Good Shepherd is a family! We love Jesus and we love each other. As disciples of Christ we devote ourselves to the Great Commission, both locally and globally, by the power of the Holy Spirit. We would love for you to visit, get to know us, and become part of our family.
There is one true and living God, and He is the LORD. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He has no beginning and no end. He is one God who exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He rules and reigns over all things, visible and invisible. He is Spirit and all must worship Him in Spirit and Truth. He rewards those who seek Him by faith and judges all who reject Him through unbelief. The LORD is our First Love.
Deut 6:4; 1 Cor 8:4-6; Ex 3:6,15; Gen 1:1; Ps 90:2; 93:2; Rev1:8; Matt 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 1:35; John 14:16; 2 Cor 13:14; 1 Chron 29:11,12; Ps 97:9; 103:19; John 4:24; Rom 8:9-11; Heb 11:6; Jer 17:13; Rom 1:18; 2 Thes 1:8
Gen 1:1; 2:7; Ps 19:1; Isa 43:7; 44:24; Lev 19:2; Matt 6:9; Job 12:13; Rom 11:33; Ps 62:11; 66:5-7; Prov 2:6; Ps 46:1,Micah 3:6; John 1:12; Acts 5:26; 17:28; Ps 119:68; 1 John 4:8; Ps 116:5; Rom 3:3,4; 2 Tim 2:13
Ps 2:7; John 1:1,14; Isa 7:14; 53; Matt 1:18-23; 3:17; 11:5; 14:33; Luke 1:35; Heb 4:15; 9:22; 1 John 3:5; John 14:6;20:30,31; Lev 16:27; 17:11; 1 Cor 15:3-8,55-57; Eph 1:7; Mark 16:9; Acts 1:5-9; 2:1-4; 7:55,56; Ph 2:9-11; Rev 1:18
The Holy Spirit is God. He existed in the beginning and inspired human authors to write the Holy Scriptures. He glorifies Christ and the Truth, while convicting men of sin, God’s righteousness, and the coming judgement. He gives life to all who believe in the Son by indwelling them with His presence. He comforts and strengthens us. He guides us in how to pray. He fills us completely as we hunger and thirst for His abiding presence. He flows powerfully through us as we walk in faithful obedience to Christ. He gives to believers various spiritual gifts, so they can be witnesses of Christ in word and in power. The manifestation of His gifts is for the common good of the church, to build up the body of Christ, and to empower us to make disciples. He gives and develops the character of Christ in the lives of all believers who know and follow Him.
Acts 5:3,4; Ps 51:10,11; Gen 1:1-3; Isa 61:1; 2 Tim 3:16,17; 2 Pet 1:20-21; John 6:63; 7:37-39; 14:15-17; 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:5,8; 9:31; Eph 3:14-19; Rom 8:26,27; 12:6-8; Matt 5:6; 1 Cor 12:4-11; 1 Thes 1:5; Gal 5:22,23
In the New Testament, baptism with the Holy Spirit happened in various ways. At Pentecost and with the household of Cornelius, the Spirit “came…fell…was poured out” without direct human touch. Yet others were baptized with the Spirit as Christ’s disciples prayed for them and laid hands on them, as in Samaria and Ephesus. In some instances, baptism with the Spirit resulted in immediate expressions such as tongues, praise, and prophesy. When Paul was filled with the Spirit, he received healing from blindness. Again, baptism with the Holy Spirit is the way a person is filled with the Spirit, yet this is not a “once-for-all” experience. Paul instructed believers to be filled with the Spirit daily. A sincere thirst for Christ is necessary to initially and continually be filled with the Spirit. A person who is being filled continually with the Spirit will walk in the Spirit and experience more fruit of the Spirit. Simultaneously, one who has been filled with the Spirit will be empowered to boldly witness for Christ and His kingdom.
John 1:33; 20:22; Acts 1:5,8; 2:1-4; John 7:37-39 Acts 10:44-47; 8:14-17; 19:6; Acts (Ch 2,10,19); Acts 9:17,18; 1 Cor 14:18; Eph 5:18-21; Gal 5:16,22-24; Matt 28:19,20
The Holy Scriptures (referred to as the Bible) is the divinely inspired, unchanging Word of God. It was written by men who were inspired by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, all Scripture is true and gives testimony to Jesus Christ, who is the Word of God made flesh. Scripture alone is the basis of faith and practice for the church. The perfect Word of God revives the soul, enlightens the eyes, strengthens the heart, guides the mind, and endures forever. The Word of God is living and active. It pierces the heart yet gives hope.
Deut 4:1,2; Ps 19:7-11; 119:89,105; Isa 40:8; Matt 5:17,18; Luke 21:33; John 17:17; Rom 15:4; 16:25-27; 2 Tim 3:15-17; Heb 4:12; 2 Pet 1:21
God created man in His own image. He created them male and female and gave them dominion over all living things on the earth. Mankind enjoyed perfect fellowship and righteousness with God, but became separated from God (spiritually and physically) through the willing and sinful disobedience of Adam, the first man. Man cannot become righteous with God again by his own efforts. Instead, men were subjected to their own flesh, inclined to sin, and worthy of death. Only the grace of God can make man righteous and bring him back into fellowship with Himself.
Jesus, the God-Man, died for all mankind, thereby showing that all men (male and female) are uniquely created and worth His sacrificial, redemptive love.
Gen 1:26-30; 2:7,18-22; 3:1-24; Ps 8:3-6; Isaiah 6:5; Jer 17:5; Matt 16:26; Rom 3:10-18,23; 7:14-25; 1 Cor 1:21,22; >Eph 2:1-3; Col 1:21; 3:5-10
Salvation is a free gift from God and cannot be earned through any human effort. It was purchased by Jesus Christ, through His shed blood on the cross. It was manifested in His glorious, physical resurrection from the dead. To receive His salvation, one must hear the word of God, be convicted of sin, repent (turn away) from sin, trust in Jesus as Savior and Lord, and receive His eternal, life-giving Spirit. Salvation occurs in 3 stages that are harmoniously carried out by God Himself.
Gen 3:15,21; Ex 6:2-8; Ps 32:1-5; Jer 17:5-8; Matt 1:21; 4:17; Luke 1:68-79; 2:28-32; John 1:9-13; 3:16-21; 5:24; 10:9-11; Acts 2:21; 4:12; Rom 1:16,17; 2:4; 3:21-26; 5:8-10; 6:23; 8:1,2; 10:9-17; 13:11-14; 1 Cor 1:21-31; 2 Cor 5:17-20; Gal 2:20; Eph 2:8-10; 4:11-16; Ph 2:12-13; Col 1:13,14; 1 Thes 5:23,24; Tit 2:11-14; Heb 2:1-3; 5:8,9; 9:24-28; James 2:14-26; Rev 3:20; 21:1-22:5
The church is the world-wide body of Christ, established by Jesus as the Head of the church. The church is committed to the person and teachings of Christ. Although diverse in its appearance and gifts, the church works together in love and unity, intent on glorifying Christ as Lord. The Church includes those redeemed throughout all of time: believers from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation.
The Church also consists of local communities where believers meet, devoting themselves to the Word of God, Christian love and fellowship, prayer, and sharing the Gospel with the world. The local church is where men and women exercise their spiritual gifts. The governing authority in the church belongs to elders, also referred to as overseers, presbyters, bishops, and pastors. Their qualifications and responsibilities are modeled and defined in the writings of the New Testament.
Matt 16:18,19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-47; 5:11-14; 6:3-7; 13:1-3; 14:23; 16:5; 20:28; 1 Cor 1:2; 5:4,5; 7:17; 9:13,14; 12:1-31; Eph 1:22,23; 2:19-22; 3:10-12; 5:22-32; Col 1:18; 3:15; 1 Tim 3:1-15; 4:14; Tit 1:5-9; 2:1-6; 1 Pet 5:1-4; Rev 2-3; 21:1-3
Man was created to exist forever with God. Yet because of sin, man became subjected to death and ultimately God’s final judgement. Because God is Holy, He judges man righteously, as it regards His blessings and curses. Man will either receive the blessing of God’s eternal presence in Heaven or be cursed and be cast away from God’s presence into an eternal hell. Both heaven and hell are real physical places. Heaven will be completely free of sin and death and sorrow, while hell will be a place of suffering and torment and hopelessness. However, it’s not God’s desire that any should perish in hell, but that all should come to repentance, be saved, and enjoy His life, both now on earth and forever with Him in heaven.
Isa 25:8-12; Matt 8:11,12; 13:38-50; 24:48-51; 25:29-46; Luke 13:22-30; 23:43; John 3:16; 36; 14:2-4; Acts 17:26-31; Rom 1:18-21; 6:23; 1 Cor 2:9; Heb 11:16; 13:14; 1 John 2:25; 5:11-13; Rev 7:13-17; 20:11-15; 21:4-8; 22:1-5
Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior. This symbolizes the believer’s death to sin, burial of the old life, and resurrection to walk in the life of Christ. It is a testimony to one’s faith in the final resurrection of the dead.
Matt 3:13-17; 28:18-20; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21,22; John 1:29-34; 3:22,23; Acts 2:41; 8:35-39; 16:30-33; Rom 6:3-5; Col 2:12
Communion, often called the Lord’s Supper, is a symbolic act of obedience whereby a believer in Christ, by partaking of the bread and drink, remembers the sacrificial and atoning death of Christ. Believers are to partake of this ordinance often, until Christ comes again in all His glory to glorify His own.
Matt 26:26-29; 1 Cor 10:16; 11:23-25
Marriage was established by God, the Creator of all things, and is therefore a sacred covenant solely between a man and a woman. The husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. The wife is to respect her husband as the church respects Christ. While marriage is not the only way to reveal the love and oneness of Christ, it should reflect Him in every way. So whether married or single, all should seek to show and honor Christ, in word and deed.
Gen 1:27,28; 2:18-25; Matt 19:4-6; Mark 10:6-9; Eph 5:22-33; 1 Pet 3:7; Matt 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:14-20; Acts 2:42; 1 Cor 10:16-22; 11:17-34
All the requirements of the law and teachings of the prophets are fulfilled if we love God supremely and love our neighbor as ourselves. This unconditional and eternal love comes from God. It’s His desire for us to receive His love by faith and give His love generously to all.
Deut 6:4,5; Matt 7:12; 22:36-40; Mark 12:28-31; Luke 10:27
The Church (as defined above) was made to glorify God. Her mission on earth is the Great Commission. In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus commanded His disciples, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” While loving is the command of every believer, disciple making is the call of every believer.
Jesus Christ, though perfect in His divinity, submitted Himself as a Son in obedience to the plan and will of the Father. As Paul states in Philippians 2, “Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” So we follow Christ in sacrificial obedience, and we pattern our disciple making after His, by the power of His Spirit.
Matt 28:19-20a, Heb 2:10; 5:9, Matt 28:19-20a, Phil 2:5b-8
Jesus Christ, who came to earth to die for the sins of the world, will come again a second time to bring full and complete salvation to those who trust in Him. He will return to earth in the same way he ascended into heaven. At His coming, He will destroy evil, rescue His own, and restore all things to His Father. As God’s children, we will inherit the crown of righteousness and glory, becoming like Jesus, the Son. His coming is sure, but the specific time is unknown to all, except the Father. So we wait eagerly for His second coming and meet together as His body, to encourage each other in godliness.
Acts 1:11; 3:19-21; 1 Cor 1:7; 4:5; 11:26; 15:23,24; Ph 1:10; Col 3:4; 1 Thes 1:9,10; 3:13; 4:15-5:4,23; 2 Thes 1:6,7; 2:8; 2 Tim 4:1,2; Tit 2:11-14; Heb 9:28; 10:25,37; 1 Pet 1:3-5; 5:4; 2 Pet 1:16; 3:8-10; 1 John 2:28; 3:2,3; Jude 1:14,15,21; Rev 1:7,8; 3:11; 16:15; 22:12,13,20,21
