THE ESSENTIALS
The Essentials is our three-step path designed to help you grow in your relationship with God and become part of the Living Hope family.
Whether you're new to faith or new to LH, these steps give you what you need to start strong and move faith forward.
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Step One sets the foundation. It helps you understand the core of the Christian faith—the gospel and God’s invitation into relationship. In this step, you’ll also hear the story of Living Hope Church, our values, and learn what we believe.
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Step Two is all about becoming rooted and established in your faith. We focus on sanctification—your ongoing process of healing, growing, and maturing in Christ. You’ll discover the ministries of LHC, learn about our Membership Covenant, and have the opportunity to officially join the Living Hope family.
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Step Three equips and empowers you to step into God’s calling for your life. We unpack the mission of the Church and the Holy Spirit’s role in the believer’s life. You’ll get an overview of the serve teams at LHC and choose a place to serve—because we believe saved people serve people.
01 – Encounter God
Step One sets the foundation. It helps you understand the core of the Christian faith—the gospel and God’s invitation into relationship.
In this step, you’ll also hear the story of Living Hope Church, our values, and learn what we believe.
Living Hope Church Values:
Love God
Love People
Live Joyfully
Live Intentionally
Statement of Faith:
THE WORD OF GOD
We believe the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God. We believe the Bible is the final authority in every area it addresses for every individual Christian, as well as for the church collectively.
Prov 30:5 Rom 16:25-26 II Tim 3:16 II Pet 1:20-21
THE TRINITY
We believe in one God eternally existing as one essence and three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, each of whom is fully God, yet there is one God.
Gen 1:26 Matt 3:16-17 & 28:19 Luke 1:35 I Jn 5:7
GOD THE FATHER
God the Father is the infinite, eternal, and almighty personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love, and is the first Person of the Trinity. He is merciful, He hears and answers prayers, and He saves from sin and death all who come to Him in repentance and faith through Jesus Christ.
Jn 6:27 Rom 1:7 I Tim 1:1-2 I Pet 1:3 Rev 1:6
JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is God the Son, the second person of the Trinity. On earth, Jesus was fully God and fully man. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, died on the cross for mankind and thus, atoned for our sins through the shedding of His blood. He rose from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will return in power and glory.
Isa 9:6 Jn 1:1, 14 I Tim 2:5 & 3:16 Phil 2:5-6
THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the Holy Spirit who is sent by the Father and Son to give new life. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ and that He is our abiding Helper, Teacher, and Guide. We believe in the filling and the empowering of the Holy Spirit, often a conscious experience, for ministry today.
Jn 14:16-17, 26 & 15:26-27 & 16:8-14 Rom 8:9 I Cor 3:16 & 6:19 Gal 5:22-26
REDEMPTION
Man was created good and upright, but by voluntary transgression he fell; his only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Gen 1:26-31 & 3:1-7 Rom 5:12-21
SALVATION
We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ: His death, burial, and resurrection. Salvation is a gift from God, not a result of our good works or of any human efforts.
Acts 16:31 Rom 10:9-10 Eph 2:8-9 Gal 2:16, 3:8
REPENTANCE
Repentance is the commitment to turn away from sin in every area of our lives and to follow Christ, which allows us to receive His redemption and to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:21 & 3:19 I Jn 1:9
SANCTIFICATION
Sanctification is the ongoing process of yielding to God’s Word and His Spirit to complete the development of Christ's character in us. It is through the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that the Christian is enabled to live a Godly life.
Rom 8:29 & 12:1-2 II Cor 3:18 & 6:14-18 I Thes 4:3 & 5:23 II Thes 2:1-3
THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT
We believe in the present ministry of the Spirit and in the exercise of the biblical gifts of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is manifested through a variety of spiritual gifts to build and sanctify the church. These gifts always operate in harmony with the Scriptures and should not be used in violation of Biblical parameters.
Rom 12:4-8 I Cor 12:1-31 & 14:1-40 I Tim 4:14 Heb 2:4 I Pet 4:10
THE CHURCH
The church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of Jesus' Great Commission. Every person who is born of the Spirit is an integral part of the church as a member of the body of believers. There is a spiritual unity of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jn 17:11, 20-23 Eph 1:22 & 2:19-22 Heb 12:23
ORDIENCES
Water Baptism: Following faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the new convert is commanded by the Word of God to be baptized in water in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Matt 28:19 Mark 16:16 Acts 2:38 & 8:12, 36-38 & 10:47-48
The Lord's Supper: This ordinance is a unique time of communion in the presence of God when the elements of bread and wine (symbolizes the body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ) are taken in remembrance of Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross. It is to be observed repeatedly throughout the Christian life as a sign of continued participation of faith in Christ.
Matt 26:26-29 I Cor 10:16 & 11:23-25
HUMANITY AND MARRIAGE
We believe that God created human beings, male and female, in His own image. Therefore, we believe in the sanctity of human life. God created them sinless, equal in value, dignity, and worth. According to His purpose and design, God created them to fulfill distinct but complementary roles in the contexts of marriage, family, and the local church. We believe marriage is defined in the Bible as a covenant, a sacred bond between one man and one woman, instituted by and publicly entered into before God.
Gen 1:26-28 Matt 19:4-6 Eph 5:22-6:4 I Tim 3:1-7
THE LAST THINGS
We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgement, the eternal joy of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked.
Matt 16:27 Mark 14:62 Jn 14:3 Acts 1:11 I Cor 15 Phil 3:20 Rev 20:11-15
02 – Establish Your Faith
Step Two is all about becoming rooted and established in your faith. We focus on sanctification—your ongoing process of healing, growing, and maturing in Christ.
You’ll discover the ministries of LHC, learn about our Membership Covenant, and have the opportunity to officially join the Living Hope family.
The Rhythms of a Disciple:
Prayer Room - At The Church Office
Life Group - Join a Group Here
Rooted - Sign Up Here
Baptism - Sign Up Here
Membership Covenant:
I will submit and build my life on the authority of the Scriptures as the final Word on all matters of life and doctrine.
I will pursue intimacy with God and develop my character and calling by being with Him.
I will regularly participate in the life of Living Hope Church by attending weekly services, joining a Life Group, and Serving those within and outside of this church.
I will worship God with my tithe, offering, or giving to the spread of the gospel throughout our community, nation, and world.
I will strive to walk in holiness and resist temptations in all areas of life as an act of worship to Jesus.
I will work and pray for unity and peace and use my words to build up others and glorify God.
I will honor the elders and other appointed leaders of the church and will be open to receiving righteous corrections when approached Biblically by fellow believers or elders.
I will, should I leave this church, unite with another church with which I can carry out my Biblical responsibilities as a believer.
03 – Empowered to Serve
Step Three equips and empowers you to step into God’s calling for your life. We unpack the mission of the Church and the Holy Spirit’s role in the believer’s life.
You’ll get an overview of the serve teams at LHC and choose a place to serve—because we believe saved people serve people.