We believe that the Bible, God’s Word, is the only authoritative source of principles on which to found and build New Testament churches.

We believe that the New Testament gives us historical information about the development of the church’s theology; geographical growth; times, patterns and places of meetings, church government, etc.

We believe the New Testament gives specific teaching about the practice and direction of the ever-growing Body of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We believe that the following principles especially characterize an authentic New Testament church:

• A visible devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ, who, as God the Son, is Head of the Church and Savior of the Body and its individual members (Mt. 16:16-18; Eph. 1:22-23; 5:23; Tit. 3:6).

• A commitment on the part of the believer-members to each of the others in the Body (1 Cor. 12:12, 20-21, 25-27; Eph. 4:12-16).

• A sense of urgency regarding the need to proclaim the Gospel to the lost masses of humanity and disciple men and women of all nations (Mt. 28:18-20; 2 Cor 5:14-21).

• A determination to fulfill the Great Commission of Christ by seeking to produce other New Testament churches (1 Thess. 1:8; Rom. 1:8; Acts 19:10; Acts 13:1-4, 14:16-27).

• A belief in the autonomy of each local church, with the saints responsible to their living Head, the Lord Jesus (Implied in Mt. 18:20; Rev. 2:3).

• A practicing of the “priesthood of all believers,” in which every member is expected to function as a holy, worshipping serving priest of God (1 Pet. 2:5, 9; Heb. 13:15, 16; Rom 12:1-8; Phil. 4:18).

• A commitment of the unity of the Body of Christ, in which there is no room for recognizing man-made barriers to fellowship among believers based on denominational ties (1 Cor. 1:10-13; 11:18, 29; 12:12-25; Rom 12:3-5; Eph. 4:1-3).

• A form of government by which a plurality of elders is responsible to lead and to equip the believer-priests to do the work of the ministry (Acts 14:23; 28-20; Tit. 1-5).

• A determination to mature as a Body through the interaction of all the believers, ministering to each other until all attain maturity, individually and corporately (Eph. 4:12-16).

• A willingness to esteem the Word of God as the sole authoritative source of New Testament Church doctrine and practice (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Thess. 2:15; 2 Pet. 3:15-16; Mark 7:6-9:13).

• A conviction that the shared possession of eternal life, found only in Christ, is what draws us together in fellowship. The primary doctrine which binds us together is right teaching about the person of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 1:23, 2:2, 12:12).