TABLE OF CONTENTS
STORY ------5
MISSION ------6
LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE ------9
LEADERS ------10
NEXT STEPS ------11
SERVING ------12
COMMUNITY GROUPS -- 13
MEMBERSHIP ------14
KIDS & STUDENTS ------15
MEN & WOMEN ------16
BELIEFS ------17
NETWORKS------21
FAQS ------22
BAPTISM------23
3 OUR STORY
While serving on staff at Open Door Church in Raleigh, NC, Jordan and Jessica Branch felt a call to be church planters and began to pray and seek out God’s direction toward this call. In the summer of 2011 they traveled to Denver, CO and felt God’s calling toward this city. Soon, Jordan met with the leadership of the Calvary Family of Churches. This group shared his love for Christ, the church, and the Denver-metro area. Jordan, Jessica, and their family moved to Denver in January of 2014 and began an internship with Calvary Church Littleton and Calvary Church Englewood.
During this same period of time, the Lord was also preparing the hearts of Caleb and Casey Van Roekel for future ministry. Caleb was a student at Denver Seminary and members of Calvary Church Englewood. Through much prayer and seeking the Lord, Caleb and Casey joined with the Branches to help lead and Plant this church.
After much prayer, it was decided to plant the church in the city of Lakewood! In addition to formal seminary training Jordan (Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) and Caleb (Denver Seminary) also completed pastoral and church planting internships through the Calvary Family of Churches. In preparation to plant the church, they began building a team of individuals and families who would serve as the core team of Calvary Church Lakewood.
In the Spring of 2015 a team of 23 people began meeting in the Branches home on Sunday evenings to prepare and plan the planting of Calvary Lakewood. On the second Sunday in June of 2015, we held our first preview service and continued to hold regular services throughout the Summer and Fall. On January 31, 2016 we officially covenanted as a church and publically launch Calvary Lakewood.
God continues to shower his grace and provision on Calvary. As a church plant we have been blessed to partner with churches locally and across the country to make disciples of Jesus in this city. From its very beginning, Calvary Church Lakewood has been committed to being a family of “full-time missionaries”—a people who care for one another, follow Jesus, and lead others to follow him. Our love for this city has continued to grow, and as a result, Calvary Lakewood has grown as well.
We desire to be a church that Loves Lakewood. We do this by developing partnerships with other organizations, churches, and non-profits in our church. We love this city and long to many people redeemed by the gospel!
5 OUR MISSION
Why do we exist? To glorify God by making joyful, passionate disciples of Jesus Christ.
What is our hope? To see Jesus made non-ignorable in Lakewood, Denver, and to the ends of the earth.
How will we accomplish our mission? By pursuing faithfulness in our four CORE COMMITMENTS.
WORSHIP GOD PASSIONATELY
Worship is an act of humbly exalting the God of the universe. We were created to worship and the Christian life begins and ends here.
CONNECT WITH ONE ANOTHER AUTHENTICALLY
When Jesus saves his people, he saves us into a new family, his family, the Church. Connecting in community is vital to the Christian life and a mark of a biblical church.
6 GROW TO KNOW GOD DEEPLY
Calvary is committed to seeing the Gospel transform all of life. As we grow to know God deeply, we increasingly see Him as better than anything our sin offers us.
GO SHOW AND TELL THE GOSPEL BOLDLY
If you are a Christian, you are a disciple who is called to make disciples. We want to show and tell the good news of the Gospel both in word and deed.
Living on Mission
Just as the Father sent His son, Jesus, into the world to provide the hope of the gospel, Jesus has sent us on mission to the communities, cities, and nations of the world to show and tell the gospel boldly and multiply disciples who do the same. At Calvary our core expression for showing and telling the gospel boldly manifests in three actions: Invest, Invite, and Introduce.
We testify to the warmth, love, and grace of God when we intentionally invest our life in others. We invest in others by serving them and learning their names and stories.
7 Additionally, we testify to God’s initiative to show us undeserved hospitality in Christ when we invite others into our lives. We do this by making a habit of inviting others to meals and to your recreational, entertainment, and celebratory life rhythms. Lastly, the relationships we build with others lead to conversations in which we introduce people to Jesus through the gospel. We grow in gospel boldness by regularly telling the truths of the gospel to ourselves, other believers, and the world.
Join us in loving Lakewood!
In the summer and throughout the year, we seek to serve and love our community. As a church we desire to love the city of Lakewood and the greater Denver-metro. Visit our LOVE LAKEWOOD page for more info.
8 LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE
Calvary Church Lakewood is structured as a Jesus-ruled, elder-led, congregationally-responsible church as demonstrated in the New Testament.
JESUS Jesus Christ is the head of the church (Colossians 1:18). Everything we do is filtered through the Gospel, and we receive Jesus’ instructions for his church through Scripture, prayer, and the movement of the Holy Spirit. We are all about Jesus.
ELDERS/PASTORS The elders are a team of men called by God and appointed by the church to lead and shepherd the body. These men are also called pastors or overseers in Scripture, and their qualifications are found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9.
DEACONS Deacons are those lead through their service both to the church and our city. 1 Timothy 3:8-13 lists the qualifications of deacons, and they are appointed by the elders and affirmed by the congregation.
COMMUNITY GROUP LEADERS Community Groups are smaller expressions of our church, meeting in people’s homes, where our people experience community and challenge one another to live on mission to the city. The leaders of these groups are appointed by the elders to disciple, care for and oversee the people in their group.
MEMBERS We see membership as being meaningful. Therefore, we push our members to be leaders in the community and in the church, growing in their love for Jesus and their ability to carry out his mission to the spheres of influence in which they have been entrusted.
9 OUR LEADERS
Jordan Branch - Lead Pastor/Elder
Family: Jessica, Nathan, Lillian, Bryce
Education: B.A. — Boyce College; MDiv & Doctor of Ministry — Southeastern Seminary Favorite Books: What's So Amazing About Grace? by Philip Yancey, Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, Desiring God by John Piper, Everyday Church by Tim Chester & Steve Timmis, The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, How People Change by Tim Lane and Paul Tripp Favorite Bands: All things Blues Harmonica, I Am They, 80's Rock, Caedmon's Call, Keith Green, Hans Zimmer, Allman Brothers Contact Me: [email protected] Caleb Van Roekel - Associate Pastor/Elder
Family: Casey, Sylvia
Education: B.A. — University of Wisconsin; MDiv — Denver Seminary Favorite Books: The Bible, Mere Christianity C.S. Lewis, Dangerous Calling by Paul Tripp, Humility by C.J. Mahaney, anything by Tim Keller Favorite Bands: Beatles, CCR, Billy Joel, The Civil Wars, Simon and Garfunkel, NEEDTOBREATHE Contact Me: [email protected]
David Lowery - Worship Minister
Education: B.A. in Theology from Colorado Christian University
Favorite Books: Desiring God by John Piper, Knowing God by J.I. Packer, Worship Matters by Bob Kauflin, Spurgeon's Sermons, The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges, The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien, The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller Favorite Bands: Relient K, The 1975, Andy Mineo, Lecrae, Ascend the Hill, St. Lucia, Beautiful Eulogy, Propaganda, Contact Me: [email protected]
10 N
NEXT STEPS – GETTING CONNECTED AT CALVARY
Where do you go from here? How can we help you take your next steps with Calvary Lakewood and in knowing and following Jesus Christ?
SERVING
COMMUNITY GROUPS
MEMBERSHIP
11 SERVING
We believe that everyone has been given gifts and abilities from God and that we should be using them to impact our community and the world around us. Our fourth core commitment reminds us to show the fruit of the gospel in our serving.
Calvary Lakewood isn't a church that simply delivers messages. It's an organic, biblical community where people work together to create and sustain a place where people can live in relationship with God and with one another. Everything we do happens because of the efforts of the members of our community.
There are a number of ways to do this—from helping with our Set-up Team to helping with Hospitality to opening up your home for a Community Group.
Do a FIRST SERVE one of the areas below:
Administration Tear-down Creative Arts [photo, design] Community Cares Audio [sound board] Prayer Team Visual [slides] Hospitality Music [band] Outreach Set-up Greeting
12 COMMUNITY GROUPS
Our large-scale Sunday gatherings are important for being part of the body of Calvary. But just as important to our vision of the Christian life are our small-scale (10-20 people) weekday gatherings, which we call Community Groups (CGs). CG's at Calvary meet at homes throughout the week, and include people of all ages.
CGs ARE THE PRIMARY VEHICLE FOR…
1. Discipleship – The process of learning to follow Jesus in relationship with others 2. Care – Having your spiritual and physical needs met by Calvary 3. Mission – Engaging the world around you with the gospel of Jesus
GUESTS ARE WELCOME TO VISIT A CG AT ANY TIME.
Our CG's are also open to visitors and non-Christians. We share a meal, have sermon-based discussions, and we do various missional projects to reach out to the neighborhood together.
Community Groups meet weekdays from 6-8pm.
Children are welcome and encouraged to attend with their families. Groups share the responsibility of caring for younger children, while students in middle and high school participate with the group.
If you need help identifying which group might be best for you or have questions, contact us at [email protected]
13 MEMBERSHIP
The church of Jesus Christ is a family that is on a mission together. Therefore, to join Calvary Church Lakewood is to join a family and join a mission. We believe becoming a member of a local church is one of life’s most important decisions because the church is the primary vehicle through which the gospel and the glory of God are displayed to the world.
Are you interested in exploring more about CCL and pursuing membership? If so, we have a simple three-step process. The process is designed to help you get to know Calvary Church Lakewood and for the church to get to know you.
1. CLASS
Walk through the self-guided membership class online
http://Lakewood.thecalvary.org/membership-class
This class and training provides an opportunity for you to hear all about Calvary Lakewood. We share about who we are, what we believe, and how we seek to live out our faith as a church. Please note, that your completion of this class does not obligate you to join. Learn why church membership matters and discover our 8 expectations for members at Calvary Lakewood. By completing this class, you will be ready for step #2.
2. CONVERSATION
Another important step is to set up a conversation with one of the pastors. The purpose of this conversation is to foster community with those desiring membership as well as to provide an outlet for any lingering questions about the church to be answered. Our hearts desire is to know you and for you to know us. One of the ways we get to know you is by having you fill out an “Membership Introduction Form” which needs to be completed before your conversation with one of the pastors. Find the form here:
http://Lakewood.thecalvary.org/membership-form
3. COVENANT
The final step of the membership process is covenanting together with the church. Most simply put, a covenant is an agreement or promise between two or more parties especially for the performance of some action. After completing the class and conversation, those who desire to join the church in covenant membership will be affirmed by the congregation upon recommendation from the pastors. Affirmed members will then sign the church covenant.
http://Lakewood.thecalvary.org/membership-covenant
14 CALVARY KIDS & STUDENTS
Calvary Kids seeks to assist parents in shepherding the hearts of their children toward faith in and love of Jesus Christ. All children are welcome to remain with their parents for the duration of Sunday morning worship or to attend a Sunday School class. Children’s class for infants and preschoolers begins at 10am. Elementary age classes begin mid-way through worship.
Through engaging, developmentally appropriate, fun, and Gospel-centered curriculum, we strive to see God’s word take deep root in each child’s life. Each person on our Calvary team is questioned, background checked and committed to loving, leading, and protecting each child. Info about our primary curriculum, The Gospel Project, can be found here: www.GospelProject.com.
STUDENTS
By the Fall of 2018 we plan to have a focused ministry to students. Our mission would be the same as our kids—to assist parents in the shepherding the hearts of the older children toward faith and love in Jesus Christ.
Currently we encourage students to participate in Community Groups and student focused DNA Discipleship. We value the experience of student retreats and camps and have had students at Calvary Lakewood attend these events at our sending church, Calvary Englewood.
15 MENS AND WOMEN’S MINISTRIES
We value opportunities for same-gender ministries at Calvary Lakewood. We do this two ways:
DNA Discipleship
DNA Discipleship serve as our core expression for growing to know God deeply and making disciples. We believe every believer has been entrusted with the amazing mission of being discipled and making disciples. DNA Discipleship is same-sex groups of 2-4 people that meet regularly for more focused gospel- application, accountability, encouragement, challenge, and prayer. These groups last 12-16 weeks in duration.
The book You Can Change by Tim Chester provides a helpful model and method for DNA Groups. Though some groups use other resources, Chester's book provides a biblically-based and biblically-applied model for how believers grow in Christlikeness.
Men’s and Women’s Events
In addition to occasional men’s or women’s specific events, we hold annual retreats for both men and women.
16 BELIEFS
constitute the verbally inspired Word of God, which is We’re all about Jesus. But in order for us to experience utterly authoritative and without error in the original the fullness of life offered in a transformational encounter writings, complete in its revelation of his will for with him, we must first answer the question, “What do we salvation, sufficient for all that God requires us to believe believe about Jesus?” While some demonize doctrine or and do, and final in its authority over every domain of creedal statements as intolerant or narrow-minded, we knowledge to which it speaks. We confess that both our seek to bring clarity through our statement of faith as we finitude and our sinfulness preclude the possibility of believe these summaries to be the essential teachings of knowing God’s truth exhaustively, but we affirm that, the Bible. enlightened by the Spirit of God, we can know God’s The statement of faith at the bottom of the page has been revealed truth truly. The Bible is to be believed, as God’s adapted from the founding documents of The Gospel instruction, in all that it teaches; obeyed, as God’s Coalition. In addition to our statement of faith, we also command, in all that it requires; and trusted, as God’s generally affirm historic statements such as the Apostles pledge, in all that it promises. As God’s people hear, Creed, Nicene Creed, Second London Confession (1689), believe, and do the Word, they are equipped as disciples and Baptist Faith & Message 2000. of Christ and witnesses to the gospel.
(1) The Triune God (3) Creation of Humanity
(Deuteronomy 6:4-7; Isaiah 40:26; Matthew 10:29-30; (Genesis 1-3; Ephesians 5:15-33; 1 Peter 3:1-7; Colossians 1:16-17; Job 37:6-13; Psalm 147:15-18; Ephesians 4:25-32; Colossians 3:18-4:1; 1 Thessalonians Mark 4:39-41; Psalm 33:10-11; Amos 3:6; Lamentations 4:9-12; 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12) 3:37-38; Proverbs 21:1; Proverbs 16:33) We believe that God created human beings, male and We believe in one God, eternally existing in three equally female, in his own image. Adam and Eve belonged to the divine Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, created order that God himself declared to be very good, who know, love, and glorify one another. This one true serving as God’s agents to care for, manage, and govern and living God is infinitely perfect both in his love and in creation, living in holy and devoted fellowship with their his holiness. He is the Creator of all things, visible and Maker. Men and women, equally made in the image of invisible, and is therefore worthy to receive all glory and God, enjoy equal access to God by faith in Christ Jesus adoration. Immortal and eternal, he perfectly and and are both called to move beyond passive self- exhaustively knows the end from the beginning, sustains indulgence to significant private and public engagement and sovereignly rules over all things, and providentially in family, church, and civic life. Adam and Eve were brings about his eternal good purposes to redeem a people made to complement each other in a one-flesh union that for himself and restore his fallen creation, to the praise of establishes the only normative pattern of sexual relations his glorious grace. for men and women, such that marriage ultimately serves as a type of the union between Christ and his church. In God’s wise purposes, men and women are not simply (2) Revelation interchangeable, but rather they complement each other in mutually enriching ways. God ordains that they assume (Deuteronomy 6:4-7; Psalm 12:6; Psalm 119; Matthew distinctive roles which reflect the loving relationship 24:35; Matthew 22:29; 1 Corinthians 2:12-16; 2 Timothy between Christ and the church, the husband exercising 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21) headship in a way that displays the caring, sacrificial love of Christ, and the wife submitting to her husband in a way God has graciously disclosed his existence and power in that models the love of the church for her Lord. In the the created order, and has supremely revealed himself to ministry of the church, both men and women are fallen human beings in the person of his Son, the encouraged to serve Christ and to be developed to their incarnate Word. Moreover, this God is a speaking God full potential in the manifold ministries of the people of who by his Spirit has graciously disclosed himself in God. The distinctive leadership role within the church human words: we believe that God has inspired the words given to qualified men is grounded in creation, fall, and preserved in the Scriptures, the sixty-six books of the Old redemption and must not be sidelined by appeals to and New Testaments, which are both record and means of cultural developments. his saving work in the world. These writings alone
17 (4) The Fall been proclaimed if his death and resurrection are not central (the message is “Christ died for our sins . . . [and] (Romans 5:1-19; Romans 1:18-3:20; Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 was raised”). This good news is biblical (his death and Corinthians 15:21; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Romans 8:7-8; resurrection are according to the Scriptures), theological Romans 8:20) and salvific (Christ died for our sins, to reconcile us to God), historical (if the saving events did not happen, our faith is worthless, we are still in our sins, and we are to be We believe that Adam, made in the image of God, pitied more than all others), apostolic (the message was distorted that image and forfeited his original entrusted to and transmitted by the apostles, who were blessedness—for himself and all his progeny—by falling witnesses of these saving events), and intensely personal into sin through Satan’s temptation. As a result, all human (where it is received, believed, and held firmly, individual beings are alienated from God, corrupted in every aspect of their being (e.g., physically, mentally, volitionally, persons are saved). emotionally, spiritually) and condemned finally and irrevocably to death—apart from God’s own gracious (7) The Redemption of Christ intervention. This alienation has not been limited to the realm of humanity, but has infected the creation itself, as (Isaiah 53; Romans 3:21-26; John 1:1-18; Philippians it too has been subjected to futility. The supreme need of 2:5-11; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter 3:18; John 1:29; Ephesians all human beings is to be reconciled to the God under 1:3-14; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9; Colossians whose just and holy wrath we stand; the only hope of all 2:13-14; Revelation 5) human beings is the undeserved love of this same God, who alone can rescue us and restore us to himself. We believe that, moved by love for and in obedience to his Father, the eternal Son became human: the Word (5) The Plan of God became flesh, fully God and fully human being, one Person in two natures. The man Jesus, the promised (Romans 8:28-30; Ephesians 1:3-14; Isaiah 46:9-10; Messiah of Israel, was conceived through the miraculous Romans 9:11-18; John 10:25-29; John 3:16) agency of the Holy Spirit, and was born of the virgin Mary. He perfectly obeyed his heavenly Father, lived a sinless life, performed miraculous signs, was crucified We believe that from all eternity God determined in grace under Pontius Pilate, arose bodily from the dead on the to save a great multitude of guilty sinners from every tribe third day, and ascended into heaven. As the mediatorial and language and people and nation, and to this end foreknew them and chose them. We believe that God King, he is seated at the right hand of God the Father, justifies and sanctifies those who by grace have faith in exercising in heaven and on earth all of God’s sovereignty, and is our High Priest and righteous Jesus, and that he will one day glorify them—all to the Advocate. We believe that by his incarnation, life, death, praise of his glorious grace. It is, therefore, all of God’s resurrection, and ascension, Jesus Christ acted as our gracious and sovereign action to foreknow, predestine, representative and substitute. He did this so that in him call, justify, and glorify His people by His Spirit, even we might become the righteousness of God: on the cross giving saving faith to those whom he has chosen. In love he canceled sin, propitiated God, and, by bearing the full God commands and implores all people to repent and penalty of our sins, reconciled to God all those who believe, having set his saving love on those he has chosen believe.By his resurrection Christ Jesus was vindicated by and having ordained Christ to be their Redeemer. And it his Father, broke the power of death and defeated Satan may truly be said, that all who call upon the name of the who once had power over it, and brought everlasting life Lord will be saved. to all his people; by his ascension he has been forever exalted as Lord and has prepared a place for us to be with (6) The Gospel him. We believe that salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name given under heaven by which we (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; Romans must be saved. Because God chose the lowly things of 1:15-17; Ephesians 2:3-6; Mark 1:14-15) this world, the despised things, the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, no human being can ever boast We believe that the gospel is the good news of Jesus before him—Christ Jesus has become for us wisdom from Christ—God’s very wisdom. Utter folly to the world, God—that is, our righteousness, holiness, and even though it is the power of God to those who are being redemption. saved, this good news is christological, centering on the cross and resurrection: the gospel is not proclaimed if Christ is not proclaimed, and the authentic Christ has not
18 (8) The Justification of Sinners and delight in the blessings of the new covenant: the forgiveness of sins, the inward transformation that (Romans 4:3-8; Romans 3:26; Galatians 2:16-17; Titus awakens a desire to glorify, trust, and obey God, and the 3:5-7; Philippians 3:8-9; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans prospect of the glory yet to be revealed. Good works 5:1; Psalm 51) constitute indispensable evidence of saving grace. Living as salt in a world that is decaying and light in a world that is dark, believers should neither withdraw into seclusion We believe that Christ, by his obedience and death, fully from the world, nor become indistinguishable from it: discharged the debt of all those who are justified. By his rather, we are to do good to the city, for all the glory and sacrifice, he bore in our stead the punishment due us for honor of the nations is to be offered up to the living God. our sins, making a proper, real, and full satisfaction to Recognizing whose created order this is, and because we God’s justice on our behalf. By his perfect obedience he are citizens of God’s kingdom, we are to love our satisfied the just demands of God on our behalf, since by neighbors as ourselves, doing good to all, especially to faith alone that perfect obedience is credited to all who those who belong to the household of God. The kingdom trust in Christ alone for their acceptance with God. of God, already present but not fully realized, is the Inasmuch as Christ was given by the Father for us, and his exercise of God’s sovereignty in the world toward the obedience and punishment were accepted in place of our own, freely and not for anything in us, this justification is eventual redemption of all creation. The kingdom of God solely of free grace, in order that both the exact justice is an invasive power that plunders Satan’s dark kingdom and regenerates and renovates through repentance and and the rich grace of God might be glorified in the faith the lives of individuals rescued from that kingdom. It justification of sinners. We believe that a zeal for personal therefore inevitably establishes a new community of and public obedience flows from this free justification. human life together under God. (9) The Power of the Holy Spirit (11) God’s New People (Galatians 3:5; Galatians 5:16-18; Ephesians 5:18-21; Ephesians 1:11-14 1 Corinthians12-14; John 16:4-15; (Isaiah 56:1-8; Isaiah 54:1-3; Galatians 3-4; 1 Timothy 3:15; Ephesians 2:11-22; Ephesians 4:1-16; 2 Romans 12; Joel 2:28-32; Numbers 11:29) Corinthians 6:16; 1 Peter 2:4-12; 1 John 3:11-24) We believe that this salvation, attested in all Scripture and We believe that God’s new covenant people have already secured by Jesus Christ, is applied to his people by the Holy Spirit. Sent by the Father and the Son, the Holy come to the heavenly Jerusalem; they are already seated Spirit glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ, and, as the “other” with Christ in the heavenlies. This universal church is manifest in local churches of which Christ is the only Paraclete, is present with and in believers. He convicts the Head; thus each “local church” is, in fact, the church, the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and by his household of God, the assembly of the living God, and the powerful and mysterious work regenerates spiritually pillar and foundation of the truth. The church is the body dead sinners, awakening them to repentance and faith, of Christ, the apple of his eye, graven on his hands, and baptizing them into union with the Lord Jesus, such that he has pledged himself to her forever. The church is they are justified before God by grace alone through faith distinguished by her gospel message, her sacred alone in Jesus Christ alone. By the Spirit’s agency, ordinances, her discipline, her great mission, and, above believers are renewed, sanctified, and adopted into God’s all, by her love for God, and by her members’ love for family; they participate in the divine nature and receive one another and for the world. Crucially, this gospel we his sovereignly distributed gifts. The Holy Spirit is himself the down payment of the promised inheritance, cherish has both personal and corporate dimensions, and in this age indwells, guides, instructs, equips, revives, neither of which may properly be overlooked. Christ Jesus is our peace: he has not only brought about peace and empowers believers for Christ-like living and service. with God, but also peace between alienated peoples. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity, thus (10) The Kingdom of God making peace, and in one body to reconcile both Jew and Gentile to God through the cross, by which he put to (Isaiah 58:6-14; Mark 1:15; Matthew 18; Luke 17:20-22; death their hostility. The church serves as a sign of God’s Romans 14:17; 1 Corinthians 4:19-21; Revelation 12:10) future new world when its members live for the service of one another and their neighbors, rather than for self-focus. We believe that those who have been saved by the grace The church is the corporate dwelling place of God’s of God through union with Christ by faith and through Spirit, and the continuing witness to God in the world. regeneration by the Holy Spirit enter the kingdom of God
19 (12) Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
(Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Peter 3:21-22; Colossians 2:11-15; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14- 23; 1 Corinthians 11:23-27)
We believe that baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordained by the Lord Jesus himself. The former is connected with entrance into the new covenant community, the latter with ongoing covenant renewal. Together they are simultaneously God’s pledge to us, divinely ordained means of grace, our public vows of submission to the once crucified and now resurrected Christ, and anticipations of his return and of the consummation of all things.
(13) The Restoration of All Things
(Isaiah 65:17-25; Isaiah 66:18-24; Revelation 21; Romans 8:18-25; Matthew 10:28; 2 Peter 2:4-22; Hebrews 10:26-31)
We believe in the personal, glorious, and bodily return of our Lord Jesus Christ with his holy angels, when he will exercise his role as final Judge, and his kingdom will be consummated. We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the just and the unjust—the unjust to judgment and eternal conscious punishment in hell, as our Lord himself taught, and the just to eternal blessedness in the presence of him who sits on the throne and of the Lamb, in the new heaven and the new earth, the home of righteousness. On that day the church will be presented faultless before God by the obedience, suffering and triumph of Christ, all sin purged and its wretched effects forever banished. God will be all in all and his people will be enthralled by the immediacy of his ineffable holiness, and everything will be to the praise of his glorious grace.
While this is a summary of the doctrinal beliefs and values of this community we do not think the best way to know what we believe is to read it off a page. We think the best way to determine what an individual or a group of people believe is to watch them or better yet, join them and discover their beliefs from you own observations.
Society today is a “brand” culture. It is far too easy to review our list of beliefs and values and say, “Oh, you’re that kind of Christian/church.” We don’t want to be a brand church. We are a community of people seeking to follow Jesus in faith and to make a difference in the lives of our church community and the greater community around us.
20 NETWORKS
As a church, we are not alone. We believe we are strongest when maintaining close, healthy partnerships with other networks of churches across the United States and world. These networks support us, encourage us, and help us think wisely as we plant Calvary Church Lakewood. We encourage you to web- search each of these networks for more information about what they believe and how they partner with local churches.
Send Network (Southern Baptist) www.namb.net/send-network
Calvary Family of Churches www.thecalvary.org
Acts 29 www.acts29.com
Pillar Network www.thepillarnetwork.com
21
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FAQ’S NOTE: These issues are not primary for Calvary Lakewood, but we do recognize them as being some of the issues we are most frequently asked about. Therefore, to be forthright and provide clarity, we provide our positions here. We are happy to get together to talk more about each of these issues in greater detail.
Baptism We believe baptism is a public and outward declaration of an inner spiritual reality that symbolizes a believer’s new life in Christ and one’s commitment to follow Jesus as Lord. Therefore, we believe that baptism should happen by immersion and take place after an individual’s commitment to Jesus since baptism is a reflection of a change that has already been realized in an individual’s life.* >>> Matthew 28:16-20, Acts 2:41, Romans 6:1-11, Galatians 3:27 *See baptism page for a more thorough explanation
Homosexuality We believe that biblical marriage constitutes a sacred covenant before God between one man and woman. Therefore, we view homosexuality as a sin since it is a deviation from God’s original plan for intimacy and marriage given in the garden. With this, we do not elevate this sin above other sins, nor treat those struggling with same-sex orientation or attraction with a demeaning or condescending attitude, as we recognize that we are all sexually broken. Our desire is to see all people who are sexually broken, including those who wrestle with homosexuality, to be reconciled to God through the gospel. >>> Genesis 2:18-25, Leviticus 20:13, Matthew 19:5, Romans 1:24-28; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Ephesians 5:31, 1 Timothy 6:10
Complementarianism (Gender Roles) We believe both man and woman were each created fully in the image of God sharing equal value, dignity, and responsibility before Him. We likewise affirm that men and women were created to function in a different, yet complementary, manner with one another for their mutual joy and for the glory of God. This manifests itself in two major places: the church and the home. In the home, we believe that a husband’s responsibility is to lead and love his family the way Christ loved the church, and a wife’s responsibility is to love, honor, and follow the leadership of her husband. In the church, we believe the role of elder (pastor) is reserved for men, while women have the responsibility to engage in meaningful, life- changing ministry in any role other than that. >>> Genesis 1:26-27, Ephesians 5:22-33, 1 Timothy 2:8-15
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As Jesus rallied together his closest disciples, he set before them a mission known as the Great Commission.
Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
This mission would be one that they would not only give their lives to, but one that they would prioritize above anything and everything else—making disciples of Jesus. Throughout the rest of the New Testament, as Jesus’ church multiplied, this Great Commission continued to fuel the passion behind Christ’s followers. It was the “great cause” they were living for, and consequently, the “great cause” we, as followers of Jesus, continue to live for today.
Throughout the Bible (and the rest of history), when men and women made the decision to become “Christ-followers”, they were then brought into a local church family that followed Jesus together. Now, according to Jesus, a crucial part of being a Christ-follower was publicly proclaiming your faith through the act of baptism. It was the identifying mark of someone who trusted in Him, and anytime someone became a believer, they were almost always immediately baptized.
Here at Calvary Church, 2000 years later and a few continents removed, we continue to practice the act of baptism as an entryway into the church family and a public proclamation of our faith in Christ.
Below are a few commonly asked questions that help clarify our stance on baptism and why we require baptism for membership at Calvary.
What exactly is baptism?
Baptism is a public step of obedience to Jesus and a symbolic demonstration of a person’s union with Jesus. When Christians are baptized, they are submerged in water to identify with the death of Jesus, and rise out of the water to identify with his resurrection. This identification with the death, burial, and resurrection through baptism testifies that we believe that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, rose three days later, and now is alive and Lord over all of creation. Baptism, then, serves both as a public announcement of the new life we have in Christ and the entryway into membership of a local church.
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Who should be baptized?
If you’ve made a commitment to follow Jesus and confess him as your Lord and Savior, baptism is for you. We encourage you to follow Jesus’ command to be baptized as a public profession of your faith in him. Additionally, we believe that the Bible reserves baptism for those who are capable of making a credible profession of faith; therefore, we do not practice infant baptism.
When should I be baptized?
As soon as a person trusts Christ, he or she should be baptized. In the Bible, there was never a gap between when you trusted Christ and when you were baptized. Baptism is to be our first act of becoming a disciple—our first evidence that we’ve met Jesus and our lives are now surrendered to him. Unless there are significant reasons for delaying baptism, it should happen as soon as possible.
Why is it required for membership?
Baptism is, in fact, a requirement for membership at Calvary Church. While we love, welcome, and invite all types of people from different backgrounds and belief systems to worship and fellowship with us (Christians, non-Christians, skeptics, etc.), we believe that membership of Jesus’ church is reserved for those who actually identify as followers of Jesus. Following your conversion, baptism is one of the clearest signs demonstrating your faith in Christ and willingness to obey his commands, and consequently helps us know that you identify as a follower of Jesus.
What if I have already been baptized?
In short, if you were baptized in another church after your conversion and commitment to follow Jesus, you do not need to get baptized again. If, however, you were baptized before coming to faith in Christ (either as an infant, or as a young child who probably didn’t truly understand, believe, or accept the gift of salvation, yet), then you should be baptized again. We realize this can sometimes be a difficult subject to navigate and it is deeply personal, so we encourage you to speak to one of Calvary pastors if this is the case. We would love to walk through this alongside you and help you figure out what it may look like to obediently follow Jesus.
*Note: Many of the above responses came directly or indirectly from the Statements of Faith of: IX Marks, The Summit Church RDU, Mars Hill Church, and The Village Church.
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