Our Core Values
Every Next Step (Continual Growth)
Healthy things grow! We believe everyone who sincerely engages in our community should and will be growing. Every follower of Christ is called to be continually moving closer to reflecting Jesus’ image. As a body and individuals, we commit to take every next step that the Spirit calls us to. (Colossians 1:9-12, Ephesians 4:11-15)
We are shaped by Scripture.
We recognize the Bible as the worthy foundation upon which we can build our lives. It is God breathed truth and powerful to shape all we think, say, and do. If we will surrender to Jesus’ and His teaching, submit to the Holy Spirit, and adjust our lives to God’s Word we will find the abundant life Jesus promises. (Matthew 7:24-27, 2 Timothy 3:16)
We are an authentic community.
God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit live in eternal loving community with one another. On earth, Jesus lived in community with His disciples. Transformational community requires knowing and being known, loving and being loved, celebrating and being celebrated, serving and being served. In order to do this, we must move beyond Rows & into Groups. (Acts 2:42-47; Hebrews 10:24-25)
We are blessed to be a blessing.
We confess that the church does not primarily exist for us, We Are the Church and we exist for the good of the world. We will share the amazing love of Jesus ambitiously and work hard to remove barriers that keep people from Him, realizing eternity hangs in the balance. We use our finances, time, and talents sacrificially, living lives of uncommon generosity for the sake of Jesus’ church and our community. (Matthew 20:28, Genesis 12, Mark 2, Philippians 2, John 12)
What We Believe
McCook Christian Church belongs to the Restoration Movement which began as a church unity movement that is built on the desire to agree on essentials while leaving room for freedom in the many non-essentials that often divide the larger church today.
GOD
There is one God, eternally existing in three distinct persons: The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and each possesses all the attributes of God. God is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe and everything in it.
Gen. 1:1, 26-27; Ps. 90:2; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14
JESUS
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is one with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is our Savior, who was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on a cross for all sin, and was raised from the grave after three days to demonstrate His defeat of sin and death. He ascended into heaven and will return to earth to reign as our powerful King.
Matt. 1:22-23; John 1:1-5; Heb.14-15; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; Col. 2:9-10; 1 Tim. 6:14-15
HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is one with God the Father and Jesus Christ. Those who trust Jesus and surrender to Him will receive the Holy Spirit to live inside them. The Holy Spirit serves as our comforter, guide and advocate. The Holy Spirit is given to Christians and provides guidance in living, an understanding of the Bible, and prayerful intercession.
Acts 1:8; John 14:16-17, 16:7-13; Gal. 5:25; 1 Cor. 2:12, 3:16; Eph. 1:13; 2 Cor. 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2
BIBLE
Our foundation is based firmly upon the Bible as our ultimate authority on Christian beliefs and a guide to living. The Bible is divinely inspired by God, without error, given to man so that we may know and understand the truth of God and his love.
2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Ps. 12:6, 119:105
HUMANITY
Every person is made in the image of God and created to live in relationship with their Heavenly Father as His image bearer. Although we, as people, have tremendous potential for good, we also have the freedom to do evil. Our disobedience toward God is called “sin” and the wages of sin is death. According to God's word every single person has sinned. Sin separates all humanity from living in relationship with God as intended.
Gen. 1:27; Isa. 53:6, 59:1-2; Rom. 3:23; Rom. 6:23; Ps. 139:13-16; Col. 2:13-15
SALVATION
In order to restore individuals to their God designed relationship with Him something must be done about the power and penalty of sin. People's sin, yours and mine, has incurred a debt that no human is capable of paying. The only hope for restoration of our intended relationship with God is rescue, or what is often called salvation. Salvation is not something that can be purchased or earned. It is a free gift from God provided by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Salvation is received through faith. It is available to everyone who trusts Jesus Christ as the Forgiver of their sin and Leader of their life (Savior and Lord). Faith is evidenced by confession, repentance, and baptism. Faith in Jesus is our only hope to be rescued from death, reconciled to our Heavenly Father, and restored to our intended purpose now and forever.
John 3:16; Acts 4:12; Rom. 5:10, 6:23, 10:8-10; Eph. 2:8-10
There is one God, eternally existing in three distinct persons: The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and each possesses all the attributes of God. God is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe and everything in it.
Gen. 1:1, 26-27; Ps. 90:2; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14
JESUS
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is one with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is our Savior, who was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on a cross for all sin, and was raised from the grave after three days to demonstrate His defeat of sin and death. He ascended into heaven and will return to earth to reign as our powerful King.
Matt. 1:22-23; John 1:1-5; Heb.14-15; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; Col. 2:9-10; 1 Tim. 6:14-15
HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is one with God the Father and Jesus Christ. Those who trust Jesus and surrender to Him will receive the Holy Spirit to live inside them. The Holy Spirit serves as our comforter, guide and advocate. The Holy Spirit is given to Christians and provides guidance in living, an understanding of the Bible, and prayerful intercession.
Acts 1:8; John 14:16-17, 16:7-13; Gal. 5:25; 1 Cor. 2:12, 3:16; Eph. 1:13; 2 Cor. 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2
BIBLE
Our foundation is based firmly upon the Bible as our ultimate authority on Christian beliefs and a guide to living. The Bible is divinely inspired by God, without error, given to man so that we may know and understand the truth of God and his love.
2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Ps. 12:6, 119:105
HUMANITY
Every person is made in the image of God and created to live in relationship with their Heavenly Father as His image bearer. Although we, as people, have tremendous potential for good, we also have the freedom to do evil. Our disobedience toward God is called “sin” and the wages of sin is death. According to God's word every single person has sinned. Sin separates all humanity from living in relationship with God as intended.
Gen. 1:27; Isa. 53:6, 59:1-2; Rom. 3:23; Rom. 6:23; Ps. 139:13-16; Col. 2:13-15
SALVATION
In order to restore individuals to their God designed relationship with Him something must be done about the power and penalty of sin. People's sin, yours and mine, has incurred a debt that no human is capable of paying. The only hope for restoration of our intended relationship with God is rescue, or what is often called salvation. Salvation is not something that can be purchased or earned. It is a free gift from God provided by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Salvation is received through faith. It is available to everyone who trusts Jesus Christ as the Forgiver of their sin and Leader of their life (Savior and Lord). Faith is evidenced by confession, repentance, and baptism. Faith in Jesus is our only hope to be rescued from death, reconciled to our Heavenly Father, and restored to our intended purpose now and forever.
John 3:16; Acts 4:12; Rom. 5:10, 6:23, 10:8-10; Eph. 2:8-10