Distinctives

We Are Reformational:

• Sola Scriptura (by Scripture alone) – The Bible is the complete, closed and clear authority in all matters of faith.
• Sola Fide (by faith alone) – We are declared righteous by God through faith alone.
• Solus Christus (through Christ alone) – Our confidence is in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.
• Sola Gratia (by grace alone) – Grace secures redemption without regard to works.
• Soli Deo Gloria (glory to God alone) – The goal of creation and redemption is God’s praise.

We Are Calvinistic:

• Total Depravity – The fall of Adam affected the totality of man’s person.
• Unconditional Election – Election is not based on foreseen faith or works.
• Limited Atonement – Redemption was accomplished by Christ for elect.
• Irresistible Grace – Regeneration by the Holy Spirit is efficacious for the elect.
• Perseverance of the Saints – God will, by grace, complete what He began in regeneration of the elect.

We Are Puritan:

• Godliness in Worship – The Regulative Principle of Worship, the Lord’s Day as a Christian Sabbath
• Godliness in Preaching – Primacy of preaching, with both exposition and application
• Godliness in Instruction – We are confessional, publishing what we believe the Bible teaches.
• Godliness in Family – Parents are to instruct (catechize) and disciple their children in the Lord.
• Godliness in Behavior – Maintaining a good conscience before God and man.

We Are Covenantal:

• Unity of the Bible – Many parts, yet one message.
• Christ-Centered Interpretation – Jesus’ person, work and kingdom is the theme of the Bible.
• Law / Gospel Distinction – Law commands and condemns. Gospel saves.
• One Way of Salvation – Christ has saved all the elect throughout all the ages in the same way.
• Optimistic View of History – Jesus Christ is now King ruling over all. He will soon come again.

We Are Baptistic:

• Biblical Church Practice – Ordinances are for believers only. Church discipline lovingly exercised.
• Biblical Church Freedom – The state is not to intrude into matters of the church.
• Biblical Church Government – Elders and deacons. The local congregation chooses its leaders.
• Biblical Church Growth – Gospel proclamation to the world. Repentance and Faith demanded of all.
• Biblical Church Ministry – Priesthood of all believers.
• Biblical Church Membership – Formal membership identifies us both with Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, and with one another.

We Are a Family:

• All worship and receive instruction together – We believe that every member and guest should have access to the ordinary means of grace, especially preaching.
• Honor legitimate authority of both church and home – We encourage parents to catechize and instruct their children in the “fear and admonition of the Lord” and set a godly example of faithful church membership and obedience to the commands of Christ and His Gospel.
• Our members covenant together — All members are encouraged to participate fully in the community and embrace their biblical duties.
• Commitment to simplicity – We avoid an overemphasis on programs and ministries that detract from families discipling their children or undermine the public means of grace (1 Timothy 2:2).
• Honor the Biblical differences in roles and function of men and women – Both at home and in the church, we seek to call all men and women to embrace God’s created design and differentiation of roles, while joyfully affirming the equality of the sexes in their worth and standing before the Lord.
• Maintain historic reformed baptist ecclesiology – We are not part of any larger “movement” of family integrated churches.