Who is God? God is eternal. God is holy. God is creator.

How DOES God ACT? God loves. God rules. God judges.

Sin = missing the mark

What is sin? Denying God exists. Determining who God is. Disobeying what God says.

What ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN? Immediate damage Everyone is guilty Separation from God Death for eternity

Substitution = JESUS IN MY PLACE

JESUS CAME TO SAVE. Jesus is sinless. Jesus died for the sins of man. Jesus rose victorious over sin.

JESUS can save me. Jesus is my only hope. Jesus is my provided substitute. Jesus is my path to justification.

Accept God hates my sin. God will judge my sin.

BELIEVE I embrace that Christ died for my sin. I choose Christ as my substitute.

CONFESS I proclaim my sins are forgiven in Christ. I declare I will follow Christ.

You were dead in sin. You have life in Christ. You will receive eternal life.

Position – Alive through Christ I am new in Christ. My old self is crucified with Christ. I choose to live through Christ.

PRACTICE – LIVING OUR NEW IDENTITY Connecting with Jesus Submitting to Jesus Becoming like Jesus

PURPOSE – FINDING TRUE LIFE IN CHRIST I have a ministry. I have a message. I am Christ’s representative.

GOD’S WORD IS AUTHORITATIVE It is inspired. It is inerrant. It is reliable.

BIBLE Caesar 100−44 BC AD 900 1000 YEARS 10 Plato 427−347 BC AD 900 When Written EARLIEST COPY TIME SPAN MANUSCRIPTS Caesar 100−44 BC AD 900 1000 YEARS 10 Plato 427−347 BC AD 900 1200 YEARS 7 Aristotle 384−322 BC AD 1100 1400 YEARS 49 HomeR 900 BC 400 BC 500 YEARS 643 BIBLE AD 40−100 AD 125 25 YEARS 25,000

GOD’S WORD IS SUFFICIENT Sufficient for revealing God. Sufficient for life and godliness.

ABIDE IN GOD’S WORD CONSISTENTLY.

APPLY GOD’S WORD.

SHARE GOD’S WORD WITH OTHERS.

WHY SHOULD WE PRAY? Because Jesus did it. God is all about relationship. It is both a practice and producer of faith.

WHO SHOULD WE PRAY TO? Should we pray to angels? No Should we pray to Mary? No

WHO SHOULD WE PRAY TO? We pray to the Father. We pray in the name of Jesus. We pray with the help of the Holy Spirit.

How SHOULD WE PRAY? Pray confidently. Pray honestly. Pray persistently. Don’t pray to impress. Don’t pray empty words. C.A.T.S.

What is the local church? The church is not a building but the body of Christ. The head of the church is Jesus Christ. The church facilitates God’s glory.

What is the local church? The church is not filled with religious spectators, but participants in uncommon community. Jesus Christ prayed for unity in the church.

What is the local church? The mission of the church is not to be comfortable, but to make disciples.

OUR CHURCH RECOGNIZES TWO BIBLICAL ORDINANCES: Baptism of the believer Communion

OUR CONVICTIONS Sound doctrine Regular attendance

OUR COMMUNITY We are united in Christ. We live out the Biblical one anothers.

OUR COMMUNITY We resolve conflict quickly and completely. We grow in our walk with Christ through small groups.

OUR Mission by Being a Good Steward of: My time through intentional living. My talent through regular service to the Lord. My treasure through generous giving of tithes and offerings.

Church Distinctives The mission of our church is …

Worship = Ascribing value

I should worship God Because: God deserves it. God demands it. God desires it.

TRUE WORSHIP OF GOD: Starts with renewal Leads to conviction Results in affection

Who (or what) do I worship? Power? Pleasure? Love?

When I walk with God, I: Study God’s Word Pray expectantly Serve others selflessly Embrace community

ELECTION justification sanctification GLORIFICATION In grace, God chose those who would be saved solely based on His sovereign, good pleasure. justification God declares sinners righteous based on Christ’s righteousness. sanctification We cooperate fully with God’s desire to transform us. GLORIFICATION God finally removes sin from the life of the believer.

AM I CONSISTENTLY GROWING IN SPIRITUAL MATURITY? Am I increasingly directed by God’s Word? Am I more loving? Are spiritual disciplines growing in my life?

AM I CONSISTENTLY GROWING IN SPIRITUAL MATURITY? Am I quicker to forgive? Am I participating in the church? Am I grieving my own sin?

I am gifted to serve. My gift is given and empowered by God. My gift has a purpose. My gift can be developed or neglected.

I am NOT A CONSUMER. My life is not my own. My desires don’t rule my life. My time isn’t for serving myself.

I am A NEIGHBOR. Living sacrifice Loving servant Learning steward

Working for Christ is both an example of and an acceleration for my walk with Christ.