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Beliefs

 

One Mission

The mission of Temple Baptist Church is

To Know, Love and Serve God while helping others to do the same.

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Four Core Values

Relevant:  The Good News of Jesus Christ applies to every area of life.  We seek to connect with people in meaningful ways so they can become mature followers of Jesus. (Mt. 28:19-20)

Relational – Because of God's love, my response will be focused on my commitment to God (eternal), my walk with God (internal), and my relationship with others (external).  (John 3:16-17, Ephesians 2:4)

Responsive- We respond to God by putting His Word into action. (James 1:22-25)

Reproductive- We will make reproducing followers of Jesus in the Rockford area and around the world. (Mt. 28:18-20, Acts 2:41)

 

 Eight Core Competencies

 Empowering Leadership:  Leaders seek to equip, support, motivate and mentor individuals to become all that God wants them to be.

Gift Oriented Ministry:  To help members/attendees identify their spiritual gifts and integrate them into ministries that match their gifts.

Passionate Spirituality: To live out our faith with commitment, fire and enthusiasm.

Functional Structures:  Our forms and structures must fulfill their purpose. Church structures are never an end in themselves.

Inspiring Worship Service:  Is the worship experience an inspiring experience for those that attend?

Holistic Small Groups: Creating environments where individual Christians can find intimate community, practical help and intensive spiritual interaction.

Need Oriented Evangelism:  Share the gospel in a way that meets the questions and needs of non-Christians.

Loving Relationships:  To practice unfeigned, practical love toward each other and our community.

 

 

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH for Temple Baptist Church

  1. THE  WORD  OF  GOD.  We believe the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.  Mark 12:36; John 10:35; Acts 3:18; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 13; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17; Hebrews 1:1; 2 Peter 1:21.

  2. THE  TRINITY.  We believe there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons, God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit; that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct, but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence, and redemption.  Matthew 3:16, 17; John 14:16, 17; John 15:26; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; Ephesians 2:13, 18; Hebrews 9:14; Jude 20, 21.

  3. GOD, THE FATHER.  We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love.  We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.  Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 12:29; John 1:1-4; Acts 5:30, 31; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 1:17-20; Hebrews 1:3; Revelation 1:4-6.

  4. JESUS CHRIST.  We believe in Jesus Christ, God incarnate, conceived by the Holy Spirit.  We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings.  We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth.  Isaiah 7:14; John 1:1, 14; John 14:1-36; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 7:25-27; Revelation 20:4-6.

  5. HOLY SPIRIT.  We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ.  We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide.  We believe that every believer is baptized by the Holy Spirit into the one Body (Church) at the moment of salvation. Matthew 28:19; John 1:33; John 14:16, 17; John 16:7-14; Romans 8:9, 14, 16, 27;  1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13, 14; Hebrews 9:14.

  6. REGENERATION. We believe that all men are sinners by nature and by choice and are, therefore, under condemnation.  We believe that those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated, indwelt, sealed, and eternally secured by the Holy Spirit.  Luke 13:1-5; John 1:12, 13; John 3:18, 36; John 10:27-29; Romans 3:9-20, 23; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:38-39; Romans 10:8-13; Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 2:4-6; Titus 3:5, 6; Hebrews 12:15; 1 Peter 1:23, 25.

  7. THE  ORDINANCES.  We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has given two ordinances for His believers to observe, following regeneration by the Holy Spirit: baptism, and communion.  We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the triune God.  We believe that communion was instituted by Christ for the commemoration of His death.  We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew 26:26-29; Matthew 28:19, 20; Luke 22:15-20; John 3:23; John 4:1, 2; Acts 8:36-39; 1 Corinthians 11:23-33.

  8. THE  CHURCH.  We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the Head and all regenerated persons are members.  We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, that are baptized on a credible profession of faith and united for worship, work, and fellowship.  We believe that God has commissioned the members of each local church with the primary task of presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world.  Matthew 16:16-18; Luke 24:46-49; John 3:5; Acts 1:7, 8; Acts 2:37-47; Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 11:21; 1 Corinthians 12:12, 20; Ephesians 1:23; Ephesians 4:3-10, 12; Colossians 1:18; Colossians 3:14, 15; 1 Timothy 3:1-15; Titus 1:5-9.

  9. CHRISTIAN  LIFESTYLE. We believe a Christian’s life should be characterized by a passion to live out the teachings of God’s Word, demonstrating a heart of purity and repentance, love for others, forgiveness, joy, and confidence in Christ.  A Christian should be eager to make his own time and resources available in accordance with the Lord’s plan for his life. Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 1:8; 1 Corinthians 6:12, 19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:31-33; 2 Corinthians 1:1-7; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8; Ephesians 4:13-15; Philippians 2:15; 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:14, 18.

  10. RELIGIOUS  LIBERTY.  We believe that every human being has direct relations with God and is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith; that each church is independent and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority; that Church and State must be kept separate, having different functions and each fulfilling its duties free from dictation or patronage of the other. Matthew 11:28-30; Matthew 22:20, 21; John 14:6; Acts 4:19, 20; Romans 13:1-7; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 Peter 2:13-17.

  11. CHURCH  COOPERATION.  We believe that local churches can best promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with one another in denominational organization.  Such an organization, whether a regional or district conference, exists and functions by the will of the churches.  Cooperation in a conference is voluntary and may be terminated at any time.  Churches may likewise cooperate with inter-denominational fellowships and evangelical parachurch organizations on a voluntary basis.  Acts 15:13-18; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians 8:1-9, 18-24.

  12. THE LAST THINGS.  We believe in the imminent, personal, and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom.  We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal life of worship and service to Jesus Christ for the believer, and the endless suffering of the unbeliever.  Isaiah 13:9-11; Daniel 12:1-3; Malachi 4:1-3; Matthew 24:15-28; Luke 12:35-40; Luke 17:26-30; John 14:1-4; Acts 15:14-17; 1 Corinthians 15:35-38; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18;  2 Thessalonians 2:1, 2; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; Jude 14, 15;  Revelation 1:4-7.