WHAT WE BELIEVE
BAPTISM
MEMBERSHIP
Welcome to our Church
CONTENTS
What we Believe Baptism Communion Membership Getting Involved Leadership
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We believe that God has fulfilled the Covenant promise He gave to Abraham to draw unto Himself a people who have been redeemed, and that His ultimate plan of Salvation has been fully realised in the person of Jesus Christ (Genesis 12:1-3, 15:1-6, Matthew 1:1-17) We believe that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin and that He is God in the form of a man (Luke 1:26-38, Hebrews 1:2-3, Colossians 1:15-20) We believe that Jesus Christ uniquely lived a sinless life. Despite this, however, He was rejected by humanity and was crucified on a cross. We believe that His death was a sacrificial offering for sinful humanity in which He took upon himself the just punishment of those sins committed by all who believe and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:14-15, John 19:14-24, Isaiah 53)
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We believe that God is the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, the Earth and all things (Genesis 1:1, Hebrews 11:3) We believe that God created human beings and gave them a special and blessed status by creating them in His own image (Genesis 1:27-28). We believe that God has revealed Himself as a fellowship - the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 28:19, John 16:5-16) We believe that God’s Word, the Bible, teaches us what to believe about God, and is the sole authority for the Church as well as our individual Christian lives (2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12) We believe that God is holy, eternal and in control of all things (e.g. Psalm 90:2, Psalm 147:5, Revelation 15:3-4) We believe that we are all sinful from birth, and because of this we live in ways contrary to those that are good and pleasing to God (Genesis 3:1-8, Romans 7:7-25) We believe that sin has caused the special relationship between God and people to be broken. Instead of living in harmony with God, we incur God’s righteous anger (Romans 1:18-20, 3:9-20)
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We believe in a New Creation where God’s family will dwell for all eternity where there will be no more tears or pain as the old order of things will have passed away. (1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 1 Thessalonians 4:17, Revelation 21:1-4) We believe that Jesus has commissioned the Church to proclaim His Gospel message, witness to the world through having changed lives, make disciples and baptise Spirit-filled believers (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 2:38-39) We believe that the Holy Spirit is given to a person when they believe in their heart and confess with their lips that Jesus is both their Saviour and Lord, and dwells in us to assure us of our relationship with God, enables us to become more like Jesus as well as helps us to witness to our friends and family (Ephesians 1:13-14, 3:16-17, Galatians 5:16-25, Acts 1:8) We believe God calls Christians to love one another, to gather together regularly for worship and to serve our communities (Acts 2:42-47, Ephesians 2:10).
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We believe that those who turn from their sinful ways in repentance and faith will receive complete forgiveness from God along with the certain promise of eternal life (John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Isaiah 1:18) We believe that on the Sunday after his death, by the power of God through the Holy Spirit, Jesus rose from the dead, and over the next forty days many men and women witnessed His resurrection (Matthew 12:40, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8) We believe that Jesus has since returned to Heaven and is with God the Father (Mark 16:19) We believe that there are two eternal destinies: Heaven (where people will live in perfect harmony with God) and Hell (where people will suffer the just penalty of their own sin) (e.g. Philippians 3:20-21, 1 Peter 1:3-5; Luke 12:4-5, Matthew 25:31-46) We believe that Jesus will return one day and judge the world - both the living and the dead. Jesus will accept those who have trusted Him in this life whereas those who have not entered into a saving relationship with Jesus will be rejected (1 Thessalonians 4:16, Hebrews 9:27, Matthew 10:32, Romans 10:9-11)
WE BELIEVE
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We believe that baptism with water is an outward sign that reflects the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life (Acts 10:44-48). We will carry out baptism by immersion for any believer following a public declaration of personal saving faith (e.g. Acts 8:36-39).
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Jesus told his followers to make disciples of all nations and to baptise believers in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19)
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We celebrate communion on the first Sunday of every month, and the table is open to all who know and love the Lord Jesus (1 Corinthians 11:23-32)
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COMMUNION
THE LORD'S SUPPER
Becoming a Church member involves: publicly declaring your faith in Jesus, and is typically expressed through baptism by immersion committing yourself to the work of the Church family through serving others, regular financial giving and using your personal talents for the advancement of God’s Kingdom entering into an accountability relationship with the Easterhill Church Leadership Team, who will take responsibility for faithfully teaching you from the Bible and providing you with pastoral care
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Church membership is an important way in which we communicate to others our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, express our commitment to those we worship and serve alongside, as well as making ourselves accountable to the authority of a local Church leadership.
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If for whatever reason, you have not reached that point of personal commitment to the Lord, Church membership is not right for you at this time. However, we passionately encourage you to continue seeking God as part of the Church family, and pray that the Lord will reveal himself to you in His time, imparting His Holy Spirit to your life.
If you are considering Church membership, the most important question to ask yourself is whether or not you have a living faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? Becoming a Christian is a supernatural, life-changing experience that impacts every part of our lives, which is why it is impossible for anyone to be “born-again” without having their own personal story. Simply put, could you tell others how you came to faith in Jesus? Furthermore, since coming to faith, how has the Lord changed the way you live your life? If you can testify to the saving and transforming power of Jesus in your life, then Church membership is appropriate for you.
IS Church membership right for me?
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CHURCH LEADERSHIP TEAM team
Spiritual oversight in Easterhill Community Church is carried out by a team of Elders. The Church also has Trustees whose primary role is to ensure that we comply with all legal requirements. The Elders and Trustees meet together once a month as the Church’s Leadership team to consider all competent Church business.
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Where do you think that your gifts and talents could be best used in the life of the Church? Are you or would you like to be involved in a Life Group? In what ways can the Church help you to reach out and share the gospel with your friends and family?
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GETTING INVOLVED
And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:47
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