Grounded In Scripture
We base our entire belief on the truth of God’s Word. We believe God’s Word was written for us and to us. We discover the beauty of Jesus and the love of Father God by reading His Word and obeying His commands. We discover in Scripture how to please the Lord, how to treat our spouse, how to raise our children, honor our boss, commit to our local church body of believers, serve the poor, widows and orphans, etc. Scripture is the truth we will not stray from. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 teaches us that “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It’s God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.” Scripture teaches us that we can find our identity in Christ! Hear a sermon on this.
Led By The Spirit
We are given the Holy Spirit who serves as a guide teaching us to remember what Jesus taught and giving us the boldness to follow Jesus into a hurting world and give them the truth God’s saving power. John 14-17; Acts. 1:8; Romans 6-8; Romans 8:14 “Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus who enables, empowers and encourages us to serve God by loving and serving people. The more we listen to the Holy Spirit, the more we look like Jesus and display His goodness on the earth.
Glorifying God In All Things
We believe in doing the right thing just because doing the right thing glorifies God. We aim to be genuine at all times in our love for one another and effort to glorify God by doing everything excellent. We think everything we do is as an act of worship to Jesus. 1 Corinthians 10:31 “Do everything for the glory of God.” Hear a sermon on this.
Advancing The Kingdom
We aim to advance the Kingdom of God as Jesus sends us out. We believe God’s Spirit is within us and powerful to change the world around us. The Holy Spirit gives us the courage and prophetic clarity we need to share the Gospel with those around us. He teaches us to serve others instead of ourselves. Hear a sermon on advancing the Kingdom through serving. Acts 1:8; John 14-17; Matt 28:19-20. Hear a sermon on this.
Loving Others
1 Corinthians 13 teaches us that we have all the knowledge in the world or “success” in building churches full of people but don’t love one another, we have nothing. Jesus said “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind & strength and love your neighbor as yourself. All the law hangs on these two commands.” Luke 10:27-28; Deut. 6:1-25. Hear a sermon on this: Love One Another or Above All Else, We Love
Our Beliefs
We are an Assemblies of God church and hold to the tenants of the AG. Primarily those core beliefs include the following:
Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah who saves us from our sin.
Titus 3:3–7 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior, Jesus, appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Here a sermon on who Jesus is and why He had to come to die in our place and be raised to new life on the third day.
God gives us resurrection life and we are born again when we accept the free gift of salvation.
Romans 8 | 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. Click Here for a sermon on how to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord.
Jesus has prepared a place for us His children in Heaven to enjoy His presence forever & will come soon to take us there to rule & reign with Him.
1 John 3:1-3 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. Hear a sermon on this!
The Holy Spirit is creating the Body of Christ, a community of believers who grow from each other.
The Holy Spirit is God’s voice on the earth and He is not only drawing all people to trust in Jesus, He is also creating a Bride of Christ. He’s creating a community of believers, the church who are being purified and prepared for when Jesus returns. We need each other as the Body of Christ! Together, we are His body. Hear a sermon on this.
The Holy Spirit empowers us to tell others about Jesus.
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. For a sermon on who the Holy Spirit is, click here. For a sermon on how the Holy Spirit has given us gifts to use for His glory, click here. Some excellent books on this subject are Holy Spirit , Power For Life and Truth & Love.
God reveals Himself as our Father in Heaven.
Jesus teaches us to pray starting with “Our Father in Heaven.” He teaches us to talk to God as He does - as “Father.” God calls us “son” and “children” throughout scripture and we at Rock of Grace feel it’s one of the most foundational, core beliefs that defines our identity! Hebrews 12:3–11 (ESV): Consider Him who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by Him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives.” See also 1 John 1-2 Click Here for a Sermon on God being our Father