DOCTRINES & VALUES
"Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both your hearers and yourself."
1 Timothy 4:16
Doctrine is not a dirty word, but something that the apostle Paul upheld highly.
DOCTRINES
Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
1 Timothy 4:16
The most import thing about a church are its doctrines. Today people believe to be true simply what they desire to be true. However, the teachings and beliefs of a church demonstrate the value that is placed on God and His Word, not simply what is desirable in our day. The apostle Paul taught that biblical doctrine is a means by which people are saved (1 Timothy 4:16). Sadly, there are many who seem to take an appraoch that says, "doctrine divides." In other words, the result of establishing doctrine in our lives is the division of the church. However, the apostle Paul says that one of the results of closely watching your doctrine is salvation.
#1. EXPOSITORY PREACHING
Expositional preaching is the most important mark of a healthy church.
1 Pet 1:1; 5:1; 1 Tim 5:17; 2 Tim 2:24-26, Titus 1:5; Acts 14:23; Acts 11:30; Heb 13:17; 1 Thess 5:12; Jas 5:14
#2. ELDER LED
The biblical pattern of eldership is a plurality and parity of biblically qualified elders. This establishes accountability and ensures all the members are able to be intentionally discipled.
1 Pet 1:1; 5:1; 1 Tim 5:17; 2 Tim 2:24-26, Titus 1:5; Acts 14:23; Acts 11:30; Heb 13:17; 1 Thess 5:12; Jas 5:14
#3. DEACON SERVED
The Bible teaches a vital component of the church is the office of deacon. Deacons function under the leadership of the elders as servants of the church. Deacons are servants to the elders by meeting the physical and tangible needs of the church in order to facilitate the elders meeting the spiritual needs of the church.
Acts 6 1-6; Phil 1:1; 1 Tim 3:8, 12
#4. CONGREGATIONAL RULE
The highest authority of the church is the congregation, who appoints elders and deacons, receives and dismisses members, affirms the doctrine and bylaws of the church, and holds the elders accountable. The church is autonomously governed under the headship of Christ.
Matt 18:15-20; Acts 6:2-6; 1 Cor. 5 2 Cor. 2:6; Gal. 1:3-10
#5. MEANINGFUL MEMBERSHIP
The local church is comprised of members who are united around shared convictions of belief and practice that are declared in a public covenant. This covenant serves to identify those who are a part of a local church and whom the elders are accountable for to God.
2 Tim 1:13-14; 2 Thess 2:15; 1 Cor 11:2; Col 1:13-14; Heb 13:17; 1 Tim 5:17; 1 Pet 5:2
#6. THE ORDINANCES
Baptism and The Lord’s Supper are the two ordinances given by Jesus Christ to members of the local church. They memorialize the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, and they are a testimony of the believer’s faith in the final resurrection from the dead.
1 Pet 1:1; 5:1; 1 Tim 5:17; 2 Tim 2:24-26, Titus 1:5; Acts 14:23; Acts 11:30; Heb 13:17; 1 Thess 5:12; Jas 5:14
#7. CHRIST CENTERED
It is exclusively our union with Christ through faith that we may know God. Our theology, ministry, philosophy, biblical interpretation, preaching, counseling, and outreach efforts are centered on the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Lk 24:27,44; Jn 1:1-18; 5:39,46; Gal 4:4-7; Heb 1:1-4; 2 Cor 5:14-15
#8. CHURCH DISCPLINE
It is exclusively our union with Christ through faith that we may know God. Our theology, ministry, philosophy, biblical interpretation, preaching, counseling, and outreach efforts are centered on the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Lk 24:27,44; Jn 1:1-18; 5:39,46; Gal 4:4-7; Heb 1:1-4; 2 Cor 5:14-15
CORE VALUES
For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
1 Timothy 4:8
Did you notice that church values are listed after church doctrine? In his letters, the apostle Paul consistently taught doctrine first so that the church then would know what to value. This is because what a church values comes from what it thinks, which is what doctrine is: a set of beliefs. Fireside’s values are first derived from her doctrines in order to bear biblical fruit. So, what a church thinks then determines what it values. Then, the values determine the culture of a church. At Fireside, we are seeking to build a church culture based on explicitly biblical values that come from biblical doctrine.
#1. CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
Christianity is the faith of enlightenment and intelligence. In Jesus Christ abide all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. All sound learning is, therefore, a part of our Christian heritage. An adequate system of Christian education is necessary to a complete spiritual program for Christ’s people.
Deut 4:1,5,9,14; 6:1-10; 31:12-13; Neh 8:1-8; Job 28:28; Psalms 19:7ff.; 119:11; Proverbs 3:13ff.; 4:1-10; 8:1-7,11; 15:14; Ecclesiastes 7:19; Matthew 5:2; 7:24ff.; 28:19-20; Luke 2:40; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Ephesians 4:11-16; Philippians 4:8; Colossians 2:3,8-9; 1 Timothy 1:3-7; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:14-17; Hebrews 5:12-6:3; James 1:5; 3:17.
#2. DEEP DISCIPLESHIP
Saving faith is only the beginning of our relationship with Christ and His church. Jesus calls His disciples to grow in faith, maturity, a knowledge of the Scriptures, and obedience to the Word. This not simply for adults, but it also for the children that Fireside has been blessed with by God. Each person at Fireside is to be actively discipled in order to grow in a deeper relationship with Christ.
Deut 6:1-10; Neh 8:1-8; Lk 10:27; Matt 22:37
#3. ACCOUNTABILITY & RESTORATION
It is not simply that we are to confess Jesus with our lips, but we are to follow Him with our life. We are committed to helping people live lives that are holy, transparent, honest, and humble before the Lord. The church helps each other walk faithfully and consistently before God and the world through mutual accountability. However, accountability is not thee goal when we are struggling with sin; restoration is. The purpose of accountability is restoration. The church is here to help each other be restored in a spirit of gentleness.
Prov 28:13; Ps 32:5; Acs 19:18; Gal 6:1-3; 1 Jn 1:19; James 5:6
#4. THE FAMILY
The preeminent institution of any society is the family, and it is composed of persons related by marriage, blood, or adoption, and having equal worth. Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in marriage for life.
Gen 1:26-28; 2:15-25; 3:1-20; Mal 2:14-16 Eph 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Col 3:18-21; 1 Tim 5:8, 2 Tim 1:3-5; Titus2:3-5
#5. EVANGELISM
Every human being has sinned, and therefore is naturally under the judgement of God. However, the gospel has the power to save anyone who turns from their sin and believes in Jesus Christ. Therefore, we will clearly and consistently share the gospel with the surrounding community.
Gen 12:1-3; Exod 19:5-6; Isa 6:1-8; Matt 9:37-38; Acts 1:8; 10:42-44; 2 Tim 4:5
#5. BIBLICAL COMMUNITY
The Christian life is the churched life. That is because Christians are created to live together in a community where people know and practically live out the commandments of Jesus Christ. We are committed to praying specifically for one another, speaking the truth in love to one another, and encouraging one another in the faith.
Gen 12:1-3; Exod 19:5-6; Isa 6:1-8; Matt 9:37-38; Acts 1:8; 10:42-44; 2 Tim 4:5
BELIEFS & BYLAWS & COVENANT
The Christian life is the churched life. That is because Christians are created to live together in a community where people know and are accountable to each other. We are committed to praying specifically for one another, speaking the truth in love to one another, and encouraging one another in the faith.
Gen 12:1-3; Exod 19:5-6; Isa 6:1-8; Matt 9:37-38; Acts 1:8; 10:42-44; 2 Tim 4:5