WHAT DO YOU TEACH?

The Bible is our creed. Therefore, any effort to define the basis of our teaching necessitates emphasis on the whole Word of God as the sole source of our beliefs. Furthermore, it seems unwise to adhere to the labels of much of Christendom, whether it's Fundamentalism, Pentecostal, Calvinism, Armenianism, Charismatic, Dispensational, Reformed, etc. It is unrealistic to think that any individual man-made system of beliefs is completely error free or, conversely, without merit at all. It is therefore our sincere desire to simply teach the Bible true to its original languages and respectful of its historical context, the context of each passage, and the accepted and normal use of language (i.e. being able to discern the difference between a parable and a proverb, a prophecy and an historical account, etc.). We trust that this will enable us to understand the intended meaning and truth that is to be found in God’s inspired Word.

HOW DO PEOPLE JOIN?

We do not have a formal membership procedure, as anyone who has accepted Jesus Christ is already a member of the Body of Christ. However, I feel that, in practical terms, those who are relationally involved with us are a part of the family that makes up Homedale Calvary Fellowship. Being involved would include things such as attending consistently, acting upon the Word as it is taught, sharing in the financial responsibility of the church through tithes and offerings, and sharing the spiritual gifts God has given to you with others in the fellowship as and when God leads by His Holy Spirit.

WHO'S IN CHARGE?

As the Pastor, I am accountable to God to give myself to prayer and the teaching of the Word (Acts 6:4), to be enabled by God to lead the church toward a life that is pleasing to the Head Shepherd of the Sheep: Jesus Christ. I am also accountable to and meet regularly with a board of elders to pray over and decide what will best serve the goals of the church as stated in Acts 1:8, Acts 2:42, and 2 Corinthians 3:18. A full copy of our bylaws is available in the office.

WHAT ARE YOUR ESSENTIAL BELIEFS?

  1. We believe in Jesus Christ as God’s only means of salvation, through his death on the cross, for all the sins of mankind.  “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  Noe one comes to the Father except through Me”   (John 14:6)
  2. We believe that salvation is attained through God’s grace, by faith alone in Jesus Christ and not as a result of man’s good works.  “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
  3. We believe in a triune God, made up of three persons, each being God, identified in the Bible as God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19).
  4. We believe the Bible is the inspired and inerrant Word of God.  “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16).
  5. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return of power and glory.  “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scripture.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
  6. We believe in a literal creation account as given in Genesis chapter 1.
  7. We believe marriage is ordained by God, as a covenant relationship between one genetic man and one genetic woman for life.  “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.  So then, they are no longer two but one flesh.  Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” (Matthew 19:5-6)
  8. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer of Jesus and empowers them with spiritual gifts to be used by God to further His kingdom.  “For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.  But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”  (Acts 1:5,8)