Full Statement of Faith, Core Values & Theological Distinctives

We Believe

THE SCRIPTURES

We believe Scripture, or the Bible, is the Word of God written to man. The Bible consists of the 66 books from Genesis to Revelation. God inspired human authors who, using their own unique gifts, passions, and communication style, wrote His Word (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20–21). The Scriptures are inerrant in everything they address, including matters of faith, science, and history (Proverbs 30:5). The Scriptures are infallible and achieve the ends for which God intended them (Isaiah 55:11). The Scriptures are clear, “making wise the simple” (Psalm 19:7). The Scriptures are sufficient for faith and practice, and “are useful for teaching, correcting, rebuking, and training in righteousness, that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:17).

GOD

We believe God is the eternal, uncreated Creator and Sustainer of all things (Genesis 1:1; Colossians 1:16–17). He is the First and the Last, and beside him there is no god (Isaiah 44:6). This one God exists in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:2; Deuteronomy 6:4–5; Matthew 3:16–17) and each member of the Trinity is fully God. God is holy (Isaiah 6:3), unchanging (Malachi 3:6), omniscient (Isaiah 46:10), omnipresent (Psalm 139:7–8), omnipotent (Job 42:2; Luke 1:37), just (Deuteronomy 32:4), gracious (Exodus 33:19), and loving (1 John 4:8).

A. GOD THE FATHER

We believe God the Father is the infinite personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He infallibly ordains all that comes to pass, that He concerns himself mercifully with the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all that come to him through faith in Jesus Christ (Matthew 23:9; Luke 10:21–22; John 3:16; John 6:27; Romans 1:7; 1 Timothy 1:1–2; 1 Timothy 2:5–6; 1 Peter 1:3; Revelation 1:6).

B. GOD THE SON

We believe Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, that He came in the flesh and was born of a virgin, and lived a sinless, miraculous life (John 8:46, 18:38b, 19:4, 21:25). He was in very nature God, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant (Philippians 2:4–5). He taught that He alone was the means by which man would be reconciled to God. He believed and proved that He was equal to God, eliciting the anger of His enemies according to the predestined purpose of God (John 5:18, 10:30–33, 14:6; Acts 4:28). He was tempted in every way, just as we are, and yet never sinned (Hebrews 4:15). According to the Father’s perfect plan laid out in eternity past, He gave himself up freely as a ransom for our sins (Mark 10:45; John 10:18; Acts 4:28; Ephesians 1:3–6; Philemon 2:6–11; Revelation 13:8). He was crucified by sinful men (Acts 2:36), and rose from the dead three days later (1 Corinthians 15:4). Today, He sits at the right hand of the Father until His second coming, when He will return as King of Kings to judge the living and the dead (Acts 1:9–11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 2 Thessalonians 1:9–10; Revelation 1:7; 19).

C. GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe the Holy Spirit is fully God (Genesis 1:2; Acts 5:3–5). He is given as our Helper (John 14:26) and is the Deposit who guarantees the inheritance of every believer (Ephesians 1:13–14). He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:7–11). He is the leading agent in the planting and building up of the church, since His job is to testify of Jesus and to the truthfulness of the gospel (Acts 1:8, John 15:26). The Holy Spirit gives gifts to each believer for the edification of the church and the proclamation of the gospel (1 Corinthians 12:7, 14:22). While every believer is told to earnestly desire spiritual gifts, the Holy Spirit alone decides which spiritual gifts each believer receives (1 Corinthians 12:4–7, 11).

MAN

We believe God created man on the 6th day in His own image and likeness (Genesis 1:26–27). He created man morally perfect with a free will to choose good or evil (Ecclesiastes 7:29; Genesis 2:16–17). Our first parents, Adam and Eve, were able to choose to obey God and live under blessing or to disobey God and die under a curse. They chose to disobey God, and they died spiritually. Every part of man was affected by this original sin. All the areas of man’s self – his will, desires, mind, body, and conscience – were affected by the Fall (Jeremiah 17:9). God cursed man with immediate spiritual death (separation from God) and eventual physical death (Genesis 3:19). Because of their choice, their posterity is given a sinful nature at conception and is held equally responsible for Adam and Eve’s disobedience (Psalm 51:5). Every person also chooses of His own free will to disobey God as revealed in Scripture (Galatians 3:10; James 2:10); therefore, every person is a sinner by nature and by choice (Psalm 14:1–3). As a result, every person is an enemy of God (Job 15:14; 25:4), under His righteous wrath, and without excuse (Romans 1:18–32). Man is dead in trespasses and sins, and apart from the grace of God cannot and will not seek after God (Jeremiah 13:23; John 6:44; Romans 3:10–18, 8:5–8; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 2:1–3; Colossians 2:13).

THE GOSPEL

We believe that because every person has sinned against God by refusing to honor him as God and obey His Law, God is under no obligation to save anyone from His wrath. In fact, all men deserve eternal punishment (Romans 1:16–32). The gospel is the good news that God has chosen to save some undeserving sinners from His righteous wrath for His own glory (Ephesians 2:5–7; Titus 3:4–7). He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to do what man could not do and would not do, viz. live a sinless life and submit perfectly to God. Jesus gave himself up in our place and on our behalf (Romans 3:25; 1 John 2:2). He then rose from the dead on the third day, victorious over sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:3–4, 17).

SALVATION

We believe salvation involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to all who receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, who by His death and resurrection obtained eternal redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense salvation includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification (John 3:16, 6:44; Acts 2:37–38, 4:12, 11:18, 17:30; Romans 4:1–5; 2 Corinthians 7:10–11; 2 Timothy 2:25).

A. REGENERATION

We believe regeneration is a change of heart given by the Holy Spirit who gives life to those dead in trespasses and sins. In regeneration, the Holy Spirit grants the ability to understand the Word of God, to exercise saving faith in Jesus Christ, and to love and practice holiness (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:1–6; Titus 3:5; 1 John 5:1).

B. REPENTANCE AND FAITH

We believe repentance and faith are required by God for salvation. While two distinct principles, they are not two separate acts. A regenerate person turns from sin (repentance) and turns to Christ (faith) as a result of His new nature given at regeneration (John 6:44; Acts 2:37–38, 11:18, 17:30; Romans 4:1–5; 2 Corinthians 7:10–11; 2 Timothy 2:25). God has promised to save any who repent of their sins and trust in the finished work of Christ alone for forgiveness and reconciliation with God (John 3:16, 6:37; Acts 4:12).

C. JUSTIFICATION

We believe God chooses to justify, or declare both not guilty and righteous, every person who repents of sin and believes the gospel. Though no person is righteous, God counts a believer’s faith in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection as righteousness (Romans 4:1–5). Through faith, the righteousness of Christ is credited to the believer, and the believer’s guilt through sin is credited to Christ. No believer is justified by works of the Law, but each believer displays evidence of justification by doing good works (Galatians 2:15–16; James 2:20–24). Salvation is the work of God from start to finish, not a work of man, so that no man may boast (Romans 9:11; Ephesians 2:8–9) or despair (John 10:28–30). Those God has predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified He also glorified (Romans 8:30).

D. SANCTIFICATION

We believe sanctification is the lifelong process of becoming like Christ. Those who have been justified are also sanctified by God’s Word and Spirit dwelling in them. God chose us to obey him and be holy (Titus 2:11–14; 1 Peter 1:2). In becoming like him, we know him more intimately and display His glory. The process of sanctification will culminate in the resurrection of our physical bodies when we will be without sin (John 17:19; Romans 8:29–30; 1 Peter 1:23; Revelation 21:1–8, 22–27).

E. GLORIFICATION

We believe glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and abiding state of the believer (Romans 8:29–39, Revelation 21:1–22:5).

THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH

We believe every person who repents of sin and believes the gospel is a member of the universal Church, which consists of all believers who have lived, are living, and will ever live (Colossians 1:24). The universal Church is the only institution that will not and cannot be defeated (Matthew 16:18). Christ died for His bride, the Church, and will sanctify the Church to present her to himself without spot or blemish (Ephesians 5:25–27).

THE LOCAL CHURCH

A. THE CONSTITUTION OF THE LOCAL CHURCH

We believe the local church is a visible expression of the universal Church, and we believe God has called every believer to join a local church. A local church is made up of a group of living believers who have covenanted together to preach the gospel, to care for one another and others, and to live distinct lives under the authority of God’s Word (Acts 2:42–47, 11:26, 12:5, 14:23). God has graciously given each believer spiritual gifts, which include but are not limited to those listed in Romans 12:4–8, 1 Corinthians 12:4–11 and 27–28, Ephesians 4:11–12, and 1 Peter 4:9–11. These gifts are to be used to honor God, to build up the church, and to evangelize the lost; they should never be used to draw attention to oneself (1 Corinthians 13:1–3, 14:12). As Christ’s ambassadors, believers have the joy and privilege of caring for the poor, the widow, the orphan, and the oppressed.

B. LEADERSHIP

We believe God has graciously given elders and deacons/deaconesses to serve the church. We believe the spiritual qualifications for these roles are outlined in God’s Word (1 Timothy 3:1–13). The elders are set aside by God to lead the church, to equip the saints, to preach the Word, and to pray (Ephesians 4:11–12; 1 Timothy 3:1–7, 5:17–18). Their leading, equipping, preaching, and praying are to be done humbly in service to God and to His church. Leaders are to shepherd the flock willingly, not under compulsion or for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in their charge, but serving as examples to the flock (1 Peter 5:2–3). In response, believers are exhorted to submit and to obey their leadership (Hebrews 13:17). Deacons/deaconesses are set aside by God to serve the church and to free the elders to devote themselves to prayer and ministry of the Word. (Acts 6:1–7).

EVANGELISM AND DISCIPLESHIP

We believe that the church and individual believers are God’s means for proclaiming the gospel by which He draws people to Himself, regenerates souls, and grants repentance and faith unto sanctifying perseverance. The proclamation of the biblical gospel to all peoples is the joyful duty of every Christian in obedience to the commission of Jesus to make disciples, to baptize, and to teach them to obey His commands (Romans 10:14–15; Matthew 28:18–20). The local church and every individual believer have the joy and responsibility to obey and to teach the commands of Christ to those under their care.

THE ORDINANCES

We believe God has given two ordinances to His church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

A. BAPTISM

B. THE LORD’S SUPPER

We believe the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ on the night He was betrayed (1 Corinthians 11:23). The Lord’s Supper consists of bread and grape juice or wine, which represent His body that was broken for believers and His blood that was shed for believers (1 Corinthians 11:24–25). The Lord’s Supper serves as a reminder to both believers and non-believers that Jesus has died, is risen, and is coming again (1 Corinthians 11:26). We will share communion with any believer of like faith and practice, but we will not allow unbelievers or those living in unrepentant sin or those under church discipline to participate, since these people would be eating and drinking judgment upon themselves (1 Corinthians 11:27–30).

ETERNITY

We believe the full consummation of the Kingdom of God awaits the return of Jesus Christ and the end of this age. We believe that every person will spend eternity in a literal place of blessing called Heaven or a literal place of cursing called Hell (Matthew 25:31–33). Every person who has repented of sin and has believed the gospel will spend eternity in Heaven worshiping God and enjoying His blessings (Matthew 25:34–40; Philemon 3:20; 1 Peter 1:3–5). Every person who has not repented of sin and believed the gospel will spend eternity in Hell enduring God’s righteous wrath (Matthew 25:41–46, Ephesians 5:6, Revelation 21:8). As such, we desire that every person examine themselves and test themselves to see whether they are in the faith revealed in the Scriptures, and we encourage every person to repent of sin and to believe the gospel (Acts 2:38; 2 Corinthians 13:5).

Core Values

God’s Glory not Ours:

Jesus is our Savior, Master, and lead Shepherd. It is for His Glory that we exist and it is for His glory that the Church Exists. We desire to make HIS name famous and to proclaim the glorious gospel that reveals HIS truth

Word driven not Fad Chasing:

Because God’s Word is the ultimate authority and completely sufficient for all matters of faith and practice, Scripture (and Scripture alone) is to dictate how we live our lives and guide our ministry (2 Pet. 1:3; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). In our current post modern culture that exists without absolutes, the church, and its leaders, must have the bedrock of Scripture as their one and only measuring device for all things. That is why we are committed to expository preaching and the proclamation of the full counsel of God’s Word to mankind.

Family not Consumers:

The church is not a location you go to, it is a family that you belong to if God is your heavenly Father. Eph. 2:19 says, So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. 20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. (NLT) For us to be the church that God truly desired for us to be we must realize we are covenant family committed to each other through good and bad and not consumers looking for a “spiritual product.” As a family we serve one another as Christ has served us.

Body Not Professionals:

The church is not a just a building, it is a body of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. 12:27 says, “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” As the Body of Christ we are all of equal value and importance and are interconnected through the work of Jesus Christ. We live in community as the Body and when one member suffers, we all suffer. And when one member is honored, we all are honored (1 Cor. 12:12-26). As a Body we use the gifts that God has given us to benefit the whole body, serving one another.

Gospel centered not Fear centered:

The gospel is the glorious story of God redeeming mankind through the sacrifice of his beloved Son, Jesus Christ. The gospel is the focus of all of Scripture and must be the center of all teaching of Scripture. The wondrous balance of grace and truth demonstrated by Jesus Christ and found in the gospel must be the goal of a church desiring to stay gospel centered. The gospel is best demonstrated to the world around us as we love and serve people through the Spirit of God.

Never too big to not be small:

It seems like the trend these days is to be a “Mega Church.” Somehow churches have adopted the idea that “bigger is better.” Our desire is that no matter how “big” we get, people would not get lost in the crowd, and that we would always feel small because people would be living in community where they would be known, cared for, and encouraged in their faith.

Warfare not theater:

Church today sometimes feels more like a theatrical production then the family of God gathered to encourage each other to “Fight the good Fight” We understand that the Christian life is a battle where we fight against an enemy that hates to lose. We gather together as the Body of Christ to encourage each other in the battle, to pray for each other in the battle, and to help rescue people from the enemies of sin, Satan, and death. We gather to celebrate the ultimate victor in the Battle: our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Maturity not Size:

The focus of the church is “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ,” (Col. 1:28). Maturity comes through repentance and discipleship, and is never easy.

Service not Consumption:

Many people are looking for a church that will be able to meet their needs. We desire to be a church that helps people ask, “How can I serve the body of Christ with the gifts I have been given?” We believe each person has been given special gifts and that those gifts are intended for the building up of God’s church (1 Cor. 12).

Simplicity not Busyness:

We desire to be a church where our activities do not determine our priorities, but rather our priorities determine our activities. Loving and discipling our families, reaching the lost, maturing in Christ… These things rarely occur during activities at a church and more often happen when the Body of Christ is “being the church.” We desire our calendar to reflect that.

How will it affect the surrounding culture as the Gospel redeems it?

The Name of Christ will be honored, the Glory of God will be displayed, the true gospel of Jesus Christ will be clearly lived out and presented for people to accept or reject.

Theological Distinctives

Biblical Eldership

We believe God has graciously given elders to serve His church. The consistent pattern throughout the New Testament is that each local body of believers is shepherded by a plurality of qualified, male pastors/elders. The elders are set aside by God to lead the church, to equip the saints, to preach the Word, and to pray (Ephesians 4:11–12; 1 Timothy 3:1–7, 5:17–18). Their leading, equipping, preaching, and praying are to be done humbly in service to God and to His church. Leaders are to shepherd the flock willingly, not under compulsion or for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in their charge, but serving as examples to the flock (1 Peter 5:2–3). In response, believers are exhorted to submit and to obey their leadership (Hebrews 13:17) The Biblical qualifications for an elder of a church is men who are able to teach God’s Word and who’s character is above reproach (matching the qualifications in 1 Tim 3 and Titus 1) The relationship of the elders and members is not one of dominance and submission, but rather of mutual love and respect

Expository Preaching

Expository preaching is a method of teaching that focuses on and “exposes” a specific passage of Scripture. When we say that teaching is “expositional” we mean that it is focused on explaining a particular passage of Scripture. It uses historical grammatical interpretation of the original Biblical languages to carefully draw out the meaning of the passage in its original context to its original audience. We do not discount the use of “topical preaching” at times, but believe that expositional preaching is the most valuable method in the weekly preaching to the church for a variety of reasons. The two most significant of these reasons is 1. It allows Scripture to speak for itself and causes preachers to teach the whole counsel of God (including the difficult parts) 2. It helps teach the church membership how to read and study Scripture for themselves by following the same methods. Because of these reasons, the primary method of teaching at Grace is preaching through books of the Bible in a verse-by-verse manner.

Believers Baptism

We believe Jesus commanded every believer to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18–20). Baptism serves as a symbol of being buried with Christ and being raised to walk in new life and as such is to be performed only on professing believers (Romans 6:4–6). Baptism is a matter of obedience, not salvation. It does not confer favor from God beyond the blessings that come from obedience to God. (Luke 23:43; 1 Corinthians 1:13–17). While the age of baptism is not directly addressed in the Scripture, the Elders of Grace hold a personal conviction that children must be of an age of maturity where they have demonstrated a personal faith apart from their parents and are able to confess that faith publicly before the church. This type of maturity in faith rarely happens before the teenage years. Should a young person desire to pursue baptism, we will examine each person on a case-by-case basis and look for the credibility of conversion and the understanding of the Gospel.

Sufficiency of Scripture

We believe Scripture, or the Bible, is the Word of God written to man. The Bible consists of the 66 books of Genesis to Revelation. God inspired human authors who, using their own unique gifts, passions, and communication style, wrote His Word (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20–21). The Scriptures are inerrant in everything they address, including matters of faith, science, and history (Proverbs 30:5). The Scriptures are infallible and achieve the ends for which God intended them (Isaiah 55:11). The Scriptures are clear, “making wise the simple” (Psalm 19:7). The Scriptures are sufficient for faith and practice, and “are useful for teaching, correcting, rebuking, and training in righteousness, that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:17).

Church Discipline

Jesus instituted church discipline (Matthew 18) for the purpose of preserving the church’s witness to the lost world by preserving its holiness (1 Cor. 5). Churches that allow professing believers to live in unrepentant sin without warning, correction, rebuke, and finally excommunication are not acting in love and are rendering impotent their gospel witness. We see in 1 Cor. 5 the reasons why church discipline is so important. We see in Matthew 18 the process that is to be followed in calling someone to repentance. And we see in Matt 18:15, 1 Cor. 5:5 and Gal 6:1 that the purpose of discipline is not to punish anyone, but to help a brother or sister be restored to God and to the Church. For these reasons we believe that following the Biblical commands regarding a member of the church in unrepentant sin much be obeyed. (A more detailed teaching of this can be found in our Membership Series)

Distinctives of the Acts 29 Church Planting Network

We are passionate about Gospel centrality.

We believe the gospel is the good news of what God has graciously accomplished for sinners through the sinless life, sacrificial death, and bodily resurrection of his Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, namely our forgiveness from sin and complete justification before God; this gospel is also the foundation for our confidence in the ultimate triumph of God’s kingdom, and the consummation of his purpose for all creation in the new heavens and new earth. This gospel is centered in Christ, is the foundation for the life of the Church, and is our only hope for eternal life; this gospel is not proclaimed if Christ’s penal substitutionary death and bodily resurrection are not central to our message. This Gospel is not only the means by which people are saved, but also the truth and power by which people are sanctified; it is the truth of the Gospel that enables us to genuinely and joyfully do what is pleasing to God and to grow in progressive conformity to the image of Christ. The salvation offered in this gospel message is received by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone; no ordinance, ritual, work, or any other activity on the part of man is required in order to be saved. (Mark 1:1; Luke 24:46-47; John 3:16-18; Romans 1:16-17; Romans 1:18-25; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; 2:2; 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 4:1-6; 9:13; Galatians 1:6-9; Ephesians 1: 7-10; Colossians 1: 19-20; 2 Timothy 1:8-14; 2 Peter 3: 11-13 Jude 3-4; Revelation 21-22)

We enthusiastically embrace the sovereignty of God’s grace in saving sinners.

We affirm that God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, not on the basis of foreseen faith but unconditionally, according to his sovereign good pleasure and will. We believe that through the work of the Holy Spirit, God will draw the elect to faith in his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, graciously and effectually overcoming their stubborn resistance to the gospel so that they will most assuredly and willingly believe. We also believe that these, the elect of God whom he gave to the Son, will persevere in belief and godly behavior and be kept secure in their salvation by grace through faith. We believe that God’s sovereignty in this salvation neither diminishes the responsibility of people to believe in Christ nor marginalizes the necessity and power of prayer and evangelism, but rather reinforces and establishes them as the ordained means by which God accomplishes his ordained ends. (John 1:12-13; 6:37-44; 10:25-30; Acts 13:48; 16:30-31; Romans 3-4; 8:1-17,31-39; 9:1-23; 10:8-10; Ephesians 1:4-5; 2:8-10; Philippians 2:12-13; Titus 3:3-7; 1 John 1:7,9)

We recognize and rest upon the necessity of the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit for all of life and ministry.

The Holy Spirit is fully God, equal with the Father and Son, whose primary ministry is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ; he also convicts unbelievers of their need for Christ and imparts spiritual life through regeneration (the new birth). The Spirit permanently indwells, graciously sanctifies, lovingly leads, and empowers all who are brought to faith in Christ so that they might live in obedience to the inerrant Scriptures. The model for our reliance upon the Spirit and our experience of his indwelling and empowering presence is the Lord Jesus Christ himself who was filled with the Spirit and entirely dependent upon his power for the performance of miracles, the preaching of the kingdom of God, and all other dimensions of his earthly ministry. The Holy Spirit who indwelt and empowered Christ in like manner indwells and empowers us through spiritual gifts he has bestowed for the work of ministry and the building up of the body of Christ. Although there are different understandings in our network of the nature and function of these gifts, we all recognize that they are divine provisions central to spiritual growth and effective ministry and are to be eagerly desired, faithfully developed, and lovingly exercised according to Biblical guidelines. (Matthew 3:11; 12:28; Luke 4:1, 14; 5:17; 10:21; John 1:12-13; 3:1-15, 34; 14:12; 15:26-27; 16:7-15; Acts 2:14-21; 4:29-30; 10:38; Romans 8:9; 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:7-13; 12:28-31; 14:1-33; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Galatians 3:1-5; Ephesians 1:13-14; 5:18)

We are deeply committed to the fundamental spiritual and moral equality of male and female and to men as responsible servant-leaders in the home and church.

Both men and women are together created in the divine image and are therefore equal before God as persons, possessing the same moral dignity and value, and have equal access to God through faith in Christ. Men and women are together the recipients of spiritual gifts designed to empower them for ministry in the local church and beyond. Therefore, women are to be encouraged, equipped, and empowered to utilise their gifting in ministry, in service to the body of Christ, and through teaching in ways that are consistent with the Word of God. Both husbands and wives are responsible to God for spiritual nurture and vitality in the home, but God has given to the man primary responsibility to lead his wife and family in accordance with the servant-leadership and sacrificial love characterised by Jesus Christ. This principle of male headship should not be confused with, nor give any hint of, domineering control. Rather, it is to be the loving, tender and nurturing care of a godly man who is himself under the kind and gentle authority of Jesus Christ. The Elders/Pastors of each local church have been granted authority under the headship of Jesus Christ to provide oversight and to teach/preach the Word of God in corporate assembly for the building up of the body. The office of Elder/Pastor is restricted to men. (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:18; Acts 18:24-26; 1 Corinthians 11:2-16; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 5:22-33; Colossians 3:18-19; 1 Timothy 2:11-15; 3:1-7; Titus 2:3-5; 1 Peter 3:1-7)

Acts 29 embraces a missionary understanding of the local church and its role as the primary means by which God chooses to establish his kingdom on earth.

The church has a clear Biblical mandate to look beyond its own community to the neighborhood, the nation, and the world as a whole; thus mission is not an optional program in the church but an essential element in the identity of the church. We are called to make Christ known through the gospel and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to bring his lordship to bear on every dimension of life. The primary way we fulfill this mission is through the planting of churches that plant churches and the training of their leaders. Our aim is that Jesus Christ would be more fully formed in each person through the ministry of those churches God enables us to plant around the world. We also believe we are responsible neither to retreat from our culture nor to conform to it, but with humility, through the Spirit and the truth of the gospel, to engage it boldly as we seek its transformation and submission to the lordship of Christ. (Isaiah 52:7; Matthew 10:5-25; 28:18-20; Luke 4:18-19; 24:46-47; Acts 28:31; Romans 10:14-15; 2 Corinthians 10:4-5; Galatians 2:10; Ephesians 3:10; 4:11-16; 2 Timothy 4:1-5; Hebrews 10:23-25; 1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10)