the bible says it.
that settles it.
we hold to the historic, orthodox christian faith. our beliefs are not new, novel, or negotiable. they are anchored in scripture, shaped by 2,000 years of the church, and lived out in our community every week.
theologically conservative.
methodologically modern.
awaken church is rooted in pentecostal heritage. we believe in the present-day work of the holy spirit, the empowering gifts available to every believer, and the active, supernatural presence of god in our gatherings.
but we are not stuck in any one decade. we hold tightly to the truth of scripture while constantly reimagining how we deliver it. ancient gospel, modern means. timeless truth, timely methods.
we are not the church your grandparents went to and we are not the church chasing the next trend. we are committed to being faithful to the word of god and effective in reaching the people god has placed in front of us.
the bible is the inspired, infallible, and authoritative word of god. it is our final authority on all matters of faith and life.
we believe the holy spirit moves today the same way he moved in the book of acts. healing, gifts, baptism, and presence are for now.
how we sing, preach, and gather can adapt to our culture and community. what we believe never changes. how we deliver it always can.
ten foundations.
one unshakable faith.
these are the core convictions that shape everything we teach, how we live, and how we lead. each belief is rooted in scripture. tap any verse to read it.
god
we believe in one god who eternally exists in three persons: the father, the son, and the holy spirit. these three are co-equal and co-eternal, which is the trinity.
humans
we believe humans were created in the image of god and placed in a sinless paradise to have fellowship with him. but because of disobedience to god's word, sin entered the world. fellowship with god was broken and relationship between humans became strained.
humans, through their own efforts, cannot restore this brokenness.
the gospel
we believe in the gospel: that jesus is the messiah, the son of the living god. that he was crucified on a cross for our sins. and that he was raised from the dead three days later.
salvation
we believe that all who believe the gospel are born again by the holy spirit and become children of god and heirs of eternal life.
eternal life is totally a work of grace. a gift of god. not a result of any good works or human effort on our part.
the church
we believe the church is the body of christ, made up of all christ-followers. its mission is to glorify god and make him known to the lost world.
every christ-follower is an integral part of the church, creating a spiritual unity of brothers and sisters. the initial evidence for joining the church is water baptism. the continual evidence of unity with the church is the lord's supper (communion).
the word of god
the holy bible, and only the bible, is the authoritative word of god. it alone is the final authority in determining all doctrinal truths. in its original writing, it is inspired, infallible, and inerrant.
the christian life
we believe in the ongoing process of spiritual growth of the christian through the holy spirit and god's word.
each person is to grow in their knowledge of god's word and in developing and employing their spiritual gifts through the church. so others may come to know christ. and so the church can be built up into maturity.
last things
we believe that jesus christ will physically return to set up his kingdom. this will occur at a time no one knows except the father.
at his return, the resurrection of christ-followers and non-christ-followers will take place. heaven will be the eternal dwelling place for all believers in the gospel of jesus christ.
the devil, who is working in the world to destroy the souls of people, along with all his angels and all whose names are not written in the book of life, will eternally perish in a physical place called hell.
marriage
we believe, based on the teaching of the scriptures in both the old and new testaments, that marriage is a sacred institution ordained by god from the foundation of the world. it is intended as a lifelong union between one man and one woman.
marriage between one man and one woman also represents the relationship between christ and the church.
human sexuality and gender
we believe that god intentionally and wonderfully creates every person in his image as either male or female. these two distinct, complementary genders are established by god according to his will and design. gender is not self-defined but is a gift from god, revealed in creation and affirmed throughout scripture.
we also believe that marriage is a sacred covenant designed by god to be between one man and one woman, and that sexual intimacy is to be expressed exclusively within that covenant. any sexual activity outside of biblical marriage, including both heterosexual and homosexual behavior, is outside of god's design and therefore considered sin.
at the same time, we believe that every person is deeply loved by god and created with dignity and worth. we are committed to speaking truth with grace, calling all people to repentance, transformation, and new life through jesus christ.
still wrestling? good.
faith doesn't grow in airtight rooms. if any of this raised a question, started a conversation, or stirred something up, we'd love to talk it through with you. no judgment. no script.