We believe in the only true, living God (John 17:3), often referred to as “YHWH” (the LORD) in the Old Testament and “God” in the New Testament. He is the Creator of all things (Genesis 1:1- 31), and in Him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). He is the God of truth and without iniquity. He is all-knowing, all-powerful and all-loving. He is just and right (Deuteronomy 32:4), and He will judge the world (Psalm 9:8). God eternally exists in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are one God, having precisely the same nature, attributes, and perfections, and are worthy of precisely the same worship, trust, and obedience (Mark 12:29; John 1:1-4; Acts 4:3-4).

We believe in God the Father, the first Person of the Trinity (1 Corinthians 8:6). As the absolute and highest Ruler in the universe, He is sovereign in creation, providence and redemption (Psalms 103:19; Romans 11:36). He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to save from sin all who trust in Him. He relates to His own as their good Father (John 1:12; Romans 8:15; Ephesians 1:3-6; Hebrews 12:5-9).

We believe in the absolute deity and sinlessness of the Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of God the Father, the second Person of the Trinity. He is the full manifestation of God in the flesh. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He is true God and true man (John 1:1, 1:14, 1:18, 14:8-9; 1 Timothy 3:16). We believe that Christ died for our sins, fulfilling the Scriptures, as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice (2 Corinthians 5:21) for our sin. We believe in the bodily resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, His ascension into heaven, and His present ministry for us as High Priest and Advocate (Acts 1:3, 1:9; Hebrews 7:25-26).

We believe in the absolute deity of the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, and that the Spirit’s ministry is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ (John 16:14). The Holy Spirit draws the unredeemed to repentance and faith in Christ, and at salvation imparts new spiritual life to the believer, bringing the believer into union with Christ and the body of Christ, the universal Church. (Romans 8:37-39, 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 12:13; 2 Corinthians 5:21). The Holy Spirit indwells, guides, instructs, comforts, fills, and empowers each believer for godly living (Mark 13:11; John 14:26, 16:13; Romans 5:5; 1 Corinthians 6:19). The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, of God’s righteousness and of coming judgment (John 16:8-11).

We believe the Scriptures of the Old Testament and New Testament are inspired, breathed out by God, and inerrant in their original writings. We believe the 66 books of the Old Testament and the New Testament are God’s complete and sufficient revelation and therefore carry God’s authority for the total well-being of humanity (Psalm 119:97-104, 119:160; Matthew 5:18; John 5:46-47, 10:35; 2 Timothy 3:15-16).

We believe God made humankind, male and female, in His own image, to glorify Him and enjoy relationship with Him and one another. He created each person with intrinsic dignity and worth. Therefore, every person—every race, every color, every nationality, pre-born, every age, life stage and ability—is infinitely and equally loved in God’s eyes. So we will seek to value and uphold the God-breathed dignity and worth in each human being.

Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, were innocent under God’s law, but by their voluntary transgression they fell from this sinless and joyful state, bringing death and condemnation into the world. Consequently, all people are sinners not only by our own choice, but by inheritance. Therefore, we are justly condemned and on our own we have no defense or excuse. Without exception, every man and every woman is totally depraved and desperately needs a Savior (Genesis 3:1-6; John 8:24; Romans 1:18-20, 1:32, 3:10-19, 5:12).

We believe that each person who by faith receives Jesus Christ as personal Savior is justified and forgiven on the basis of Christ’s shed blood on the cross. Christ chose to die to pay the full price for our sins. Each person who receives Christ as personal Savior is born again of the Holy Spirit and thereby becomes a child of God (Romans 8:37-39, 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 12:13; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

We believe in the blessed hope of the personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ. His return has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). We believe in the bodily resurrection of all people, both those who are saved by trusting Christ and those who are lost based on their sin. The saved are raised to eternal, conscious joy in heaven (Matthew 25:34; John 14:2-3; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Revelation 2:7), and the lost are raised to eternal torment in hell in separation from God (Matthew 8:12, 10:28, 13:49-50; Mark 9:47-48; Luke 12:5; Revelation 21:8).

We believe that, upon accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, a believer becomes part of His body, which is the one universal church, composed of all those throughout the world who trust Christ as Savior and Lord. The Scriptures call believers to gather in local assemblies to devote themselves to worship, prayer, teaching of the Word, observance of ordinances (baptism and communion) and fellowship. Each of us, as part of this gathering of believers, is also called to develop and use our talents and gifts, to build up the church, to share the message of the gospel and to accomplish God’s Kingdom purposes in the world (Ephesians 5:23; Romans 12:1; Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 14:26; Matthew 28:18-20; Hebrews 10:23-25).

Wherever God’s people meet regularly in obedience to this command, there is the local expression of the church. The church’s members are to work together in love and unity, under the oversight of elders and other supportive leadership, intent on the ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ (Ephesians 4:15-16).

We believe that the good news of Christ is for everyone, so we commit ourselves to ongoing ministry outside of the church, seeking to share the gospel and make disciples in our city and around the world (Matthew 28:19-20). Christ calls us to love our neighbors, so we respond through actively seeking ways to serve and care for those who are in need in our community and beyond (Matthew 25:35-40; Mark 12:30-31).


UNDERSTANDINGS AND PRACTICES

In the statement of doctrine above, we covered the central truths that are essential to the Christian faith. We now turn to our understanding of other facets of our faith which, though brothers and sisters in Christ may disagree on the particulars, still play significant roles in the way we live and practice our faith as a church community.

Read More


CHURCH GOVERNMENT

God calls us to shepherd His church in orderly and intentional ways. Our leadership structure includes an Elder Council made up of discerning and mature Christ followers who have a history of faithful and effective ministry at Woodmen. They prayerfully provide guidance and discernment for the ministries of Woodmen. Alongside our Woodmen staff, deacons and commissioned leaders also serve and share their gifts in a variety of ways to glorify God and grow His church.

Read More

image