1. What we believe:
About the Church

2. What we believe: about the Church
The universal Church is the body of which Christ is the head and to which all who are saved belong.
It is made visible in local churches, which are congregations of believers who are committed to each other for the worship of God, the preaching of the Word, the administering of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper; for pastoral care and discipline, and for evangelism.
The unity of the body of Christ is expressed within and between churches by mutual love, care and encouragement.
True fellowship between churches exists only where they are faithful to the gospel.
What we believe: about the Church

3. And he (Christ) is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. (Colossians 1:18) Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (1 Corinthians 12:27)
The universal Church is the body of which Christ is the head and to which all who are saved belong.

4. It is made visible in local churches, which are congregations of believers who are committed to each other for:
The Worship of God
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people.
(Acts 2:46–47)
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Ephesians 5:19–20)

5. The Preaching of the Word
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction
(2 Timothy 3:16–4:2)
It is made visible in local churches, which are congregations of believers who are committed to each other for:

6. The administering of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
It is made visible in local churches, which are congregations of believers who are committed to each other for:
The administering of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
(Mt 28:19–20).

7. The administering of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11:23–26)
It is made visible in local churches, which are congregations of believers who are committed to each other for:

8. Pastoral care and discipline
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, (1 Peter 5:2)
Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. (Hebrews 13:17)
It is made visible in local churches, which are congregations of believers who are committed to each other for:

9. Evangelism
“Go, and make disciples”
This commission is binding upon every member of the whole Church Every Christian is called to be a witness to Christ in the particular environment in which God has placed him. Further, although the public ministry of the Word is a high office, private witness or personal evangelism has a value which in some respects surpasses even that of preaching, since the message can then be adapted more personally. (John Stott)
It is made visible in local churches, which are congregations of believers who are committed to each other for:

10. The unity of the body of Christ is expressed within and between churches by mutual love, care and encouragement.
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had (Acts 4:32) The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. 30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul. (Acts 11:29–30)

11. I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! 10 Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.(Galatians 1:6–10).
True fellowship between churches exists only where they are faithful to the gospel.