What We Believe

  • God

    God is the Creator and sovereign Ruler of the universe and all that is in it. [Genesis 1:1, 26, 27]

    He eternally exists in three distinct personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three co-exist as the one and only God. [Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15-20]

  • Jesus Christ

    Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came to earth to save us from our sins. [Matthew 1:21; Luke 19:10; John 3:16]

    He lived a sinless life, even though He was tempted in every way, and willingly offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men and women by dying on a cross. [Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 4:14-15]

    He demonstrated His power over sin and death by rising from the dead after three days. [1 Corinthians 15:3-4]

    Shortly after His resurrection, Jesus ascended into Heaven and promised to return. [Acts 1:9-11; 1Thessalonians 4:13-18]

    Salvation can come only through Jesus Christ. [Acts 4:12; Colossians 1:15-23]

  • The Bible

    The Bible is the inspired Word of God and is the final authority in life and doctrine. [Psalm 119:105; 2 Timothy 3:16-17]

    It was written by human authors under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and is without error. [Proverbs 30:5; 2 Peter 1:20-21]

    Its content reveals God’s character, our purpose, and life’s meaning. [John 20:31]

    The Bible’s principles are true for all people, for all places, and for all times. [Psalm 119:160]

  • Salvation

    I need to hear God's word [Romans 10:17] and believe that Christ has the power to save [John 3:16; Acts 16:31-33]. Based on what I have learned, I confess Jesus as Lord and is risen from the dead [Romans 10:9-10]. In order to follow Jesus, I repent of my sins [Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19; Acts 17:30] and am baptized, participating in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ [Romans 6:3-4], to receive the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. [Acts 2:38; Galatians 3:26-29; Titus 3:3-7; 1 Peter 3:21]

    Being a disciple of Jesus means that I will live faithfully by God's standards [Romans 14:7-8; Ephesians 4:1; 2 Peter 3:11-12a; 1 John 2:24-25].

What To Expect

What a great honor God has bestowed on us that we can worship Him!  David recognized this privilege when he said, over 3,000 years ago, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord’” (Psalm 122:1). With this privilege comes great responsibility.  As God is the One who created us and the One who created worship, He is the One to whom our worship must be directed, and He is the only One who has the right to regulate what is done in worship.

Concerning the sacred privilege of approaching the throne of God, Jesus said, “The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.  God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24). Above all else, we ought to seek to be true worshipers, those who worship God according to His will.  We must have God’s authority for what we do in worship, for He has said, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17).

In the New Testament, the Lord’s church gathered together to worship on the first day of every week (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2). Through the New Testament, we know that God authorizes His church to worship Him through the following five avenues.  To be the first-century church in twenty-first century, we must honor these God-given avenues of worship.

  • We Must Sing as a Congregation

    “Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19).  “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16). Congregational singing is the only music that God authorizes in His worship

  • We Must Pray Together

    “And they continued steadfastly…in prayers” (Acts 2:42). Jesus said our prayers are to be directed to the Father.  “…Whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you” (John 16:23).  “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed by Your name” (Matthew 6:9).

  • We Must Observe the Lord's Supper Every First Day of the Week

    The purpose of the church gathering for worship is to eat the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:20). The church gathered together every first day of the week (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). Therefore, the church must commune with our Lord, commemorating His death (1 Corinthians 11:23-26), every Sunday, just as the church in the first century did—“Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread…” (Acts 20:7).

  • We Must Give Back to The Lord as We Have Prospered

    “Now concerning the collection for the saints…On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside…as he may prosper” (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).  “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart…for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

  • Welcome

    When you walk in you should expect to see people greeting one another and talking about the weeks events. It is our desire to make everyone feel at home quickly, so someone will come up and introduce themselves to you. They may ask how you heard about Forrest Park or if you live in the area.

We come together each Sunday to worship our loving God.  Knowing that God is the object of our worship, we seek to do and say only those things that will bring honor and glory to His name, for of such He is so worthy (Revelation 4:11).