our Purpose
Open Bible Churches is an association of churches and ministers with a mission to globally make disciples, develop leaders, and plant churches. Our premise is that we are more effective in fulfilling our mission by collaborating together than by functioning as disconnected islands. We strive to maintain a healthy balance of mutual accountability without undue control.
Our name reflects our foundation; we embrace the Bible as God’s Word and seek to build who we are, what we believe, and what we do on the Bible, which must be open in order to discover and apply its truth. Jesus commanded His followers to be the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13), so we desire to relationally authenticate what we believe. Our delight is to honor the Lord God, follow Jesus Christ, and allow the Holy Spirit to empower and guide us in our service.
Our Core Values
ORDER DISCOVER OPEN BIBLE BOOKLET
Intimacy with God
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The doorway to our most important relationship.
"You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind" (Matthew 22:37, NLT).
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Bible-Based
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The sourcebook for life and ministry.
Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path (Psalm 119:105, NLT)
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Spirit-Empowered Lifestyle
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The power for our witness and service.
I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit (Ephesians 3:16, NLT)
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Great Commandment Love
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The heart that compels us.
Love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39, NLT)
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Great Commission Passion
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The commission that guides us.
Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19, NLT)
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Relational Health
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The authentication of what we declare.
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works (Hebrews 10:24, NLT)
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Integrity
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The bedrock of our character.
The godly walk with integrity (Proverbs 20:7, NLT)
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Leadership Growth
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The channel for our development.
Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness (Colossians 2:7, NLT)
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Unity of Purpose
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The cornerstone of multiplication.
I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me (John 17:21, NLT)
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Our Statement of Faith
ORDER STATEMENT OF FAITH BROCHURE
The Bible
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We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God and the only infallible guide and rule of our faith and practice.
(Psalm 119:89; Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 2:15, 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21.)
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God
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We believe there is one God. In the unity of the Godhead, there are three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection and attribute, fulfilling distinct but complementary roles in the great work of redemption.
(Genesis 1:26; Matthew 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Timothy 1:17; 1 John 5:7.)
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(1) God the Father
We believe in God the Father, the co-Creator with the Son and the Holy Spirit, who is the eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, everywhere-present, and unchangeable Creator of all.
(Deuteronomy 32:6; Psalms 103:13; Isaiah 63:16; Matthew 6:9; John 1:3, 5:19-23, 17:1-11; Acts 17:28; Romans 8:14-16; Ephesians 4:6.)
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(2) God the Son
We believe in God the Son, co-Creator with the Father and Holy Spirit, who took upon Himself human form, being conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and given the name Jesus. His death by crucifixion and His bodily resurrection provided the means for people to be reconciled to God. He ascended to heaven where He is seated at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us as the King of kings and Lord of lords.
(Isaiah 53:1-5; Matthew 1:21-23; John 1:1-3, 11:25-26; Ephesians 1:20-23; Philippians 2:1-6; 1 Timothy 2:5.)
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(3) God the Holy Spirit
We believe in God the Holy Spirit, co-Creator with the Father and Son, who is now sent by the Father through the Son to convict the world of sin, lead us into all truth, and empower and equip the Church to carry on Christ's work on earth.
(Genesis 1:2; John 14:26, 15:26, 16:8; Acts 1:8.)
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The Fall of Mankind
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We believe the human race is fallen from its original, created goodness because of the sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
(Genesis 1:27, 3:1-6; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:10, 3:23, 5:12, 5:19.)
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The Plan of Redemption
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We believe Jesus Christ was the sacrifice God planned from the foundation of the world for the sin of the human race. By shedding His blood and dying on the cross, Jesus made provision for the salvation of all people.
(Isaiah 53:5; Titus 2:14; Hebrews 7:25; 1 Peter 1:19-20.)
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Salvation
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We believe, because of our total inability to save ourselves, salvation is by God's grace alone. It is received by faith with repentance and acceptance of Jesus Christ as personal Savior.
(John 3:3, 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 Peter 2:24.)
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Water Baptism
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We believe water baptism by immersion in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is an outward sign of an inward work and is commanded by God following conversion.
(Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:4.)
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Communion
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We believe in partaking of the bread and the cup of communion in remembrance of the Lord's death, burial, and resurrection. We celebrate an open communion for all believers regardless of church affiliation.
(Luke 22:7-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-28.)
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Baptism in the Holy Spirit
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We believe the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in every believer at the moment of salvation. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is distinct from salvation, releasing the power of the Holy Spirit through faith. Consistent with biblical accounts, believers should anticipate Spirit-baptism to be accompanied by speaking in tongues and other biblical manifestations. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is given to endue the believer with power from God, to offer an inspired witness for Christ, to lead the believer in a life of holiness, and to equip for a Spirit-filled life of service.
(John 7:37-39, 14:16; Acts 1:8, 2:4, 2:38-39, 8:14-17, 10:44-46, 19:6; 1 Corinthians 3:16.)
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Spirit-Filled Life
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We believe every Christian should walk and abide in daily fellowship with the Holy Spirit and experience continual renewing of God's power to live a Spirit-filled life in attitudes, thoughts, speech, and conduct. In order to build up and equip both individual believers and the Church of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts that are to be earnestly desired and exercised in the spirit of love. The fruit of the Spirit to be cultivated in the life of every believer is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
(John 15:4, 15:8; Acts 4:31; Romans 8:1, 8:5, 12:1-2, 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 12:7-11, 12:31; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:11, 4:30-32, 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22; 1 Peter 1:15, 4:10-11; 1 John 2:6.)
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Divine Healing
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We believe the power of God to heal the sick and afflicted is provided for in Christ's death on the cross. God is willing to and does heal today.
(Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:16-17; Mark 16:18; Acts 3:16, 10:38; James 5:14-16; 1 Peter 2:24.)
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Second Coming of Christ
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We believe the second coming of Christ will be personal, visible, and triumphant.
(Zechariah 14:4; Matthew 24:36-44; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10, 2:8; Titus 2:12-13; Revelation 1:7.)
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Church Relationship
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We believe Christians should assemble regularly for edification, worship, fellowship, and proclamation of the gospel. All believers should do the work of the ministry according to their spiritual gifts and should tithe and otherwise contribute financially to their church.
(Psalms 111:1; Malachi 3:8-10; Acts 2:42-47, 16:5; Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7; Hebrews 10:24-25.)
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Civil Government
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We believe civil government is ordained of God, and all people should be subject to the laws of the land, except those contrary to Scripture. In times of war, the individual's participation in actual combat and taking of human life shall be governed by one's own conscience.
(Mark 12:17; Acts 5:29; Romans 13:1-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; Hebrews 12:14.)
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Final Judgment & Hell
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We believe there will be a final judgment for all unbelievers. Hell is an actual place of great suffering, bitter sorrow, and remorse reserved forever for the devil and his angels and all whose names are not written in Christ's book of life.
(Matthew 13:41-43, 25:41; Mark 9:43-44; Revelation 14:10-11, 20:10-15, 21:7-8.)
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Heaven
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We believe heaven is an actual place of happiness and security where believers will dwell forever with God and receive the reward of their deeds done while on earth.
(John 14:2; 1 Corinthians 2:9, 3:10-15; Revelation 7:15-17, 21:4, 22:5.)
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Evangelism & Missions
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We believe the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ commands us to carry the gospel message to the entire world - to every nation, ethnicity, culture, and language. The growth and strength of the Church depend on its wholehearted sacrifice and support for world evangelization.
(Psalms 2:8; Proverbs 11:30; Matthew 9:38; Mark 16:15; John 4:35-37; Acts 1:8; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 5:16; 2 Timothy 4:1-2; James 5:20; Revelation 5:9.)
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