Statement of Faith & Practices

Our Statement of Faith

Start here

Definition Church's Statement of Faith is intended to clarify what we believe the Bible teaches on a number of essential topics. Before reading on these topics, we'd like you to understand our beliefs on how this Statement should be read and approached.

How to approach the statement of faith

We do not expect you to understand or agree with everything that is captured in this statement when you first begin participating in our church. We are all at different points in our spiritual journey. As we grow spiritually, our theology, ethics, and character matures. This journey takes time. We are becoming more like Jesus in what we believe as well as how we behave.
This also means a healthy church, who is trying to introduce Jesus to those who do not know Him yet, should be a place of theological, ethical, cultural, political, psychological, moral, and spiritual diversity. Truth is absolute. Jesus said, "I am the truth" and "if you know the truth, the truth would set you free." It took time for the disciples, who were being mentored by Jesus, to understand theology and grow in their freedom. Jesus did not look for people who had it all figured out. Jesus looked for people with an open heart and took them on a journey toward maturity. The same should be true today.
Finally, there are lots of theological and ethical subjects this document does not address. Here is why:

In the essentials we have unity. This document represents what we believe is essential and we want you to know what these beliefs are. We believe the church should take a position on these topics. You do not have to believe everything here to be a part of our church, but you can not actively oppose these beliefs by teaching others something contrary.
In the non-essentials we have liberty. These are the topics we do not believe the church needs to have an official position on (i.e. end times, church government, election, politics, social drinking, ministry strategy, etc.) We can disagree on these things and still be a church.
In everything we show charity. Even when we do not agree we are all called to love one another.

If you'd like to be a part of our church, our hope is that you would carry this same vision and heart in how we relate to each other.

Our mission is to help you be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do what Jesus did; and Jesus is the truth. Our conviction is this: If we help each other grow in relationship with Jesus, Jesus will clarify our theology, increase our freedom, and anoint us to work together to share this good news with our world!

The Bible

The Bible is the authoritative Word of God. It alone is the final authority in truth and practice. In its original writing, it is inspired by God, infallible and inerrant.

The Trinity

There is one God, who has eternally existed in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. These three are equally and eternally God.

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is God, the Son, the second person of the Trinity. Jesus is 100% God and 100% man. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, and died on the cross for our sins. The shedding of His blood is 100% sufficient to cleanse mankind of all sin. He rose from the dead on the third day, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will return again in power and glory.

Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is God, the third member of the trinity, and God's active presence in the world to do God's work. When a person opens his or her heart to Christ, he or she is born again by the Spirit. At Salvation the Holy Spirit comes to live in the new believer's heart. The Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to be with Jesus, to live in God's presence. The Holy Spirit helps us become like Jesus by transforming us from the inside out. Finally, the Holy Spirit empowers us to go into our world and do what Jesus did. This is what it means to live a Spirit filled life.

The Church

The church is the Body of Christ, representing Jesus in the world, empowered and gifted by the Holy Spirit to follow Jesus together and to teach others to follow Jesus in order to experience abundant life and fulfill the great commission.

Sin/Redemption

God created mankind without sin. However, Adam and Eve freely decided to rebel against God's rule, declared independence, and brought sin (disordered desires) into God's good creation. Mankind's only hope is redemption, through the death and resurrection of Christ.

Repentance

Repentance is turning away from sin and independence and turning to Christ in faith and dependence. The Christian life is a transformational journey. As we learn to be with Jesus, we become like Jesus, and in time begin doing what Jesus did.

Resurrection

Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body three days after His death on the cross. Therefore, through our faith in Christ, we too will be raised to new and eternal life.

Salvation

We are saved by grace through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Salvation is a gift from God, not something we can earn. Salvation allows us to escape God's judgment so we can enjoy heaven–eternal paradise with God.

Christians

Christians are people who have decided to trust Jesus for salvation and to follow Him in grace. They are born again, adopted into God’s family, and have the Holy Spirit living in them.

Sanctification

Sanctification is the ongoing process of becoming like Jesus. As we yield to God's Word and His Spirit, He produces His life and character in us.

Two Sacraments

The Sacraments or ordinances of the church are a visible, physical representation of a spiritual and theological reality the early church instituted to build and strengthen our faith. They allow us to have an experience that serves as a metaphor and public testimony representing an important spiritual moment and step of faith a new believer has decided to take.

Water Baptism

Jesus taught new believers to be baptized in water, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Baptism means to immerse and symbolizes a person's death (turning away from sin and independence) and resurrection (turning to Jesus, following Him in faith and dependence). Baptism is a public witness and declaration that a person has decided to follow Christ.

The Lord's Supper

Communion is a worship experience where believers remember, reflect upon and celebrate what Christ accomplished on the cross for our salvation, redemption, and sanctification. The bread represents his body which was broken for us. The wine/juice represents his blood which was shed for us. Communion is a time of reflection, repentance, and worship as our hearts are filled with wonder and gratitude for all Jesus has done for us.

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is currently and actively working to equip the church today through a variety of spiritual gifts. They are used to build and sanctify the church, to demonstrate the validity of the resurrection, and to confirm the power of the Gospel. The Bible's lists of these gifts are not necessarily exhaustive, and the gifts may occur in various combinations. All believers are commanded to earnestly desire the manifestation of the gifts in their lives. These gifts always operate in harmony with the Scriptures and should never be used in violation of Biblical parameters.

Second Coming

Jesus Christ will physically and visibly return to earth for the second time to establish His Kingdom. This will occur at a date undisclosed by the Scriptures.

Our Practices

Following Jesus requires us not just to believe, but to act. These core practices help us learn to be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do what Jesus did. We want to do whatever we can to help you learn these practices, so that you can experience the fruit of a healthy relationship with Jesus and others.

Church Community

Nearly all of the change and transformation we experience with God happens in community and meaningful relationships. Small groups provide you a safe place to experience the freedom and redemption that Jesus came to give you—and help others experience the same. We meet regularly in small groups with other believers to encourage, challenge, and love each other as the family of God.

Hebrews 10:25

Sabbath

Jesus places a clear emphasis on finding rest and peace in Him. The practice of Sabbath teaches us to release control and to leave behind the idols of productivity and image. We rest weekly to remember that our identity is about more than just what we do for God. Taking time each week to stop working and to rest and connect with God teaches us that God is in control and we were made for a relationship with Him, not just productivity for Him.

Matthew 11:28-30

Solitude

We are influenced by what we surround ourselves with. Solitude helps us silence all the voices in our lives to more clearly hear God and connect with Him. When we can find quiet and solitude, we develop a greater understanding of our emotions, our thoughts, and God’s perspective on our lives. We practice solitude to eliminate unhealthy influences and more clearly discern God’s will for our lives.

Matthew 14:23

Bible Study

Reading, studying, memorizing, and meditating on the Bible gives us the ability to hear God’s voice, understand our relationships, discern His will and purpose for our lives, and discover the truth. We believe that before you begin your day, God has something to say. We study the Bible daily to connect with and learn from God.

Hebrews 4:12 Matthew 4:4

Prayer

Prayer allows us to learn God’s heart for us and to share our hearts with Him. Prayer is powerful and often changes our circumstances, our perspective, or both. We pray daily to express our emotions to God (the good and the bad), allow Him to address our thinking, and ask God to move in our lives and our world.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Fasting

Fasting teaches us to put aside our desires (both good and bad) for a season for something better. We learn to hunger for the things of God more than what our flesh wants. It prepares us to fight temptation and strengthens our spiritual resolve. We refrain from eating (or consuming things like tv, social media, news, etc.) for set periods of time throughout the year to hear God’s voice more clearly and renew our spiritual hunger for His purposes in our lives.

1 Corinthians 9:27

Evangelism

We share our faith with others because if we’ve truly experienced God’s grace and love others, we will want them to experience the same. Sharing our faith sharpens our understanding of the Word, reminds us of everything that God has done for us, and helps others experience His love. We share the Gospel (that Jesus came and died so we could have a relationship with Him) wherever there is an opportunity to introduce others to the same love that changed our lives.

1 Peter 3:15

Serving

Jesus modeled servant leadership better than anyone who has walked the planet and then challenged us to live the same way. When we serve, we are reminded that our issues are not the only issues, that the world is bigger than our problems. We find joy in helping others overcome their struggles. We serve because through serving, we find life, and we help others find life.

Galatians 5:13-14 Mark 10:45

Giving

The story of the Gospel can be summed up in two words: God (the subject), gave (the verb). If we are to reflect our Creator's image, we must be willing to live lives of extravagant generosity. We must be willing to give of our time, skills, and finances. We reflect our Creator's generosity and share the love and hope of the Gospel with others through our giving.

1 John 3:16-18

Our Statement of Faith and Practices