Our Mission: Change the World by Making Disciples Who Make Other Disciples for Jesus Christ. Our Vision: Worship God lovingly and consistently, grow by the Spirit through Scripture and prayer, and connect through heartfelt relationship with God and others. Our Strategy: Send Everyone with Love & Power to make Disciples for Jesus Christ. Our Values: Wesleyan Way of Living
1. Do No Harm, Love for On
e Another
2. Do Good, Love for a Broken World
3. Stay in Love with God, Passion for Jesus
What are Our Beliefs? With other Christians throughout the ages, we proclaim classic Christian beliefs as expressed by the Apostles Creed. At Knox United Methodist Church, we believe we must emphasize what is most important, not divide over minor points. More specifically, you will find our teaching is based on the following core beliefs;
What We Believe…
About God
God exists eternally as one God in three persons: The Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (This understanding has historically been described as the Trinity) God is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. Creator Gen 1:1 – Col 1:16 ; Rules – 2 Chron 20:6: Trinity – Matt 28:19; One – Deut 6:4 : All powerful, eternal – Gen 17: 1, Rev 4: 8-9; All present – 1 Jn 1:5, 3:5 Created us
About Jesus
Jesus is the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity. He was born to the Virgin Mary by miraculous conception. Being both fully God and fully human, He lived a sinless life, perfectly revealing the Father. By His suffering, death and resurrection, he provided the only way to salvation. He rose from the dead after three days and ascended to heaven where He rules and reigns with the Father. He will return again to earth and rule as the supreme Judge and King of all. Matt 17:5; God/man – Phil 2:6-9 Conceived/virgin- Luke 1:30-35 Sinless- 2 Cor 5:21, Heb 4:15; Savior- Matt 16:16-17: Cross – Jn 10:18; Phil 2:8, Rom 3:25: Rose Jn 20:1-9, 27-29, Ascended/ returned – Acts 1:9-11, Luke 21:27; Judge
About the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, not a mere force. His inner prompting makes people aware of their need for Jesus. He is given to every believer at the moment of salvation, to empower them to live a holy life and to grant gifts for service. He leads all believers into truth, and believers become like Christ as a result of submitting to His leading. Jn 14:16-26 Sent – Eph 1:13-14 live in/guarantee – Po 8:1- 4 transforms – Eph 3: 16-19 Fullness/ power manifested
About Humanity
Men and women are created by God in His image and all are loved by God. We are made to know God personally and to glorify him in our lives. However, in addition to the wonderful promise and potential each of us also has an inner attitude of rebellion against God’s leadership in our lives. Sin separates us from God. No one has lived a sinless life (except Jesus) and therefore all of us need God’s forgiveness, grace and salvation through Christ. Gen 1:27 Created – Gen 1:28 Dominion- Rom 3:10 – 20 Apart/ judgment
About Salvation
Salvation is a gift of God which we receive through faith in Christ; it is not earned or deserved. We are able to experience the assurance of our salvation because of God’s promise. Matt 8:18-22, Rom 8:38-39, Phil 3:4-11, Lk 3:8, Rev 22:17
About the Bible
The Bible is God’s word to each of us. It was written by human authors under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The scriptures are the full and final authority on all matters of faith and practice.
2 Tim 3:16, Matt 24:35 Inspired- Heb 4:12 Active / powerful – 2 Tim 3:15 Reveals
About the Church
We believe that the Christian Church is the community of all believers under the lordship of Christ. The Church functions as the body of Christ, composed of many members, each different, all essential, unified and empowered by the Holy Spirit. The members of the Church are like living stones, built together to become a temple where God lives by His Spirit. Christ loves the Church as a bridegroom loves his bride. He gave Himself for the Church, to make her holy and clean, and will come again to take her to Himself. Christ commissioned the Church to proclaim the gospel to all nations, making disciples, baptizing them and teaching them to obey Christ’s commands. Eph 1:22, Rom 12:5, 1 Cor 12:12-26 Church/lordship/body – Eph 2:19-22, 1 Pe 2:5 stone- Eph 5:25-32 Bride- 1 Thess. 4:16-17, Rev 19:7 Come and take – Matt 28;19 Commissioned
About the Sacraments
We believe that the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordained by Christ as symbols and pledges of God’s love toward us and of the believer’s profession of faith. Baptism is a symbol of our participation by faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Lord’s Supper is a means to commemorate the sacrifice of Jesus body and blood for the sins of the world. Matt 28:19, Acts 8:26-40 Baptize – Matt 26: 26-29, 1 Cor 11:23-26 Communion
