Our Identity
Our Mission, Values, & Doctrinal Statement
As we look toward God, as we seek His glory, & as we engage people on the journey, these things are our "map"; these things show us how to get where we're going. As a church body, we share them with you for two reasons: first, we want you to know where we're going & how we're getting there so that you can hold us accountable to these things. Second, we hope that you will both enjoy & embrace our mission, strategy, & values as you "own them" & make them part of your own life.
Mission
The mission of Trinity Chapel is to magnify the name of Jesus as we ...
- Learn to know & love God
- Live in community with others
- Love others through our gifts & our stories
Values
Our six values shape the way we carry out our mission. We strive to be...
1. God-exalting: The idea that we want to be a worshipping people … valuing/exalting God above all other things. This is the value from which all the other values flow. (Phil. 1:20-23; John 4:21-23; Romans 12:1-2; Matt. 15:7-11)
2. Truth-centered: Believing that the Bible is the inerrant, infallible word of God, we seek to center our lives around what God reveals about Himself, the world, and ourselves. (Psalm 19:7-14; 2 Timothy 3:16; James 1:22-25)
3. Grace-filled: Allowing God’s grace to reach into the depths of our being, we desire to reflect that grace as we seek to be the restoring presence of Christ to others wherever they are on their journey. (Eph. 2:8-10; 4:32; Titus 2:11-13)
4. Relationally-focused: Because God designed us to live in relationship with others, we seek to make relationships the foundation for everything we do. (Hebrews 10:24-25; Phil. 2:3-4; Romans 12:4-5; Gal. 6:2)
5. Servant-minded: Understanding that God has given everyone unique gifts for serving others, we seek to encourage and provide opportunities to serve others for the building of God’s kingdom. (Mark 10:42-45; Eph. 2:11-18; 4:1-24; 1 Cor. 12:4-11; Ro. 12:4-8)
6. Missionally-driven: Knowing that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only hope of the world, we see our world around us as our mission field. (John 14:6; Acts 1:8, Matt 28:19-20, John 17:13-18)
Doctrinal Statement
These are the 10 "big picture" scriptural doctrines we hold to and from which we derive our teaching ministries. This list is not meant to be comprehensive; nor is it meant to get into every detail of our theology; there are several "nuances" which fit into these beliefs. In our value of being "grace-filled," we hope that if your beliefs do not line up with any one of these doctrines, that this can be the start of a wonderful conversation as we grow together & seek God's truth.
Scripture
1. We believe that all "Scripture is given by inspiration of God," by which we understand the whole Bible is inspired in the sense that holy men of God "were moved by the Holy Spirit" to write the very words of Scripture. Therefore, we believe that the Bible is verbally and completely inerrant in the original writings. 2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-22; John 10:35; Matthew 5:18
The Trinity
2. We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:6; Matthew 28:18-19; 2 Corinthians 13:14
Person of Christ
3. We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary and is therefore fully God and fully man. The Holy Spirit was sent by the Father to convict the world of sin, to glorify Jesus and to transform the lives of believers into the likeness of Christ. Matthew 1:20-25; John 1:1-2, 14; Matthew 1:20-25
Humanity
4. We believe that man was created in the image of God; that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death which is separation from God; and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature subsequently displayed in thought, word, and deed. Genesis 1:26-28; Romans 5:12; Genesis 3; Genesis 9:6; James 3:9
Work of Christ
5. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a substitutionary sacrifice, and that all who believe in Him are redeemed and justified on the ground of His shed blood. 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Romans 3:23-26, 5:1
Resurrection
6. We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, His ascension into heaven, and His present life for us as High Priest and Advocate. Romans 1:4; 1 Corinthians 15:12-19; Romans 6:1-11; Acts 1:9; Hebrews 7:25, 9:24; Romans 8:31-34
Return of Christ
7. We believe in "that Blessed Hope," the personal, premillenial and imminent return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Acts 1:11; Revelations 20:4; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thess. 4:16-17, 1:10
Salvation
8. We believe that all who place their faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross are born of the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God, a relationship in which they are eternally secure. Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 8:1, 12:1-2; Hebrews 7:25, 10:14, 19; Romans 8:29-34; John 10:28-29; 1 John 5:13
Eternity
9. We believe that all people will experience a bodily resurrection after death; the nonbeliever will suffer eternal separation from God, and the believer will be in heaven. Luke 10:15; Rev. 20:13; Like 23:43; 2 Cor. 5:8
The Church
10. We believe in the church of Jesus Christ; that it is a spiritual organism made up of all believers in Christ; and that in its local manifestation it is an autonomous assembly of believers; and that its ordinances are baptism and the Lord's Supper. Colossians 1:18; Phil 1:1; 1 Corinthians 11:23-31; Matthew 28:19, 20.