Service Time
what we believe
THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF OUR FAITH AT NORTH AVENUE
(There's a lot of information here. We recommended grabbing a snack first.)
OUR CORE VALUES:
These Core Values are at the center of what we believe about our ministry together.
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The Bible is the authoritative Word of God and our guide for all matters of faith and practice.
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Christ is our Savior, Lord, and Head of the Church.
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Love for God and others is at the heart of all that we do.
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There is one unified Church that transcends man-made boundaries. We may not agree on everything, but we can cooperate in our mission.
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Jesus commanded us to be and to make disciples by building our relationship with Him each day and encouraging others to do the same.
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Our standard for living is to be holy as God is holy. This doesn’t mean that we are perfect; rather, we are actively becoming more like Christ as we respond to His Holy Spirit.
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Jesus came not to be served but to serve. We follow His example by serving others as He did.
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We worship God both corporately and individually as we live for His glory and honor.
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Prayer is imperative for developing our relationship with God and empowering us to do His work. Prayer moves our hearts into alignment with God’s and moves the heart of God to act on our behalf.
OUR BELIEFS:
How We View Membership
No one person decides that another will or will not be admitted to membership in our congregation. Congregational leaders do not vote on who shall be received as members. The Church of God believes that when one accepts Jesus Christ as Savior, God places that person in the church (Acts 2:47; 1 Corinthians 12:18). Salvation is the criterion for membership in the North Avenue Church of God.
Parent-Child Dedication
Parent-child dedication is consistent with the instructions of Jesus. He said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these" (Matthew 19:14, NIV). Parents are encouraged to present themselves with their infants and/or children for a time of dedication in public worship.
The Bible is our Rule of Faith
The Church of God believes the Bible is the inspired Word of God. We believe the Bible is the foundation for instruction in the Christian faith. Paul said, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16, NIV).
The Decision to Believe
We believe that the cross is the starting point for each Christian. It is there that we come face-to-face with the overwhelming love of God that prompted the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. As Paul put it, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8, NIV). The path of every believer meets and proceeds from the cross.
The Name "Church of God"
We have good reason to use the name Church of God. It is a biblical name. What better source is there from which to get a name for a group who worships God! The name Church of God is used to describe the body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 1:2; 10:32; 11:22; 15:9; 2 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:13; and 1 Timothy 3:5.
OUR MISSION:
Our Mission is simple:
GROW IN FAITH, SERVE PEOPLE, TOGETHER!
We believe that the best way to accomplish this mission is to to build real, honest relationships with others. As we connect with others we experience the power of TOGETHER! Together, we can grow in faith as we learn from one another. Together, we can more effectively serve people both inside of the church and outside of the church following the example of Christ.
Our strategy is all about the connections we make that allow us to experience life together!
We see three levels of connections in the life of Jesus:
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He connected with the crowds that followed him and had compassion on them (Mark 6)
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He connected with His companions (the disciples) in a special way, and lived life with them daily
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He connected more intimately with His core followers, “the disciple Jesus loved”, and several other disciples from his inner circle who were special to Him (John 13,19 & 20; Mark 14:32;9:2 )
We too need Connections with the crowd (the whole church body) for times of celebration and influence, our companions (a small group of some kind) for growth and service, and some core friends with whom we can share our lives more deeply.