OUR BELIEFS
WHAT WE BELIEVE
Living Word Church is committed to the cause of Jesus Christ as set forth in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. We believe that Scripture is the ultimate authority for the Church’s teaching and practice. And we're convinced that our God is saving human beings from every people and nation by His grace, which is received through faith in Jesus alone.
Now this is eternal life; that they may know you, the only
true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. – John 17:3
Since we believe that God is absolutely sovereign in saving His people, we joyfully and confidently proclaim the good news that Jesus died to redeem sinners like us!
Tim Keller puts it well: “The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope”.
—The Meaning of Marriage (New York: Dutton, 2011), 44
OUR VALUES
Joyful and Reverent Worship
We believe that worship is the action of God’s gathered people in response to God’s saving words and deeds. Hence, our worship is a dialogue: God calls us, speaks among us, ministers to us, and sends us, and we respond in faith with prayer, songs of praise, and new obedience. It’s the high point of our week as a church family. We worship the Lord as those filled with joy in the gospel and reverence for God’s holy name.
Christ-Centered Preaching
We believe that God’s revelation in Christ is the climax of the entire Scripture story, and so expository preaching through books of the Bible is the primary means that the Spirit uses to bring us to faith in Christ and grow us to be more like our Savior.
Reformed Doctrine
We are unapologetically Reformed in doctrine, upholding the Three Forms of Unity—The Belgic Confession, The Heidelberg Catechism, The Canons of the Synod of Dort—as an excellent summary of Scripture’s teaching. And see The Belhar Confession for our theological confrontation with the sin of racism.
Biblical Leadership
We are committed to the Presbyterial form of government or rule by pastor-teachers and elders as godly and accountable leaders whom we trust and who seek our spiritual wellbeing. We also have deacons, as godly individuals called to the ministry of mercy, service, and outreach.
Grace-based Community
We are committed to cultivating meaningful, weekly opportunities where Christians at all stages of life can gather to enjoy fellowship, study Scripture, pray together, love and support one another, and be intentionally welcoming to newcomers and guests.
Passionate Mission
We live as a discipling community on mission to serve missionally, build caring relationships, love our neighbors, and reach all people with the gospel. We desire to make lifetime disciples, train future leaders, and send them into the harvest. And we give generously to church planting and foreign missions.