Our Message
The Five Streams
At Adventure Community Church we believe that Jesus came to give us – in His own words – "life to the full" (John 10:10). However, we have found that not all believers are experiencing that kind of LIFE. We believe that five critical practices, which we describe as "streams," flow together to help produce that LIFE. If a follower of Christ is engaging only one or two, their experience of "life to the full" will be elusive. These streams are: "Walking with God," "Restoration," "Spiritual Warfare," "Community," and "Mission".
Walking With God
We believe that God created us for intimacy. The Bible is filled with examples for us of God personally interacting with His people. A conversational relationship with God is available here on earth. We are encouraged to both talk to God and also listen for His loving voice to affirm us, correct us and guide us in His ways. We walk with God by the guidance of His Word (the Bible) and by His Holy Spirit which He gives as a counselor and guide to every person who puts their faith in Jesus. The Bible and the Holy Spirit will never contradict each other. We believe that the result of walking with God is true intimacy with Him and a relationship that brings forth an abundant life. (Eph. 6:18, John 10:27, John 15:15, Gal. 5:25)
Spiritual Warfare
We believe that there is an enemy who aims to steal, kill and destroy God’s beloved, His bride, which is the church, comprised of all who believe and follow Jesus. Throughout your life there has been an assault on you to create distrust in God’s leadership, a false identity for yourself, and a false hope for life apart from God. We exist in a world that is in a spiritual war. The ground that the warring parties seek to possess is your heart. We believe that for a follower of Christ to become who they were meant to be, they will have to learn to fight the enemy in the power and victory given them under the authority of Jesus. (Eph. 6:12-18, 1 Peter 5:8-9, 1 John 5:19, James 4:7)
Restoration
We believe that Jesus came to restore us. Originally, Adam and Eve were glorious beings, unfallen image-bearers of God. The enemy of our souls led them to doubt God’s heart and leadership and that sin produced shame and a desire for independence from God. Sin has affected every human since. We have a brokenness that needs to be healed at a heart level and a glory that God intends to restore, so He sent His son to heal us, set us free and give us the identity that we were meant to have through adoption as His children. Letting God restore us, ultimately brings glory to Him. As we walk with God, He will lead us into the restoration of our heart and life. (1 John 3:1-2, John 1:12-13, Isa 61, Luke 4:16-21, Rom 7-8, 2 Cor. 3:15-18, Gal. 5:1, Eph 4:22-24)
Community
We need one another; made in the image of God, we were never intended to live apart from Him and others. Even God expresses Himself as one God in the community of three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Every person longs to be truly known and to experience true connection with others. Every person is a unique and necessary part of God’s church. The church is likened to a body with many parts. Each part is critical to the function of the whole. Only together can we accomplish all that God desires for us. (Luke 3:21-22, 2 Cor 13:14, Eph. 4, 1 Cor. 12, 1 Thess 5:10-11)
Mission
We believe that God created every man, woman and child for a purpose. All throughout scripture, we are told to "go," "make disciples," "love our neighbors," and "run the race"; each of these directives require action on our part. In order for us to experience the abundant life that God has called us to, we need to be on mission with Him, using our gifts and resources for His glory. Whether that means being kind to our neighbor, praying for a stranger, sharing the good news of Jesus with others, serving in the church, ministering to the local community or traveling on a mission trip around the world, as we walk in the five streams and grow deeper in our relationship with God and others, He always calls us towards action. Our goal is to live from our union with God as we partner with Him in pursuing the purposes of His heart. (John 13:14-15, John 15:16-17, Heb 12:1-3, Matt. 9:37-38, Matt. 22:37-40, Matt. 28:18-20)
What We Believe
This statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe.
The Word of God
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. (John 17:17; Romans 15:4; II Timothy 3:16, 17; II Peter 1:19-21)
The Trinity
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons; that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence, and redemption. (Matthew 28:19; John 1:1-4, I John 5:7)
God the Father
We believe in God, the Father, an infinite personal Being, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (John 3:16-17; John 4:24; John 17:5)
Jesus Christ
We believe in Jesus Christ as God, the only begotten Son of the Father, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, his existence as fully man and fully God. We believe in His sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth. (Isaiah 7:14; John 1:14; Philippians 2:5-11; I Thessalonians 4:16-17; Hebrews 1:2-3, I John 1:7)
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ and that He is abiding Helper, Teacher, and Guide. (John 16:7-15; Romans 8:14-17; Ephesians 1:13-14; John 14:26)
Regeneration
We believe that all people are sinners by nature and choice and are therefore under judgment. We believe that those who repent of their sins and trust Jesus Christ as Savior are transformed by the Holy Spirit and made righteous in the sight of God. (John 1:12-13; John 3:16-18; Acts 20:21; Titus 3:5)
The Church
We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, work, and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world. (Matthew 16:16-18; Acts 2:38-41; Ephesians 2:19-22, 5:25-27)
Christian Conduct
We believe that Christians should live for the glory of God and well-being of their fellowmen; that their conduct should be blameless before the world; that they should be faithful stewards of their possessions; and that they should seek to realize for themselves and others the full stature of maturity in Christ. (II Corinthians 9:6-8; Ephesians 4:11-16; Philippians 2:14-16; Colossians 3:17-23; I Thessalonians 5:17-18)
Redemption and Restoration
We believe God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ (Acts 3:19-21; Romans 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11). We believe every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity regardless of their having experienced redemption and/or restoration. (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31). Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of Adventure Community Church.
The Ordinances
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of the believer in water into the name of the Triune God. We believe that the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:41-42; Romans 6:3-5; I Corinthians 11:23-32)
The End Times
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 judgment, the eternal joy of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked. (Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:18, 29; II Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:1-15)