Beliefs

Our Statement of Faith &      Foundational Values

1. The Triune God
One God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—eternal, almighty, equal, and sovereign over all creation.

2. Jesus Christ
Fully God and fully human, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. His death on the cross atones for sin. He was bodily resurrected, ascended to heaven, and will return to judge the living and the dead.

3. The Holy Spirit
Proceeds from the Father and the Son, is equal to the Father and Son, is present in the world, convicts of sin, and empowers believers for holy living with Fruit of the Spirit, Spiritual Gifts and all benefits that proceed from them.

4. The Authority of Scripture
The Bible is God’s inspired Word, containing all things necessary for salvation and is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice.

5. The Church
The Church is the body of Christ—called to worship, make disciples of Jesus Christ, and engage in mission.

6. Human Nature and Sin
All people are created in God’s image, yet all have sinned and need redemption.

7. Salvation by Grace through Faith
Salvation is a gift of grace received through faith in Jesus Christ—not earned by works. It includes justification, redemption, , regeneration, sanctification, reconciliation, and ultimately glorification.

8. Sanctification and Holiness
Believers are called to grow in grace and pursue holiness of heart and life, and live the new life given to us at salvation, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

9. Sacraments
The two sacraments instituted by Christ are Baptism and Holy Communion—means of grace for believers.

10. Resurrection and Eternal Life
There will be a bodily resurrection of the dead. The faithful will enjoy eternal life with God; the unrepentant will face eternal separation.
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Doctrinal Compass
The Community Church Waterford holds firmly to:
• The Nicene, Apostles’, and Athanasian Creeds
• The Articles of Religion of the Methodist Church
• The Wesleyan Standard Sermons and Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament.

God desires that followers be unified in Him. We will strive to serve others and to model God’s gift of Grace by loving, accepting, and forgiving one another. When we have conflict, we will seek God’s direction and use it as an opportunity for ministry and spiritual growth. We will treat others with gentleness, truth, and respect. 

1 Corinthians 13, Ephesians 4:1-6, Colossians 3:7-17, 1 Timothy 6:11b, Hebrews 10:24-25, 1 Peter 3:15, 2 Peter 1:5-8, John 3:11-24, 4:7-21, 13:34-35, and 17 

AM I SERVING OTHERS? 

DO YOUR ACTIONS AND WORDS ENCOURAGE OTHER BELIEVERS? 

AM I MODELING GOD-SIZED LOVE, ACCEPTANCE, AND FORGIVENESS? 

DO I RESPOND TO CONFLICT WITH GOD’S TRUTH, GENTLENESS, RESPECT, AND A DESIRE FOR RECONCILIATION?

Every believer is responsible for sharing with others the knowledge, skills and opportunities for service that God has given them. We believe that we must freely give what we have been freely given. We commit to invest time and resources in new believers in our church, to equip the next generations by laying spiritual foundations at an early age, and invest in outside ministries as God leads. God calls us to Kingdom growth, not church growth.

Deuteronomy 6:1-7, Psalm 7:1-18, 145:4, Proverbs 22:6, Titus 2:3-5, 1 Timothy 4:6, 11-16, 2 Timothy 1:3-18, 2:2, 3:14-17

HOW HAVE I PURPOSEFULLY INVESTED IN OTHER BELIEVERS, OUTSIDE MINISTRIES AND GROWING GENERATIONS?

We will approach our ministry decisions as missionaries in a foreign land. We will strive to think carefully about those who are spiritually unconnected and will be intentional about sharing the Gospel in ways they understand. 

Matthew 10:16, John 4, 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, Acts 17:16-34, 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 

DO I APPROACH THOSE WHO DON’T KNOW CHRIST WITH THE ATTITUDE OF A MISSIONARY? 

WHAT IS THE ATTITUDE OF A MISSIONARY?

God desires unity in His church. Those who serve must follow Christ, embrace the Word of God as well as the mission, vision, and foundational values of His church. Ministry teams operate best in an atmosphere of interdependence and unity. 

Mark 3:24-25, Romans 12:9-18, 1 Corinthians 12:12-30, Ephesians 4:1-16 

DO I MEASURE MY WORDS, DECISIONS, AND ACTIONS AGAINST SCRIPTURE? 

DO MY WORDS, CHOICES, AND ACTIONS SUPPORT A UNITY OF PURPOSE IN MINISTRY?

God speaks to us through the Bible. His Word is true and without error. We trust Scripture and depend on it as the source for our words, actions, and choices. 

Psalm 119:89, 105, 2 Timothy 2:15, 3:14-17, 1 Peter 1:25 

ARE MY PRIORITIES, WORDS, AND ACTIONS CONSISTENT WITH SCRIPTURE?

We want to serve God in His purposes, working through His power, not ours, toward His goals, not ours. We commit to prayer before action, seeking God’s lead, and relying on the direction and power of the Holy Spirit. 

Proverbs 3:5-6, John 16:13, Acts 1:8, Romans 8:26-27, Philippians 4:6-7, Hebrews 11:6 

ARE MY DECISIONS PRECEDED BY PRAYER? 

IS THERE EVIDENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AT WORK? WHAT IS IT?

Lost people matter to God and to us. We each must choose to accept the salvation Jesus offers, and choose to follow him. It is every believer’s responsibility to carry out the Great commission within their sphere of influence at home, at church, at work, in friendships, families, the community, and world missions. 

Matthew 28:19, 20, Luke 5:30-32, Luke 15, John 3:35-36, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Romans 10:9-16 

HAVE I ACCEPTED THE SALVATION JESUS OFFERS AND GIVEN MY LIFE TO HIM? 

WHO AM I SHARING JESUS WITH? 

WHO AM I INVESTING IN?

We are created for relationship with God. Personal connection leads us to growth and change — we become more like Jesus by spending time with Jesus. This spiritual formation requires time, commitment, and priority as we speak to God, listen for Him, practice obedience, and align our hearts with His. 

Hebrews 12:1-2, Philippians 1:6, Ephesians 3:16-19, 1 Timothy 4:13-16 

DO I CONSTANTLY CULTIVATE A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD? 

WHAT TIME DO I SPEND IN PRAYER? BIBLE STUDY? DEVOTIONS? SERVICE? WORSHIP? 

AM I GROWING MORE LIKE JESUS?

We believe in community — that connecting with one another is a part of God’s design for spiritual growth and health. We come together for worship, small groups, and service, intentionally seeking connections that encourage care for one another, spiritual formation accountability, and a sense of belonging. 

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, Luke 6:12-13, John 13:1-17, Acts 2:44-47, Hebrews 10:24-25, 1 John 3:11-24 

AM I REGULARLY CONNECTED WITH OTHER BELIEVERS IN WORSHIP, CARE, AND GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES?

God has gifted every believer for ministry. We are responsible for discovering and using those gifts to the Glory of God. Maximum impact is achieved when our gifts are used in coordinated, strategic ways according to the Holy Spirit’s design. We believe God’s Word sets the example of ministry in teams instead of solo efforts. 

Exodus 18, Numbers 11, Nehemiah 3, Matthew 10:19-20, 18:19-20, Luke 10:1, John 13:34-35, 14:15-18, Acts 6:1-7, 13:1-5, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4:7-16, Titus 1:5 

DO I KNOW MY GIFTS? 

WHERE AM I SERVING? 

AM I WORKING WELL WITH OTHERS?

Authentic, Spirit-led worship honors God, inspires faith and builds believers. Genuine worship begins with the believer’s personal preparation and attitude. It is an outpouring of our love for God and obedience to Him. Worship is more than a Sunday experience. It is a daily experience evidenced in our thoughts, words, and actions. 

1 Chronicles 16:7-36, Psalm 63:1-19, 66:1-8, 122, 150, John 4:23-24, Ephesians 5:18b-21 

DO I WORSHIP GOD DAILY? HOW? 

ARE MY HEART AND ACTIONS ENGAGED IN WORSHIP?

To accomplish God’s vision, we need to step out of our comfort zone and into His. We must be willing to live out visionary faith and take risks as God leads. We want to walk forward in faith, trusting God for the next step. 

Hebrews 11 

IN WHAT WAYS HAVE I ALLOWED GOD TO STRETCH ME? 

HAVE I ALLOWED GOD TO CONFRONT MY COMFORT ZONES?