WHAT WE BELIEVE

The Holy Scriptures
We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God: true, indisputable, steadfast, and unchangeable (2 Timothy 3:16, 17).
 

The Eternal Godhead
We believe that God is triune: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; the Three are coexistent, co-eternal, and equal in divine perfection (Genesis 1:26-27; 2 Corinthians 13:14).
 

The Fall of Man
We believe that man, created in the image of God, by voluntary disobedience fell into the depths of sin and iniquity, bequeathing sin’s nature and consequences to all mankind, with their accompanying loss of intended meaning and purpose (Genesis 1:27, 3:1-7; Romans 5:18-19).
 

The Plan of Redemption
We believe that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us, took our place, and with His life’s blood purchased the pardon for all who believe in Him (John 3:16; Titus 2:14).
 

Salvation through Grace
We believe that salvation is wholly through grace; that no human righteousness or merit can contribute to our receiving God’s love and favor (Ephesians 2:8-9).
 

Repentance and Acceptance
We believe that, upon sincere repentance and a whole-hearted acceptance of Christ, we are justified before God through Jesus’ sacrificial death (Romans 10:9-11; Galatians 3:22; Hebrews 11:6).
 

The New Birth
We believe that the change that takes place in people at conversion is a very real one; that having received righteousness in Christ and having received of His Spirit, people will have new desires, interests, and pursuits in life (John 3:1-21; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20).
 

Daily Christian Life
We believe that it is the will of God that those who have been born again grow in sanctification, become partakers of His holiness, and daily grow stronger in the faith, power, prayer, love, and service (2 Corinthians 7:1; Philippians 4:13).
 

Water Baptism
We believe that being baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is an essential response to Jesus’ command, testifying to His lordship as Christ and King (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:11-12).

 

The Lord's Supper

We believe in observing the Lord’s Supper, receiving the broken bread and the fruit of the vine with joy and faith as we partake anew of the life and triumph of Christ’s Cross (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
 

The Spirit-Filled Life
We believe that it is the will of God that believers walk in the Spirit moment by moment, serving the Lord and living lives of patience, love, truth, sincerity, and prayer (Ephesians 4:30-32; Galatians 5:16-17, 25).

 

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit
We believe that the baptism in the Holy Spirit empowers believers to exalt Jesus, to live lives of holiness, and to be witnesses of God’s saving grace; we expect the Spirit’s incoming to be after the same manner as that in which He came upon believers in the days of the Early Church (Acts 1: 5, 8; 2:4).

 

The MANIFESTATIONAL Gifts
We believe that the Holy Spirit bestows enabling ministry gifts upon believers, and that these gifts will build up the Body of Christ through edification and evangelism (1 Corinthians 12:1-11)

 

The MINISTERIAL Gifts

We believe that the Holy Spirit give these gifts as a full-time calling and commitment as a servant to God and His people. These are the gifts and calling of an Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher. (Ephesians 4:11-12)

                                     

The MOTIVATIONAL Gifts

We believe that the Holy Spirit bestows these basic yet powerful gifts to any and all believers. These gifts may define what ministry believers will serve in within the Body of Christ. All believers will have at least one gift. (Romans 12:6-8)

 

The Fruit of the Spirit

We believe as evidence of a Spirit-filled life, believers should show spiritual “fruit”: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. (Galatians 5:22-25).
 

Moderation
We believe a Christians’ moderation should be obvious to others and that relationship with Jesus should never lead people into extremes of fanaticism; their lives should model that of Christ in uprightness, balance, humility, and self-sacrifice (Colossians 3:12-13; Philippians 4:5).
 

Divine Healing
We believe that divine healing is the power of Jesus Christ to heal the sick in answer to the prayer of faith; He, who does not change, is still willing and able to heal the body, as well as the soul and spirit in answer to faith (Mark 16:17-18; James 5:14-16).
 

The Second Coming of Christ
We believe that the second coming of Christ is personal and imminent; the certainty of His coming and the fact that no man knows the hour of His coming prompt our evangelistic efforts; that the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven, the dead in Christ shall rise, and the redeemed will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (Matthew 24:36-44; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).
 

Church Relationship
We believe that it is our sacred duty to identify ourselves with a congregation of believers with whom we can worship God, observe the ordinances of Christ, exhort and support one another, labor for the salvation of others, and work together to advance the Lord’s Kingdom (Acts 16:5; Hebrews 10:24).

 

Traditional Marriage

We believe that term "marriage" has only one meaning and that is marriage sanctioned by God which joins one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as described in scripture. It is God's unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race. (Genesis 2:24-25; Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:31)

 

Sexual Purity

We believe and uphold the biblical position that unholy sexual acts such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pornography or any attempt to change one's sex, or disagreement with one's biological sex, is sinful and offensive to God and is completely against His Word. We deplore any action or statement that would seem to imply compatibility between Christian morality and the practice of sexual sins. We also believe that the power of God is all-sufficient to overcome these sinful unconventional sexual practices through His redemptive love and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin through Jesus Christ. (Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1:26-28; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

 

Civil Government
We believe that civil government is by divine appointment and that civil laws should be upheld at all times except in things opposed to the will of God. (Romans 13:1-5; Acts 4:18-20).

 

Judgment
We believe that all shall stand before the judgment seat of Christ: the redeemed to be delivered unto everlasting life, and the unrepentant unto everlasting punishment (Revelation 20:11-12; 2 Corinthians 5:10).

 

Heaven
We believe that heaven is the glorious habitation of the living God and the eternal home of born-again believers (John 14:2-4; Revelation 7:15-17).
 

Hell
We believe that hell is a place of darkness, deepest sorrow, and unquenchable fire, which was not prepared for man but for the devil and his angels; yet it will become the place of eternal separation from God for all who reject Christ as Savior (Matthew 13:41-42, 25:41).

Evangelism
We believe that soul winning is the “one big business” of the Church on earth, and that every hindrance to worldwide evangelism should be removed (Matthew 28:19-20; James 5:20).
 

Tithing and Offerings
We believe that tithing and offerings are ordained of God to sustain His ministry, spread the Gospel, and release personal blessing (Malachi 3:10; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7).

 

Church Membership

The membership of this Church shall be composed of individuals who are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and affirm the tenets of the Joyful Community Church Constitution, and who offer evidence, by their confession and their conduct, that they are living in accord with their affirmations and this Constitution and Bylaws, and are actively pursuing and continuing in a vital fellowship with The Lord, Jesus Christ. The membership of the Church shall have final authority in all matters of church governance, as set forth and described in the Bylaws.

 

We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of the church as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the church members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by the church in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, should abide by and agree to this statement on Traditional Marriage and Sexuality Purity and conduct themselves accordingly.

 

We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect and dignity. Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with scripture nor the doctrines of the church.