Our theology is at the heart of our (and every) church, because it shapes how we experience God and live out our faith together. Here's what we believe:
The Bible is God’s unique message to us of who he is and how to know, love, and join him in his work in the world. It speaks with authority to our everyday lives. It is the story of God’s deep desire for us to be with him. (2 Timothy 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 1:19-21)
We use the New Living Translation at the Crossing; if you don’t have a readable Bible at home, please take one of ours; it’s our gift to you.
God is a person, not a force. He is not far, far away; rather, he is near us and engaged in our lives and in our world. He can, and wants to be, known. He hears our prayers and answers them (though not always as we wish he would!) God is the most joy-filled being in the universe.
(Matthew 3:16,17; John 16:23-27; Galatians 4:4-6; Ephesians 1:3, 17-23)
Jesus is God with skin on. While on earth, because He was and is Himself God, He showed us what God is like. His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead made a pathway for us to be restored to relationship with God. Jesus is the most intelligent, engaging, skilled leader ever. He had such a strong ‘presence’ that people were constantly drawn to Him–which was great, because He loved to be with them!
(Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 24:1-8; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; Hebrews 4:14-16, 7:24, 25; Revelation 19, 20)
The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity, equal to God the Father and Jesus the Son in essence and attributes. He both initiates and sustains our relationship with God. The moment we surrender our lives to Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to live within us. It is only by his power that we are able to know and follow Jesus more deeply.
(John 3:3-6, 14:15-17,25,26, 16:5-15; Acts 5:3,4; 1 Corinthians 12:4-13)
Sin is my (and your) natural bent to place my will above God’s, to say ‘No!’ to Him and others. It’s not learned, it’s genetic (how else can you explain a two-year-old’s temper tantrum?), and it is a barrier between us and God (and others). Sin keeps us from experiencing the life–and future–God created us to have. On our own, we cannot remove it.
(Isaiah 53:6; Romans 1:21, 3:23, 5:12-21; James 4:1,2)
is the Bible’s word for Jesus reconnecting us with God. When I admit that I’m separated from God by my sin, claim forgiveness through Jesus’ death on the cross, and commit myself to following Jesus as my Lord and Leader, I am made right with God and begin the journey of being connected to Him and His life, both now and after I die.
(Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:4-7)
“The Church” is not a building, it's people--all those who have a relationship with Jesus Christ. The 'Big C' Church is everyone everywhere who has ever acknowledged Jesus as Lord. The Local Church is a group of Jesus-followers who gather regularly for worship, prayer, fellowship, baptism, communion, and teaching of the Bible. They are committed to sharing Jesus both near and far and to serving each other and their community with the gifts and talents God has given them.
(Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:42-47; Acts 8:1; Colossians 1:18; Hebrews 13:17; Hebrews 10:24,25)
Scripture is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. We recognize that we cannot bind the conscience of individual members in areas where Scripture is silent. Rather, each believer is to be led in those areas by the Lord, to whom he or she is ultimately responsible.
(1 Corinthians 8, 9; Romans 14)
Death is the end of physical life, but not of spiritual existence--everyone lives forever somewhere. After Jesus’ return, every one of us will be judged. Those who refuse relationship with God through Jesus will be separated from Him and every good thing forever; those who embrace relationship with Him will enjoy His presence forever in heaven. In heaven, there will be no crying, pain, death, or evil. There we will be perfect in a perfect world, fully alive with Him who will do far more than we ask or think or even dare to dream!
(Matthew 10:28; Hebrews 9:27; 1 Corinthians 2:9, 15:12-23; Ephesians 3:20; Revelation 20:11-22:6)