Family Devotions & What we Believe
After the Covid-19 Pandemic, the elders and core leaders of The Grove met to re-form our values. As we did, we wanted to represent the early church as much as possible not just in our form and function, but in our language. God has clearly defined what a church should be about, and long to live these devotions out in regular rhythms in all of life.
“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
Acts 2.42-47
The Apostles’ Teaching
We are devoted not just to The Bible, but to Gospel-Centrality for it is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1.16-17).
The Fellowship
We are devoted not just to enjoying one another in Community, but to Committed Partnership for one another’s spiritual good and growth (Philippians 1.3-5, 27-29).
The Breaking of Bread
We are devoted not just to regularly practiced Communion, but also doing all things in Remembrance of Jesus (Colossians 3.17).
The Prayers
We are devoted not just to Personal Prayer, but also living lives which are God-Dependent (John 15.4-5).
Missional Living
We are devoted to not just going Across the Sea to make disciples, but also going Across the Street (Acts 1.8).
Our Theological Convictions
The Bible
We believe the Bible is the word of God, authored by God and written by humans under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Bible is inspired by God and a gracious gift of God to us as the ultimate source of truth, contains no errors, and final authority for all of life (Psalm 12.6; Prov 30.5; John 20.21; 2 Tim 3.16; 2 Pet 1.20-21).
The Trinity
We believe in one God who eternally exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Spirit who are all co-equal and one God (Gen 1.26-27; Matt 3.16-17; 28.19; Eph 2.18; 2 Cor 13:14; 1 Pet 1:2).
Jesus The Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father and lived a sinless human life and offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people 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 someday to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (Matt 1:22-23; Is. 9:6; Jn 1:1-5; Heb. 4:14-15; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Rom. 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Tim. 6:14-15; Titus 2:13)
The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God and is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation and provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth and guidance in doing what is right. He gives believers spiritual gifts when they are saved. As Christians, we seek to live under his control daily (2 Cor 3:17; John 14:16-17; 16:7-13; Acts 1:8; 1 Cor 2:12, 3:16; Eph 1:13, 5:18; Gal 5:25).
Humanity
We believe people are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like him in character and person and represent Him on the earth. People are the supreme object of God's creation, but mankind sinned and thereby incurred physical, spiritual and eternal death, which is separation from God. As a consequence, all human beings are born with a sinful nature and are sinners by choice and therefore under condemnation (Gen 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isa 53:6a; Rom. 3:23).
Salvation
We believe salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Only by God’s grace can one be reconciled to God, justified, sanctified, and ultimately glorified (John 3.18,36; 14.6; Acts 4.12; Rom 3.21-26; 1 Tim 2.5-6).
The Christian Life
We believe that the person that has been made new by the regeneration of the Spirit of God after trusting in Christ for salvation. As a believer of Jesus, any person should live for the glory of God by following Jesus by faith through water baptism, become a faithful member of a local church, and pursue Christian discipleship, with Jesus as our example and the Holy Spirit as our empowerment, in obedience and faith (Matt 28.19-20; Rom 12.1-2; 2 Pet 1.3-11; 3.18).
The Church
We believe that the universal church, the body of Christ, consists of all believers regardless of denominational affiliation and that Christ, the supreme authority of the Church, commanded for His church the observance of water baptism and the Lord's Supper until he returns. We also believe the local church should be a witness to the contemporary world through an incarnational witness. Without compromising biblical absolutes, a church's ministry, worship, and teaching should creatively adapt to the particular culture it feels called to reach (Col 1:18; Eph 4:4-6; Acts 1:5, 11:15-16; 1 Cor 12:13; 1 Thess 4:13-17; Matt 16:18, 28:19; 1 Cor 11:24-26).
Eternity
We believe in the personal return of Jesus whereby He’ll establish in fullness His kingdom during which, every person will be physically resurrected from the dead and will be judged. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. We believe those that do not place their total faith in Jesus for salvation will spend eternity in a literal Hell, separated from the loving presence of God. Those that have placed their trust in Jesus will enjoy perfect joy and glory in eternal union with God in the new heaven and the new earth (Matt 25.31-36; John. 3:16; 5.28-29; Acts 24.15; Rom 6:23; Rev 19-20).