Elizabeth River Baptist Church

1 – People matter to God and they matter to us.

2 – The Gospel message transforms people’s lives.

3 – The goal of our ministry is to transform people into fully-devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

4 – Ministry and evangelism must be carried out in a relevant way.

5 – We create a “safe place” by treating people gently and respectfully.

6 – People need to be connected to a caring community.

7 – We believe that every Christian has a God-given ministry.

8 – Everything we do must be done with excellence.

9 – Our church must have an evangelistic impact on our community.

10 – To accomplish our mission, we must be willing to step out in visionary faith and take risks for God.

 

1. The Bible is inerrant and infallible.

• • • All Scripture is God-breathed… (2 Timothy 3:16a)

2. The Bible is the guide for all faith and practice.

• • • “and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man and woman of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16b-17)

3. Where the Bible is clear, we will be emphatic. Where the Bible is silent, we must allow people freedom.

• • • “Accept the person whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One person’s faith allows them to eat everything, but another person, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The person who eats everything must not look down on he or she who does not, and the person who does not eat everything must not condemn the person who does, for God has accepted that person. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master that person stands or falls. And the person will stand, for the Lord is able to make that person stand.”(Romans 14:1-4)

4. Jesus Christ came to earth as God in human flesh.

• • • “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)

5. All people are eternally lost; salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ apart from human works.

• • • “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works so that no one can boast.”(Ephesians 2:8-9)

6. Jesus Christ is the head and authority of the Church.

• • • “And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy.” (Colossians 1:18)

7. All ministry that is effective must be empowered by the Holy Spirit.

• • • “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a person remains in Me and I in them, that person will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

8. God moves in response to our united and personal prayer.

• • • “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16)

9. The glory of God is the motive of our ministry.

• • • “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)