We are a Biblically confessional, reformed, covenantal, evangelistic and presbyterian church.
This means we have a written confession of faith that is founded upon and subordinate to the Holy Scriptures. Our confession consists of the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, which faithful men developed through much careful study, prayer, and thought. While these documents are not without flaw, we believe they do contain carefully worded and faithful summaries of the teaching of God’s Word. We also adhere to the beliefs articulated in the Apostles’ Creed, Nicene Creed, and Heidelberg Catechism.
We are Reformed. We gladly find ourselves in the current of the Reformation of the 16th century and as heirs of that tradition which comes from leaders like Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, and others. Reformed distinctives include the belief in the sovereignty of God in His creation, providence, and election of believers apart from any merit of their own; the irresistible grace of God provided for and preceding the faith of the individual; the sufficiency of God’s grace apart from which man is dead in sin, is wholly defiled in all his faculties of soul and body, and is under a just sentence of eternal condemnation; the efficacy of Christ’s death for all those who believe in Him by grace; the safe-guarding for eternal life for all those for whom Christ died. These beliefs have been stated in what are known as the Five Solas.
Sola Scriptura - Scripture and Scripture alone is the final rule for all we believe and do. Scripture is God’s Word written.
Sola Gratia - It is only by God’s grace and God’s grace alone that a person is saved from sin’s guilt, power, and penalty.
Sola Fide - It is only through faith and faith alone that a person is saved. This salvation is not a result of any good works that a person may perform or any merit a person may accrue, but only through faith in Jesus Christ.
Solus Christus - It is only through faith in Christ and in Christ alone that a person is saved from their sin and the condemnation it deserves. It is only in Christ, in his perfect righteousness and in his full and complete work of redemption - in his life, death, and resurrection- that a person is saved in this life and for all eternity.
Soli Deo Gloria - Those who have been saved by God’s grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone will hope and desire to live their lives for the glory of God alone. In every aspect of life - worship, work, family, service, recreation, or whatever - all of it is to be done to the glory of God alone.
We are covenantal. To say we are covenantal means we believe that the unifying message of the Scriptures is the one covenant of grace that God made with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David and finally, and most importantly, in Jesus Christ. To speak of the unity of the covenants means that there is one way and one way only to salvation in both Old and New Testaments-that is, by faith alone in Jesus Christ, the only Redeemer of God’s elect. This covenantal understanding of the Bible is in distinction from any system of organizing the Scriptures which would attribute differing ways of salvation to a succession of historical Biblical eras.
We are evangelistic. We are earnest about Christ’s commandment to “Go and make disciples of all nations.” Without compromising the sovereignty of God, we affirm the responsibility of each person to repent of their sin and believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and our responsibility to extend the Gospel invitation to all. Come and drink freely of the water of everlasting life!
We are Presbyterian. Our form of governance calls for our church and all others in our denomination to be led by qualified and equipped elders who are themselves subject and accountable to higher councils/courts known as presbyteries and the General Assembly. We believe that this is the truly Biblical form of church governance.
We are a member congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America.
Purpose:
To worship and serve the one true and living God through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit and to bring the good news of salvation in Christ to all people in Lubbock, West Texas, and the world. In doing this, we will encourage and equip believers to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and to grow in our love for one another and our neighbors; all the while endeavoring to know, live, and speak the love, joy, peace, hope, and truth of God's word revealed to us in the Scriptures.
Mission: We endeavor to fufill this purpose by...
Worship: Because God has revealed Himself to us by and through His creation and Word as our almighty, sovereign, and gracious Creator and Redeemer, we must respond by worshipping Him with our whole being. We will endeavor to do this as individuals, as families, and as a congregation gathered together for corporate worship. This worship is to be informed by and conformed to God's holy word and will have as its highest and chief goal the glory, honor, and praise of God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Psalm 95; Jn 4.23-24; Hebrews 12:18-29; Revelation 5:9-10)
Biblical Truth: The Word of God is the supreme and sufficient rule of truth for all of faith and life. We seek to dig deep into the Bible — teaching, preaching, and confessing so that we may better take every thought captive and learn to communicate biblically with each other and with those we meet. But for the saving and healing work of Jesus Christ we have no hope. We don’t believe that solutions are found in worldly philosophies, politics or the institutions of the world, but rather in the Word of God and His transforming Spirit (Psalm 119, Isaiah 40:6-8; John 17.17; II Tim 3.16-17; II Corinthians 10:4-6).
Personal Growth in Grace: Personal growth in grace only comes through a vibrant life-changing relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ that transforms our thoughts, affections, emotions, words, and actions. Jesus says, "For apart from me you can do nothing." This growth in grace will come as the Holy Spirit uses the God-ordained means of grace - the word, the sacraments, fellowship, and prayer in the lives of his people. Thus, we encourage heart-engaged study of the Scriptures, participation in the sacraments, fellowship, and reflective prayer (Jn 15.5-7; Colossians 2:6-7; Heb 10.23-25; Eph 6.18-19; Matthew 28:19-20; I Cor 10:16-17; 11:17-34).
Community: Scripture instructs believers to gather and commit to one another in a local church, and provides great wisdom in pointing one another to Christ as the source of life. This begins in the home and in personal relationships. We facilitate small groups and communities to foster deep friendships — encouraging one another and also bearing one another’s burdens and sorrows. All these things should culminate in the church’s gathering together for corporate worship.(Romans 12:1-21; Hebrews 10:23-25)
Outreach: Until the Lord returns, He has called us to be agents in bringing his gospel to our neighbors and to the nations of the world, and to be His hands and feet to those in need. Thus, we seek to be salt and light - ministering to all in need of a life-transforming relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. We seek to honor the great commission in all we do, knowing it is the Lord who calls and saves sinners to Himself. (Matthew5:13-16; 28:19-20; Romans 10:13-17; Revelation 5:9-10)