Our beliefs shape who we are, how we follow Jesus, and how we live together as a church.
Our Core Beliefs · Marriage · Ministry Practices
Statement of Faith
Our beliefs shape who we are, how we follow Jesus, and how we live together as a church. These convictions are rooted in Scripture and guide our life and ministry as Table Church.
Our Core Beliefs
God
There is one God who exists in three persons — the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is the beginning and end of all things. He is the Creator of the universe and author of all life. All history moves toward Him and finds its culmination in His sovereign plan.
Scripture: Genesis 1; John 1:1; Ephesians 4:6; Colossians 1:15–23; Revelation 19:6
Jesus
Jesus, the Son, was born of a virgin and came to earth because of God’s love for humanity. In living a fully human, fully divine life, He is both our example and our victorious King. He died for the sins of His people. He conquered death and rose from the grave before ascending to the Father, where He reigns with Him. He will return one day in power and glory. He is our Savior and Lord. He is the only Way, the only Truth, and the only Life.
Scripture: Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1–18; Matthew 27:54; John 14:6–7; Colossians 1:15–23; 1 Timothy 1:15
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit was sent to comfort and reveal Truth. He equips, enables, and empowers believers to live out the ordained purposes for their lives. He is the fully active power of God at work in the world today.
Scripture: John 14:15–27; 1 Corinthians 2:10–16
Salvation
Salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and it cannot be found outside of His life, death, and resurrection.
Scripture: John 1:12; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Ephesians 2:8–9
Humanity
Created in God’s own image, humanity is God’s crowning work in creation. Our primary purpose is to glorify God along with all of creation. Human beings are sinful at birth, and the only hope for humanity is found in the finished work of Jesus.
Scripture: Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3–6; Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:3
The Gospel
The Gospel is the good news of salvation and transformation for every man, woman, and child. Having a deep love for the world, God the Father sent His Son, Jesus, to live, to die, and to be raised again so humanity might be rescued and redeemed from its sin and progressively made more like Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit. The Gospel is the only solution for this world’s deficiency.
Scripture: Luke 2:10–11; Luke 4:14–21; John 3:16–17; Romans 1:16–17
The Bible
The Bible is wholly authentic, fully trustworthy, and completely without error. There is nothing that can be added to it or taken from it. The Bible is the revealed Word of God and is useful for teaching, encouraging, and correcting.
Scripture: Psalm 19:7–14; 2 Timothy 3:16–17
The Church
The Church is God’s chosen instrument to bring His Gospel to every man, woman, and child. There is one Church of which Jesus Christ is the head. The Church is made up of every person who places their trust in the finished work of Jesus.
Scripture: Matthew 28:18–20; Acts 2:41–47; Ephesians 3; Ephesians 4:1–13
Biblical Foundations of Marriage
We believe that marriage is a covenantal relationship initiated by God between a man and a woman for life. Because God is the author of marriage, we believe that He has ultimate authority over it and that He has given us instructions in the Scriptures on how to best relate with our spouses. We believe that marriage is primarily a spiritual activity and, therefore, it is dependent upon the Holy Spirit to thrive.
Genesis 2:18–25 outlines for us the beginning of the marriage relationship. Here we see that men and women come together in marriage to help and meet the needs of each other. They become one in marriage, and in so doing, they become a representative picture of the tri-unity of God (Father, Son, Spirit) and of the Gospel (Ephesians 5:21–33) for the entire world to see.
This oneness is manifested in the interdependence of their relationship. Each partner must be willing to follow the example of Christ by placing the needs of their spouse above their own.
Scripture: Genesis 1–2; Ephesians 5:21–33; 1 Peter 3:1–17
Ministry Practices
Baptism
We encourage individuals who, by profession of faith and a life of commitment, desire to identify themselves with the Lord Jesus Christ to be baptized. Every believer is encouraged to follow the example of Scripture and pursue baptism following their profession of faith.
We encourage believers’ baptism, but baptism is not a legal or spiritual prerequisite for participation in the life of Table Church, and we do not believe baptism itself constitutes salvation. Baptism may be performed by any disciple of Jesus Christ approved by the Elder Board.
The Lord’s Supper
The observance of the Lord’s Supper is open to all believers and may be commemorated as often as the Elder Board deems appropriate. Any Partner in good standing may participate in the distribution of the elements of the Lord’s Supper.
Dedication of Children
We believe parents are the most spiritually influential people in a child’s life, and we want to walk alongside parents as they spiritually lead and disciple their children.
Parents who desire that their child be dedicated may do so as part of a church service or small group meeting. Child dedication is a celebration of, and a statement and promise regarding, a parent’s commitment to raise their child in the ways of the Lord.
The Church commits to walk alongside that family and, to the best of its ability, to equip and encourage them in that calling.
Following Jesus Together
Our beliefs are more than statements we affirm. They shape how we follow Jesus, grow in spiritual maturity, care for one another, and participate in His mission in the world.