Believing
We are all about trusting in Jesus
John 3:36 “He who believes in the Son has eternal life”
At SRCC our mission begins where Jesus’ ministry began. Jesus said “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10) We desire to be a people characterized by the abundant life found in Jesus Christ. In order for us to have this abundant life, we must place our trust in him, becoming his disciple. This trust isn’t just a decision at some point in our life. We must learn and grow to place our trust in Jesus every day and in every area of our lives.
Belonging
We are committed to Christ centered community
God has created us for community. It is part of God’s design for us from the beginning, because God himself exists in eternal relationship as the trinity. Although sin has brought alienation to God’s design for community, in Jesus, we enter into a new redeemed community. Jesus characterized this community as the “body” and “bride” of Christ. He modeled intimate community with His followers as part of what it means to be His disciple. It is in and through this community of Christ, that we actively engage in a discipleship process that brings about greater transformation in our lives and reflects the new way of living that Jesus taught and modeled.
Becoming
Transformed and living out the way of Jesus
As we enter into relationship with Jesus, we enter into a transformational process. 1 Corinthians 3:18 says “ And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” In this process, we are increasingly becoming more and more like Jesus. We adopt his heart, his mind, his values, and his purposes. This transformation begins inwardly and moves into how we live our lives. At SRCC we are committed to a holistic discipleship process that brings life breathing change to how we engage in our world and live on mission for Him.
Our Values
Generosity
God is generous.The Lord continuous to give in abundance to all of His creation. He provides the Sun upon our face, the food upon our table and the very air in our lungs. He has generously poured out His love, mercy and grace upon our lives through the work of Jesus Christ. He pours out upon our lives every single day. As followers of Jesus we are not called to simply receive, but to be like God in His generosity. This generosity is an outpouring of Spirit living in us. As a church, we value the generosity of God and desire to be generous people by giving of our time, talent and treasure.
Authenticity
In a world caught up in putting its best foot forward and hiding its ugliness, we value people being real. The cross invites us to come as we are. Jesus is not afraid of our brokenness and dark places and neither are we. We believe the only way to true healing and peace is to confront the truth of who we are and step into the light. As a church, we actively encourage people to be honest with where they are at, embrace reality and grow in the strength of Christ.
Simplicity
It is easy to get caught up in doing things simply because of tradition or history. Often times our motive can be influenced by selfishness, pride or fear. Our desire is to do what is right, make a real impact in peoples lives, and focus on what Jesus himself commanded us to do. Because of this, we want to always be assessing why we do the things we do and posture openness for healthy change that will bring focus to the calling of the church.
Excellence
Everything we do is an opportunity for worship. We understand this to mean the way we go about our activities (Being intentional, creative, innovative, having a high standard with grace, etc.) reflects our view of God and what it means to be created in his image. At SRCC our desire is to redeem worship and glorify God through our actions in a way that honors God for who He is.
Family
The church is comprised of those who profess faith in Jesus Christ irregardless of race, rank, class, culture, sex or age. All are equally broken, equally loved and equally accepted. As a result, the church is diverse. This diversity is a strength. It sharpens us by challenging us to be open to seeing our world, experiences and faith from different perspectives. It comforts us through shared relationships that rally around one another. It encourages us to endure and live faithfully for Jesus Christ because we are family united for all eternity. We value this diversity and utilize its strengths at SRCC.
Gospel
The gospel is the message of the good news about Jesus Christ. However, it is more than that. The good news is Jesus himself. Having a relationship with him, living for him and experiencing the life He promises to bring. Therefore, everything we engage in proclaims the gospel and models what it means to live for Jesus.
Our Theology
On God
We believe in one God, eternally existing as three persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each person is fully God, equal in essence. Each member is distinct from the other, however, they are fully God.
Gen. 1:26, 3:22, 11:7, Isa. 6:8; Psalm 45:6-7, 110:1; Hosea 1:7
Oneness: Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:14; Exodus 20:3; 1 Cor. 8:4-6; Ephesians 4:3-6
Trinity: John 6:27; 1 Peter 1:2; John 20:28; Matthew 9:4; 28:18, 20; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Co. 2:10; Psalm 139:7; Matthew 28:19)
On Jesus
We believe Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man. Jesus’ deity is demonstrated through: the virgin birth, His perfect righteousness, His perfect obedience to the will of God, His fulfillment of Scripture as the Messiah, His death, resurrection, and ascension, and His placement at the right hand of God.
Matt. 26:63;Mark 2:5-10; 2:27-28; John 1:1; 8:58;10:30; 14:7-9; Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:15-20; Colossians 2:9; 2 Timothy 4:1; Philippians 2:5-11
On The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit, as the third person of the trinity, is God
Matt. 28:19, 1 Cor. 12:4-6; 2 Cor. 13:14
Therefore, He is to be given the same honor and respect we give to the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit is a person, not merely an impersonal force.
John 14:26, 15:26, 16:13-14
The Holy Spirit is one with the Father and the Son. God is not distant. In the Holy Spirit, God has drawn near to His creation, to the point where He enters into each individual believer. We believe the Holy Spirit is living and active today, just as He was in the early church and regularly practice the biblically defined gifts of the Spirit.
1 Cor. 12:4-5; 1 Peter 4:10; Romans 12:4-6a
On Man
We believe man came into existence through God’s creative act. God made man from the dust of the earth in His image and likeness. Man was created in blessedness and he was good. To be created in the image of God means to reflect God’s glory and radiance. This consist of both the moral qualities of God (i.e. righteousness) and the natural attributes of God.
Concerning original sin, we agree with the Westminster Confession, which states: ” By this sin they (our first parents) fell from their original righteousness and communion with God, and so became dead in sin, and wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of soul and body. They being the root of all mankind, the guilt of this sin was imputed, and the same death in sin and corrupted nature conveyed to all their posterity, descending from them by ordinary generation. From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil, do proceed all actual transgressions. This corruption of nature, during this life, doth remain in those that are regenerated; and although it be through Christ pardoned and mortised, yet both itself, and all the motions there of, are truly and properly sin.”
Eph. 2:3; 2 Co 4:4; Rom. 1:18-3:20)(Mark 10:45; Rom. 6:11, 14; Heb. 2:15; Col. 1:13
On Scripture
We believe scripture consists of the 66 books contained in the Old and New Testaments and the canon of scripture is closed.
We believe all the words in scripture are the very words of God and to disbelieve or disobey any word of Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God.
Deut. 18:18-20; Jer. 1:9, 14:4; Ezek. 2:7; Matt. 4:4, 19:5; Luke 1:70, 24:25; John 5:45-47; Acts 3:18; Romans 1:2, 3:2, 9:17; 1 Cor. 9:8-10; 2 Peter 1:21
We believe Scripture, in its original manuscripts, does not affirm anything that is contrary to fact.
Num. 23:19; 2 Sam. 7:28; Pss. 12:6; 119:89; Prov. 30:5; Matt. 24:35; John 17:17; Titus 1:2; Heb. 6:18
We believe Scripture contains all of the words God intended his people to have throughout history, and contains everything we need to know for salvation, trusting Him and obeying Him.
(Deut. 4:2, 12:32, Prov. 30:5-6; 2 Tim. 3:15-16; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23
On Salvation
We believe salvation is mediated through faith alone in Jesus Christ. One must recognize their total depravity before God( Romans 3:23), understand the penalty for sin is death (Romans 6:23), and Jesus Christ died to pay the penalty for one’s sin (Romans 5:8). Knowledge of this truth is only part the first part in order to receive salvation. Following this one must repent of sin and trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior.Through confession of faith in Jesus Christ alone, one is justified, sanctified, and given eternal life. (John 1:12, John 3:16)
On Sanctification
We believe sanctification is a process where one’s moral condition is being brought in conformity with one’s legal status before God. Experientially, this is the process of God’s continuing work in a believer’s life where God brings about holiness, thus enabling the believer to reflect the image of Christ.
1 Thess. 5:23; Hebrews 13:20-21