The following are the core beliefs of A Local Gathering based on the foundational truths taught in the Bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these Biblical doctrines.
There is only one living and true God. He is Creator, Redeemer and Ruler of the universe. The eternal God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.
The Father is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-present. God is sovereign over all creation and Father to those who place their faith in Jesus Christ. In Him, we have our being. He is loving, gracious, merciful, holy, righteous and just. (Genesis 1:1, 26, 27; 2:7; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
God The Son
Christ is the eternal Son of God. Sent by the Father, He was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, and became fully man while remaining fully God. He lived a perfect, sinless life while on earth. He died on the cross to pay for the sins of the world, was buried, and rose victorious over sin and death on the third day. He is now seated at the right hand of God, will return to earth to reunite with His church and reign over His new creation. (Matthew 1:22, 23; Isaiah 9:6; Hebrews 4:14, 15; John 1:1 - 5; 14:10 - 30; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4; Romans 1:3, 4; Acts 1:9 - 11; 1 Timothy 6:14, 15; Titus 2:13; Rev. 21:1 - 5)
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. He brings awareness of our sin and our need for Jesus. The Holy Spirit lives in each person at the moment of salvation. He provides the believer power for living, understanding of spiritual truths, guidance to do what is right in our daily walk, and a spiritual gift to serve the church. (2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7 - 13; 14:16, 17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 3:16; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18)
God has revealed himself to us through his son, Jesus Christ, who is the visible image of the invisible God, the holy scriptures, and through all of creation itself.
The Bible is God’s Word to us. It is the supreme source of truth, inspired by the Holy Spirit, written without error by man in its original form. It is the final authority in all matters of faith, practice and truth. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20, 21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160; Psalm 12:6; Proverbs 30:5)
People are made in the spiritual image of God, male and female, to be like Him in character. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all are born with a disobedient nature toward God called sin. Sin separates people from God, and we are incapable of repairing this relationship. (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3 - 6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1, 2)
When Adam and Eve chose not to obey God, they ceased to be what they were made to be and became distorted images of God. This caused them to fall out of fellowship with God, and fractured all of creation ever since that time.
Salvation is God’s free gift of grace to us and is to be accepted by faith alone in Christ alone. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by turning to Jesus Christ and trusting in the sacrifice He made on the cross can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his/her life by faith. (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8, 9; John 14:6; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1)
By the power of the Holy Spirit we are called to obey the command, “Be holy, for I am holy.” Sanctification is the will of God for all believers, and should be pursued by walking in obedience to God’s Holy Spirit. (1 Peter 1:16; 2 Peter 1:3)
We believe in the power of prayer, both individually and corporately, as an expression of faith in God's work in our lives. Prayer is an essential part of a Christian life and is used to talk to God and to communicate with Him. We pray for guidance, strength, healing, protection, and for our families, friends, and community. Through prayer, we seek to deepen our understanding of God's will and His plans for our lives. Praying helps us grow closer to God and to gain a better understanding of His will and how we can best serve Him. When we pray, we open ourselves up to God and He will answer us in His own way and in His own time. Prayer is a beautiful and powerful way to communicate with our Heavenly Father and to seek His love and guidance.
We believe in the importance of baptism. Baptism symbolizes a believer's commitment to Jesus and His teachings, and is an outward act of confessing our faith in Him. We believe that baptism is essential to Christian discipleship, and it is a beautiful way to proclaim our allegiance to Jesus. Baptism is a sacred and meaningful experience, and we are deeply committed to helping believers celebrate this important milestone in their journey of faith. By celebrating and honoring baptism, we are proclaiming our faith in Jesus and our desire to serve Him and others.
The church is not a building but the global body of Christ, made up of believers of all nations. Jesus calls us to gather to pray, study the Bible, and build community through gathering together for a time of worship. The church is called to be the hands and feet of Jesus, providing hope to a broken world. (Revelation 5:9, Acts 1:8, Colossians 1:18; Matthew 28:18 - 20; Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 4:15 - 16; Hebrews 10:24-25; Acts 2:4:2; 1 Corinthians 14:26)
Marriage is a picture of Christ's relationship with His Church. It is defined in Scripture as a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman (as assigned by God at birth) and reaffirmed by Jesus as God's design for sexual expression. God designed sexual intimacy for a marriage relationship and does not endorse or condone it in any other context. (Ephesians 5:22 - 23, Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4 - 5, 1 Thessalonians 4:3 - 5)
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“All In” means I will...
Fully Surrender My Life To Christ
Following Jesus will require us to stop living like we are the center of the universe and live as He is.
> Luke 9:23-24
> 2 Chronicles 7:14-24
Embrace and Live Out The Great Commandment
Love is the foundation of hope. It is love for God and our Neighbors that compels us to be agents of hope.
> Matthew 22:37-40
> 1 John 4:8
Follow Christ in Baptism
Baptism is a sacred way in which we publicly express the spiritual reality that has occurred in our life. We have died to self and now live a new life by the same power which raised Jesus from the grave.
> Romans 6:4-7
> Colossians 2:11-12
Pray For Those Who Do Not Know Jesus
Jesus came to redeem God’s creation and provide a more fulfilled life . Because salvation is the result of the Holy Spirit working in the life of a person, we need to intercede in prayer for people who have not yet believed.
> John 17:20-26
Be A Witness Of Jesus In The Word And Deed
As followers of Jesus we are to be bearers of Hope. We must share the gospel of Jesus in words and deeds.
> Matthew 5:16
> Acts 1:8
“All In” means I will...
Seek The Face Of God To Be Healed
Sin leads to death. When we sin, it carries consequences that hinders life. Healing begins with seeking the face of God.
> 2 Chronicles 7:14
Study God’s Word To Be more Like Christ
As Christ followers, we are to become more like Christ. This leads to healing. Healing is a journey, and God’s Word gives hope for that journey.
> Joshua 1:8 > Psalm 119:11
> John 8:31-32 > 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Trust And Follow the Elders Of ALG
Elders serve as spiritual leaders and caregivers who are accountable for the souls within the body. Their mature faith models healing and wholeness.
> 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13
> Hebrews 13:7, 17
Pray & Carry The burdens Of One Another
We all need healing at various stages in our spiritual journey. We should not try to walk these seasons alone, nor should we let others walk them alone.
> Galatians 6:1-3 > Colossians 4:2
> James 5:16
Refuse To Gossip
When we participate in gossip, we cause harm to the body and thereby work against the process of healing and hinder unity.
> Exodus 23:1 > Proverbs 20:19
> Proverbs 26:20 > Romans 1:29
> 2 Corinthians 12:20 > Ephesians 4:29
“All In” means I will...
Be Devoted To One Another In Acts Of Love
Jesus and His disciples exemplified devotion to one another. Our love and care for each other also serves as indirect evangelism to those observing from the outside.
> Acts 2:46-47
> Romans 12:10
Embrace The Great Commission And Follow Jesus’ Disciple-Making Example
Our purpose is to complete the work Jesus has given us. We are to intentionally teach others to obey the teachings of Christ. We believe Discipleship happens in relational circles.
> Matthew 28:18-20
> Hebrews 10:23-25
Use My Spiritual Gift To Serve Others
A spiritual gift is given to each one of us to serve others around us. We cannot love others without serving them. One of the best ways to serve others is by leaning into the spiritual gift that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit has given you.
> 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 > Romans 12:4-13
> Ephesians 4:16
Use The Resources God Has Given Me To Support His Work
God invites and expects us to participate in His work by bringing a tithe. It’s also the only place in Scripture where God says “test me and see if I won’t prove that I exist.”
> Malachi 3:8-12
> Mark 12:13-17
> 3 John 5-8
> Luke 8:2-3
Protect The Unity Of ALG
Unity creates momentum to accomplish the work God has given us to do. At the same time, disunity creates distraction and dysfunction.
> Genesis 11:6
> John 17:20-26