operate in and through Christ’s
church today. We are not "cessationists" like some who believe that
the gifts "ceased" to operate after the first century.
"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. ...But to
each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common
good. … the word of wisdom … the word of knowledge … faith …gifts of
healing … effecting of miracles, … prophecy, …distinguishing of
spirits, …tongues, … interpretation of tongues. But one and the same
Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually
just as He wills. ...For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one
body, … and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. … (1 Cor.
12:4-13 & 31)....read
more
We worship in
spirit and truth...
What does it mean to "worship the father in spirit and
truth?" This is one of the clearest and most important statements
concerning worship found anywhere in the Bible. Our Lord Jesus spoke
these words, not to some doctor of theology, but to a common woman
encountered at Jacob’s Well in Samaria. It is a statement He
intended to be understood by all who would be the kind of
worshippers that the Father is seeking. And yet, there has been more
controversy and confusion about this passage than any other on the
subject of worship. How should we understand Christ’s words? What
did He mean?...read
more
Evangelical in
mission...
This means that fulfilling the Great Commission,
Christ’s command to take the Gospel to all those who have yet to
hear it, takes priority in all of the life-style decisions of every
Christian, not just for those few who serve God in some vocational
ministry. This Great Commission, given by Christ just prior to
ascending into heaven, is found in Matt. 28:18-21:
"And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on
earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have
commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the
age." ...read
more
Devoted to ministry hospitality...
Biblical hospitality is an expression of worship
toward God as we honor and serve those He has created in His own
image. In hospitality our devotion to God is expressed by sharing
our time and possessions with others. Far more than mere social
recreation, biblical hospitality is central to all that it means to
be members of Christ’s Body in a local church, and ambassadors for
Christ in a lost and dying world. As hosts we renounce our fear and
greed in order to lay down our lives in love for our guests.
This is the love that Christ commands. "A new commandment I give to
you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also
are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are
my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34-35)....read
more
Complementarian in Gender Roles
We believe that even though men and women are
equal before God in value and purpose, they are designed by God
to be different from one another in nature and in roles so as to
complement one another in every area of life.
God has ordained that men fill the headship roles in
marriage and the eldership roles in the local church.
Respectful of the Jurisdiction of God's
Kingdom
We recognize four distinct jurisdictions within
the Kingdom of God: the
individual, the family-household, the local church and the
state, each with its own distinct privileges and obligations
which support one another in God’s kingdom purposes.
Household-like in Structure
We organize the structure, culture and activities
of our local church along the natural lines of a loving,
well-ordered, age-integrated family-household.
This allows the ministry of the church to be a lifestyle
of love instead of an institutional program.
Faithful in Finances
ØWe
give priority to those church expenses that
have the clearest biblical mandates (3 Ms) –
to meet the needs of our Ministers, our Members and our
Missions, and we avoid any financial obligations that cannot
be met by the normal giving of our membership.
Full Accord in Community
When the elders of our church identify a ministry
opportunity that they believe merits the full participation of
all our members, we endeavor, as one body, to respond
enthusiastically to their leadership as one person.
Plurality of Co-Equal Elders
ØChrist
alone is the Chief Shepherd of each
local church and elders, as His
under-shepherds, are always plural in number and co-equal in
authority, though differing in influence and responsibility
according to the measure of grace given to each.
Reproductive in Growth
ØWe
endeavor to grow into a regional cluster of
congregations in order to maintain the
quality of our body life and to create new contexts in which
new leaders may emerge.
With this goal in view, we assume that we will all be
involved in the planting of a new church at least once in
our lives.
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