Distinctives / Philosophy of Ministry

As a local body of believers, we, Fellowship Bible Church, Glorify God, by Proclaiming Christ to all, and Teaching the Word to each one, so that we might Present all mature in Christ. (Proclaiming, Teaching and Maturing – Colossians 1:28-29)

1) At FBC we have a High View of God, that affirms that He is the holy, righteous, and just. He
is the Sovereign creator of all things, and only lawgiver. (Isaiah 6:1-3; Romans 11:33-36).
A high view of God that teaches man to glorify God for His absolute holiness.
A high view of God that demands that God be worshipped through man’s testimony of God’s attributes by reflecting those qualities in life and speech.

As a church we will therefore:

• Endeavour to make God fully known to all people, and to encourage authentic worship of God. (2 Peter 1:1-3)
• Endeavour to teach and shepherd each one towards personal holiness. (1 Peter 1:14-16)
• Endeavour to focus on a God-centered ministry, and not on a man-centered ministry. (Rev 4:8-11)
• Endeavour to equip all people to appropriately deal with sin, and its consequences. (1 John 2:1-2)

2) At FBC we have a High View of God’s Word, that firstly affirms its inspiration. Each and every word (original language) of the Bible is inspired. (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20-21)
Secondly, affirms inerrancy. The Bible is free from any errors and is unable to fail. The Bible’s source is God, its truthfulness, accuracy, and inerrancy are anchored in the character of God, who cannot lie (Titus 1:2).
Thirdly affirms its authority. It is absolutely binding on man obligating him to obedience if he desires to honor Christ.
Fourthly affirms its sufficiency. A true belief in the sufficiency of Scripture prohibits any attempt to pervert it with worldly philosophies. (2 Pet. 1:3-4; Ps. 19; 2 Tim. 3:17; Heb. 4:12)
Finally, it affirms the relevancy and applicability for all of life. (Ps. 19; 2 Tim. 3:17; Ps. 119:105; Is. 40:8)

As a church we will therefore:

• Endeavour to teach scripture in such a way that all will grow in their obedience to the authoritative Word of God.
• Endeavour to teach all people to rely on the Word of God for every situation of life.
• Endeavour to train all to love and submit to the Word of God.

3) At FBC we have a Correct View of Man, that affirms that we were created by God, but due to the fall, have a fallen nature that corrupts all our being. (Rom 3:23; 6:23) Natural man is totally depraved, not simply deprived, with hearts that are deceitfully wicked, (Jer 17:9-10) and focused on self. (Gen 6:5)

As a church we will therefore:

• Endeavour to teach all people that even our good works are filthy rags apart from the saving work of Christ on the cross.
• Endeavour to teach all people that Christ and His Word alone, are the solution to the consequences of sin.
• Endeavour to teach all people to know the grace of God alone, that can overcome the wickedness of their own hearts.
• Endeavour to meet the biblically defined needs each person, not their felt needs.

4) At FBC we have a High View of Salvation, that affirms that it is a sovereign work of God, done in the heart of a sinner, that draws the sinner to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone and to repentance. Salvation is independent of the works of righteousness, so that the no one may boast in self, but instead boast in Christ alone. (Ephesians 2; Galatians 3)

As a church we will therefore:

• Endeavour to maintain the truth of God’s sovereignty in the work of salvation.
• Endeavour to teach the truth that salvation is by Grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
• Endeavour to teach that man’s necessary response to the gospel is a result of God’s work in his heart.
• Endeavour to teach that this necessary response to the gospel results in a changed life that bears Godly fruit.

5) At FBC we have a High View of the Church, that affirms that the church is the very bride of Christ, for which He Himself died to save, and it is the body through which Christ works in this age. (Eph 5:22-24; 1 Timothy 3:15) A view that also affirms that a primary purpose of the church is to glorify God by accurately representing Christ to a fallen world, through evangelism of the lost and discipleship of believers. A view that affirms the primary activities in the church include the: preaching the word, teaching the word, public reading of Scripture, prayer, the ordinances, and fellowship of the believers.

As a church we will therefore:

• Endeavour to teach those in the church of their responsibility to God and one another.
• Endeavour to make the sure that the church is the salt and light within the community, so that all might be drawn to Christ through our conduct.
• Endeavour to keep the church pure from sin and anything that will tarnish the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Endeavour to encourage all to serve the church as the Lord has gifted them.
• Endeavour to keep the leadership of the church biblically aligned.

This we do to Glorify God, through loving His Word, and caring for His sheep