Beliefs
Culture is a powerful tool for aligning people and ministries. It is shaped primarily by our values and our beliefs. For a church to affect the world it is necessary to create a culture that supports the movement. The values and Beliefs that will shape Summit Life Church are:
1. The Bible – The Bible will be handled in context and accordance with the text.
2. Order – The Spirit will have liberty to minister in an orderly manner.
3. Prayer – The church will be asked to pray as individuals and corporately.
4. Hope – There will be a belief that nothing is impossible with God.
5. Honor – It will honor and value people by recognizing the Spirit of God that resides within each person.
6. Love – Through an environment that loves people and relationships.
7. Transformations – Importance will be placed on people making progress – not being perfect.
8. Excellence – There will be a passion for excellence in all things.
9. Discipleship – There will be an intentional effort for training and equipping the church congregation for ministry.
10. Life Long Learners – The staff and congregation will be asked to continue their pursuit of God through goal setting and continued education.
11. Uniqueness – There will be a distinct “brand” and overall reputation of the church that values and loves people.
12. Integrity – There will be an intentional effort in communicating and demonstrating a message of biblical truth both within and outside of the church walls.
Statement of Faith
Article 1 – The Trinity:
It is the testimony of both the Old and New Testaments and of the Christian Church that God is both One and Triune. The biblical revelation testifies that there is only one god and that He is eternally existent in three persons—Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
- God the Father:
God the Father is the creator and sustainer of all things, and He created the universe in love. He created man in His own image for fellowship and called man back to Himself through Christ after the rebellion and fall of man
Genesis 1:1; Genesis 1:27; Genesis 3:7; John 3:16-17 - The Son:
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. He was together with the Father and the Holy Spirit from the beginning, and through Him all things were made. For the sake of redemption, He left heaven and became incarnate by the Holy Spirit through the Virgin Mary. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to heaven’s glory and will return again to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords; henceforth, He is forever one Christ with two natures—God and man—in one person.
Matthew 1:22, 23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14, 15; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4; Romans 1:3, 4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14, 15; Titus 2:13 - The Holy Spirit:
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation and empowers each person to exercise ministry and manifestation gifts according to the order and will of the Father. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance.
2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16, 17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:1
Article 2 – The Scripture
We affirm that the Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments, is God’s word to all men. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without any mixture of error. It alone is the only infallible, inspired Word of God, and that its authority is ultimate, final and eternal. It cannot be added to, subtracted from or superseded in any regard. The Bible is the source of all doctrine, instruction, correction and reproof. It contains all that is needed for guidance in godliness and practical Christian conduct
2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20, 21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5
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Article 3 – The Atonement
Christ’s death on the cross paid the penalty for the sins of the whole world, but its benefits are only applicable to those who, by faith, receive Jesus as personal Savior.
John 3:16; Romans 10:9; 1 John 2:2;
Article 4 – Salvation
Salvation is a gift from God to man based on the merits of the death of His Son Jesus, and is appropriated by faith. Salvation is affected by personal repentance, belief in the Lord Jesus (justification) and personal acceptance of Him into one’s life as Lord and Savior (regeneration). Salvation is an act of our personal will in response to God’s love. It is secure in the eternal and should produce an active lifestyle of loving obedience and service to Jesus Christ. Man can never make up for his sin by self-improvement or good works – only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can man be saved from sin’s penalty. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.
Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8, 9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1
Article 5 – Eternal Security
Because God gives man eternal life through Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in salvation for eternity. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. However, a person will demonstrate transformation and the life of Christ through their actions.
John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25; 10:10, 14; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Matthew 3:8; Luke 3:8
Article 6 – The Christian Life
We believe that the Scriptures portray the life of the saint in this world to be one of balance between what is imputed to us as Christians and what is imparted to us according to our faith and maturity. Hence, God’s provision for His children is total, and the promises are final and forever. The Christian life is filled with trials, tests and warfare against a spiritual enemy. For those abiding in Christ until their deaths or His return, the promises of eternal blessing in the presence of God are assured. To remain faithful through all circumstances of life requires dependence upon the Holy Spirit and a willingness to die to personal desires and passions.
Article 7 – The Church
The goal of the Church is to make disciples of all nations in Christ. The five-fold ministry of Ephesians 4 governs the Church, the offices of elder and deacon, as well as other offices mentioned in scripture. Church policy is a balance between congregation and eldership authority, emphasizing the final authority of the Church leadership. It is essential to the life of the Church that scriptural patterns of discipline are practiced and that oversight for Church discipline, individual and corporate, is exercised by the leadership of the Church.
Article 8 – Baptism & the Lord’s Supper
The Word of God provides the Church two ordinances of the Lord Jesus Christ. The first, baptism, is by immersion symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and is a public declaration that a person accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Baptism does not save you, but shows the world that a person has already been saved. While baptism is not required for salvation, it is a biblical command and demonstrates your love and obedience to Christ.
Colossians 2:12; Acts 2:41; Ephesians 2: 8-9; Matthew 28:19-20
Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, is an ordinance given to all believers by Jesus Christ in remembrance of Him until He comes again; and to symbolize the new covenant. The elements of bread and wine (juice) are symbols of Christ’s broken body and shed blood. Communion is not a means of salvation. Rather, it is a testament of a believer’s faith in the atoning work of the cross.
Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:19:20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29
Article 9 – Eschatology
We affirm the bodily, personal, second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the saints, the millennium and the final judgment. The final judgment will determine the eternal status of both the saints and the unbelievers, determined by their relationship to Jesus Christ. We affirm with the Bible the final state of the new heavens and the new earth.
Church Discipline
Summit Life Church believes a primary responsibility of each person is to be obedient to Christ. However, there are three areas in which the leadership of Summit Life Church will execute discipline according to the Word of God:
1. Open and blatant sin
2. Issues involving doctrinal error
3. Divisive and contentious behavior within the congregation
Every effort will be made to meet with the member who is involved with these issues. Our desire is to help our members grow to maturity through compassionate mentoring. The biblical model of confrontation and correction is not meant to punish but rather to protect the Body of Christ from the wages of unrepentant sin. Biblical authority is not a license to exert control; it is a responsibility to exert influence for God’s will to be accomplished. Summit Life Church will follow the biblical model of discipline found in Matthew 18:15–17
Our approach to confronting a member of the church involves the following steps:
1. Personal confrontation of parties directly involved in error.
2. (If necessary) Committee confrontation.
3. (If necessary) Group confrontation.
4. (If necessary) Removal
In confronting sin, we must remember that:
• The purpose is redemption and restoration.
• The attitude is humility.
• The effect is accountability.
Copyright 2010. Summit Life Church. All Rights Reserved.