ESSENTIALS

IN ESSENTIALS: UNITY, IN NON-ESSENTIALS: LIBERTY, IN ALL THINGS:  CHARITY! 

Our desire is to focus on The Essentials, the major doctrines or core beliefs of the Christian faith. We believe we are at our best when we are focused on what we are for, not what we are against!

Jesus is Lord

We believe that in Jesus, the eternal infinite God has become one of us. Jesus was born of a virgin, lived in unbroken fellowship with the Father, and was crucified for our sins. If that were the end of the story, no one would be talking about Jesus today. We believe that Jesus was raised from the dead. We believe this because of the testimony of many reliable witnesses. Because Jesus was raised from the dead, He is all that He claimed to be: Lord, God and Savior. We believe that He has ascended into heaven and that one day He will return and restore all things. (Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:22, 23; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

The Word of God

We believe that the Bible (the Old and New Testament) is the only inspired authoritative Word of God. We believe the Old Testament because Jesus believed it. When Jesus said that the Scripture cannot be broken (John 10:34), He was referring to the Old Testament. We believe in the accuracy of the New Testament because Jesus commissioned the witnesses of the resurrection (the Apostles) to take His message to the nations. Jesus promised the Apostles that when the Holy Spirit came, He would lead them into all truth (John 16:13). The truth about Jesus is preserved for us in the New Testament. We believe that “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness...”

(2 Timothy 3:16 Psalm 119:105, 160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5; 2 Timothy 1:13, 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

The Bible

The Bible is God’s Word to us. 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 the truth without any mixture of error. Psalm 119:105, 160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5; 2 Timothy 1:13, 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21

Eternal Creator God

We believe that the one true God exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Bible teaches us that there is only One all knowing, all powerful, God who created the Universe out of nothing. The Bible also calls the three different persons God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1, 26, 27, 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

Salvation

We believe salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone. We were created to live in fellowship with God and one another, but the human race has chosen to live apart from God through sin. Sin separates us from God and from one another. Whatever is separated from God dies. Jesus came to save us from sin and death. The way that Jesus saves us is through His death and resurrection. On the cross Jesus took our sin. When Jesus came out of the grave He overcame death. In Christ, we have forgiveness and life. “For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift- not from works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 John 1:12,14:6; Romans 5:1,6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9;Galatians 3:26;Titus 3:5)

The Church

We believe The Church is made up of people called out of the world and into an eternal relationship with God through Jesus. The Church is spoken of in two ways in the Bible. There is the Universal Church, which is made up of all those who belong to Jesus wherever they are found.There is also the local Church where Jesus calls His people to gather together in order to fulfill His purposes on Earth. (Acts 2:42–47,Romans 12:4–5,1 Timothy 3:14–15,Colossians 1:17–20,Ephesians 2:19–22,1 Peter 2:4–5, Hebrews 10:24–25)

The Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of 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. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He gives every believer a spiritual gift when they are saved. As Christians, we seek to live under His control daily. (John 16:7-13, 14:16-17; Acts 1:8-11; Romans 1:3-4; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 1:13, 5:18; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13)

Human Beings

We believe human beings are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God’s creation and love. Although people have potential for good, we are all marred by disobedience toward God called “sin”. Sin separates people from God and causes the brokenness we experience in our world. (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6, Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23)

Eternal Security

We believe that because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true believer is secure in that salvation for eternity! If you have been genuinely saved, you cannot “lose” it. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. God’s grace and sustaining power gives us this security. (John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25, 10:10, 14; 1 Peter 1:3-5)

Eternity

We believe that people were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is Heaven. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence. (John 3:16, 14:17; Romans 6:23, 8:17-18; 1 Corinthians 2:7-9; Revelation 20:15)

IDENTITY VALUES

JESUS HAS CALLED US TO LIVE THESE OUT AS HE FORMS OUR CHARACTER INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY!

WE ARE ROOTED IN LOVE.

Love must be sincere. There is no place for hypocrisy. The way we say things and how we treat others should be overflowing with kindness, love and encouragement. We strive to say hard things without being harsh, rude, or conceited. We love each other with sincerity. (Romans 12)

WE ARE FUELED BY JOY.

The ability to laugh at ourselves and with others brings relief to our souls. We will do our best to find humor and joy in all circumstances. (1 Thessalonians 5)

WE ABIDE IN JESUS.

Our consistent, relational walk with Jesus produces the fruit of His Spirit and fruitful soil from which all healthy things can grow. (John 15, Col 2)

WE ARE CALLED TO BE HOLY.

We don’t love the world or conform to the pattern of the world. Instead we live lovingly, courageously, and intentionally. We speak truth and light into the darkness with gentleness and respect. We seek to follow JESUS who exists in the tension of both grace and truth. (1 John 2, Romans 12, John 1)

WE WALK IN HUMILITY + SELF AWARENESS.

Honesty and truthfulness in our speech and behavior is the most important thing about our character as we are conformed to the image of Christ. We have a growth mindset, not a fixed one, in all things. We are willing to listen and respond to constructive criticism that helps us develop and grow. (Proverbs 27) (Ephesians 4, 1 Peter 1) When we self evaluate and allow other “safe people” to evaluate our lives and bring clarity, we can overcome blindspots that keep us living in peace with ourselves and others. (Psalm 139) We walk in the truth that because of Jesus we want to exhibit a tone that says “I am ok, you’re ok”. We also strive to become “There you are” vs “Here I am” people. (James 4)

WE ARE SACRIFICIAL.

We give of our time, talent, and treasure to see Jesus’ Church thrive. 

WE ARE AMBASSADORS.

We care deeply about “the one” as we live at the epicenter of LDS culture. We are constantly thinking through how best to do ministry, understanding “our one”, knowing it is central to our effectiveness in Utah. (Luke 15, Acts 17, Jeremiah 17)

CULTURAL DISTINCTIVES

THE HEALTHY CULTURE WE ARE COMMITTED TO CREATE FOR OUR CHURCH, LEADERSHIP TEAMS, AND MINISTRY TEAMS!

1. We will honor Christ and His Church with integrity. Living with authenticity, character, respect, and humility matters above everything else. If truth is not our foundation, nothing else matters. 

2. We will speak to one another in honest and honoring conversations. We will be people of character who “mean what we say” and “say what we mean” with gentleness and respect in our words and in our tone. We will be “there you are people” instead of “here I am people”. We will be people who focus more on “what we are for and who we are for” rather than people who focus on “what we are against and who we are against”. 

3. We will be a church who loves the people we live around. We love our family and friends who are a part of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We will engage and equip our people to become salt + light, sharing Jesus within our community and within our relational world.

4. We will be excellent in a way that honors God and inspires others. We always bring our best to everything we do. A true spirit of excellence is always loving, joyful, and honoring towards others. 

5. We will lead others by serving others and engaging them with relational love. We never outgrow a heart that will “wash the feet” of others. When we lead as servants, we inspire and overcome insecurity, pride, and self-serving tendencies. 

6. We will give up things we love for the things we love even more. It’s an honor to sacrifice for Christ and His Church. We see ourselves as spiritual contributors not spiritual consumers. The church does not exist for us. We are the Church, and we exist so that the world can see Jesus.

7. We will be joyful in all things! The joy of his face is the single most important motivator in our lives. When we understand this fully we are free to express this joy with others which transforms what and how we do everything! 

8. We will laugh hard and often together. Doing life and ministry together is fun. Nothing is more fun than serving God with the people you love and love to be around!

9. We will approach everything with a growth mindset. We will evaluate everything we do and do it often. We are always either winning or learning to grow. We will not allow negativity to steal our joy. Learning from our missteps with the proper attitude is healthy and leads to greater progress. 

10. We will be a church of corporate prayer. When we come together and pray we humbly stay dependent upon the Holy Spirit to work in and through us to accomplish His Kingdom mission. 

Resources to help you grow spiritually…