We are a congregation that makes much of doctrine. In fact, it is doctrine that binds us together as a body. Certainly common worship and common mission are unifying factors, but they must occur upon the foundation of unifying doctrine.

Seek it. Our source of truth is the Word of God. There is revelation of God in nature (Psalm 19:1-6), but the revelation of God in His Word is specific and perfect (2 Timothy 3:16-17). It contains all that is necessary for life and godliness. We must be searchers of the scriptures. We will preach it, read it, memorize it. We will try to understand it to the best of our abilities. While the wisdom of men is valuable, especially the wisdom of Spirit-filled preachers and teachers, the authority for everything they say must be from the Word of God.

Hide it. Not in the sense of hiding it from others, but hiding it in the depths of our hearts assures that it can never be taken away from us and is at the disposal of the Holy Spirit to guide us in any given moment. One remarkable thing about hiding God’s Word in your heart is that it allows you to keep it forever, and at the same time have an unlimited supply to give to others.

Speak it. (2 Timothy 4:1-4). Our preaching, teaching, witnessing, study, and discussion must be the Word of God. It might come in many forms. It might be expository (verse by verse), or topical (a study on a particular subject in the Bible). It might be deductive or inductive, doctrinal or practical, but we are committed to the Word of God. It is the Word that the Holy Spirit uses as we witness to quicken unredeemed hearts. The Word of God is our authority and power.

Accept it. (James 2). The Bible is our authority for faith and practice. We place ourselves as a congregation under its authority. We will not relegate the authority of scripture to a day or two a week, but seek to live by its precepts in every moment and in every sphere of our lives.

Protect it. (Jude 3-4). We believe that we have a responsibility as a body of believers to speak up for sound doctrine. This means that our ministry is sometimes a negative one. We must point out compromise and error where it is found. We must not be timid in our denunciation of false doctrine, or in our commendation of that which is sound. This means that we are a separatist congregation–refusing to join in ministry with those who deny the plain truths of God’s Word, or with those who–while accepting the truth of God’s Word–refuse to live by it.

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