SECTION THREE

THEOLOGICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL STATEMENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                   NEW LIFE - NEW ENGLAND MINISTRY

               THEOLOGICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL STATEMENTS

                       

 

I.  OUR MISSION 
===============

The Mission of New Life-New England Ministry  is to participate with individuals and churches in evangelistic activity and point of need outreach for the advancement of the Kingdom of God by communicating Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed.

 

II.  GENERAL PURPOSES
=====================

   A. To build  and maintain a partnership of local churches and friends
        in New England using methods of outreach which reach beyond
        traditional means,  modeling unique, creative and culturally relevant
        activity while maintaining integrity to the unchanging truths of the
        gospel message and the historic Christian faith in values, priorities,
        practices and leadership standards which are stated hereafter.

   B. To support and strengthen pastors of local churches by providing
      pastoral care, relationship, resources for ministry and a means
      for bringing biblical discipline, if needed.

   C. To support and strengthen local churches by providing general
      counsel, training materials, and potential new or additional
      pastoral leadership.

   D. To assist local churches in achieving their mission by providing
      assistance in defining, strategizing and implementing their
      mission, and by designing missions strategies and outreaches in
      which they may join.

   E. To plant and nurture new churches which are committed to and
      model the Christian convictions, values, priorities, practices
      and leadership standards.

   F. To bring renewal to the larger Church of Christ around the
      world, both through direct ministry and through the stimulation
      of our example.

III.  OUR STATEMENT OF FAITH
============================

WE BELIEVE that God is the Eternal [1] King [2].  He is an infinite
[3], unchangeable [4] Spirit [5], perfect [6] in holiness [7], wisdom
[8], goodness [9], justice [10], power [11] and love [12].  From all
eternity [13] He exists as the One [14] Living [15] and True [16] God
in three persons [17] of one substance [18], the Father, the Son, and the
Holy Spirit [19], equal in power and glory [20].

WE BELIEVE that God's kingdom is everlasting [21].  From His throne
[22], through His Son, His eternal Word [23], God created [24],
upholds [25] and governs [26] all that exists [27]: the heavenly
places [28], the angelic hosts [29], the universe [30], the earth
[31], every living thing [32] and mankind [33].  God created all
things very good [34].

WE BELIEVE that Satan, originally a great, good angel, rebelled
against God, taking a host of angels with him [35].  He was cast out
of God's presence and, as a usurper of God's rule, established a
counter-kingdom of darkness [36] and evil on the earth [37].

WE BELIEVE that God created mankind in His image, male and female
[38], for relationship with Himself and to govern the earth [39].
Under the temptation of Satan [40], our original parents fell from
grace [41], bringing sin [42], sickness [43] and God's judgment of
death to the earth [44].  Through the fall, Satan and his demonic
hosts gained access to God's good creation [45].  Creation now
experiences the consequences and effects of Adam's original sin [46].
Human beings are born in sin [47], subject to God's judgment of death
[48] and captive to Satan's kingdom of darkness [49].

WE BELIEVE that God did not abandon His rule over the earth [50] which
He continues to uphold by His providence [51].  In order to bring
redemption, God established covenants [52] which revealed His grace to
sinful people [53].  In the covenant with Abraham, God bound Himself
to His people Israel, promising to deliver them from bondage to sin
and Satan and to bless all the nations through them [54].

WE BELIEVE that as King, God later redeemed His people by His mighty
acts from bondage in Egypt [55] and established His covenant through
Moses, revealing His perfect will and our obligation to fulfill it
[56]. The law's purpose is to order our fallen race [57] and to make us
conscious of our moral responsibility [58].  By the work of God's
Spirit [59], it convicts us of our sin [60] and God's righteous
judgment against us [61] and brings us to Christ alone for salvation
[62].

WE BELIEVE that when Israel rejected God's rule over her as King [63],
God established the monarchy in Israel [64] and made an unconditional
covenant with David [65], promising that his heir would restore God's
kingdom reign over His people as Messiah forever [66].

WE BELIEVE that in the fullness of time [67], God honored His
covenants with Israel and His prophetic promises of salvation [68] by
sending His only Son [69], Jesus, into the world [70].  Conceived by
the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary [71], as fully God and
fully man in one person [72], He is humanity as God intended us to be
[73].  Jesus was anointed as God's Messiah and empowered by the Holy
Spirit [74], inaugurating God's kingdom reign on earth [75],
overpowering the reign of Satan by resisting temptation [76],
preaching the good news of salvation [77], healing the sick [78],
casting out demons [79] and raising the dead [80].  Gathering His
disciples [81], He reconstituted God's people [82] as His Church
[83] to be the instrument of His kingdom [84].  After dying for the
sins of the world [85], Jesus was raised from the dead on the third
day [86], fulfilling the covenant of blessing given to Abraham [87].

In His sinless, perfect life [88] Jesus met the demands of the law
[89] and in His atoning death on the cross [90], He took God's judgment
for sin [91] which we deserve as law breakers [92].  By His death on
the cross He also disarmed the demonic powers [93].

The covenant with David was fulfilled in Jesus' birth from David's
house [94], His Messianic ministry [95], His glorious resurrection
from the dead [96], His ascent into heaven and His present rule at the
right hand of the Father [97].  As God's Son and David's heir [98], He
is the eternal Messiah-King [99], advancing God's reign throughout
every generation and throughout the whole earth today [100].

WE BELIEVE that the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Church at
Pentecost in power [101], baptizing believers into the Body of Christ
[102] and releasing the gifts of the Spirit to them [103].  The Spirit
brings the permanent indwelling presence of God to us [104] for
spiritual worship [105], personal sanctification [106], building up
the Church [107], gifting us for ministry [108], and driving back the
kingdom of Satan [109] by the evangelization of the world through
proclaiming the word of Jesus [110] and doing the works of Jesus
[111].

WE BELIEVE that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus
Christ [112] and that He is our abiding Helper [113], Teacher [114],
and Guide [115].  We believe in the filling or empowering of the Holy
Spirit [116], often a conscious experience [117], for ministry today
[118].  We believe in the present ministry of the Spirit [119] and in
the exercise of all of the biblical gifts of the Spirit [120].  We
practice the laying on of hands for the empowering of the Spirit
[121], for healing [122], and for recognition and empowering of those
whom God has ordained to lead and serve the Church [123].

WE BELIEVE that the Holy Spirit inspired the human authors of Holy
Scripture [124] so that the Bible is without error [125] in the
original manuscripts.  We receive the sixty-six books of the Old and
New Testaments [126] as our final, absolute authority, the only
infallible rule of faith [127] and practice [128].

WE BELIEVE that the whole world is under the domination of Satan [129]
and that all people are sinners by nature [130] and choice [131].  All
people therefore are under God's just judgment [132].  Through the
preaching of the Good News of Jesus and the Kingdom of God [133] and
the work of the Holy Spirit [134], God regenerates [135], justifies
[136], adopts [137] and sanctifies [138] through Jesus by the Spirit
[139] all who repent of their sins [140] and trust in Jesus Christ as
Lord [141] and Savior [142].  By this they are released from Satan's
domain and enter into God's kingdom reign [143].

WE BELIEVE in the one [144], holy [145], catholic/universal Church [146].  All
who repent of their sins and confess Jesus as Lord and Savior are
regenerated by the Holy Spirit [147] and form the living Body of
Christ [148], of which He is the head [149] and all are members [150].

WE BELIEVE that Jesus Christ committed seven sacraments to the Church: and
to all believers.

WE BELIEVE that God's kingdom has come in the ministry of our Lord
Jesus Christ [153], that it continues to come in the ministry of the
Spirit through the Church [154], and that it will be consummated in
the glorious, visible and triumphant appearing of Christ [155] His
return to the earth as King [156].  After Christ returns to reign
[157], He will bring about the final defeat of Satan and all of his
minions and works [158], the resurrection of the dead [159], the final
Judgment [160] and the eternal blessing of the righteous and eternal
conscious punishment of the wicked [161].  Finally, God will be all in
all [162] and His kingdom, His rule and reign [163], will be fulfilled
in the new heavens and the new earth [164], recreated by His mighty
power, in which righteousness dwells [165] and in which He will
forever be worshipped [166].

IV.  OUR VALUES
===============

   A. We value THE PURSUIT OF GOD.  We are hungry to know God's
      presence, hear His voice and follow hard after Him.  (Psalm
      63:1-3)

   B. We value CHRISTLIKENESS.  We desire that through the power of
      the Holy Spirit, Jesus' love, mercy, grace, truth, purity,
      power, and integrity would shine through all that we are and do.
      (Ephesians 5:2)

   C. We value BEING SPIRIT-LED.  We honor Jesus as our Head and the
      Holy Spirit as our Counselor.  We seek to be responsive to the
      Holy Spirit in life and ministry.  (Galatians 5:5; Romans 8:14)

   D. We value PRAYER.  We believe that prayer is essential, because
      it is our primary means of communion with God, and because it is
      God's primary means of accomplishing His purposes in the world.
      (1 Thess. 5:16-18; Philippians 4:6)
      
   E. We value DISCIPLESHIP.  We aim first to grow as disciples of
      Christ ourselves and then to make disciples of others.  (Matthew
      28:18-20)

   F. We value THE KINGDOM OF GOD.  We aim to move in the signs of the
      present fulfillment of the kingdom, invoking the Spirit's
      powerful presence, ministering through the Spirit's gifts, and
      seeing God heal and work wonders.  (Mark 1:14,15)

   G. We value the MERCY OF GOD.  We believe that mercy is fundamental
      to all that God does in salvation.  We, therefore, aim to extend
      mercy to one another and to all to whom we minister.
      (Colossians 3:12,13)

   H. We value INTEGRITY.  It is important for us to speak the truth,
      deal honestly, and live uprightly.  (Ephesians 4:15)

   I. We value SERVANT LEADERSHIP.  We believe that Christ has put
      significant leadership authority in the hands of the pastor and
      associates.  We aim to exercise that authority with humility,
      selflessness, grace, care for the sheep, and a sincere desire to
      build up the Body of Christ.  (Mark 10:37,44-45)

   J. We value THE INDIVIDUAL, single or married, and we want to
      enable and support mature relationships and family growth.
      (Romans 12:9,10)

   K. We value UNITY.  We are convinced that all who belong to Christ
      are one in His Body, the Church.  We aim to maintain unity by
      honoring all who call on Jesus' name and by seeking
      reconciliation with all parts of the Church.  (John 17:21-23)

   L. We value COLLEGIATE RELATIONSHIPS.  We are honored by every
      person whom God adds to the Ministry.  We aim to work together
      to build the Church through maintaining mutual respect, open
      communication, determined cooperation, and believing and
      speaking the best about each other.  (I Corinthians 13:4-7)

   M. We value REALITY.  We aim to walk in the Spirit and see real
      supernatural works of God.  We aim also to function on the
      natural plane based on God's leading in conjunction with
      excellent, relational thinking.  (James 1:5)

   N. We value SIMPLICITY.  We wish to do nothing for "religious
      effect" but rather to operate in natural low-key, non-hype
      patterns.  We desire to do the ministry of Christ with joy.
      (Philippians 4:4)

   O. We value being CULTURE CURRENT.  We aim to develop an atmosphere
      of ease, and to speak, act, and dress in ways in which our
      culture can respond positively.  For example, we reflect this
      value through worship music that is of a popular style.  (I
      Corinthians 9:19-23)

 

V. OUR PRIORITIES
=================

   A. WORSHIP
   ----------
      1. We desire to worship God with our whole being.  We want
         Jesus at the center as our Lord.  We hunger for the fullness
         of the Spirit...  His glory resting upon us! (Philippians
         3:3, Hebrews 13:15, Psalm 42:1, 2, John 4:24! Psalm 63:1-5,
         Romans 12:1)

      2. We desire Spirit-enabled worship in a style that is intimate,
         dynamic, culture current, and life changing.  (1 Peter 2:4,
         Ephesians 2:19-22, 1 Corinthians 14:26)

   B. THE WORD
   -----------
      1. We want to hear the Word of God taught in a practical,
         inspiring way, in conjunction with His current prophetic
         word.  (Romans 15:4, 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, 1 Corinthians 14:26)

      2. We aim to hear and obey God's Word to us to be "doers of the
         Word" who are being transformed into the likeness of Christ.
         (Matthew 7:24-27, James 1:22)

   C. FELLOWSHIP
   -------------
      1. We are the family of God, one Body in Jesus Christ, joined
         together as brothers and sisters forever.  (John 17:20-23,
         Romans 12:3-5)
      2. We seek to develop real, intimate, enabling friendships
         together, built on covenant love, mutual responsibility and
         faithfulness.  (Hebrews 3:12-14, Philippians 2:3-5, Ephesians
         4:11-16, Colossians 3:12-15)

   D. MINISTRY
   -----------
      1. We believe that all Christians are called to serve Christ in
         the power of His Spirit, in ways that build up the local
         church.  (1 Peter 4:10,11, 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, Acts 1:8)

      2. We are called to do the ministry of Christ in the world
         today, for example, to...
         a. preach the Gospel of the Kingdom
         b. persuade men to repent and believe in Jesus
         c. heal the sick
         d. care for the poor and those in need
         e. counsel those in need of God's wisdom
         f. teach believers to follow Christ
         g. give our resources to the work of Christ
         h. train Christians to serve the Lord.
            (Luke 4:18, 19, James 1:27, Acts 26:18, Matthew 28:18-20)

   E. TRAINING
   -----------
      1. We believe that all Christians should be trained to "do the
         works of Christ." (Matthew 28:18-20, 2 Timothy 2:2)

      2. We are committed to the "show and tell" model of "on the job"
         training, in which trainees are introduced to doing ministry
         functions with trainers and then are taught during and after
         the training experience.  (Luke 11:1-4)

      3. We aim to provide training for all aspects of responsible
         Christian life and ministry.  (Ephesians 4:11-16)

   F. SENDING
   ----------
      1. We aim to renew, refresh, and enable existing churches by
         sending trained personnel out on short-term ministry trips.
         (Matthew 10:5-15, Luke 9:1-6; 10:1)

      2. We aim to build the Church of Jesus Christ by sending trained
         personnel to plant churches throughout New England and around the world.
        (Revelation 5:9,10, Romans 15:20)

 

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