What do we believe?
Prayer
We believe in the power of prayer, for we can do nothing apart from God and we connect with God through prayer. God calls us to listen to Him then to take action. Luke 9:35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him. Matthew 7:7,8 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
The Trinity
We believe in the Trinity, one God in three persons, the Father, the Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
The Father
We believe in the one and only God, maker of heaven and earth. The Father loves us, even before we know Him. He calls us into a relationship with Him. He is ever-present, all-knowing, all-powerful, loving, kind, compassionate, encouraging, protects, provides, comforts and heals. God created people in His image, His love is for everyone. Isaiah 42:5 Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it.
The Son, Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is God’s only son sent to redeem us and to set us free from the bondage of sin and death. He was born of the virgin Mary, was innocent, yet was crucified, dead, and buried for us and on the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. He did all of this so that we can have eternal life, a new live in Jesus. Jesus promised to return, but only the Father knows when that will happen. 1 John 5:20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
The Bible
The foundation of our beliefs comes from the inspired word of God, the Bible. God’s Spirit interprets His Word and will never contradict it. Through prayerful reading we listen to the Holy Spirit who leads, guides and reveals to us God’s will for His kingdom work to be done. 2 Timothy 3:16,17 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.
The Great Commission
We are called to make disciples. Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
The Holy Spirit
We believe that after the Son ascended to heaven, the Father sent His Spirit to transform us into becoming the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. The Spirit calls us into a relationship with the Father through His Son Jesus Christ, then when we accept this invitation to believe in the Son of God, then His Spirit makes us a new self in Christ and we begin our spiritual journey of being transformed by His Spirit into the image of Jesus through our words, deeds and lifestyle. Acts 11:16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
Forgiveness
We are called to forgive others, as Jesus forgave us. Matthew 18:21-22-22 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
The Sacraments
We believe in two sacraments in the body of Christ, baptism and communion.
Baptism
Water baptism is an outward sign of an inward decision made when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. The Holy Spirit does the work in baptism. We believe and accept baptisms from other bodies of Christ, for persons of all ages. Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The Church
Jesus Christ is the head of the church, and the church is His body in this world. The Father sends the church out into the world to pray for others for peace, for physically/spiritually/emotionally healing, to spread the good news about Jesus, and to cast out evil. We are never alone in doing the work of the Lord, for Jesus lives within us and His Spirit. The church is a combination of Word + deed + lifestyle. Luke 10:5,6 When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you.
The Greatest Commandment
We are called to love the Lord, then love others. Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
Communion
We believe that the celebration of Holy Communion is a significant way we remember Christ’s sacrificial lifestyle and anticipate of His return. When we participate in the Lord’s Supper as a community, it is a time of both celebration and reflection. 1 Cor. 10:16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?
The Gathering in Hilliard is a Global Methodist Church Congregation and a member of the Allegheny West Conference. For more information on what we believe, please visit www.globalmethodist.org or www.alleghenywestgmc.org