What We Believe

We believe in one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, as revealed in the Holy Bible and made known in Jesus Christ our Lord. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 5:19-24)

We believe that Jesus, the divine Son, became human, was born of a virgin, ministered in word and miracle, died for our sin, was raised bodily from the dead, ascended to God's right hand and is coming again for his people. (John 1:14-18; 1 Corinthians 15; Revelations 20:11-15)

We believe that the Holy Spirit is presently ministering through the Christian Community, empowering lives of Christ-like service. (John 3:1-8; John 16:5-16; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 1:1; Ephesians 2:10; Galatians 5:16-25)

We believe that the Holy Bible is God-breathed, true in all its teaching, and the final authority for all matters of faith and practice. (II Timothy 3:16–17; II Peter 1:20–21; Hebrews 4:12)

We believe that Jesus Christ established his Church on earth to carry out his saving mission among all people groups and formed the Church to be One Holy People. (Hebrews 10:24–25; Acts 2:41–47; I Corinthians 12–14; Matthew 28:18– 20; Ephesians 2:19–22; I Thessalonians 4:15–17)

We believe in God's saving grace that ignites within people: faith, repentance, confession, baptism, and new life and ministry through the Spirit. (John 1:12, 14:6; John 3:16; Titus 3:4-7; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:21-26; Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 10:10-12)

Non-Essentials

We affirm that the doctrines of the Trinity, the deity of Christ, the bodily resurrection, the atoning work of Christ on the cross, and salvation by grace through faith make up the essential, distinctive nature of Christianity. In regards to these doctrines, we hold them as essential to our ministry, and as defining for followers of Christ. 

We do acknowledge, however, that there are peripheral or non-essential doctrines that are important, but not critical to the follower of Christ as it relates to our salvation. Some of these topics include the exact timing and nature of the rapture, the extent and use of certain spiritual gifts, and the relationship between election and free-will in salvation. While our church is graciously diligent to establish positions as it relates to these non-essentials, we will not allow these peripheral doctrines to cause division within the church. At Beyond Church we seek a unity within our diversity, and will not allow different opinions on non-essentials to fracture the church. ...Help us ultimately pursue the unity of the church.