We believe in the divine inspiration of the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, in its original manuscripts. It is the inerrant, infallible Word of God and the final authority for all belief and behavior. 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20; Matthew 5:18
We believe in the Trinity, that the Bible reveals there is one true and living God, eternally existing in three separate persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—equal in power and glory; that this triune God created all, upholds all, and loves all men and women who have been created in His image. Genesis 1:26; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22
We believe all people are born with a sinful nature that separates them from God and are in need of reconciliation with Him. This reconciliation is lovingly and freely offered by God and exclusively found through Jesus Christ—the eternal Son of God, conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, whose sinless life and sacrificial death on the cross provide the forgiveness of sin necessary for reconciliation with God. Romans 5:12; Romans 6:23; John 1:1; Luke 2:35; Acts 10:43; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 2:16
We believe in Heaven and Hell, that a person’s eternal destiny is determined by believing in or rejecting Jesus Christ and His sacrificial death on the cross. Those who believe are forgiven of their sins and receive the gift of eternal life with God in Heaven. Those who reject this will be judged for their sin by experiencing eternal separation from God in Hell, a literal place of suffering. John 3:16; 1 John 5:13; Matthew 10:28; Matthew 25:46; Hebrews 9:27
We believe the Church is the body of Christ, that the universal Church is the living spiritual body of Jesus Christ of which He is the head and of which all who have placed their faith in Him as their Lord and Savior are members. Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 3:14-15; Ephesians 4:4; Colossians 1:18
We believe baptism in water is the next step in the Christian life after a person has received the forgiveness of their sins through faith in Jesus Christ. It is the public expression of an inward change and desire to follow Him in obedience. Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:36-38; Acts 10:47-48; Romans 6:4
We believe in the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper, also known as Holy Communion, which is the commemoration of the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross until He returns for His Church. Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
We believe in the personal and imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ for His Church. Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 John 2:28
We believe the universal Church of Jesus Christ is to be honored in its local expressions regardless of any affiliations or denominational differences. We also recognize that God has called Discover Church to exist as a non-denominational church while affirming our union with the universal Church. John 17:17; 1 Timothy 6:3-4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Peter 1:23
We believe water Baptism is your first act of obedience after putting your trust in Jesus. For those who do actually profess repentance toward God, faith in, in obedience to our Lord Jesus. When you are baptized with water, you are obeying the words and command of Jesus Christ. Water Baptism symbolizes that you are willing to follow Jesus, and Jesus is your King as evidenced by your life. 1 Corinthians 12:13; Colossians 2:12-13; 1 Peter 3:21; Colossians 2:12; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:41
We believe the Holy Spirit is presently active within the Church of Jesus Christ and distributes spiritual gifts for the Church’s encouragement and maturity. We encourage the exercise of these gifts according to the order and accompanying fruit of the Holy Spirit. Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13; 1 Corinthians 14:12; 1 Corinthians 14:26-40
We believe Scripture reveals God sovereignly draws those who will be saved, and that it also teaches every person is responsible to respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ for their salvation. We embrace the mysterious unity of these realities in the work of salvation and are careful to never emphasize one at the exclusion of the other. John 1:12-13; John 6:44; John 3:16; John 5:40; John 6:29; John 6:65; Romans 10:9-10; Romans 11:33; Ephesians 1:4-6; 1 Peter 1:2; Isaiah 55:8-9
We believe God encourages prayer and the laying on of hands with the anointing of oil by church elders for the healing of the sick. We also believe God is sovereign in His purposes and is not obligated to heal nor can He be commanded to heal, manifest material wealth, or work miracles according to man’s coercion, a practice commonly referred to as “positive confession” or “prosperity theology.” Acts 6:5-6; Acts 13:2-3; 1 Timothy 5:22; James 5:14-15; Daniel 4:35; John 19:11; 2 Corinthians 12:7-11; James 4:12
We believe God desires order for His Church and establishes this by calling morally qualified and spiritually gifted men to serve within the Church as pastors and elders. It is their responsibility to instruct, comfort, protect, correct, and lead the Church according to God’s Word. We also believe God has established an order of submission within His own triune nature, the family, and His Church. We recognize this by entrusting the spiritual leadership of our church to ordained pastors and elders who are accountable to the governance of the Church Board. 1 Corinthians 14:33, 40; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; John 21:17, Titus 1:6-9
We believe the Holy Spirit distributes His gifts within the Church regardless of gender. We encourage all men and women to exercise their spiritual gifts to their fullest extent possible. It is our practice that men and women serve in the fullness of their spiritual gifting in a complementary manner that demonstrates their obedience to live a life that honors Christ, using their gifts to bring glory to Him and build up His Church. Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Corinthians 14:26; Ephesians 4:1; Joel 2:29
We believe God created men and women in His own image and likeness as the crowning achievement of His creative work and that all human beings are uniquely endowed with dignity and worth in His eyes. It is the responsibility of every Christian to affirm the intrinsic dignity and worth of each human being; regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, age, social status, sexual orientation, gender identity, political position, or any other distinguishing factor. Genesis 1:26- 27; Psalm 139:14; John 3:16
We believe it is the duty of the Christian community to oppose the stigmatization of any individual or people group and to love and respect all people as God does. We further maintain that all people are inherently in need of God’s redemptive work in their lives. While we seek to assist in this process without discrimination or condemnation, we remain unable to sanction or participate in lifestyle choices contrary to God’s revealed standards for human behavior in Scripture. Mark 12:30, 31; James 2:1; Romans 12:2
We believe each human being is deliberately born into this world under the purposes of God and that their gender at the time of their birth reflects His design for their lives. It is contrary; therefore, to God’s will for a person to modify one’s gender identity. Psalm 100:3; Proverbs 22:2; Jeremiah 1:5
We believe the Bible is very specific regarding acceptable sexual behavior. Acceptable sexual behavior is exclusively reserved for a monogamous marriage union of a consenting man and woman. Any sexual activity beyond this is prohibited by God. Matthew 5:28; 1 Corinthians 7:2-3; Hebrews 13:4; Ephesians 5:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5
We believe God has ordained for marriage to be a union exclusively between one man and one woman. We also believe that a marriage relationship is intended to serve as a reflection of Christ’s relationship with His Church. Unions beyond this definition do not fulfill God’s definition of marriage. Matthew 19:46; 1 Corinthians 7:2; Ephesians 5:22-32
We believe the Bible teaches God is the ultimate source and sustainer of all human life and that human life begins at the moment of conception. As a result, all stages of human life, from the unborn to our eldest members, are to be respected and valued as God’s sacred work and should be cared for and protected in a manner consistent with biblical ethics. We encourage the body of Christ to speak out on behalf of those whose lives are threatened or vulnerable and are unable to speak out for themselves. Genesis 1:27; Psalm 31:15; Isaiah 45:12; 1 Timothy 6:13; Psalm 51:5; Psalm 58:3; Jeremiah 1:5
We believe adoption is often a way that God chooses to bless His people with children. The principle of adoption is celebrated in the Bible and is closely connected to God’s own nature. We support this principle and the beautiful work of foster parenting and adoption for those who sense God’s leading in this direction and provide a household reflecting His values. Psalm 68:6; Ephesians 1:5; Galatians 4:5-7
Romans 14:1,4,12,22
“Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters… Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls… So then each of us will give an account of himself to God… So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God.”
1 Corinthians 13:2
“If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”