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Our Foundational Beliefs . . . 

 

• We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit.

• We believe the Bible to be the inspired and authoritative Word of God.

• We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal future return to this earth in power and glory.

• We believe that the only means of being cleansed from sin is through repentance and faith in the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

• We believe the power of God is available today with signs and wonders following those who believe.

• We believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit and that they are operating in the Body of Christ.

• We believe in the personal priesthood of every believer.

• We believe that the Glory of God will cover this earth as the waters cover the sea through the establishment of the Kingdom of God.

 

 

Why We Do What We Do . . . Our Worship Service

 

Here are some scriptural references for the way we praise and worship God.  We invite you to participate however you feel comfortable.

C E L E B R A T E !

“They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness."

Psalm 145:7 (NIV)

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We consider our Sunday gatherings a time to celebrate the goodness and love of God. We believe God is good – all the time – even when things are not going so well. Our Sunday Celebration has many outward expressions of our inward love and thanksgiving to our Creator, the living God. These expressions build our faith and encourage us to love God with all our hearts, soul and strength.

 

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself.'”

Luke 10:27 (NIV)

 

Here are some of the elements of our celebration:

 

Sing – “Sing to the Lord, you saints of his; praise his holy name." Psalm 145:7 (NIV)

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Clap & Shout for Joy – “Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy." Psalm 47:1 (NIV)

 

Lift Up Hands – “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord." Psalm 134:2 (NIV)

 

Praise – “I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High." Psalm 9:1-2 (NIV)

 

Various Musical Instruments – “Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord." Psalm 150:3-6 (NIV)

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Dance - "Let them praise his name with dancing . . . " Psalm 149:3 (NIV)

 

Along with our expressions of celebration and love to God, there are times when God, through His Holy Spirit, will express His love and grace to us in various ways:

 

Times of Silence – We may sit quietly and allow God to speak to our hearts and minds individually.

 

Prophetic Declarations –  There are times when the Holy Spirit will inspire individual(s) to speak out a message of encouragement or direction. This message may be spoken in English or in a “spiritual language” called tongues (there will then be an interpretation of the message in English so all can benefit from hearing it).

“What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.1 Cor.14:26, (NIV)

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Singing/Praying in Tongues - There may also be times when the church is worshipping or praying together that some may praise or pray in "tongues". This expression of the gift of tongues is different than a public speaking out in tongues, when an interpretation is necessary. 

"What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also." 1 Cor. 14:15, (ESV)

 

Times of Ministry – There may be times of special prayers offered for the various needs of those present at any given service. We believe that the power of God is available for physical and emotional healing as well as specific words of wisdom, discernment, and insight that may be given to individuals as the Holy Spirit may lead.

 

One of the ways of imparting this ministry of the Holy Spirit is through the laying on of hands and the use of anointing oil, symbolic of the presence of the Holy Spirit’s touch. 

 

"And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons; freely you received, freely give." Matthew 10:7-8 (NASB)

 

"Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick." James 5:14-15 (NASB)

 

"Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed upon you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery." 1 Timothy 4:14 (NASB)

 

Manifestations Resulting From Times of Ministry – When the Holy Spirit is ministering to an individual, there may be various manifestations displayed in their physical body. Some may cry or sob loudly. Some may silently receive. Some may shake or fall to the ground. Some may praise and rejoice loudly. There is no biblically proscribed way to receive from God.

 

 

 

Please feel free to contact us if you have questions or would like more information about Elevate Church.