All people are created in the image of God.  The Gospel is about restoring people from every tribe, nation, and ethnic group.  Jesus, being our perfect example, looked past color, looked past economic status, and just saw people who needed love, compassion, forgiveness, grace, mercy…who need a Savior…

Genesis 1:26-28, John 3:16, Acts 17:26-27

In almost every chapter in the book of Acts, you find a reference to prayer, and the book makes it very clear that something happens when God’s people pray.  Something happens when God’s people cry out to God in faith, without doubting.  We at Farmington First approach His throne with boldness, expecting and desiring God to do supernatural things in our lives and in others’ lives.  By His Power…For His glory

  Psalm 50:15, Isaiah 30:19, Acts 12:5

An encounter with Jesus changes everything.

Many fine messages come from the OT, using the principles and examples given to us by those biblical characters, but the message cannot end there.  There is no saving power in any of the Old Testament men or women.  Wonderful examples, but no one else saves or ministers to our souls like JESUS.  Even the Apostles in the New Testament referred to scriptures from the Old Testament, but they did that for one reason – to point people to Jesus Christ and the salvation He alone offers.

So, whatever we preach on, whatever scripture is used, we will take it back to JESUS.  We will constantly proclaim the Gospel…Even if we are already saved, we need to be reminded of the Gospel and have a clear understanding of the Gospel because a clear understanding of the Gospel changes everything.

The Lord is looking for those True Worshippers, those who will worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.

If there are true worshippers, then there must be false ones.  Some will practice worship while others pretend to worship.

A true worshipper understands that they sin because they are sinners…and when they confess their sins and realize their need for Jesus, He will forgive them and save them.

A true worshipper understands that while they are not perfect, they are forgiven and in right standing with the Lord and deeply loved and accepted by the Creator of the Universe. 

A true worshipper understands that true worship is worshipping the LORD with an Inflamed Heart (SPIRIT) and with an Informed Mind (TRUTH).

John 4:23-24

God Himself exists in community.  

Therefore, we were created for community.  None of us were meant to live alone, away from meaningful connection.

But even though we are more connected than we have ever been, studies have shown that we also feel more alone and more unknown than at any other time in human history.

Many opportunities are being offered today that connect people meaningfully, but the Church has been called to create environments where Authentic Gospel Community can take place, creating an environment where people CONNECT with GOD and help others to do the same…Because there is a difference between CONNECTIVITY and Living Out Authentic Gospel COMMUNITY – Living life the way GOD DESIGNED us to live with one another.

Our GOAL, our VISION is for everyone at Farmington First to be in a biblical, gospel-centered Discipleship group, in which we value genuine, authentic relationships and strive together to see our lives changed by the power of the Gospel.

Acts 16:12-24

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others.” Matthew 20:28

We are all born with this “it’s all about me” attitude. All of us struggle with it, not just children. It truly takes the Holy Spirit in us to help us to die to self-daily in order to serve one another.  

Jesus continually stepped up and humbled Himself and took on the posture of a servant.  Jesus gave us the example to serve others selflessly and to serve others with an unconditional love.  

Matthew 20:28, Phil. 2:3-4

We believe God is the Creator and Ruler of the world. He eternally exists in three distinct persons: The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.  

Genesis 1:1, 26, 27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Isaiah 45:5-6, Isaiah 46:9-10, Matthew 28:19; John 17:3, 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2

We believe man was created in the image of God, and He created them male and female. In the beginning, man was innocent of sin and was endowed by His Creator with freedom of choice. By his free choice, man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. As a result, all human beings are born with a sinful nature and are born separated from God. Man is incapable of regaining a right relationship with God through his own efforts. It is only the grace of God that can restore man into His holy fellowship and enable man to fulfill the creative purpose of God.

Genesis 1:27; Psalm 51:5, Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a, 59:1-2; Jeremiah 17:9, Romans 3:23, Romans 5:8, 12-21, Romans 7:18-25, Ephesians 2:1-3

We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus Christ was born of a virgin and is both fully God and human. He lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the sacrificial substitute to pay the penalty for sin. Jesus Christ physically rose from the dead after 3 days, ascended into heaven, and will one day physically return. It is only through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ and repentance from sin that one is restored to God and experiences true life and joy. He did all this in order to display His love for you and to restore you back into a right relationship with Him.

Matthew 1:22-23, Luke 2:52, Colossians 1:15-20, Hebrews 1:1-3, Isaiah
9:6, John 1:1-5; 14:10-30, Hebrews 4:14-15, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4,
Romans 1:3-4, Acts 1:9-11, 1 Timothy 6:14-15, Titus 2:13, John 1:29
John 10:1-18, Romans 5:8, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 1:4, 1 Peter 3:18, Matthew 28:1-20, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-53, 1 Corinthians 15:12-34, John 14:3, Acts 1:11, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, Hebrews 9:28, 1 John 3:2, Revelation 1:7, John 3:18, 14:6, Acts 4:12, Romans 3:21-26, 1 Timothy 2:5-6

We believe the Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. Through the proclamation of the Gospel, the Holy Spirit reveals to men their need to repent of their sins and confess Jesus as Lord and Savior. He lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He gives every believer a spiritual gift when they are saved. As Christians, we seek to live under His control daily.

John 14:16-17, 16:7-13; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 1:13, 5:18

We believe salvation is a free gift from God. We believe that the blood Jesus Christ shed on the Cross provides the sole basis for the forgiveness of sin. God offers salvation to those who put their faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus as sufficient for the payment for their sin. There is no salvation apart from a personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and for the forgiveness of sin. Eternal life begins the moment someone receives Jesus Christ into his or her life by faith. It is only through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ and repentance from sin that one is restored to God and experiences true life and joy.

John 1:12, 14:6; Romans 5:1, 6:23; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5

We believe God gives the believer eternal life through Jesus Christ; therefore, the believer in Jesus is secure in that salvation for eternity. Salvation is maintained by the grace, mercy, and power of God; not by the self-effort of the believer. It is the grace and power of God that gives this security.

John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25, 10:10, 14; 1 Peter 1:3-5

We believe a New Testament church is a local congregation of believers who have been restored back into a right relationship with Jesus Christ. The Church exists to worship God, to display His love and to give Him glory by making disciples. Upon conversion, the newly restored men and women are added to a local church in which they devote themselves to teaching, prayer, fellowship, and the Lord’s Supper. All members of the Church are to be a vital and committed part of the local church. The church acknowledges Jesus as her only Head and governs herself by democratic principles under the oversight of her Lead Pastor, Elder Board, and Pastors. Her two ordinances are Baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper.

Acts 16:5, 1 Corinthians 4:17, Ephesians 5:23, Colossians 1:18

We believe Biblical Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Baptism is only for those who have professed faith in Jesus Christ. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believers’ faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior. It also symbolizes the believers’ death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to the believer’s faith.

Matthew 3:16, Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 1:9, Acts 2:41, Acts 8:12-13, Acts 8:38- 39, Romans 6:4, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Colossians 2:12

We believe the Lord's Supper was instituted by Jesus Himself for us to follow so believers might remember His death and resurrection and anticipate His second coming. It is a time for us to examine our own lives and remember and proclaim what the Lord has done for us.

Matthew 26:26-30, Mark 14:22-26, Luke 22:14-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-32

We believe the Bible is God’s Word to us.  We believe the Bible was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit.  It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living.  We believe the Scriptures are true, authoritative, sufficient, and without any mixture of error.

Psalm 12:6, 19:7-11, 119:105, 160, 138:2, Proverbs 30:5, 2 Timothy 1:13, 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21

Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime.  It is God’s unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the man and woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race.  Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord. Parents are to demonstrate to their children God's pattern for marriage. Parents are to teach their children spiritual and moral values and to lead them, through consistent lifestyle example and loving discipline, to make choices based on biblical truth. Children are to honor and obey their parents. 

Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-25; 3:1-20; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Joshua 24:15; 1 Samuel 1:26-28; Psalms 51:5; 78:1-8; 127; 128; 139:13-16; Proverbs 1:8; 5:15-20; 6:20-22; 12:4; 13:24; 14:1; 17:6; 18:22; 22:6,15; 23:13-14; 24:3; 29:15,17; 31:10-31; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 9:9; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31-32; 18:2-5; 19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16; Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21; 1 Timothy 5:8,14; 2 Timothy 1:3-5; Titus 2:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7.

We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning, and that is marriage sanctioned by God, which joins one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. Though various cultures and customs have evolving definitions of marriage, it is God alone who has ultimate authority to prescribe and describe the marital relationship. 

Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:1-9, Mark 10:1-2

We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to only occur between a man and a woman who are married to each other. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.

We believe that any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pornography, or any attempt to change one’s sex, or disagreement with one’s biological sex, is sinful and offensive to God. Also, the Church regards as sinful the intent or desire to surgically alter one’s biological sex to a different sex. Since the body is a creation of God, the Church holds sexual identity to be biologically determined, and associated gender norms are to be observed as appropriate to biblical standards. Disagreement with one’s biological sex only leads to spiritual confusion and emotional chaos

Genesis 1:27, Romans 1:26-32, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

We believe that God offers and provides redemption and restoration to all who confess and repent of their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. 

1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Ephesians 2:1-10, Titus 3:3-7

We believe in the sanctity of human life as established by God the Creator.  We believe that all human life, including life developing in the womb, is created by God in His image and is, therefore, to be nurtured, supported, and protected. Therefore, we believe that human life must be respected and protected from the moment of conception. 

Genesis 1:27, 2:7; Psalms 22:9; 139:3-16; Isaiah 49:5; Jeremiah 1:5; Acts 17:25