the Christian Church of Sigourney mission statement

The mission of the Christian Church of Sigourney, as followers of Christ, is to proclaim the gospel and the love of Christ to all people.

Therefore, we strive to minister to the needs of our congregation, our local community, and our world.

We also strive to strengthen one another through faith, worship, prayer, study, teaching, stewardship, and by working for peace with justice as an instrument of the love of Christ in the world.

the Christian Church of Sigourney Core Beliefs

STATEMENT OF FAITH

We, the members of the Christian Church of Sigourney, solemnly affirm:

The Authority of Scripture 

 Our unity of faith is founded in the Holy Scriptures. (Galatians 3:26-28) 

The Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God. (John 1:1; 2 Pet. 1:20-21)

The Bible is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice for our church and our members. We are bound by no man-made creed. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

God the Father

There is only One true God as revealed in the Holy Scriptures. (Ephesians 4:4-6)

God is the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the Alpha and Omega. God is one in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.(Genesis 1:1-2; John 1:1-14; Matthew 3:16-17; Revelation 1:8-18)

God is all knowing, all powerful, ever present, unchanging and eternal. (1 John 3:20)

God is merciful, just and filled with love for His children. God, as our Creator, sustains us even in our own darkness. (Matthew 28:20; Numbers 23: 19; Isaiah 57: 15; Hebrews 13:5-6)

God the Son

Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God (Galatians 2:16)

Jesus Christ became flesh, was born of the Virgin Mary, uniting God and man in one person. (Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:20-23)

Jesus Christ, as the Son of Man, suffered, bled, and died on the cross. He arose from the grave on the third day to be seated at the right hand of our Father in heaven, to give salvation to all who trust and believe in Him. (I John 4:10; Philippians 2:5-8; I Corinthians 15:3-4)

Only through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ can we have salvation and hope for eternal life. Jesus is our Lord and Savior and the Only Way to God, Our Father. (2 Corinthians 5:18-19; I Timothy 2:1-5; Acts 4:12; John 14:6; John 11:25-26; Colossians 1:19-23; I Timothy 1:15-17; Galatians 2:16-21)

God the Spirit

The Holy Spirit dwells in the heart of each Christian who proclaims Jesus as their Lord and Savior. (John 14:15-18; 1 John 4:13; 1 Corinthians 2:11-12)

Through the Holy Spirit we receive all the gifts needed for the building up of the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 12:3-12; Ephesians 4:7-13)

Man was created in the image and likeness of God. (Genesis 1:26-27)

Because of the sin of Adam we inherit physical death. We are born sinners and condemned to suffer the penalty of sin, which is spiritual death. (Genesis 3)

Because of the righteousness of Jesus, all who belong to Him are given eternal life. By God’s grace, man’s sinful condition is reconciled to God only through the redemption of the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross. (1 Corinthians 15:20-22; Ephesians 1:4-7; Romans 3:23; 6:23; 1 Peter 1:18-19; John 3:36; Romans 3:9-18; 5:12-21)

Salvation

Salvation is immediately accomplished by the power of the Holy Spirit through the conviction of God’s Word when a repentant sinner hears it and submits to the saving provision of Jesus Christ. (John 3:3-8; 5:24; Romans 10:4-13)

The evidence of salvation is shown through a righteous attitude, growth in dedication and obedience to God’s will, and love for other believers. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 1 John 3:10; 2 Peter 1:4-11; Ephesians 2:10; 5:17-21)

The Church

All persons who believe in Jesus Christ are united into one spiritual body called the “church”, and Christ is the head of the church. (1 Corinthians12:12-13; Ephesians 1:22; 4:15)

 The church began on the day of Pentecost and will be raptured by Christ when He comes again at the Father’s appointed time. (Acts 2:1-21; 38-47; John 14:1-3; 1Corinthians 15:51-52; 1Thessalonians 4:13-18)

  Christ is the supreme authority for the church (Ephesians 1:22) and that to ensure the autonomy of the church, He supplies the leadership, the gifts of the Spirit, and all the needs of the church. Therefore the local church must remain free from outside religious hierarchies or other worldly governmental organizations. (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4: 11-13;1 Corinthians 6:1-11) 

 The purpose of the church is to glorify the Father (Ephesians 3:21) by building up the body in faith, (Ephesians 4:13-16) by the Holy Scripture, (2 Timothy 2:2; 3:16-17) by fellowship, (Acts 2:47) and by delivering the gospel to the whole world. (Matthew 28:19)

Baptism

All who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ. (Galatians 3:27)

The physical act of baptism does not save us from death, but it is a public act confirming a personal decision to follow Jesus Christ, in obedience to the Savior who has rescued us from death. Baptism symbolizes joining Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection and represents how the believer dies to humanity and becomes born again as a new creature in Christ. (Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12)

The Lord’s Supper

We partake in the loaf and cup to remember the broken body and shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross, therefore proclaiming the death of Christ until He returns. We should first examine ourselves before eating the bread and drinking the cup because anyone who eats the bread or drinks the cup in an unworthy manner is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. (1 Corinthians 11:23-34)

The cup is the new covenant between God and His people; an agreement confirmed in Christ’s blood, poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many. (Matthew 26:27-28; Luke 22:17-20)

Marriage and Family

God established marriage between a man and a woman. (Gen 2:18; 21-25). 

Husbands are to love their wives just as Christ loved the church. (Ephesians 5:25)

Wives are to submit to their husbands as to the Lord. (Ephesians 5:22)

Children are to obey their parents, honoring their father and mother. (Ephesians 5:1-3)

Satan and the Final Judgment

Satan is an angel created by God who was cast out of heaven for rebelling against God. (Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-19)

Satan is the author of sin the prince of this world and the enemy of God and man. All sin is rebellion against God. (Genesis 3:1-15)

At God’s appointed time, all the nations will be resurrected for the final judgment and those whose names are not found in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire along with Satan and his angels. (Isaiah 14:1-17; Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 20:10-15)