The Bible
Is the inspired word of God in its entirety. All sixty-six books unfold the story of God’s relationship and plan for mankind. Written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Bible is without error in conveying what God wishes to convey and accomplishing what God wishes to accomplish in each individual believer, and in the world for all time! It is sufficient and complete and is perfect for educating, rebuking, purifying, and training in righteousness. While God communicates with all believers through the Holy Spirit, God will never contradict Himself or the Bible. 2 Timothy 3:16–17; Romans 15:4; Isaiah 55:11; Hebrews 4:12–13; 2 Peter 1:19–21.
Salvation is for all
God’s word states that God is Love, and in that Love God calls all people to come and know Him through belief in His son Jesus Christ, becoming more like Jesus every day in the power of His Holy Spirit, so that all people may live forever with God in a love-filled community, which we call Heaven. 1 John 4:16; John 3:16; 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9; Ezekiel 18:23.
God is Triune
God exists eternally in a Loving community of three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All are equal and equally share the attributes of one another. John 5:23; John 14:9; 2 Cor 13:14; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2.
God the Father
The first person of the Trinity who is all-powerful, all-knowing, and present everywhere at all times. He is the creator and sustainer. He is Spirit and He is Love. Isaiah 64:7; Psalms 146:6-10; Acts 17:24; 1 John 4:16.
God the Son (Jesus)
God in man, being first born from the Father and the second person of the trinity, 100% human and 100% divine, without sin, mistake, or error, born of a virgin, whose mission it is to uphold the law and the prophets in Love. Jesus came to call the people to repentance and ultimately saving mankind through helping them see who He is, allowing them to share in His mission, helping them to have faith in Him, and helping them grow in His likeness and character as they do what He did and commanded. John 1:14; John 6:35; John 14:6–11; Philippians 2:5–7; Col 1:15–20; John 1:1–3; Colossians 2:9–10; Hebrews 2:17–18; 1 John 4:2–3; Hebrews 12:2.
God the Holy Spirit
The third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit offers himself as a gift, to indwell the believer at the moment they give their lives to Jesus, and seals them for salvation. The Holy Spirit guides, comforts, empowers, and bestows spiritual gifts, resulting in what is known as “the fruit of the Spirit”. The Holy Spirit is the locus and conduit of God’s Love in the heart of the disciple and is how we discern God’s word and come to intimately know Jesus. There is a second baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is impossible to know truth apart from the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:5; Acts 2:38; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Isaiah 11:2; Acts 1:8; John 14:26; Gal 5:22-23; John 14:15-17; Micah 3:8; Acts 2:1-5; Acts 19:6; Acts 10:44-46.
Creation
Before what we know as time, before there was an Earth, there was God, existing eternally in a Loving community of three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God spoke and everything we now know as life, as reality, came into being. God created all of this through a divine allowing! God brought all life into existence including His ultimate creation, mankind. Mankind, created in God’s likeness, enjoyed full intimacy and friendship with God, knowing no scarcity, or suffering, only joy, living in harmony with all that was around them. Man was given dominion over all other living things with the responsibility to care, protect, and rule over creation while under God’s sovereign guidance and leadership. Colossians 1:16; Genesis 1:1-2; Genesis 1:26; Genesis 2:7; John 1:1-3; Hebrews 11:3; Revelation 4:11.
The Fall
Took place due to mankind’s desire for ultimate control. Adam and Eve (first man and woman) enjoyed complete intimacy with God and dominion over God’s creation but lacked one thing; ultimate control, they were not God. Satan (A former angel) now evil and bent against God’s creation and plans, came and tempted Adam and Eve to eat of the “forbidden fruit” that he said would make them like God. The trick is that mankind is already created in God’s likeness, they are already “like” God but will never “be” God! Due to Satan’s lies and mankind’s rebellion sin entered the world, and therefore separation from God. This separation introduced death, destruction, lack, fear, and every negative emotion even causing the very ground to be cursed. This rebellion and therefore separation from God is experienced and repeated in the heart of every human when we try to “play God” in our own lives. Genesis 3:1-5; Genesis 6:12; Romans 5:18-21; 1 Corinthians 15:22; Ecclesiastes 7:20.
Redemption
God’s greatest desire is to spend eternity with as many of His beloved people as possible, He would not and does not leave us to die. God has authored a redemptive (recovery process) journey, a way humankind can be reconciled to God. This journey and plan started with Israel, God's chosen people, and culminates with belief in and intimacy with Jesus! Because of sin, mankind was separated from God, our source of light and life, and death entered the picture. There had to be a way to conquer sin and death but it could not be done through the will of or in the power of man. So Jesus, who being both 100% God and 100% man, devoid of sin, living life in perfection, sacrificed Himself to take our consequences (the results of all sin for all time), dying on a cross, ultimately rising to life on the third day, defeating death and making reconciliation to God possible, so that we too might rise to life, never really dying, spending eternity in Heaven, worshiping and serving the most High God, our creator, redeemer, sustainer, the God who is Love! Psalms 111:9; Ephesians 1:7; Isaiah 44:22; John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Galations 3:13.
Salvation
We have been salvaged, “bought at a price”, by Jesus. We continue to be saved by the power and direction of the Holy Spirit. We were “lost” in our sins destined for an eternity apart from God until Jesus through His sacrifice made it possible to “be found”. But being saved is a choice made possible by the Love and Power of God (Grace). Through faith (knowing God) and trusting in His word (the Bible) His Son (Jesus) and the good news (the Gospel), we are saved. This is a gift and cannot be earned but should give rise to good works done out of gratitude and done in service of others. From the overflow of our hearts we are to share the good news of salvation with others and lead them in doing the things Jesus did and commands us to do (discipleship). This is only possible through the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit! Romans 6:23; Philippians 2:12-13; John 14:6; John 1:12-13; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10.
The Church
The Church is the “body” of Christ while Jesus is the head. The Church is the representation of Christ on Earth and the “hands and feet” of our Lord. While the Church is a gathering it is more importantly a community of people united to Christ and one another by faith and who worship and celebrate God together while encouraging and training one another to do the things Jesus did. The Church gathers together to celebrate God and give Him love and respect as a group, while encouraging and preparing one another to go out into the world taking God’s Love and the message of hope to those we meet. Romans 12:4-5; Matthew 18:20; 1 Corinthians 3:9; Acts 2:46-47; Ephesians 2:19-20; 1 Peter 2:9-10.
Communion
Is a physical and spiritual act that signifies and solidifies our union with God through Jesus’ sacrifice physically on the cross, and spiritually by taking our sins and the punishment of those sins. We see this as a privilege and an act of obedience. It is for those that are “in Christ” (have asked Him to be their Lord and Savior and believe He is who He says He is) and is to be taken seriously and given the importance it deserves. 1 Corinthians 11:26; Matthew 26:26-28; John 6:53-58; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 1 Corinthans 11:27-31.
Baptism
Is an outward sign of an inward condition. While immersion in water is not what saves an individual, Jesus does order us to Baptize others. This is both an honor and act of obedience and it is a sign to God, to ourselves, and to others that we have taken the important step of surrendering our lives to Jesus and now give him control of our thoughts and actions. Matthew 3:11- 17; 1 Peter 3:21; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:41; Matthew 28:19.
Prayer
Is an honor, a command, a lifeline, a way to access God’s grace, and our direct way of being in contact and relationship with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is talking with God! It is done with and for the church but also in our most private moments with God! It has a bearing on how things in our lives and the lives of others turn out. We pray to the Father, by the Holy Spirit, in the name and honor of Jesus. There is power in prayer! We endeavor to pray first not last, to pray often and to pray together as a church. Philippians 4:6; Mark 11:24; Romans 8:26; Matthew 6:6; James 5:16; Matthew 26:41; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
Women in Leadership and Ministry
Home Away From Home Church affirms women in both Ministry and Eldership. We believe Scripture bears out that while God created men and women uniquely different, He did not create a hierarchy. Both men and women have gifts that benefit the church and bring our Triune God glory! At Home Away From Home Church, we are concerned that each person be called to ministry (encouraged through the Holy Spirit) and that they are the best person for the job! Luke 8:1-3; Romans 16:6,12; Acts 18; Luke 2:38; Philippians 4:2-3; John 20:18; Romans 16:3-4,7; Mark 15:40-41; Acts 9:36.
The Apostles Creed
We have included the Apostles Creed both as a celebrated and agreed upon summary of the Christian Faith for believers but also an introduction for those that do not as yet know Jesus personally.
I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic* church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
*that is, the true Christian church of all times and all places
The Nicene Creed
We have included the Nicene Creed because it too summarizes our beliefs but does it in slightly deeper theological and spiritual words and tone.