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The Village Church community that lives for Jesus showing kindness and love to Tucson.
Membership
The specific purposes of membership are:
- Community. Just as the Godhead of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit exists in community, we as created beings are made for community, both with the Godhead and with each other. Membership is intended to foster deep, authentic community through corporate worship, sound teaching, faithful prayer, and loving relationships.
- Encouragement and Accountability. The community of the Village exists to encourage its members to persevere in hardship. It also exists to hold its members accountable in their pursuit of the spiritual disciplines.
- Love. Membership provides opportunities to give and receive love within the context of the church community. In love, we bear one another's burden and place each other before ourselves.
- Mission. One of the core functions of the Village community is to help fallen and broken human beings be reconciled to their loving and perfect God - a relationship in which they are transformed to fulfill the purpose for which God made them (2 Corinthians 5:11-21).
Doctrine
God the Father
We believe in one (Deuteronomy 6:4) almighty God (Genesis 17:1), Creator of all things visible and invisible (Genesis 1:1; Psalm 90:2). Within the nature of the one true God, there are three eternal, distinct Persons: the Father (1 Corinthians 8:6), the Son (Colossians 1:16), and the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:11-12). These three persons are the one God who has dwelt in community with Himself from eternity.
Jesus Christ the son of God
We believe in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, who was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, maintaining both full humanity and full divinity (John 1:1, 2, 4, 14; Luke 1:35). During His time on earth, He lived in obedience to the Father and was fully without sin (1 Peter 2:21-22). In order to offer redemption from sins, He suffered under Pontius Pilate and was crucified, died and was buried. On the third day He rose from the dead. He then ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9), where He is seated at the right hand of God the Father (Romans 8:34) and will judge the living and the dead (1 Peter 4:5).
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who was promised by Jesus Christ to be a counselor forever (John 14:16), as well as a teacher and a comforter, to those who believe in Jesus Christ (John 14:26; Luke 12:12; Acts 1:2). He is given to followers of Christ as the indwelling presence of God which makes them spiritually alive (Romans 8:11; 2 Corinthians 3:6) and as a seal which guarantees redemption (Ephesians 1:13-14). The Holy Spirit is also active in the world, convicting people of sin and disbelief (John 16:8-11).
Sin
We believe that humans were created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27), but that through the sin of Adam and Eve the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God. All people are by nature evil, enslaved to sin, and unable to remedy their lost condition (Romans 3:10-23). The ultimate punishment for sin is death (Romans 6:23).
Redemption and Forgiveness of Sins
We believe that God has a redemptive plan for the human race. God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to provide a means of escape. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus made the sacrifice (Hebrews 7:26-27) which provided for our sins to be forgiven, if we confess Him as Lord and believe on Him for life (Romans 10:9-10). It is by God's grace we are rescued from sin, through faith, and not by good deeds we do (Ephesians 2:8-10).
Church and Fellowship
We believe that the church, which is the body of Christ (Romans 12:1-13; Ephesians 1:22, 23), is a spiritual organism made up of all who follow Jesus. We believe that the church is established in local communities, and that these communities should meet on a regular basis to worship, study Scripture and provide encouragement (Hebrews 10:24-25). Believers in the local church should provide for each other's needs and preach the gospel to the surrounding world (Acts 2:42-47; Matthew 28:19-20).
Baptism and Communion
We recognize the baptisms of those who believe, whether received as an infant or after coming to faith in Christ (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 18:8). We believe that baptism and communion are given to the church as a testimony to the world of salvation through Christ (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
The Return of Christ
Christ will return to earth and make all things new (1 Thessalonians 4:16-5:2). |
