What we believe
Below we have listed the things which we believe in as a Church.
The Supremacy and Centrality of Jesus Christ
We aim to be a 'Christ-centred' church. We acknowledge the centrality of Jesus as the complete revelation of God's nature and character, and worship Him as both Saviour and Lord. As such we seek to submit to His authority, work for His glory and represent Him to the world.
The Bible
As a 'Bible-based' church, we accept this inspired and infallible message from God is both the basis and the authority for our beliefs and behaviour. The 'Word of God' is His recorded revelation to the world. The study of this Word should produce worship in us, as we comprehend more fully the nature of God and His great love and mercy towards people. It should produce behavioural change as it instructs us and renews our minds, and should shape our living as the people of God in the 21st century.
The Direction of the Holy Spirit
Our desire is to be led by the Holy Spirit and to allow Him to be the source of life and power in all things. The life flow of the Holy Spirit is an essential element of the life and ministry of the church and in the individual lives of its members. The Spirit comes to glorify Jesus, to reveal and interpret the written word and to manifest God's glory. He is also a deposit, guaranteeing our future redemption. It is the Spirit who transforms the believer and brings the presence of God into individuals and corporate gatherings.
The Fatherhood of God
This wonderful truth brings great confidence and security to us as His children. As our father, God is constantly blessing us with His faithful care and provision. Our part is to submit to His loving training and discipline, which is designed to produce in us His family likeness and reflect His loving nature.
The Church as The Living Body of Christ
As a living organism, rather than an organisation or ornate building, the church is valued as the body of Jesus, joined to Him as the head, in which every member can feel loved and secure, and can grow and function as a vital part of the whole. As an organism the church primarily increases through the functioning of every part and demonstrates the manifold wisdom of God.
Relationship
We are joined together by relationship, rather than legal structure or position. The family aspect of our relationships, flowing out of the fatherhood of God, is at the heart of the way in which we build together. Just as the Godhead exists in harmonious relationship and mutuality, so those made in God's image should similarly relate to each other.
Personal Pastoring
The provision of personal pastoring is the key to our care and accountability for each member. This is a voluntary submission of one's life to another for the purpose of accountability, care and growth in God.
Discipleship
The training and equipping of every member to achieve full potential in God is a high priority. Believers are called to be disciples and followers of Jesus, a task that requires specific times of training. Important in this process is the development and release of Ephesians 4 ministries to equip the body as a whole and monitor its life flow in specific areas. The training entailed has as its goal the equipping of both men and women as godly influences in society as well as responsible members of God's church.
Leadership
We believe that leadership in its various forms is God's way of providing care and direction for his people. Leaders are to humbly and responsibly serve as 'overseers' of God's flock, recognising that they must give account to God for the way they exercise their authority and fulfil this charge. Church members are exhorted to willingly receive this service, seeking to follow the example of their leaders, thereby making their task a joy and not a burden.
Cell Groups
We see these as foundational to the building of a healthy body, the development of spiritual gifts and ministries, and a platform for involvement in the community. They express the relational life inherent in the church (as a body) and also in God (as Triune).
Worship
This is the highest service that we can offer God, who alone is worthy of worship. The Father seeks those who will worship Him in spirit and truth and has decreed that all should bow to His Son. Worship therefore is an important element of church life, both corporately and individually. It is the overflowing of our hearts towards God, expressed in song, word and action. The offering of ourselves as living sacrifices is pleasing to God as a spiritual act of worship.
Prayer
We recognise our absolute dependence upon God and therefore need to come before Him to seek Him, His will and His blessing. The necessity of this is seen in the life of Jesus and in the twelve apostles who 'gave their attention to prayer'. Our calling as priests to God includes intercession for others. This extends beyond our own immediate situations to all the nations, since the heart of God is that His house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.
The Kingdom of God
The radical principles of the kingdom of God are the only valid basis for a meaningful lifestyle. This is a dynamic reality to us and needs to be the first priority of our lives. Expressed in the totality of life, this is not a triumphalistic approach that expects everything now, but exists in the knowledge that there is a full and complete consummation still to come. As such, the church lives out the kingdom now, enjoying God's salvation, blessing and rule, looking forward to the day when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. This hope is what propels the church forward and keeps her focused in times of difficulty.
Stewardship
'The earth is the Lord's and everything in it' - we therefore recognise that everything we have, individually and corporately, we hold in trust as stewards for the Lord. This principle should govern all aspects of life and also ministry. All spiritual and natural gifts, possessions, resources, time, money, etc, all belong to the Lord and we are therefore accountable to Him for their use.
Evangelism
The great commission given by Jesus to His disciples to go and make disciples is as relevant today as ever. The good news of the gospel is desperately needed by others in our community and we seek to fulfil this challenge by a variety of expressions to all ages and in all situations, including practical demonstrations of God's love and care to those in need.
Mission
The call to be an 'Antioch' church has been in our genes for many years. This expresses itself in many forms, both at home and overseas, in ministering the grace of God, by word and deed, to a needy world. This outward thrust is strengthened by apostolic input. Inherent in the word 'apostle' is a sense of sending and therefore we draw on the apostolic life flow to assist in fulfilling this call of God.
Christian Education
As part of our investment in the next generation, we are committed to the training and equipping of our children in godly principles and values. This extends to the provision of a church school to educate the children up to GCSE standard (see the links section for details about the King's School).
Work
We see work as an attribute of God himself, which He has also made inherent in our humanity. Work is therefore part of our calling and we see it is as spiritual, not secular. We encourage our members, whether employed by the church or engaged in business/employment in the home or elsewhere, to regard it as a spiritual occupation, 'doing the will of God from your heart'. (Eph 6:6)