Our Beliefs

About the Bible
We believe that the Bible is the revelation of the Creator to his creation. In the Bible, God tells us who He is, who we are, what His plan is for His creation and how we are to relate to Him. The Bible is given by God, making it free from error and completely trustworthy to teach us the truth. It is the ultimate source of authority in the life of all believers.

About God
God has always existed. He is our Creator and the maker of all things that exist. He exists as one God in Three persons: The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. God is infinite, uncreated, all-knowing, all-present, all-powerful, loving, just and holy.

About Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. He became human without ceasing to be God in order to come into His creation and save us from our sin, fulfilling all prophecies made about Him in the Old Testament. After living a sinless life He was crucified and died. He was buried and three days later He came back to Life, proving that He is Lord, even over death.

About People
Humanity was created by God. We were created without sin. However, humanity sinned and has been sinful ever since. This sin separates us from God's presence and special blessing. This sin nature also leaves us spiritually dead, even before we are born and in need of life, but incapable of getting this life for ourselves. No one is capable of being good enough to save themselves. We need a Savior.

About Salvation
Since we are separated from God by our sin, a penalty must be paid. This penalty is eternal separation from God (the result of offending an infinite God). However, Jesus Christ came to Earth, God becoming man, in order to pay the penalty for us. Because Christ is God, the price He paid was paid infinitely. Each person is saved as they place their faith in Jesus Christ as their only hope for salvation.

About the Christian Life
We exist to glorify God through our obedience to the standard of living given to us in the Bible. We are called to continue growing in our faith so that we will look more and more like Jesus Christ in all our thoughts, words and actions. Obedience allows us to accomplish our created purpose of glorifying God.

About the Church
The Church is made up of every believer that has ever lived or now lives, regardless of ethnic identity or geographic location. Community Life Church is a local gathering of many members of this Church for the purpose of encouraging one another, teaching one another, holding one another accountable to the biblical standards of living and worshipping God not only through our lifestyles but also in weekly worship. We believe that by living this way we become the image of God to the community around us.

About Eternity
We believe that one day, still in the future, Jesus Christ will return for His Church. When He does, there will be a resurrection of the dead. His church will be taken up from the Earth to meet Him in the air as He returns. There will be a judgment of every person that has ever lived. Those that belong to Jesus Christ will be taken into His presence for eternity, where we will forever accomplish our created purpose. Those that are not His will be sent into an eternal judgment apart from God. The Bible teaches that this will be a place of torment.

Core Values

Biblical Authority
God has spoken to us through the Bible and we recognize it as the final authority for our lives.

Intimacy with God
God desires an intimate relationship with each of us.

Family-Centered Ministry
The primary ministry of believers is to their family. This should be modeled, supported and encouraged in church life.

Relevant Environments
Every environment should be designed to effectively connect with its target audience.

Relational Evangelism
God's message of forgiveness thru Christ is communicated best within the framework of personal relationships.

Strategic Service
Every believer is equipped with spiritual gifts. Our spiritual gifts are most effective when exercised in support of our strategy. Every believer should do ministry in the course of everyday life.

Authentic Community
Accountability, belonging, care and spiritual growth happen best with relationally-connected believers.

Intentional Apprenticing
We are responsible, from the moment of membership, for passing along to others the knowledge, skills and opportunities that have been entrusted to us.

The ESV Bible

The leadership of c|Life preaches and teaches primarily from the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible.

If you are interested in learning more about why this is, please read John Piper's article on the ESV.