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Living Word Church is a community of believers in Jesus Christ who are striving to show God's love to others and grow in Him.
These 8 doctrines are foundational to our understanding of the historic Christian faith and are essential convictions for our unity as a church body. These statements are summaries from our broader statement of faith. They echo the essential and ancient creeds of the church, and are a faithful witness to scriptural doctrine. If you're interested in reading further or discussing one of these doctrines, we encourage you to talk with one of our pastors or elders.
ABOUT GOD
There is one, and only one, living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being. He is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He is all powerful, all knowing, and all loving. He is holy and perfect in every way. God has eternally existed and revealed Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Genesis 1:1,26,27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; I Peter 1:2; II Corinthians 13:14
ABOUT JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. He became a man, supernaturally conceived and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God without sin. He fulfilled God’s plan by His substitutionary death on the cross, making provision for the redemption of people from sin. He was raised from the dead and then ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God. He is the one mediator between God and mankind, and He will return one day in power and glory to judge the world and finish His redemptive mission.
Matthew 1:22,23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5,14; 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14,15;
I Corinthians 15:3,4; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; I Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. He is present in the world to make people aware of their sin and their need for Jesus. He lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right.
II Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13; 14:16,17; Acts 1:8;
I Corinthians 2:12; 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9; John 14:6; 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1
By free choice, man has sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. The sin of mankind has affected every person and everything on our planet. Human beings are in need of forgiveness and redemption. Salvation is the redemption of man through the person of Jesus Christ. Salvation occurs through faith in Jesus Christ. When a person places genuine faith in Jesus, they are, by God’s grace, made spiritually alive, righteous in their moral standing before God, and are indwelt with the Holy Spirit, who guarantees the work of salvation until it is complete.
ABOUT SALVATION
ABOUT GOD’S KINGDOM
The Kingdom of God describes the sovereign reign of God over the universe and the particular rule of God in the hearts of people. God’s purposes and plans will be finally and completely accomplished. The Church is an expression of God’s kingdom as a local congregation of believers who fellowship together to fulfill God’s purposes in the world. The Church is the body of Christ, and each believer is baptized into His body. Each believer is given a gift for use in the body of Christ and called to work in harmony with other believers to fulfill God’s plan on the earth.
John 3:16; 2:25; 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15
ABOUT ETERNITY
God, according to His plan, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth and Christ will judge all men. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, a place of everlasting punishment. The righteous, through Christ, will be resurrected, glorified, and will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord.
Marriage is the sacred union between one man and one woman, bonded in a lifelong covenant. It is a reflection of the covenant made between Christ and His Church.
ABOUT MARRIAGE
Genesis 1:26-27; Matthew 19:4-6; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Corinthians 7:2
Matthew 6:9-10; Matthew 12:28; Luke 17:20-21; Luke 18:24-30;
I Corinthians 15:24-25; Colossians 1:13; Revelation 11:15
ABOUT SEXUALITY
People are the special creation of God, made male and female, in his own image. Sexual intimacy is a gift from God to be cherished and reserved for the marriage covenant between one man and one woman. All other forms of sexual intimacy of any kind are against God's design and are sinful. This includes fornication, adultery, homosexuality, polygamy, rape, and incest. In addition, while situations involving gender dysphoria can be heartbreaking and complex, men and women should be helped to live as their biological, God-given sex.
We all stand in need of God's grace for sexual sin and temptation. There is no sin so small that it doesn't deserve damnation and no sin so big that it cannot be forgiven. There is hope and forgiveness for all who repent of their sin and put their trust in Christ!
Genesis 1:26-27; Matthew 19:4; Romans 1:26-27; Ephesians 5:3;
OUR MISSION
LOVE GOD
Loving God isn’t only beneficial, it’s essential. Here at Living Word Church we believe that true freedom is found not in being able to do whatever we want, but in being able to do what we were made for. The Bible teaches that we were made for God. We were made to know God, to love God, and to live for God.
St. Augustine once said, “You have created us for yourself, oh Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find rest in you."
LOVE OTHERS
We believe our vertical relationship with God will have an impact on our horizontal relationships with others. As you realize how much God loves you, forgives you, and accepts you in Christ, it changes you. The Holy Spirit begins to transform you to love others as God in Christ loves you. It’s incredible, really.
Colossians 3:12-14 & Matthew 22:35-40
FIND LIFE IN JESUS
We believe that everyone is searching for a life of happiness and meaning. The problem is that we so often look for it in the wrong places. We believe that true life and joy are only found in the presence of God (Psalm 16:11) and that Jesus came to restore our lives to God. Jesus said:
“I came that they may have life, and have it to the full.” - John 10:10
That’s why at Living Word we’re all about Jesus. We want to point everyone, everywhere to his gospel where forgiveness, hope, meaning, peace, fulfillment, and freedom can be found. That’s real life.
Here at Living Word Church our mission is to Love God, Love Others, and Help People Find Life in Jesus. As we believe the gospel and lean into the Holy Spirit's leading, we will carry out this mission to become a vibrant lighthouse for the grace, love, and glory of God in our New Port Richey, West Pasco and beyond!
CONNECT
We build community.
GROW
We teach the Bible.
SERVE
We help those who are in need.
GROWTH TRACK
“This is how we know what love is:
Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.”
1 John 3:16