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OUR BELIEFS: VISION, MISSION, COVENANT & DOCTRINE |
The VISION of CCF"Where there is no Vision, the people perish." Proverbs 29:18 The Vision at Crossroads is very specific in nature. It is based on God, the gifts and talents at Crossroads and the local area where He has placed us. We believe that God has specific purposes for Crossroads, and that we are to influence this area for Jesus Christ. The Vision at Crossroads is the strategic pursuit of our Core Values and Mission of following Jesus Christ. It is our Vision to be the presence of Jesus Christ in the Union area. Our Vision at Crossroads is taken directly from God's Word the Bible and can be seen in our logo. Vision is dynamic, not static and may change on the fringes, but at the core of the Vision there is no change. The following is the core of the Vision of Crossroads Christian Fellowship. It is the Vision of Crossroads to have Jesus Christ at the center of all we do and all we are. Realizing that He is the center of the universe, the head of His church, the Savior and Lord of our lives, we desire to seek Him and to make His name famous in us and our local area. This is done individually and collectively by submitting to His authority as Lord and obeying Him. (John 1:12; Colossians 3:17,23) It is the Vision of Crossroads to learn God’s Word, the Bible, that we may better know God and be disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. God's Word instructs us in living and gives direction at all levels of life. Teaching, reading and learning the Word of God is a high priority at Crossroads. (2 Timothy 3:16,17; Hebrews 4:12) It is the Vision of Crossroads to be a diverse community of believers following Jesus Christ. Our Vision includes being a fellowship that reflects the ethnic make-up of our local communities. Jesus Christ is the Head of His church, and as the body of Christ we want to partner together in ministry. This is accomplished by actively using the gifts and talents from within body that the body may function properly. It is our vision to equip, train, raise up leaders and send out believers to serve Jesus Christ. At Crossroads every believer is a minister and a vital part of the body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Corinthians 12:12,13) It is the Vision of Crossroads to make a difference in our World. We believe that God is greatest change agent for mankind, and our only hope. Therefore at Crossroads there is a high priority placed on local evangelism through ministries at our facilities and at key times during the year in our community. The vision at Crossroads also extends beyond our local area through missions. It is our vision to participate in global missions through praying, sending and giving. (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8) This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the CROSSROADS and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” · Jeremiah 6:16
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Our Core Values Jesus Christ We Believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Savior of the world and the only way to the Father. He is the Creator and the Center of all creation. John 14:6; Colossians 1:15-20 Salvation We Believe that it is the Father’s desire, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, to convict and regenerate lost people and bring them to a knowledge of Jesus Christ. That it is the Father’s intention to have fellowship with His church and to conform us into the image of His Son. Romans 8:28-29; Ephesians 1:22-23 Worship We Believe that the worship of God should be spirit led and participatory and that the Father seeks for worshippers to worship Him in spirit and truth. John 4:23-24; Romans 12:1-2 The Bible We Believe that the Bible is our final written authority, not the traditions of the church. That God’s speaks to us through His written Word, and that His written Word bears witness to the Living Word, Jesus Christ, in us. 2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:12; Colossians 1:26-27 Church We Believe that God’s people, the church, is a diverse group of followers of Jesus Christ. That we should meet regularly for worship, instruction and fellowship. This happens in our large group gatherings on Sundays and in small groups that meet in homes during the week. Acts 2:44-46 Discipleship We Believe that God’s church is a body and that Jesus Christ is the Head. We are committed to see people built up for the ministry, so that they may use their gifts and talents and function properly in the body of Jesus Christ. Ephesians 4:12; 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 The Family We Believe and are committed to the family. It is our desire to provide an atmosphere that strengthens marriages, parents and children. We are committed to strong youth and children’s ministries. Ephesians 5:21 – 6:4 Evangelism We Believe that lost people matter to God, and must matter to His church. We are committed to evangelism locally through relationships and going to our community with the Gospel. We are committed to evangelism globally through missions by being informed, praying, giving and going. John 3:16; Matthew 11:12 Culturally Relevant We Believe that we must be culturally relevant without compromising the Word of God. We use creativity, technology and available resources that Jesus Christ may be known. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23; John 12:32; Colossians 3:23-24
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Crossroads Church Covenant Having been led by the Holy Spirit to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, and having professed faith in Him, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ. We therefore, by the leading of the Holy Spirit, will strive to walk together in Christian love; seek the advancement of this body of believers in holiness, kindness, spiritual maturity and knowledge of the Word of God; sustain this assembly’s worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrines; and contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel through all nations. We will endeavor to maintain family and personal devotions; bring up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; seek the salvation of our family and acquaintances; walk with integrity; be exemplary in our behavior; avoid all gossip, backbiting and excessive anger; abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul; and be zealous in our efforts to advance the Kingdom of our Savior. Further, we encourage one another to watch over our brothers and sisters in love; remember each other in prayer; aid one another in sickness and distress; cultivate Christian compassion and Christian courtesy in speech; and be slow to take offense, always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the words of our Savior to pursue reconciliation without delay. We will not forsake the assembly of believers, and when relocated, we will unite with a body of believers as soon as possible. The Covenant, our Values, Mission Statement and Vision at Crossroads are all available in our Church Constitution. Why not pick one up Sunday on the Info table.
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Crossroads Doctrine Section 1. The Scriptures We believe that the Holy Bible is the inspired Word of God without error in the original manuscripts and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction, that it has the Holy Spirit of God for its author, truth as its matter and salvation for its end; that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us and therefore is, and shall remain unto the end of the world, the supreme standard by which all human conduct and creeds shall be tried. (Proverbs 30:5-6; Isaiah 8:20; II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:21; Revelation 22:18-19.) Section 2. The Trinity God is known to men as three persons--Father, Son and Holy Spirit--executing distinct but harmonious offices in the work of redemption. Section 3. The Father We believe in the personal existence of God, the Supreme Being, Who is infinite and perfect. He possesses the attributes of eternity: Self-existence, immutability, omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience, holiness, righteousness, justice, love, mercy and grace. In holy love He created and sustains by His immediate presence all things. He is the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (Genesis 1:1, 26; 21-32-34; Psalms 103:8; 139:7-10; 145:17; Isaiah 45:6; Zephaniah 3:5; Malachi 3:6; Matthew 3:17; 10:29-30; 19:26; John 3:16; 5:26; Romans 11:33; Titus 2:11-12; I Peter 1:16.) Section 4. The Son We believe in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the Son of God, very God of very God; that in order to redeem fallen man from sin, He took on the form of man by the process of the virgin birth; that He was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin; that He lived in perfect harmony with God and His laws; that He voluntarily suffered death and in so doing was the vicarious sacrifice for the sin of the race; that He physically and literally rose from the dead, ascended up on high and is now enthroned at the right hand of God as the mediator between God and the sinner and as the High Priest and Advocate of the saint; that He shall come before the Tribulation and Millenium to take into His eternal presence all those who have accepted Him as Savior and have therefore been born again. (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18; John 1:14; 10:11; 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; Romans 5:8; I Corinthians 15:1-8; I Thessalonians 4:16-17; I Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 1:6; 7:26; I John 2:1.) Section 5. The Holy Spirit We believe in the Person of the Holy Spirit; that He is equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that he was active in creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains Satan until God's purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of righteousness and judgment; that He bears witness to the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the Agent of the new birth; that He indwells, baptizes, seals at the moment of salvation; that He endues, guides, teaches, witnesses to, sanctifies and helps the believer. The gifts of the Spirit are sovereignly given as He wills. (Genesis 6:3; John 3:5; 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 5:3-4; Romans 8:2; 14; I Corinthians 12:12-13; II Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 3:16; 4:30; II Thessalonians 2:7.) Section 6. Man We believe that man was created in the image of God; that he has a threefold nature: body, soul and spirit; that his distinctive mark is his spiritual nature; that this is of like nature to God Himself and is immortal and capable of immediate knowledge of God; that conscience and will make him morally a responsible being and that as such God deals with him. (Genesis 1:26; 2:7; 16-17; John 3:18; 14:20, 23; I Corinthians 15:44-45.) Section 7. Sin We believe that man was created innocent, in perfect harmony with the moral government of God; that by voluntary transgression of the will of God and submitting to the devil he broke that harmony and became sinful; that without exception the race of men is morally corrupt; that by reason of conscience and will the individual is guilty and merits the wages of sin which is death (i.e. eternal separation from God); and that if persisted in, sin will work out complete and final ruin to him who does not forsake it in the experience of the new birth. (Genesis 1:27, 3:1-7, Ecclesiastes 7:29; Ezekiel 18:4; Romans 1:21; 3:10-11, 23: 6:23.) Section 8. Salvation We believe that it is impossible for man to save himself; that in order to be saved he must realize his need of the Savior, repent and receive Christ as his Savior, and then be born again; that the new birth results in a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above comprehension, not by culture, character or the will of men, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, faith and newness of life. (John 1:12; 3:5; 7, 16; II Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20; 5:22-23; Ephesians 1:13; 2:8-9.) Section 9. The Church We believe that the Church universal is an organism, the body of Christ, those who have been redeemed out of every kindred, tongue, people and nation, who comprise the Bride of Christ. We believe that the local Church is a body of professed believers in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, Savior and Lord, who have covenanted together for worship, mutual edification and to work for the spreading of the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth. (Acts 2:41-42; 16:5; Romans 12:4-5; I Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 1:22-23; 3:4-6; 5:25-27.) Section 10. The Ordinances We believe that the ordinances of the Church are two--Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Both ordinances are commanded by Christ and should faithfully be observed only by His followers. Baptism is the immersion in water of a believer in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified;, buried and risen Savior, and is symbolic of our death to sin and our resurrection to a new life in Him. We believe that it is a prerequisite to church membership. The Lord's Supper or Communion is the highest act of worship. It is a memorial of Christ's death for us and a symbol of His sustentation of our spiritual life and growth. (Matthew 3:5-6; 28:19; Mark 16:16; John 3:22-23; 4:1-2; Acts 2:38; 8:12, 36-39; 16:32-34; 18:8; Romans 6:4; I Corinthians 11:23-30.) Section 11. The Lord's Day We believe that God has ordained that one day in seven should be observed as a day of rest; that the first day of the week is the Lord's Day because on it He arose from the dead; that the day should be kept sacred to rest and worship by abstaining from all secular recreation and unnecessary occupations and by devout observance of all means of grace, both public and private. (Isaiah 58:13-14; Psalm 118:15; Acts 11:26; Hebrews 10:24-25; Revelation 1:10.) Section 12. Civil Government We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for; conscientiously honored and obeyed, except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the only Lord of the Christian's conscience. (Proverbs 8:15; Matthew 22:21; Romans 13:1, 7; Revelation 19:16.)
Section 13. The Righteous and the Wicked We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and sanctified by the Spirit of God are truly righteous in His esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked and under the curse, and this distinction exists both before and after death. (Proverbs 14:32; Matthew 7:13-14; Galatians 3:10; I John 5:19.)
Section 14. Resurrection of the Dead We believe that there will be a resurrection of the just and subsequently a resurrection of the unjust, that the Lord Jesus Christ will judge the quick and the dead at His coming. (John 5:22, 27, 28; Acts 24:15; II Corinthians 5:10.)
Section 15. The World to Come We believe that acceptance or failure to accept Jesus Christ as Savior seals eternal destiny; that there is no second chance to believe after death and that the future happiness of the righteous and the future misery of the wicked will be complete and interminable. (Psalm 1:6; Matthew 25:41; Romans 1:20; II Thessalonians 2:7-12; Revelation 21 and 22.)
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