What We Believe

What We Believe at Bering Drive

Mission of the Bering Drive Church of Christ

Love and Serve God and People

Vision of the Bering Drive Church of Christ

We are a joyful and accepting community of Christians that calls, prepares, and leads our members to use our God-given gifts in service to others.

God

We have one God, known to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God made all that exists and delights in all that has been made. We know God through creation, through the prophets, through one another, in our hearts, and most fully in Jesus Christ. God is over all, through all and in all, worthy of our trust and praise. In the end, God will bring together all of creation. Romans 8:18-39; Ephesians 4:6.

Jesus Christ 

Jesus is the image of the invisible God, in whom the fullness of God is pleased to dwell. He was conceived without human father and was born from the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, died for our sins, rose from the dead, appeared to chosen witnesses, and ascended into heaven as our mediator, sacrifice, and high priest. He will come again to judge the world and to bring salvation to his people. Colossians 1:15-19; Matthew 1:18-25; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8.

Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit of God is the personal, powerful presence of God the Father and of the Risen Christ. The Spirit convicts of sin, regenerates sinners, and gives us repentance and faith. The Holy Spirit of God lives in believers, empowers them for service, changes them into Christ’s likeness, and distributes gifts by which we serve each other. The presence of God’s Spirit assures us that we are God’s children. John 14-16; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 1:11-14.

Salvation

Salvation is God’s gracious rescue of human beings and his whole creation, which he accomplished through the sinless life, atoning death, and powerful resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because God reconciled the world, we urge all people to “be reconciled” to God. We cannot earn or pay for our salvation, but can only trust God to be gracious to us for Jesus’ sake. This is what it means that we are saved by grace through faith. 2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Ephesians 2:8-9.

Church

The church is the fellowship of saved people under the one true God, the creator and sustainer of all life. We are the body of Christ on earth, commissioned by Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the gospel, baptize believers, and to walk with one another as we are shaped in the image and likeness of Christ. Everyone participates in all aspects of the life of the church. Men, women, and children all have opportunities to serve in worship, classes, and service. Everyone is welcome in our body, regardless of background, gender, or identity. We welcome one another as Christ has welcomed us. Ephesians 3:6-11; Matthew 28:18-20.

Baptism

Jesus himself was baptized, and he ordained that those who believe the gospel should also be baptized. Jesus’ baptism publicly identified him as the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world. In our baptism, we join the life of Jesus and his purposes in the world. Our baptism identifies us as believers in Jesus as God’s Lamb who took away our sins. We teach and practice believer baptism by immersion, seeing it as most consistent with baptism’s meaning and with apostolic example. Respecting individual consciences, we also receive believers who were baptized by another form. John 1:29-31; Matthew 28:18-19; Colossians 2:12; Romans 6:3-4.

The Lord’s Supper

The Lord’s Supper, or Eucharist, was established by Jesus to commemorate and to “re-present” his body and blood given for us. Each Sunday we receive the bread and cup, through which, by faith, we feed on Christ with thanksgiving. The Lord’s Supper is a sacred gift God continues to give us as we celebrate our salvation with one another. Matthew 26:26-29; John 6:50-56; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.

The Bible

The Bible includes the Jewish and Christian Scriptures. Although written by humans, it is inspired by God and is therefore useful. Its chief purpose is to point us to Jesus our Savior. The Bible is our final authority for life and for doctrine. John 5:39-40; 2 Timothy 3:15-17.

Worship

When we gather on Sunday mornings, we believe it is to honor God, and build up one another. Each Sunday we pray, read Scripture, preach, take the Lord’s Supper, and sing. Men, women, and children all participate in our service. As to our singing, the majority of the time we sing in four-part acappella without accompaniment. At times, for special songs, we use instrumental music. We love many kinds of songs from traditional hymns to contemporary praise. Most of all, we invite everyone to sing and participate actively in worship. Colossians 3:17

Last Events

At a time which God alone now knows, Jesus will return in person and in power. The dead will rise. Because we know in Jesus how the story ends, we are motivated to live with hope and courage until we die or Jesus returns. John 5:25-29; 1 Corinthians 15:58.