What We Teach

THE WORD OF GOD

We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired, and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.

THE TRINITY

We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons; that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct, but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence, and redemption.

GOD THE FATHER

We believe in God the Father, an infinite personal spirit, perfection holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of each person, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.

JESUS CHRIST

We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension in to Heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth.

THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe in the Holy Spirit, who came forth from the Father and Son, to convict the world of sing, righteousness, and judgement, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide.

REGENERATION

We believe that all people are sinners by nature and by choice and are, therefore, under condemnation. We believe that those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit.

THE ORDINANCES

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe that the Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water into the name of the triune God. We believe that the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

THE CHURCH

We believe in the universal church; a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head, and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible confession of faith, and associated for worship, work, and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world.

CHRISTIAN CONDUCT

We believe that Christians should live for the glory of God and the well-being of others; that their conduct should be blameless before the world; that they should be faithful stewards of their possessions, and that they should seek to realize for themselves and others the full stature of maturity in Christ.

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

We believe that every human being has direct relations with God and is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith; that each church is independent and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical of political authority; that therefore, the Church and State must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from dictation or patronage of the other.

CHURCH COOPERATION

We believe that local churches can best promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with one another in an association of churches. Such an organization, whether it is Converge Worldwide, or one of its regional districts, existed and functions by the will of the Churches. Cooperation in a conference is voluntary and may be terminated at any time. Church may likewise cooperate with inter-denominational fellowships on a voluntary basis.

THE LAST THINGS

We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth, and the establishment of His Kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgement, and eternal felicity of the righteous and endless suffering of the wicked.

MARRIAGE AND SEXUALITY

We believe that marriage is a God-ordained relationship between a biological man and a biological woman, and is the foundational unit of a stable society. We believe that any practice of sexuality outside of this marriage bond is offensive to God.

GENDER

We believe that God creates each person as a male or female, and that these distinct, complimentary genders together reflect God’s design for humanity. Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of God’s created design for that person.

FINAL AUTHORITY

This does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the infallible, inspired Word of God that speaks the final authority concerning truth, morality, and proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For the purposes of Shores Community Church’s faith, doctrine, practice, and discipline, our Elder Board is the Church’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.