God is the creator and ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.

Genesis 1:1, 26, 27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2; 1 Corinthians 13:14

Man is made in the spiritual image of God, to be like him in character. He is the supreme object of God’s creation. Although man has tremendous potential for good, he is marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called "sin." This attitude separates man from God.

Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1, 2

Man was created to exist forever. He will either exist eternally separated from God by sin or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is hell.To be eternally in union with him is eternal life. Heaven and hell are places of eternal existence.

John 3:16; John 2:25; John 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15; 1 John 5:11-12; Matthew 25:31-46

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to heaven’s glory and will return again to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Matthew 1:22, 23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14, 15; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4; Romans 1:3, 4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14, 15; Titus 2:13

Salvation is a gift from God to man. Man can never make up for his sin by self-improvement or good works – only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can man be saved from sin’s penalty. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.

Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8, 9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1

Because God gives man eternal life through Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in salvation for eternity. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian.

John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25; 10:10, 14; 1 Peter 1:3-5

The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to live under his control daily.

Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16, 17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:1

The Bible is God’s word to all men. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without any mixture of error.

2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20, 21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5

Baptism by immersion symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and is your public declaration that you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Baptism does not save you, but shows the world that you have already been saved. And while baptism is not required for salvation, it is a biblical command and demonstrates your love and obedience to Christ.

Colossians 2:12; Acts 2:41; Ephesians 2: 8-9; Matthew 28:19-20

Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, is an ordinance given to all believers by Jesus Christ to remember his sacrifice for us and to symbolize the new covenant. The elements of bread and wine or juice are symbols of Christ’s broken body and shed blood. Communion is not a means of salvation. Rather, it is a testament of a believer’s faith in the atoning work of the cross.

Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:19,20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29

Biblical creation is supernatural. In plain language it was a miracle. Creation was by direct acts of the Creator as opposed to some naturalistic process. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Gen 1:1). Creation took place in the beginning and was finished and complete. Creation was not spread out over a major portion of the supposed evolutionary vast time history of the universe. Creation was by the word of the Creator. The Creator spoke things into existence. In Genesis 1, we read of a series of “And God said” statements. Also we read in Ps 33:6 & Ps 33:9, “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. For he spoke, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.”

The word, "tithe" literally means tenth or 10%. A tithe is the first 10% of your income. An offering is anything you give above and beyond the 10%.

Why do we tithe? The Bible says, The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives. (Deuteronomy 14:23 TLB) Tithing is a reminder that God is the supplier of everything we have. It is also God's personal invitation to an outpouring of his blessing in your life. In Malachi 3:10 (NLT), God says this: "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it." This is the only place in Scripture where God tells us to put him to the test. In other words, he's saying, "Go ahead. I dare you. See if you can out-give me."

These are two fundamental questions behind the act of giving. If God is wise, then you should listen to what he says about financial stewardship. If you trust him, then you should trust him with all aspects of your life, including your finances. So go ahead. Accept God's invitation to put him to the test. Start tithing faithfully and watch what he does in and through your life.

After you begin a relationship with Jesus, it starts the process of a life-long relationship with God. That relationship involves a continual process of getting to know Jesus and taking next steps in your relationship.

In the book of Acts, in the Bible, the very first step to reflect this desire in your life to follow Jesus, was through baptism.

1.) It illustrates Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.

• “Christ died for our sins...He was buried...and He rose again.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
• “For when you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and in baptism you were raised with Christ.” (Colossians 2:12)

2.) It’s a living picture of my new life as a follower of Jesus. (Romans 6:4)

Baptism doesn’t make you a follower of Jesus, it demonstrates that you already have decided to follow. It’s important to understand that baptism does not secure a relationship with God (it doesn’t help you get in with God). That relationship with God happens only by grace through your faith in Jesus and what He did for you on the cross.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith...it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 Baptism is like a wedding ring—it is the outward symbol of the commitment you make in your heart. It’s an outward expression of an inner change.

At Sportsman’s Church, we believe that baptism is a great way to let others know of your commitment to follow Jesus. As soon as you have decided to follow Jesus by personally accepting what He did for you on the cross, you can be baptized.

• It follows Jesus’ example. (Mark 1:9)
• We are baptized because Jesus expected it & it demonstrates that we’re really following His lead. (Matthew 28:19-20; 1 John 2:3)
• You are welcome to be baptized as soon as you have believed! (Acts 2:41)

(Being “dunked” under the water)

• Jesus was baptized that way. (Matthew 3:16)
• Every baptism in the Bible was by immersion (Acts 8:38-39)
• The word “baptize” actually means “to dip under water”
• Immersion best symbolizes a death and resurrection

“The old life has passed away and a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

In the Bible men and women were baptized following their belief in Jesus. We believe that baptism is for those who have made a personal decision to trust Jesus alone for their salvation. An infant, although treasured by God, is not yet capable of making that decision. Infant baptism is a ceremony intended to emphasize a commitment between the parents and God, on behalf of the child. During this ceremony, the parents promise to raise their child in the faith until the child is old enough to make his own personal decision about Jesus.

We believe that marriage has been instituted and ordained by God, and that marriage is defined as the exclusive conventional union of one man and one woman in which such union is a lifetime commitment. A civil government’s sanction of a union will be recognized as legitimate marriage by the church only to the extent that it is consistent with the Biblical definition of marriage.(Genesis 2:24; Matt. 19:4-6; Mark 10:6-9)

We believe that legitimate sexual relations are exercised solely within marriage. Hence, sexual activities outside of marriage, including but not limited to, adultery, premarital sex, homosexuality, and pedophilia, are inconsistent with the teachings of the Bible and the church. Further, transgender behavior and the creation and/or distribution and/or viewing of pornography are incompatible with the biblical witness. (Hebrews 13:4; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; 1 Thess. 4:3-5; Eph. 5:5)

We believe that the roles of husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, and children are clearly stated in the Scriptures, including the principles of discipline, instruction, and correction. When found to conflict with laws and/or social norms, we will follow the biblical principle. (Eph. 5:22-33; Col. 3:18-21; 1 Pet 3:1-7; Eph. 6:1-4)