What We Believe
Who We Are
Gordon Keeton
Pastor
Jon Dykes
Assistant Pastor
Other Leaders
Church Administrator
Ministry Assistant
Financial Secretary
Statements of Faith
God is One God (Deu 6:4), yet with three individual, equal persons (1Jo 5:7). This Triune God consists of The Father, The Son (Jesus), and The Holy Spirit (Mar 1:10-11). He is everlasting (Psa 90:2) and all-powerful (Mat 6:13; Mat 28:18). The Bible clearly indicates that Jesus is one with the Father (Jhn 10:30; Jhn 1:1). Also, the Holy Spirit was present at Creation and is used synonymously with God in Genesis 1:2. The Holy Spirit was sent from the Father and Jesus to indwell the believer (Jhn 14:26; Jhn 15:26). Furthermore, the language of Genesis 1 uses a plural form of the word for God (Elohim), yet clearly shows that this is one God by the use of singular verbs in the Hebrew (Gen 1; Gen 1:26). The Bible also indicates that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit were all present at Creation and doing the creating (Jhn 1:3; Gen 1:1-2).
Jesus is the Son of God and One with the Father (Isa 9:6; Jhn 10:30; Jhn 1:1). Jesus came in the Flesh (1Jo 4:2-3; 1Pe 3:18; 2Jo 1:7), yet was still fully God (Jhn 1:1-18; Jhn 20:28; see “The Trinity” above). Jesus is the Only Begotten of the Father (Jhn 1:14-18; Jhn 3:16; 1Jo 4:9) and made it possible for us to become adopted sons and daughters (Rom 8:15; Eph 1:5). Salvation is only found by placing one’s trust in Jesus (Jhn 3:16; Rom 10:9; Eph 2:8-9) who paid the once for all price for sin (Jhn 19:30; Isa 53:6; Heb 10:10). After Jesus conquered death on the cross and rose from the dead, he ascended to heaven (Acts 1:9-11) where He intercedes for His people (Romans 8:33-34). He is preparing a place for those who trust in Him (Jhn 14:2). Someday, He will physically return to bring believers to an eternal home with Him (Jhn 14:3).
The Holy Spirit is God (Genesis 1:2) and is referred to synonymously with God (Acts 5:3-4). He is an individual person of the Trinity (see “The Trinity” above), and Jesus recognized this (Jhn 16:7; Jhn 14:16, 14:26, 15:26). The Holy Spirit fills each believer as a surety until the day Christ returns (Eph 1:14-15; Jhn 3:5-6). As a part of this filling, He also administers gifts to believers to unify and to edify the Church. The Spirit is the great Comforter (Jhn 14:26) and the fruits of His working benefit the believer (Eph 5:22-23). Upon salvation, the Holy Spirit abides in the believer (Jhn 3:5-6). The believer cannot lose the Holy Spirit (Jhn 14:16; Eph 1:14-15), although the Holy Spirit can be resisted (Acts 7:51; Gen 6:3; 1Th 5:19; Eph 4:30). Apart from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit for salvation, we believe that Jesus Christ baptizes the seeking believer with the Holy Spirit and power for service (1Co 12:4-11), either at the time of or subsequent to regeneration (Acts 8:14-17). We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit (Act 2:38-39) and in the exercise of all biblical gifts of the Spirit (see “Spiritual Gifts”).
Sin is anything that is against God and His word. All people have sinned (Rom 3:23; 1Jo 1:10). Sin entered into the world through Adam (Gen 3; Rom 5:12). The punishment for sin is death—eternal separation from God in hell (Jhn 3:18; Mat 18:8; Mat 25:41). However, God made a way to escape this punishment through Jesus.
Salvation comes by repenting of one’s sin and placing one’s faith in Jesus (Rom 10:9; Jhn 3:16; Act 4:12; Acts 16:31). Salvation is not by our works (Eph 2:8-9) but is a free gift of God (Rom 6:23). If we confess our sins, God promises to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1Jo 1:9). Upon believing, a person’s sins are forgiven, the Spirit seals that person (Eph 4:30), and he/she becomes a child of God (Rom 8:14-16; 1Jo 3:1). Therefore, it is impossible to lose salvation since salvation is not by our works and since God promises to cleanse all unrighteousness (1Jo 5:11-13; Eph 1:13-14; Rom 11:29).
We adhere firmly to the biblical teaching of God’s sovereignty man’s responsibility. We avoid any theological systems of belief that go beyond the written Word and thereby divide the body of Christ. Therefore, we neither hold to Five-Point Calvinism, nor Arminianism.
The Bible is the inspired Word of God and is the base for all true doctrine (2Ti 3:16-17). Inspiration means “God-breathed” in the Greek. Therefore, God directed every word that is written in Scripture. The apostle Peter put it this way: “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2Pe 1:20-21). God’s Word will last forever (Mat 5:18) and is preserved and perfect (Isa 40:8; Psa 12:6-7; Psa 119:89). His Word is all we need to live and to grow (Mat 4:4; 2Ti 3:16-17).
Translations: At the Porch, we avoid any contention over English translations of the Bible. We prefer and highly recommend the KJV. However, we believe that the best version of the Bible is the version that is read. We believe that deep arguments about translations (which are mostly based on Church history and not the Bible itself) only cause confusion and contention that divide the body of Christ.
We believe worship is the outpouring of praise from the believer. Since God inhabits the praise of His people (Psa 22:3), we desire to worship Him in spirit and in truth—the only way that God seeks our worship (Jhn 4:23). Every song should also be sung out of love for God (1Co 13:1). Although skill is good in worship (Psa 33:3) and we strive to play skillfully, we recognize that God looks at the heart and accepts a joyful noise from a heart of love (Psa 81:1; Psa 95:2; Psa 98:4).
Worship Style: God’s word does not explicitly say what style of worship is to be used in a congregation. Therefore, we remain flexible and yielded to the leading of the Holy Spirit to direct our worship. We mostly use contemporary worship mixed with some hymns. We believe every song should point to God and glorify Him (1Co 10:31), not the ones playing or singing. We believe that instruments are a way to glorify God and use a variety in our worship (Psa 150:5; Psa 150:3; 1Sa 10:5; 1Ch 25:3). We believe waiting in God’s presence is an important part of worship and growth (Psa 37:9; Isa 40:31). Therefore, we include many “selah” (stop and consider) moments in our worship.
We await the pre-tribulation rapture of the church (1Co 15:52; 1Th 1:10; 1Th 5:9), and we believe in the literal Second Coming of Christ with His saints to rule the earth (1Th 3:13), which will be personal and visible (Jhn 14:2-3). This motivates us to holy living, heartfelt worship, committed service, diligent study of God’s Word, regular fellowship, participation in adult baptism by immersion, and Holy Communion (the Lord’s Supper).
Although we generally hold to a pre-tribulation view of the rapture, we believe that pre-trib, mid-trib, and post-trib believers can and should be able to fellowship together.
We believe that the church government should be simplistic rather than a complex bureaucracy. We depend on the Holy Spirit to lead, rather than on fleshly promotion. We use the Bible as a manual for how we operate as a Church.
We believe in the laying on of hands for the sending out of pastors and missionaries (Act 13:3), and with the anointing of oil by the elders for the healing of the sick (Jas 5:14; Mar 6:13).
We believe that church discipline is instructed in God’s Word (1Co 15) and is for the benefit of the offender and those being influenced by him. The goal is repentance and restoration (2Co 2:5-8).
We believe the only true basis of Christian fellowship is Christ’s (agape) love, which is greater than differences we possess, and without which we have no right to claim ourselves Christians. Fellowship is only shared between true believers (2Co 6:14). Fellowship is essential for the growth and health of a believer (Heb 10:25; 1Co 12:25-27; Pro 27:17) and that Christ blesses fellowship with His presence (Mat 18:20). Therefore, we give great emphasis to fellowship in our services, each service starting with fellowship.
Fellowship can be broken if a believer is on a path of destruction to himself or destruction to others (1Co 5). In such cases, the goal is the restoration and spiritual well-being of all involved (see “Church Leadership”). Matthew 18:15–20 gives the guidelines for dealing with contentions in the Body of Christ.
We believe that the Bible clearly delineates that spiritual gifts are for the edification of the body (1Co 14:5) and that they are to be exercised in love (1Co 13). Although we do not believe that any of the Biblical gifts have ceased (1Co 14:39; 1Co 14:5), we do not hold to modern movements that have added confusion to how the Spirit operates (see “What We Do Not Believe”). The Spirit testifies of Christ (Jhn 15:26), not the one with the gift. Therefore, we do not tolerate any displays that do not align with scripture. We believe that love is more important than the most spectacular gifts, and without love, all exercise of spiritual gifts is worthless (1Co 13). In our services, we focus on a personal relationship with God through worship, prayer, and the teaching of the Word of God. We do not practice speaking in tongues during service, worship, or while a Bible study is in progress because we do not believe that the Holy Spirit would interrupt Himself (1Co 14:26-32). We do not practice random prophesying during service (1Co 14:29-32). We also believe that prophecy must align with Scripture. God is not the author of confusion (1Co 14:33; 1Co 14:40). The gifts of the Spirit are encouraged in more intimate settings (1Co 14:18-19; 1Co 14:39; 1Co 14:5), e.g. silently, alone, afterglow services, and small groups where their benefit can accomplish the purpose for which they have been given – the edification of the body of Christ (1Co 14:5).
We do not believe in “positive confession” (the faith movement belief that God can be commanded to heal or work miracles according to man’s will); human prophecy that supersedes the Scriptures; the incorporation of humanistic and secular psychology into biblical teaching; the overemphasis of spiritual gifts and experiential signs and wonders to the exclusion of biblical teaching; faith deconstruction; or that true Christians can be demon-possessed.
Sunday at 10 AM
Wednesday at 6:30 PM
MOST EXCELLENT WAY
Thursday at 7 PM