We have an extensive statement of faith that is available on request.  We have included the brief synopsis below to show that we are classical Bible believing Christians,   and welcome inquiries for more detailed information. 

A. God reveals Himself in the three persons of the Godhead, the Father, His Son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

B. We accept the Bible as God's infallible word, inerrant in the original manuscripts.  It is our only rule of faith and practice.

C. We accept Jesus Christ as God's divine Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit, virgin born, who died on the cross as a substitutional sacrifice for our sin.  He arose bodily from the dead, and ascended into heaven where He is now our interceding High Priest.  He will come again in Person to judge the living and the dead.

D. Man was created in the image of God, but fell into sin.  We have all sinned in our own right and need a Savior to save us from the penalty for our sins. Salvation is by God’s grace alone, through faith in Jesus Christ.

Our Philosophy of Ministry

At Christ Church we teach that our worship services, and overall ministry are designed and executed  for believers.  In recent years churches have made it their priority to insure that non-believing visitors were comfortable.  In fact, this became the driving force behind all that was done for many years. 

Unfortunately, excessive accommodation of un-believers in our midst, by necessity, diminishes the spiritual temperature of worship.   For fear of driving away an inquirer churches have trimmed back their ministry and message.   We take seriously Paul’s example in Acts 20:20 “…I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable…”  While we will cordially and tenderly welcome all who visit, the priority of our meetings will be to meet the needs of Christians.  

The cross is a stumbling block to the un-believing mind - as is the exclusivity of Christianity.  Repentance is a priority message that is consistently included in the preaching of the Lord Jesus, John the Baptist, and every sermon delivered in the book of Acts.  We cannot remove the offense of authentic Christianity.  A pragmatic avoidance of these things may draw a larger crowd – a price we believe to be too high just to fill a few extra seats. 

Maturity in Christ is a mandate.  The writer to the Hebrews issued a challenge that occupies the forefront of our thinking on this.  He instructs:  “Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings, and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.” (HEB 6:1-2)

The problem today is not that Christians have failed to mature past these things, but rather that they have not yet arrived there.  Too many of us seem to be stalled at John 3:16.  It is our purpose at Christ Church to lead our people in serious application of God’s Word to their lives.  We believe Christians should know their Bibles, have a grasp of systematic theology, and church history.  Additionally, we will encourage devotional intensity, and what we call saturation Bible reading.  The average Christian has never read the entire Bible.  Even fewer read it through regularly.  As a result the American church today is weak, and is a smaller percentage of the population than at any time in our history.  If this message resonates in your heart, Christ Church may be a perfect place for you to exercise your faith and serve. 

Closely tied to our philosophy of ministry is our philosophy of Christian music. 

It may be said that there are (at least) three types of music -  that which touches the head – the rich anthems of the 18th century.  That which touches the foot; -  the contemporary tune with a strong beat.  And finally -  music that touches the heart.

It’s hard to define in words, but you’ll know the difference when you hear it.  Our music will touch your heart, both in selection and execution.  Our musicians are well trained and committed to excellence, but above all we are committed to lifting up and glorifying God.  Right now we are seeking additional musicians and singers to flesh out our team.  If God has gifted you in this area and you desire to use your talents for His glory there may be a place for you on our worship team.  We look forward to hearing from you. 

Our pulpit ministry

We believe in Expository Preaching/Teaching.  “This is preaching which expounds what Scripture says in a particular passage, carefully explaining its meaning and applying it to the congregation. It is a commitment to hearing God’s Word and to recovering the centrality of it in our worship.”

Right now our Sunday worship plan is to begin with Paul’s letter to the Philippians.  It is rich with personal application and some of the highest Christology in the New Testament.  We like to quote Peter…  “…like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,” (1Peter 2:2)  Getting past John 3:16 and then past Hebrews 6 will only come after careful and systematic attention to the Word.  Pastor Spry uses the New American Standard version for all teaching, although any Bible you bring along will work for you. 

Children’s and youth ministry

A consistently troubling pattern in youth ministry has been for parents to see their children lose interest in spiritual things during adolescence.   This issue crosses all denominational lines, and geographic boundaries.

We believe it is the obligation of the local church to present the claims of Christ to every young person in an atmosphere of cultural relativity – yet without compromise.  We will endeavor to train our young people (and their parents) in the details of Creation Science, and other forms of apologetics that our kids might remain strong during and beyond adolescence.  

At the outset our primary efforts will focus on children in the 1st -6th grade bracket.  We plan to expand to all ages as God sends us youth leaders to teach and model Christ.  Could that leader be you? 

All of our youth activities will be characterized by high energy, godly leadership, and authentic spirituality.  Training in godliness, however, must begin in the home.  Even the best youth/children’s program cannot eclipse what kids learn in their homes and in their own personal devotional life. 

The Ordinances of the Church

The Lord’s Supper

Historically, the church at large has celebrated the Lord’s Supper at least weekly.  In addition to church history, this seems to us to be evident from the Biblical passages that deal with it.  Remember, we see Sunday meetings as believer focused.  We will have several stations in our meeting facility where individuals may go to take Communion.  Many have lost the capacity for reflection today.   A regular opportunity for “remembering the Lord,” will give some quite time for introspection and confession. 

Baptism

Jesus said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” (Matt 28:19)

Every conversion that is described in any detail at all in the New Testament after the establishment of the Church includes Baptism.  Belief was always a prerequisite.  True belief in Jesus as Savior and Lord was the condition that had to exist before one Christian Baptized another. See Acts 8:36-38

It is impossible to obey the Lord and at the same time refuse to be Baptized.  It is not only a great responsibility to be Baptized, but a wonderful, glorious opportunity to be identified with our Lord in this marvelous way.

Let's look at the Baptisms in the Bible…

I.  John the Baptist honored Baptism
      A. He was sent of God and did the work of God.
      B. He preached repentance and Baptized many in the Jordan River.
II.  Christ honored Baptism
      A. He walked many miles to be Baptized by John the Baptist and said, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness."  Mat 3:15
      B. He included Baptism in the Great Commission, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,       baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” MAT 28:19     
      C. In this Great Commission He joined preaching the Word with Baptism.
III.  God honored Baptism
      A. At the time Jesus was Baptized, God spoke from heaven, "And a voice from heaven said, "This is my       Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. "Matt. 3:17
IV.  The Apostles honored Baptism
      A. When he preached at Jerusalem on the Jewish day of Pentecost, Peter
      preached repentance and Baptism. 3000 trusted Christ and were Baptized.
      B. Peter Baptized a Roman centurion named Cornelius and others. Acts10:42-48
      C. Paul Baptized a merchant woman named Lydia who believed. Acts 16:14-15
      D  Paul Baptized a jailer in Philippi after the man and others believed in Jesus.
      Acts 16:30-33
      E. The ruler of the Jewish synagogue in Corinth believed on Jesus with all his
      heart and, with many Corinthians, was Baptized. Acts 18:8
V.  Christians in the world honored Baptism
      A. Philip, chosen in Acts 6 to be a special servant in the Jerusalem church, led
       an Ethiopian to receive Christ and be Baptized.  Acts 8:12.

Conclusion

Are we saved at the point of Baptism? Although some Christians believe that, we must be very careful not to conclude that Baptism saves, for Ephesians 2:8,9 says, "By grace are you saved through faith."  We are not saved by church membership, faithful attendance, the Lord's Supper, or Baptism, or all of these things put together.  We trust ourselves to Jesus Christ as our Savior, and He alone has the power to save.  No act on our part – not even Baptism - can add to grace. 

Baptism symbolized the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and our own relationship to His victory over sin, death, and the grave.  “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.  For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection.”  ROM 6:3-5

How does god expect me to be baptized?

Many denominations employ the practice of sprinkling water over the candidate's head.  Some pour water over the body, while still other churches immerse, or put the candidate completely beneath the water for an instant.  Which is right?

The New Testament was originally written in Greek.  The Greek word for Baptism is “baptizo” which means to dip or immerse.  The Greek for the act of pouring is “cheo.”  The Greek for sprinkling is “raino,” and the word using water, regardless of the manner, is “hudraino.”  These last three words are never used in connection with Baptism.  If Jesus had meant that people should be sprinkled, “raino” would be used; if pouring, “cheo.”  If the form made no difference, then “hudraino.”  Greek scholars, ancient and modern, are in accord on this matter.

The circumstantial evidence furnished by the Scriptures themselves is for immersion.  "John also was baptizing at Enon, near Salem, because there was much water there."  (John 3:23).  Jesus Himself, "was Baptized, he went up out of the water" (Mat. 3 16).  Philip took the Ethiopian "down into the water" (Acts 8:38, and they "came up out of the water" (Acts 8:39) after His Baptism. 

The apostle Paul told the Colossians that Baptism was a form of burial, (Col. 2:12) with Christ.  To the Romans (6:4), Paul told them that they were Baptized into Christ's death by burial and likened it to a form of planting or being covered up, Romans 6:5.

Baptism symbolizes the death, the burial, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  This symbol would be destroyed in sprinkling and pouring.  Sprinkling as a mode of Baptism was begun by the Roman Catholic Church.  This historic fact can be read in the Edinburgh Encyclopedia Vol. 3, Page 236, Article "Baptism."

Am I not Saved if I have been sprinkled and not immersed?  Being sprinkled or immersed has nothing to do with your salvation.  Being immersed is an act of obedience following salvation.

The Bible way, then, is to respond to truth and not be ashamed of it,  Many of our loved ones perhaps have been sprinkled. They responded to the truth they knew. Each of us must do likewise responding in the manner the Lord has shown us.

Should babies be baptized?

There is no example in the New Testament of infant Baptism.  Jesus told us
Matt. 28:19-20) to teach or make disciples then baptize them.  Infants cannot be taught in this capacity.  Mark's Gospel account of the same incident (Mark 16:15-16),  indicates one must be a believer and be Baptized.  A baby cannot exercise this kind of faith.  In ACTS 2:37-38 the Apostle Peter was preaching, the people were convicted of their sin and wanted to know how to be saved.  Peter told them to repent and be Baptized.  Conviction and repentance are beyond infants' minds. 

In the "household" Baptisms mentioned in the New Testament, it is clear that these conditions were present.  Those Baptized were hearing, penitent, believers.  If babies needed to be Baptized, God would have given definite instructions in His Word.  II Samuel 12:15-23 indicates babies who die go to heaven.  What great comfort for parents who lose children through early death or even miscarriage.




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About 9 Marks… 

Christ Church is a Non-Denominational church.  We are completely autonomous with no outside governing authority.  For churches like ours there are numerous voluntary associations into which we might enter to strengthen our fellowship and make us more effective for Christ.  The 9 Marks association was started by Mark Dever in Washington, DC.  Because we so closely subscribe to the principles of church ministry that are enumerated below we have entered into a voluntary association with this ministry.  We hope you will go to the 9 Marks web site and become acquainted with them.  The link is www.9marks.org. We’re grateful to the folks at Capitol Hill Baptist Church for giving us permission to reproduce the material below. 
We have added a 54 page expansion of these principles for you as well as a link where you can order the entire 300 page book.  In addition to the 9 Marks there is a document here that more completely defines us.  It is called “Affirmations and Denials.”  We don’t want to overload you, but at this point in our development we expect that folks coming aboard will want the clearest possible picture of our Church.
The 9 Marks of a Healthy Church

1.  Expositional Preaching
This is preaching which expounds what Scripture says in a particular passage, carefully explaining its meaning and applying it to the congregation. It is a commitment to hearing God’s Word and to recovering the centrality of it in our worship.

2.  Biblical Theology
Paul charges Titus to "teach what is in accord with sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1). Our concern should be not only with how we are taught, but with what we are taught. Biblical theology is a commitment to know the God of the Bible as He has revealed Himself in Scripture.

3.  Biblical Understanding of the Good News
The gospel is the heart of Christianity.  But the good news is not that God wants to meet people's felt needs or help them develop a healthier self-image. We have sinfully rebelled against our Creator and Judge.  Yet He has graciously sent His Son to die the death we deserved for our sin, and He has credited Christ's acquittal to those who repent of their sins and believe in Jesus' death and resurrection. That is the good news.

4.  Biblical Understanding of Conversion
The spiritual change each person needs is so radical, so near the root of us, that only God can do it. We need God to convert us. Conversion need not be an emotionally heated experience, but it must evidence itself in godly fruit if it is to be what the Bible regards as a true conversion.

5.  Biblical Understanding of Evangelism
How someone shares the gospel is closely related to how he understands the gospel. To present it as an additive that gives non-Christians something they naturally want (i.e. joy or peace) is to present a half-truth, which elicits false conversions. The whole truth is that our deepest need is spiritual life, and that new life only comes by repenting of our sins and believing in Jesus. We present the gospel openly, and leave the converting to God.

6.  Biblical Understanding of Membership 
Membership should reflect a living commitment to a local church in attendance, giving, prayer and service; otherwise it is meaningless, worthless, and even dangerous. We should not allow people to keep their membership in our churches for sentimental reasons or lack of attention. To be a member is knowingly to be traveling together as aliens and strangers in this world as we head to our heavenly home. 

7.  Biblical Church Discipline
Church discipline gives parameters to church membership. The idea seems negative to people today – “didn’t our Lord forbid judging?” But if we cannot say how a Christian should not live, how can we say how he or she should live? Each local church actually has a biblical responsibility to judge the life and teaching of its leaders, and even of its members, particularly insofar as either could compromise the church’s witness to the gospel. 

8.  Promotion of Christian Discipleship and Growth
A pervasive concern with church growth exists today – not simply with growing numbers, but with growing members. Though many Christians measure other things, the only certain observable sign of growth is a life of increasing holiness, rooted in Christian self-denial. These concepts are nearly extinct in the modern church. Recovering true discipleship for today would build the church and promote a clearer witness to the world.

9.  Biblical Understanding of Leadership
What eighteenth-century Baptists and Presbyterians often agreed upon was that there should be a plurality of elders in each local church. This plurality of elders is not only biblical, but practical — it has the immense benefit of rounding out the pastor’s gifts to ensure the proper shepherding of God’s church.


Download 9 Marks Expanded

Download Affirmation and Denials

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