NCPC is a congregation of believers that endeavors to be faithful to the Scriptures as the inspired and infallible Word of God, our only rule for faith and life, without condition or compromise. Our doctrinal standards are those of the Presbyterian Church in America. These qualities are central to the life of our congregation:
WHO ARE WE?
As a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America, New Covenant Presbyterian Church is a family of believers Reformed in its doctrine and Presbyterian in its form of church government.
- By "Reformed," we affirm that we stand on the great "solas" that emerged from the Protestant Reformation:
Scripture alone - Scripture is our final authority for all that we are to believe and to do
Grace alone - Salvation in its entirely is of God's grace given to sinners in Christ Jesus
Faith alone - Salvation is received through faith in Christ
Christ alone - Salvation is found only in Christ
To God's glory alone - Salvation is always and entirely to God's glory
- We are a "confessional church," meaning that our foundational beliefs are clearly stated. The doctrinal standards of our church are those of the Presbyterian Church in America, the Westminster Confession of Faith with its Shorter and Larger Catechisms. Officers of the church affirm their belief in Scripture as "the inerrant Word of God, the infallible rule of faith and practice," and affirm that they "receive and adopt the Confession of Faith and the Catechisms of this Church, as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures."
- As a Presbyterian church, the congregation is under the spiritual oversight and shared leadership of biblically-qualified men who are elected by the congregation to serve as elders (the "Session"). Within the class of elders are the two orders of teaching and ruling elders. Those who are specially gifted and trained are called to be teaching elders, or pastors. Those who have the gift of rule or administration as overseers of the spiritual life of the congregation are called to be ruling elders.
THE HEART OF OUR STRATEGY IS THE GREAT COMMISSION:
- We believe that the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) calls each of us into a right relationship with:
God's Son: "go and make disciples"
God's Word: "teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you"
God's People: "baptizing them"
- To that end, we affirm that:
The Bible is inspired, infallible, and inerrant...."our only rule for faith and practice."
There is but one true God and salvation is found only in Jesus Christ, His only-begotten Son.
The local church is the primary means established by God for the work of furthering His kingdom.
God's work is not fulfilled within us until we have a living relationship with God's Word, God's Son, and God's Church.
THE PATTERN OF OUR CHURCH LIFE IS FOUND IN ACTS 2:42-47:
The early church was devoted to:
- Learning the Truth: "they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching"
- Loving one another: "and to the fellowship"
- Worshiping fervently and faithfully: "to the breaking of bread and to prayer"
- Witnessing through words: "praising God"
- Serving through sacrificial deeds: "they gave to anyone as he had need"
To that end, we seek to be a family of believers who are:
- Learning in the Truth
- Worshiping in the Truth
- Loving in the Truth
- Praying the Truth
- Sharing the Truth
- Witnessing to the Truth
With the prayer that we will:
- Show the presence of God: "Everyone was filled with awe"
- Commend the Faith by our life: "Enjoying the favor of the people"
- Evangelize the lost: "And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved"
THE GOAL OF OUR DISCIPLESHIP IS TO EMBRACE AND LIVE A CHRISTIAN WORLD-LIFE VIEW:
- We believe that all of life is to be lived to the glory of God under the Lordship of Christ.
- To that end, we affirm that:
Truth is absolute and knowable
Scripture contains all that is necessary for what we are to believe and how we are to live
The goal of knowing the truth is to have a life transformed by the power and reality of that truth
God calls us to be transformed in the renewing of our minds, rather than conformed to this world
God calls and equips us to further the rule of Christ by His Word and Spirit until He comes again
THE WORSHIP OF GOD IS THE ULTIMATE AIM AND ENJOYMENT OF ALL WE DO:
- We believe that the worship of God is the joy and purpose of all we do. To quote pastor and author John Piper:"Missions exist because worship does not."
- To that end, we affirm that:
We are to worship God as He commands, not as we propose
God desires the obedient praise of His people
- We seek for our worship to be:
Biblical
Characterized by both reverence and joy
Structured but not stuffy
Honoring of biblical tradition while not being bound by traditionalism
Focused on that which brings pleasure to God, rather than being consumer-driven
WHO ARE WE?
We are a family of believers joyfully committed to advancing the kingdom of God as we glorify and enjoy Him today and forever!
"We have big plans; God has even bigger plans."
