"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us."
Core Beliefs
THE BIBLE, GOD, JESUS CHRIST, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, in their original languages of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, are the divinely inspired revelation by God, of Himself and of His redemptive purpose to all mankind. We accept the Bible as our all sufficient rule for faith and conduct.
2 Timothy 3:15-17 . . . and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
We believe in the God revealed in the Bible and in creation, the eternally self-existent One, sovereign Ruler of the universe. We do not attempt to explain the mystery of God but accept in faith His existence.
Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Isaiah 43:10-11 “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am He. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior.
Matthew 28:1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
Mark 12:29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.'"
We believe fully in the essential deity of the Second Person of the Godhead, the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God.
John 17:5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
Philippians 2:5-11 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Hebrews 1:2 . . . but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.
The nine fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) are the by-products of a spirit-filled life and evidence of spiritual maturity.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
The gifts of the spirit are different manifestations of the spirit to build up the body.
1 Corinthians 12:1-11 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
We are instructed to diligently seek the gifts (1 Corinthians 12:31; 14:1), but they must be exercised in an orderly way (1 Corinthians 14:26-33) in the context of love (1 Corinthians 13:1-13). The gifts are given based on the sovereignty of God.
1 Corinthians 12:31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
1 Corinthians 14:1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.
1 Corinthians 14:26-33 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God. Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
2 Timothy 3:15-17 . . . and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
We believe in the God revealed in the Bible and in creation, the eternally self-existent One, sovereign Ruler of the universe. We do not attempt to explain the mystery of God but accept in faith His existence.
Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Isaiah 43:10-11 “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am He. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior.
Matthew 28:1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
Mark 12:29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.'"
We believe fully in the essential deity of the Second Person of the Godhead, the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God.
John 17:5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
Philippians 2:5-11 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Hebrews 1:2 . . . but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.
The nine fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) are the by-products of a spirit-filled life and evidence of spiritual maturity.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
The gifts of the spirit are different manifestations of the spirit to build up the body.
1 Corinthians 12:1-11 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
We are instructed to diligently seek the gifts (1 Corinthians 12:31; 14:1), but they must be exercised in an orderly way (1 Corinthians 14:26-33) in the context of love (1 Corinthians 13:1-13). The gifts are given based on the sovereignty of God.
1 Corinthians 12:31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
1 Corinthians 14:1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.
1 Corinthians 14:26-33 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God. Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
MAN, THE FALL, AND REDEMPTION
We believe man was created in the image and likeness of God as a self-determining, self-conscious, world-conscious being, and that God endowed him with sovereign powers in relation to this earth and ultimately to the universe.
Man’s power of self-determination was tested in the Garden of Eden, and man failed. But God did not abandon man. In fact, He anticipated that fall and prepared the way of reconciliation through the death of His own Son . . . the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Revelation 13:8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.
This redemption was purchased by the sacrificial death of Christ, who is that Lamb, on Calvary. Now man, through personal acceptance of the merits of that shed blood, can be forgiven of sin, restored to fellowship from God, and have the evidence of that experience in the witness of God’s Spirit in his own inner being.
God has taken the initiative in opening the way of salvation. Each individual must respond for himself.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Romans 5:12-21 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come. But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.
Man’s power of self-determination was tested in the Garden of Eden, and man failed. But God did not abandon man. In fact, He anticipated that fall and prepared the way of reconciliation through the death of His own Son . . . the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Revelation 13:8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.
This redemption was purchased by the sacrificial death of Christ, who is that Lamb, on Calvary. Now man, through personal acceptance of the merits of that shed blood, can be forgiven of sin, restored to fellowship from God, and have the evidence of that experience in the witness of God’s Spirit in his own inner being.
God has taken the initiative in opening the way of salvation. Each individual must respond for himself.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Romans 5:12-21 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come. But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.
ORDINANCES, DIVINE HEALING AND HUMAN DESTINY
We observe Holy Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, in our church. This is an open communion in which all believers present are invited to participate.
We also practice water baptism by immersion, as the outward sign and testimony of the believer to the inward work of grace wrought by the Spirit of God in the “new birth.”
We do not baptize infants, but parents are encouraged to dedicate their children to the Lord in a public service as seen in the example of Jesus and Samuel.
1 Corinthians 11:26
Mark 16:16
Acts 10:47-48
Romans 6:4
We believe divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. We believe that it is for today and is dependent on the sovereignty of God. In other words, we trust in God’s omnipotence (He is all-powerful) and His omniscience (He is all knowing).
Isaiah 53:4-5
Matthew 8:16-17
James 5:14-16
John 9:1-3
Death seals the eternal destiny of each person. For all humans there will be a resurrection of the body into the spiritual world and a judgment that will determine the fate of each individual. Unbelievers will be eternally separated from God and condemned to hell based on their own rejection of God. On the other hand, believers will be received into eternal fellowship with God and will be judged and rewarded for works done in this life.
Zephaniah 3:19-20
Matthew 24:27, 30
Titus 2:13
Revelation 19:11-14
Revelation 20:11-15
1 Corinthians 15:51-52
1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17
Revelation 22:12-13
We also practice water baptism by immersion, as the outward sign and testimony of the believer to the inward work of grace wrought by the Spirit of God in the “new birth.”
We do not baptize infants, but parents are encouraged to dedicate their children to the Lord in a public service as seen in the example of Jesus and Samuel.
1 Corinthians 11:26
Mark 16:16
Acts 10:47-48
Romans 6:4
We believe divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. We believe that it is for today and is dependent on the sovereignty of God. In other words, we trust in God’s omnipotence (He is all-powerful) and His omniscience (He is all knowing).
Isaiah 53:4-5
Matthew 8:16-17
James 5:14-16
John 9:1-3
Death seals the eternal destiny of each person. For all humans there will be a resurrection of the body into the spiritual world and a judgment that will determine the fate of each individual. Unbelievers will be eternally separated from God and condemned to hell based on their own rejection of God. On the other hand, believers will be received into eternal fellowship with God and will be judged and rewarded for works done in this life.
Zephaniah 3:19-20
Matthew 24:27, 30
Titus 2:13
Revelation 19:11-14
Revelation 20:11-15
1 Corinthians 15:51-52
1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17
Revelation 22:12-13
THE CHURCH, FAITH AND PRACTICE
The result of an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ is that all believers become members of His body, the Church. There is one true church universal, comprised of all those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The Scripture commands believers to gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer, teaching of the Word, observance of baptism and communion as the sacramentarian ordinances established by Jesus Christ, fellowship, service to the body through the development and use of talents and gifts, and outreach to the world.
Wherever God’s people meet regularly in obedience to this command, there is the local expression of the church. Under the watchfulness of elders and other supportive leadership, its members are to work together in love and unity, intent on the one ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ.
Acts 2:42
Galatians 5:22-26
1 Corinthians 12:13
Ephesians 4:11-16
Mark 16:15-16
Acts 1:8
Matthew 28:19-20
1 Corinthians 12:28
1 Timothy 4:13
Scripture is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. Community Celebration Church recognizes that it cannot bind the conscience of individual members in areas where Scripture is silent. Rather, each believer is to be led in those areas by the Lord, to whom he or she alone is ultimately responsible.
Romans 6:1-11, 13
Romans 8:1-2
Romans 12:1-2
Galatians 2:20
Philippians 2:12-13
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Hebrews 12:14
Hebrews 13:12
1 Peter 1:15-16
1 Peter 1:5
Wherever God’s people meet regularly in obedience to this command, there is the local expression of the church. Under the watchfulness of elders and other supportive leadership, its members are to work together in love and unity, intent on the one ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ.
Acts 2:42
Galatians 5:22-26
1 Corinthians 12:13
Ephesians 4:11-16
Mark 16:15-16
Acts 1:8
Matthew 28:19-20
1 Corinthians 12:28
1 Timothy 4:13
Scripture is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. Community Celebration Church recognizes that it cannot bind the conscience of individual members in areas where Scripture is silent. Rather, each believer is to be led in those areas by the Lord, to whom he or she alone is ultimately responsible.
Romans 6:1-11, 13
Romans 8:1-2
Romans 12:1-2
Galatians 2:20
Philippians 2:12-13
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Hebrews 12:14
Hebrews 13:12
1 Peter 1:15-16
1 Peter 1:5