WHAT WE BELIEVE

At Love Church, the foundation of everything we do is built upon The Greatest Commandment, which Jesus taught in the Gospels:

Matthew 22:37-39 (NKJV): “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

We believe these two commandments—loving God and loving people—are the heart of the Gospel and, thus, are the mission of our church. At Love Church, we express this through our calling to love God supremely and love people supernaturally.

Loving God Supremely

Our first and foremost desire is to love God with all of our being—heart, soul, mind, and strength. This means living a life of devotion, worship, and surrender to God. We believe that everything we do flows out of this relationship with our Creator, and that our greatest joy and fulfillment come from knowing and loving Him:

1 John 4:19 (NKJV): “We love Him because He first loved us.”

Deuteronomy 6:5 (NKJV): “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”

Our love for God motivates everything—our worship, our service, our obedience, and our mission. We seek to reflect His love in all that we do, worshipping Him with joyful passion and living in alignment with His Word.

Loving People Supernaturally

We believe that loving God is incomplete without loving people. Jesus made it clear that we cannot separate the two. To truly love God, we must love others—selflessly, unconditionally, and sacrificially. At Love Church, this is what we call loving people supernaturally, meaning we love others with the agape (unconditional)  love that comes from God, not our own strength:

John 13:34-35 (NKJV): “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

1 John 4:7-8 (NKJV): “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

Our love for others reflects God’s love for us, and we believe that by loving people supernaturally, we are demonstrating the very nature of God to a lost world. This love reaches beyond human limitations, allowing us to care for, forgive, and serve others as Jesus did.

“Knowledge Puffs Up, But Love Edifies”

As you read through the rest of this statement of faith, our greatest motivation is that you would hear God’s heart through it and understand His desire for you to experience His best for your life. As a ministry that’s committed to teaching the Bible accurately, we’ve written these statements for the sole purpose of clarifying our Biblical convictions around some of the core pillars of our faith and our church governance. But it’s also important to note that even if we have perfect theology but don’t have love, our knowledge is worthless. 

Our prayer is that as you read this, you’ll grow in confidence of our convictions as church as well as God’s personal call on your life to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.

At Love Church, we believe in the doctrine of the Trinity, which teaches that there is one God who exists in three distinct persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. These three persons are co-equal and co-eternal, each fully God, yet there is only one God. This belief is foundational to our faith and is supported by numerous passages in Scripture.

The Plurality of God in Scripture

From the very beginning of the Bible, God refers to Himself in the plural, indicating a complex unity within the Godhead:

Genesis 1:26 (NKJV): “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’”

Genesis 3:22 (NKJV): “Then the Lord God said, ‘Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever—’”

Isaiah 6:8 (NKJV): “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’”

These references to “Us” and “Our” suggest a plurality within God, which is further revealed in the New Testament as the Trinity.

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as God

Scripture clearly teaches that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are each fully God, yet they are distinct persons with different functions within the Godhead:

The Father is God:

John 6:27 (NKJV): “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

1 Peter 1:2 (NKJV): “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.”

The Son is God:

John 1:1 (NKJV): “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

John 14:6 (NKJV): “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

John 20:28 (NKJV): “And Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’”

Colossians 2:9 (NKJV): “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.”

The Holy Spirit is God:

Acts 5:3-4 (NKJV): “But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.’”

1 Corinthians 3:16 (NKJV): “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”

These passages demonstrate that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all recognized as God, fully sharing in the divine nature.

Distinct Functions within the Trinity

While the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are equal in their divine nature, they have different roles or functions:

The Father: The Father is often seen as the source of creation, the one who sends the Son into the world, and the one to whom prayers are directed.

1 Corinthians 8:6 (NKJV): “Yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.”

The Son (Jesus Christ): The Son is the one who redeems humanity through His incarnation, life, death, and resurrection. He reveals the Father to us and intercedes on our behalf. He is also “the Word”, as we see in John 1.

John 14:9-10 (NKJV): “Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, “Show us the Father”? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.’”

The Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the one who regenerates believers, sanctifies them, and empowers them for service. He also convicts the world of sin and guides believers into all truth.

John 14:26 (NKJV): “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”

Romans 8:26 (NKJV): “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

These distinct roles show how the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work together in perfect unity to accomplish God’s will.

Our Conclusion

At Love Church, we affirm the doctrine of the Trinity as essential to our faith. We believe that the one true God exists eternally in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each of whom is fully God, equal in divine nature, yet distinct in function. This understanding of the triune nature of God is rooted in Scripture and has been a core belief of the Christian faith throughout history.

We recognize that the mystery of the Trinity is profound, but it is a mystery that draws us deeper into the love and fellowship of God, who is both one and three. This belief in the triune God shapes our worship, our understanding of salvation, and our daily walk with the Lord.

At Love Church, we believe that salvation is received through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross and His resurrection from the dead. This faith is the only way to receive forgiveness of sins, be restored to a right relationship with God, be born again as a new creation, and secure one’s eternal destination in heaven. We affirm that while good works are evidence of genuine faith (James 2:18), they are not the means by which a person is saved. Salvation is by grace through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Forgiveness of Sins

The Bible teaches that all have sinned and are in need of forgiveness. This forgiveness is granted through faith in life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who took upon Himself the penalty for our sins when He was crucified:

Romans 3:23-24 (NKJV): “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

Ephesians 1:7 (NKJV): “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”

1 John 1:9 (NKJV): “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrificial death on the cross is the only means by which we receive forgiveness and are cleansed from our sins.

Restored Relationship with God

Through faith in Jesus Christ, our broken relationship with God is restored. Jesus is the mediator between God and humanity, reconciling us to the Father:

Romans 5:1 (NKJV): “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (NKJV): “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.”

John 14:6 (NKJV): “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”

Faith in Jesus bridges the gap between us and God, bringing us into a restored relationship with Him.

Becoming Born Again (A New Creation)

When a person places their faith in Jesus Christ, they are born again, becoming a new creation. This spiritual rebirth is a work of the Holy Spirit, making us new in Christ. We believe that this regenerative work by the power of the Holy Spirit is critical for salvation:

John 3:3 (NKJV): “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’”

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV): “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Titus 3:5 (NKJV): “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.”

Being born again is a transformative work that makes us new in Christ, marking the beginning of a new life in God.

Securing Eternal Destination in Heaven

Faith in Jesus Christ secures our eternal destiny in heaven. The promise of eternal life is given to all who believe in Him:

John 3:16 (NKJV): “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

John 10:28-29 (NKJV): “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.”

1 John 5:11-13 (NKJV): “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”

Through faith in Jesus, believers are assured of eternal life and a secure place in heaven with God.

Salvation by Faith, Not Works

While good works are the evidence of genuine faith, the Bible is clear that salvation is not earned by works but is a gift of God’s grace received through faith in Jesus Christ:

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV): “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

Galatians 2:16 (NKJV): “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.”

Romans 4:5 (NKJV): “But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.”

Salvation is a free gift from God, not something we can earn through our own efforts. It is received by faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Consequently, in regards to baptism, for example, we believe the work of baptism in and of itself doesn’t save, but baptism must be done in obedience to Christ after one has put saving faith in Him.

1 Peter 3:21 (NKJV): “There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

Our Conclusion

At Love Church, we affirm that salvation is found only in Jesus Christ. It is through faith in His finished work on the cross and His resurrection that we receive forgiveness of sins, are restored to a right relationship with God, are born again as new creations, and secure our eternal destiny in heaven. We reject the notion that works alone can save a person’s soul, recognizing that salvation is by grace through faith alone. Our good works are a response to the grace we have received, not a means to earn it.

This foundational belief in salvation through faith in Jesus Christ is central to our faith and the message we share with the world. We invite all to place their trust in Jesus, receiving the gift of salvation and the promise of eternal life with God.

At Love Church, we believe that the Bible is the inerrant, infallible Word of God. We hold that all Scripture is inspired by God and is fully authoritative and trustworthy in all matters of faith and practice. We are committed to teaching the full Word of God from cover to cover and equipping believers to develop a personal relationship with God through daily personal Bible study.

The Inerrancy and Inspiration of Scripture

We believe that the Bible, in its entirety, is the inspired Word of God. Every word of Scripture is “God-breathed” and without error in the original manuscripts. This belief is grounded in the understanding that the Holy Spirit guided the authors of Scripture to write precisely what God intended:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV): “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

2 Peter 1:20-21 (NKJV): “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

Psalm 12:6 (NKJV): “The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.”

These passages affirm that the Bible is not merely a collection of human writings but the very Word of God, free from error and fully reliable.

The Authority of Scripture

Because the Bible is the Word of God, it holds supreme authority over all aspects of our lives. It is the final standard for truth, teaching, and correction, and it is sufficient to guide us in all matters of faith and practice:

Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV): “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Matthew 24:35 (NKJV): “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”

Isaiah 40:8 (NKJV): “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.”

The Bible is unchanging and eternally relevant, providing the foundation for our beliefs, our decisions, and our daily lives.

Teaching the Full Counsel of God

At Love Church, we are committed to teaching the full counsel of God’s Word, from Genesis to Revelation. We believe that every part of Scripture is valuable and necessary for understanding God’s character, His plan for redemption, and His will for our lives:

Acts 20:27 (NKJV): “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.”

Romans 15:4 (NKJV): “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”

We seek to present the entirety of Scripture, ensuring that our teaching is balanced, comprehensive, and rooted in the truth of God’s Word.

Developing a Personal Relationship with God through Bible Study

We believe that the Bible is not only a book to be taught but also a living Word that fosters a personal relationship with God. Daily personal Bible study is essential for spiritual growth and intimacy with God:

Joshua 1:8 (NKJV): “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

Psalm 119:105 (NKJV): “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

John 15:7 (NKJV): “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”

We encourage all believers to engage with Scripture daily, allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s truth, guide their steps, and deepen their relationship with Him.

Our Conclusion

At Love Church, we stand firmly on the belief that the Bible is the inerrant, inspired Word of God. It is our ultimate authority for faith and life, and we are committed to teaching its full counsel from cover to cover. We also believe in the importance of personal Bible study as a means of developing a close, personal relationship with God. As we study and live out the truths of Scripture, we are continually transformed into the image of Christ, equipped for every good work, and grounded in the unchanging truth of God’s Word.

At Love Church, we believe that corporate worship is a vital and necessary part of our faith. It is a time of celebration, praise, and exaltation of our God, where we come together as a community to express our love, gratitude, and reverence for Him. We are convicted to worship passionately, loudly, and with a variety of instruments and voices, as the Bible encourages us to do. We also embrace various expressions of worship, including dancing, shouting, singing, bowing, and lifting holy hands, all of which are deeply rooted in Scripture.

The Necessity of Corporate Worship

We believe that gathering together for corporate worship is essential for the life of the church. It is a time to unite our hearts and voices in praise, to encourage one another, and to experience the presence of God together:

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NKJV): “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Psalm 95:1-2 (NKJV): “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.”

Corporate worship is a time to celebrate God’s goodness, to declare His praises, and to exalt His name together as a body of believers.

Worshiping Passionately and Loudly

The Bible encourages us to worship God with passion and enthusiasm, using our voices and instruments to declare His greatness. We believe that worship should be an expression of the joy and gratitude we have in our hearts:

Psalm 100:1-2 (NKJV): “Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing.”

Psalm 150:3-6 (NKJV): “Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; praise Him with clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!”

These scriptures show that worship is meant to be vibrant, expressive, and full of life, involving our voices and instruments in a joyful noise unto the Lord.

Passionate Outward Expression During Worship

Dancing in Worship

We believe that dancing is a biblical expression of worship, a way to physically express our joy and celebration in the presence of God:

Psalm 149:3 (NKJV): “Let them praise His name with the dance; let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.”

2 Samuel 6:14 (NKJV): “Then David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod.”

Just as King David danced before the Lord with all his might, we too are free to express our worship through dance, celebrating God’s presence and His works.

Shouting and Singing in Worship

Shouting and singing are powerful expressions of worship that declare God’s victory and majesty. We believe that our voices should be lifted in praise, proclaiming His goodness:

Psalm 47:1 (NKJV): “Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph!”

Psalm 98:4 (NKJV): “Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises.”

Shouting and singing are integral to our worship, allowing us to express our love for God and our gratitude for His salvation.

Bowing, Kneeling and Lifting of Hands in Worship

Bowing and lifting our hands are expressions of reverence, surrender, and adoration. These acts of worship reflect our submission to God’s authority and our desire to honor Him:

Psalm 95:6 (NKJV): “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.”

1 Timothy 2:8 (NKJV): “I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”

These actions are outward expressions of an inward posture of humility and reverence before God.

Our Conclusion

At Love Church, we are committed to worshiping God passionately and wholeheartedly, both individually and corporately. We believe that worship is a time of celebration, praise, and exaltation, where we express our love for God with all that we are. The Bible encourages us to worship with a variety of expressions—singing, shouting, dancing, bowing, and lifting our hands—and we embrace these as part of our worship experience.

We teach and encourage our congregation to engage in worship with their whole being, knowing that God is glorified when His people worship Him in spirit and in truth. Our worship is not just a ritual but a vibrant, joyful, and reverent response to the greatness of our God, who is worthy of all praise and honor.

At Love Church, we firmly believe in the operation of the gifts of the Spirit as described in the New Testament. We do not adhere to cessationist theology, which asserts that the spiritual gifts ceased with the apostolic age. Instead, we hold that these gifts are active and essential for the church today, meant to glorify God and edify the saints. Additionally, we emphasize that the exercise of these gifts must be done in an orderly fashion.

Pursuing Spiritual Gifts

The Bible is clear that we are to pursue the gifts of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit distributes these gifts to those He chooses, and He can change the gifting in people from season to season according to His will:

1 Corinthians 12:31 (NKJV): “But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.”

1 Corinthians 14:1 (NKJV): “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.”

1 Corinthians 12:11 (NKJV): “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”

Biblical Basis for the Continuation of Spiritual Gifts

Scriptural Evidence for Gifts: The New Testament provides clear evidence that the gifts of the Spirit were given to the church for its ongoing ministry:

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (NKJV): “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”

Romans 12:6-8 (NKJV): “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”

Continuation of Gifts: There is no scriptural basis for the belief that these gifts were intended to cease. On the contrary, the gifts are intended to continue until the return of Christ:

1 Corinthians 13:8-10 (NKJV): “Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.”

1 Thessalonians 5:20 (NKJV): “Do not despise prophecies.”

1 Corinthians 14:39 (NKJV): “Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.”

Orderly Operation of the Gifts

We believe that the gifts of the Spirit should be operated in an orderly manner, in accordance with biblical instruction. We also believe that the spirit of those who prophesy is subject to the individual and that Holy Spirit-filled believers are expected to bear the fruit of self-control in their ministry:

1 Corinthians 14:26-33 (NKJV): “How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.”

Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV): “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

Love as the Motivation

We believe that love must be the foundation and motivation behind the exercise of spiritual gifts. The strategic placement of 1 Corinthians 13, often called the “Love Chapter,” between 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 underscores this principle:

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NKJV): “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.”

Yielding to the Holy Spirit

We believe in being led by the Holy Spirit at all times and must be willing to yield to His influence whenever believers gather. We do not believe in limiting the power of the Holy Spirit. Wherever the people of God gather in corporate worship, we should be willing to yield to His Spirit and His giftings. This includes our Sunday Worship Encounters, prayer meetings, small group gatherings, and more.

Acts 2:17-18 (NKJV): “‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.’”

Ephesians 5:18-19 (NKJV): “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”

Recognition of Offices and Gifts in the Church

While we firmly believe in the ongoing operation of the gifts of the Spirit, we also recognize that the fivefold offices established in Ephesians 4:11-13 are distinct from spiritual gifts. The offices of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher are given for the governing and equipping of the Church, while the gifts of the Spirit are distributed to every believer to serve the Body of Christ.

The Distinction Between Offices and Gifts

Offices are specific callings—Christ appoints certain individuals to serve in the governmental leadership of the Church to equip and build up the saints.

Gifts are distributed to all believers—The Holy Spirit empowers every believer with spiritual gifts for ministry and service within the Body.

While someone may operate in the gift of shepherding, teaching, or prophecy, this does not necessarily mean they hold the office of pastor, teacher, or prophet. Likewise, all believers are called to share the Gospel, but not all hold the office of evangelist.

Not Everyone Holds an Office, But Everyone Has a Gift

Scripture makes it clear that not all believers are called to hold an office (1 Corinthians 12:29-30, NKJV):

“Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?”

This distinction helps ensure that believers walk confidently in their spiritual gifts without assuming roles they have not been called to. At Love Church, we encourage every believer to steward their gifts while honoring the fivefold offices Christ has established for the Church.

Our Conclusion

At Love Church, we embrace the gifts of the Spirit as vital to the life and ministry of the church. We commit to operating these gifts in an orderly manner, ensuring they glorify God and edify the body of Christ. We remain open to the leading of the Holy Spirit in our gatherings, always seeking to yield to His presence and power for His glory and the edification of His people. Above all, we are motivated by love, ensuring that all our actions and operations are grounded in the love of Christ.

We are neither Five-Point Calvinists nor are we Arminians. We adhere firmly to the Biblical teaching of God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility. We avoid any theological systems of belief that go beyond the written word and thereby divide the body of Christ.

We believe in the universal Church, in the living spiritual body, of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe the Lord Jesus Christ committed two ordinances to the Church: 1) baptism, and 2) the Lord’s Supper. We believe in baptism by immersion and communion, both of which are open to all believers in Jesus Christ.

We believe in the laying on of hands for the sending out of pastors and missionaries, the anointing of oil by the elders for the healings of the sick.

We believe the only true basis of Christian fellowship is Christ’s (agape) love, which is greater than any differences we possess, and without which we have no right to claim ourselves Christians.

We believe worship of God should be spiritual; therefore, we remain flexible and yielded to the leading of the Holy Spirit to direct our worship. We believe worship of God should be inspirational; therefore, we give great place to music in our worship.

We believe worship of God should be intelligent; therefore, our encounters are designed with great emphasis upon the teaching of the Word of God that He might instruct us on how He should be worshiped. We seek to teach the Word of God in such a way that its message can be applied to the individual’s life, leading that person to a greater maturity in Christ. We teach both expositionally and topically.

We believe worship of God should be fruitful; therefore, we look for His love in our lives as the supreme manifestation that we have been truly worshiping Him.

We believe that the church government should be simplistic rather than a complex bureaucracy, and we depend on the Holy Spirit to lead, rather than on fleshly promotion.

We believe that the Bible clearly delineates that spiritual gifts are for the edification of the body and that they are to be exercised in love. We believe that love is more important than the most spectacular gifts, and without love, all exercise of spiritual gifts is worthless.

Our Position on Women in Ministry

At Love Church, we uphold a soft-complementarian view of women’s roles in ministry. Soft-complementarianism means that we emphasize the need for male headship as established in Scripture, while also honoring and valuing the significant contributions women make in leadership and communication roles within the church.

Biblical Hierarchy and Order

We believe that God established a specific hierarchical order between man and woman, which transcends cultural norms:

Creation Order: In Genesis 2:18-24 (NKJV), God created woman as a helper comparable to man, forming a complementary partnership.

Headship: 1 Corinthians 11:3 (NKJV) states, “But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

Apostolic Teaching: In 1 Timothy 2:12-14 (NKJV), Paul emphasizes that a woman should not have authority over a man, referencing the order of creation and the fall.

Household Order: Ephesians 5:22-24 (NKJV) instructs, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.”

It’s also important to note that, although, God has clearly created distinct differences in roles between man and woman, they are created equal in value. 

In no way do we use the familial hierarchy as a tool for men to lord over women. In fact, at Love Church we emphasize God’s heart shown throughout the Bible that a man’s headship is a responsibility which is to be used to serve his wife.  As it says in Ephesians 5, “Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her...So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. ”

Roles and Functions in Ministry

While maintaining this hierarchical structure, we also recognize the significant roles women played in the early church, as seen in the book of Acts and other New Testament writings:

Prophesying and Teaching: Acts 21:9 (NKJV) mentions Philip’s four virgin daughters who prophesied, demonstrating that women can have roles in speaking God’s word.

Leadership in Ministry: Priscilla, along with her husband Aquila, instructed Apollos in Acts 18:26 (NKJV), showing that women can instruct and guide under appropriate circumstances.

Deaconess: Romans 16:1-2 (NKJV) refers to Phoebe as a servant (often understood as deacon) of the church in Cenchrea, highlighting her significant role in the church.

Fellow Workers: Philippians 4:3 (NKJV) mentions women who labored with Paul in the Gospel, indicating their active involvement in ministry.

“Among The Apostles”: In Romans 16:7 (NKJV), Paul mentions Junia, a woman, who is “among note of the apostles”, suggesting that she was not only doing ministry alongside the apostles but also was, perhaps, an apostle.

Understanding Paul’s Exhortation in 1 Timothy 2:12

Paul’s instruction that he does “not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man” (1 Timothy 2:12) must be understood within its cultural and historical context.

Context of the Ephesian Church – Paul was writing to Timothy, who was pastoring in Ephesus, a city heavily influenced by the worship of Artemis, a goddess whose temple was led by female priestesses. It is likely that Paul was addressing specific cultural issues in that church to correct disorder and false teaching.

The Principle of Creation – Paul references the order of creation in 1 Timothy 2:13-14, reinforcing a foundational truth about God’s design. However, as seen in other cultural applications (such as his instructions about head coverings in 1 Corinthians 11 or braided hair in 1 Timothy 2:9), Paul often gives contextual prescriptions for particular church settings while upholding timeless theological principles.

Paul’s Affirmation of Women in Ministry – Despite this instruction, Paul consistently worked alongside women in ministry and commended them for their leadership. His letters acknowledge female deacons, prophets, and apostles, demonstrating that his directive was not a universal prohibition but a situational guideline for order within a particular church.

Use of the Title “Pastor” for Women

We acknowledge that the Bible does not provide specific regulations on the use of the title “pastor” as a formality for identifying the key leaders of the house of God. Therefore, we believe there should be charity and understanding around this conviction as it differs across denominations and has differed throughout Church history. However, to avoid confusion and to maintain clarity in our leadership structure:

We do not use the term “pastor” as a formal title for women in leadership roles within our church, yet we do recognize God’s call and gifting in women to serve, speak, and even lead in the local church.

This decision aligns with our interpretation of biblical headship and ensures that our terminology reflects our theological stance.

Our Conclusion

Based on these scriptural principles, we conclude that:

Authority in the Church: Women should not hold positions of authority over men in matters of church discipline and doctrinal teaching. These roles are reserved for men to reflect the headship established by God.

Roles of Leadership and Preaching: Women can serve in leadership roles and preach the word of God, provided they do so under the covering of male headship in the church and in partnership with their husbands in ministry.

We believe that God calls and equips both men and women for ministry according to His purpose. While we honor the biblical principle of spiritual order within the Church and the home, we recognize that the Holy Spirit empowers all believers—both male and female—to teach, lead, prophesy, and disciple others for the advancement of God’s Kingdom.

We affirm the full participation of women in the life and ministry of the Church, including teaching, preaching, leadership, and pastoral roles, as long as they operate in biblical alignment with God’s order, character, and calling.

This approach allows us to honor the biblical order while fully engaging the gifts and callings of women in the church.