What Kind of Church is The River
Leadership Team
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This River is a metaphor which represents many things. Ultimately, it is a picture
of the fresh flowing water of life that God sends into our lives when we enter into
a relationship with Him. Rather than a stagnant pool of water, it is a River that
is flowing freely. It is dynamic and moving and full of fresh water … Living Water.
“Connecting people with God in a way that will change their lives forever.”
“God has called us to build a Biblically-functioning community of believers who are solid in their faith, passionate in their service for the King, and compassionate toward those who do not know Christ. We are committed to focusing on the depth of ministry and allowing God to take care of the breadth of the ministry.”
- We value God's perfect, infallible, inspired Word as a key to changing lives.
- We value the Holy Spirit Who EMPOWERS us for service, strengthens us for purity, and pulls us into a deeper relationship with Christ.
- We value relationships which give individuals the love, support, and encouragement they need to walk with Christ.
- We value small groups which are essential for personal discipleship and team-driven, relational evangelism.
- We value creative forms for worship and communication of God's Word.
- We value unity in spirit and purpose but diversity in style, personality, giftedness, and personal preferences.
- We value prayer as an integral element for personal worship, growth in Christ, and the attainment of God's Will and provisions for our lives.
- We value Spiritual Gifts which enable each member to function most effectively within the Body of Christ.
- We value excellence in all things for the glory of Christ.
- We value help for the poor and needy.
- We value the intentional pursuit of the lost.
We believe it is important to define what it is we are working to produce as a church. The Scriptures have called us to build disciples. But what does a mature disciple look like? In order to help us hit the target, we have developed an acrostic based on hitting the BULLSEYE. As a mature disciple of Jesus Christ, you must . . .
Believe in God for salvation.
Utilize God’s Word for everyday living and growth.
Live your life in submission to God.
Love God and others.
Serve the Body with your time, talents, gifts, and resources.
Experience intimacy with God.
Yield your rights, interests, and desires to others in humility.
Exchange your life for the Life of Christ within you.
We stress three key areas of involvement which will help you to hit the BULLSEYE as a disciple of Christ. Here are those three key areas:
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1. Celebration Services
Our weekend services are designed as Celebration Services. We gather together as believers to celebrate the awesome blessings of the abundant life in Christ. We spend time worshiping the Lord through upbeat, contemporary worship, we take time for prayer, and we dig into the depths of God’s Word to find how it applies to our lives today.
2. Small Groups
The book of Acts tells us that the early church met in large groups at times and in small, house groups at other times (Acts 20:20). This is a great model, and it is the model which we follow at The River. Our LifeNet groups are a great opportunity for individuals to build relationships with one another at the same time that they build their relationship with Christ. These groups study the Bible through group-interaction. This helps everyone to understand the Bible and how it correlates to the specific needs in their own lives. It also helps group members to see how others are able to pull truths from the Scriptures and apply it to their own lives. Our LifeNets are the caring arm of our church with each group having a Small Group Shepherd who reaches out personally to each member.
3. Ministry
One important way for a disciple to grow in faith is to get involved in ministry. When we exercise the spiritual muscles which God has given us, we then begin to soar to new heights in our spiritual journey. We encourage every believer to get plugged into a ministry according to the spiritual gifts which God has given them.
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The Scriptures
We believe the Bible is the inerrant, infallible, verbally inspired Word of God. It is the only authoritative rule for faith and practice.
(2 Tim. 3:16, Psalm 19:7-11, Psalm 119:9-16, 97-105, 140, 160, Hebrews 4:12, Deuteronomy 4:2, 6:6-9, 8:3, Isaiah 40:8, Matthew 22:29, John 10:35, John 17:17, Romans 10:17, 1 Peter 1:23-25, 2 Peter 1:23-2:2)
The Person Of God
We believe God is supreme in His Person, eternal in His being, absolute in His attributes, and glorious in His Perfection.
(Exodus 15:11, Isaiah 57:15, Psalm 18:30, 97:2-3, 112:9-10, 147:5, Hebrews 13:8, 1 Timothy 6:14-16)
The Trinity
We believe that God exists eternally in the three persons of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
(Matt. 3:16-17, 28:19, Acts 10:38, 2 Cor 13:14, 1 Peter 1:2, FATHER--Matthew 6:9, Luke 23:34, John 6:27, Ephesians 4:6, 1 Chronicles 29:10, Isaiah 63:16, 64:8, Jeremiah: 19-20, SON--Matthew 3:3, 26:63-64, Acts 20:28, Colossians 1:14-17, John 1:1, 18, 5:18, 14:9, 16:15, 20:28, Phil 2:6, Col 2:9, Titus 2:13, 1 John 5:20, Matt 4:10 and Hebrews 1:3-6, Hebrews 1:8-12, Revelation 1:7-18, 22:12-13, 16 and Isaiah 44:6, Isaiah 35:46 and Matt 11:3-6, Jeremiah 11:20, 17:10 and Revelation 2:18, 23, Zechariah 12:9-10 and John 19:34-37, Isaiah 45:21-23 and Philippians 2:10-11, Isaiah 9:6 and Revelation 1:8 Joel 2:32 and Romans 10:4,9-13, HOLY SPIRIT--Genesis 1:2, Psalm 139:7-8, Acts 5:1-4, John 16:13-15, 1 Cor 3:16, 12:4-6, 15:45, Eph 4:30, Heb 9:14, Psalms 95:6-11 and Hebrews 3:7-11, Jeremiah 31:33-34 and Hebrews 10:15-18)
The Person Of Jesus Christ
We believe in the Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ, His Deity and sinless life, His vicarious death, along with His bodily resurrection and ascension, and in the blessed hope of His glorious return for His Bride, the Church.
(Isaiah 7:14, Matt 1:23, Luke 1:27-31; 1 Cor 15:3-4; Heb 4:15, 1 John 3:5, 1 Peter 2:21-24, Matt 24:30, 26:64, Acts 1:9-11, Rev. 1:7, 22:20;, Isaiah 62:5, Eph 5:25-27, Rev 21:9-24)
The Person Of The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit executes the plan of God for our conviction and salvation. All Christians are partakers of the Holy Spirit at salvation and are empowered by Him for service and purity.
(1 Cor 2:13, 3:16, 12:4-13, Eph 1:13, 4:30, John 4:24, 6:63, 14:16-17, 26, 16:7-14, Gal 5:16-25, Luke 11:13, 12:11-12, Romans 7:6, 8:1-16, 14:17-18, 2 Thess 2:13-14, Titus 3:5)
Man
We believe that man was created in the image of God and by choice fell into sin and death. Hence, every person is sinful and under condemnation to eternal judgment.
(Gen. 1:27, 2:16-17, 3:6; John 3:18, Rom. 3:10-23; 6:23, 7:18 Isaiah 53:6, 59:2, 64:6, Gal 3:10, 22, Eph 2:3-5, James 2:10, Rev. 20:10-15)
Salvation
We believe that the salvation of sinners unto eternal life is wholly of grace, and that the assurance of our salvation comes through faith alone in Christ alone. The shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only ground for justification and salvation for all who believe, and only such as receive Jesus Christ are born of the Holy Spirit and , thus, become children of God.
(Eph 1:7, 2:8-9, John 3:3-5, 16, 36, Rom. 3:21-26, 4:5, 16, 5:1-2, 10:9-10, 13, 11:6, Gal 2:20-21, 1 Pet 3:18)
Availability of Salvation
We believe that man was created in the image of God but fell into sin and is, therefore, lost, and only through regeneration by the Holy Spirit can salvation and spiritual life be obtained.
(Eph 1:7, 2:8-9, John 3:3-5, 16, 36, Rom. 3:21-26, 4:5, 16, 5:1-2, 10:9-10, 13, 11:6, Gal 2:20-21, 1 Pet 3:18)
The Local Church
We believe that the visible church is a congregation of baptized believers practicing New Testament principles, believing its doctrines, observing its ordinances, and exercising its autonomy.
(Matt 16:18-19, 24, 28:18-20, John 8:31-32, 13:35, Acts 2:40-47, 17:11, 1 Cor 5:12-13, 12:14, 26, Heb 10:25)
Ordinances
We believe that water baptism and the Lord's Supper are to be observed by the Church during the present age. They are, however, not to be regarded as means of salvation.
(Matt 28:19, Acts 2:38, 1 Cor 11:23-26, Gal 6:15, 1 Cor 1:14-17, John 6:26-27, 63, Col 2:16-17)
Heaven and Hell
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead; of the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord; and of the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting punishment.
(John 3:16, 5:25-29, 14:1-3, 1 Cor 15:35-55, Luke 16:22-24, Matt 10:28, 18:8-9, 25:41, Mark 9:43-48, Rom 6:4-8, 8:11, Rev 14:10-11, 20:10-15, 21:1-22:5)
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