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There are some general distinctives that will help us introduce ourselves to you. First, Jesus Christ, and Him crucified, is our cornerstone. From the proclamation of the Gospel we find the certainty of salvation and the only hope for sinful man. We also see this wonderful Gospel as the foundation of all Christian living. We rejoice in this truth and in our Savior, who died and rose again to redeem for Himself a people from every nation upon the earth. Paul’s concern is ours: For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:2. Second, the Reformation cry of Sola Scriptoria is our belief and proclamation. We believe the Scriptures teach that God’s Word is our final authority in all that we believe and practice. We believe the Scriptures teach that God’s Word is sufficient for all things that pertain to life and godliness. God has given us His Word; no one is to add to it or take away from it. We hold Hs Word, the Bible, to be precious and true. Our belief rests in our Lord’s prayer: Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. John 17:17. Third, we are a church that is committed to the historical heritage of Southern Baptist doctrine. The London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689 is the doctrinal statement that our church affirms. What we believe and teach about God and salvation is contained in a concise manner in this document. The 1689 Confession has played a key role in the formation of Baptist churches and associations throughout history. The Baptists in America around Philadelphia adopted the confession, calling it the Philadelphia Confession of Faith. This also became the cornerstone of many Baptist groups elsewhere in America, and was instrumental in the founding of the Southern Baptist Convention. C. H. Spurgeon, in his second year at the New Park Street Chapel reprinted the 1689 Confession. Upon the reprinting he stated, "I have thought to reprint in cheap form this excellent list of doctrines, which were subscribed to by the Baptist ministers in the year 1689. We need a banner because of the truth; it may be that this small volume may aid the cause of the glorious Gospel by testifying plainly what are its leading doctrines." We at Lake Deerwood Fellowship agree and affirm this Baptist document as our statement of faith. This is crucial to fulfilling Jude’s admonition: Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. Jude 1:3. Finally, we believe in the simplicity of worship. As we gather together each Sunday to worship, we endeavor to be biblical and simple. Through the reading of the Scriptures, congregational singing, prayers, and the preaching of God’s Word, we assemble to worship the Lord. In an age filled with man-centered worship, we endeavor to center our worship on our Creator, the Triune God. Again the words of Paul rule our thinking: For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. . . Philippians 3:3. |
