Relationships

A relationship with God, through Jesus Christ, is the core value of Calvary Church. One cannot have healthy relationships outside for personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Co.ossians 1:15-20 says that Jesus is the image of the invisible God and that all things - physical and spiritual - have been created by Him and for Him. Above all else, one must seek Jesus, His righteousness, and His Kingdom (Matthew 6:33). A surrendered life and relationship with Jesus is what it means to have eternal life with God (John 14:6; John 17:3).

When one has a relationship with God, one is then empowered by the Holy Spirit to develop healthy relationships with believers and unbelievers alike. Jesus commands us to love one another as He loves us. The love of Christ in our lives is perfected in us when we express Christian love toward one another (1 John 4:17-21). This same love motivates us to be at peace - as much as it is up to us - with everyone we know and meet (Romans 12:18).

Community

The church is not a building, rather it is a fellowship of believers. As the Lord's redeemed, we are members of a kingdom that cannot be shaken. This encourages us to be in relationship with one another and gather with each other to express our thankfulness and worship to our Lord with reverence and awe; and to speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs and sing and make music in our hearts together to the Lord (Hebrews 12:28-29; Ephesians 5:19-21). As a fellowship of believers, we will explore opportunities to serve, worship, and praise our Lord with like-minded Christian fellowships and believers.

We are also called to be ambassadors for Christ - to be a representation of Jesus to the world. As sheep among wolves (Matthew 10:16_, we are to "go and make disciples" and to teach people to follow the commands of Christ (Matthew 28:18-20). Our building is simply a gathering place. The people of our fellowship are the light within the community. We are a haven and refuge for weary souls. Our building is a place where people can gather to hear the Good News and experience the love of Jesus Christ.

Worship

Worship is not just singing songs and offering praises to the Lord. authentic worship is an expression of one's lifestyle that consistently reflects the character of Christ. Worship is a commitment to being a partaker in the divine nature of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:3-10). Everything that one says or does is to be done as an act of worship unto the Lord. Worship is presenting oneself to the Lord as a living sacrifice devoted to offering one's gifting, which is one's spiritual service of worship (Romans 12:1-2). As living sacrifices, we die to ourselves daily by carrying our respective crosses and following Jesus (Matthew 16:24-26).

Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the One through whom conviction, repentance, and instruction come (John 16:7-13).  The spirit is the source of power and strength of God to His people.  God, through the Holy Spirit, is completely involved in the giving, using, and empowering of the gifts.  Dog creates a unique place in the body for every believer.  Gifts and ministries may overlap but each believer has a God-designed role.  Part of one's relationship with Christ is discovering one's gifts(s), and it is the desire of this fellowship to help one in that discovery (1 Corinthians 12-14).

Scripture

The Holy bible - in its entirety - is the infallible, inspired Word of God.  It is the valid and authoritative rule of faith and practice for sound doctrine, teaching, correction and guidance for the Body of Christ (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  Since the Holy Bible is the final rule and authority for believers in matters of faith and stander of the Christian life, we have a great responsibility to retain the standard of its sound words (2 Timothy 1:13).

Sacraments

There are two sacraments that have been instituted by Christ, taught by the apostles, and practiced in the early church.  Baptism and Communion.  While they are not a requirement for salvation, we practice them as they are symbolic reenactments of the gospel message.

Water Baptism is an act of one's profession of faith in Jesus Christ (believer's baptism) as it reflects the burial into Christ's death and resurrection to new life.  This symbolic "washing of water" through faith is an outward sign of the inward washing by the blood of Christ to righteousness (Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Corinthians 5:17).

Communion is at the very heart of what it means to be a believer.  It is a time of remembrance and reflection as Jesus takes the familiar Passover observance of freedom from the physical slavery and redefines it to include freedom from spiritual slavery: a freedom that can only be found through Him.

As we take the bread, we remember the body of Christ that is broken for us, we remember the stripes that He takes on our behalf, we remember His betrayal and crucifixion, and we remember His death.  There is nothing supernatural about the bread itself, but it is a strong reminder of who our Savior is, and what He has done for us.

We often sing that there is power in the blood, and that nothing but the blood of Jesus can cleanse us of our sin.  As we drink the cup, we recall that aside from the blood of Christ we have no hope, no peace, and no salvation.  It is through His blood that we are truly made free and made whole (Luke 22:19-20).

Generosity

We believe that in creating a culture of generosity and obedience to tithe, we acknowledge that God is our Provider, and we are committed to trusting Him for our provision.  We value stewardship of the financial gifts received and offer transparency of our financial records to our members.  Generosity is not just about financially supporting the fellowship, but also includes the giving of material possessions, specific skills and talents, and time.  As a fellowship, we are called to express our generosity in many ways such as volunteering, witnessing, serving others, and being an encourager to one another.