EQUIP Church of Turlock
We started as a church plant 5 years ago. We are a small church of about 50 adults and 20 kids. People describe our culture as friendly, healthy, and real.
E - Everyone Q - Qualified U - United I - Ignited in P - Purpose
God has called us to reach out to the poor, drug addicted, gang involved, unemployed, and hurting people in our community, particularly the west side, where our church is located.
1. The Old and New Testaments are the inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God. In the Bible we find the revelation of God's will for the salvation of humanity, and the divine and final authority for the Christian life.
(2Timothy 3:15-17; 1Thess. 2:13; 2Peter 1:21)
2. God is the Creator of all things, who is infinitely perfect and eternally existent in three persons--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.
(Deut. 6:4; Isaiah 43:10-11; Matt. 28:19; Luke 3:22)
3. Jesus Christ is true God and true man. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life and died on the cross, to bring glory to his Father, as a sacrifice for the sins of all men. He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven and is now at the right hand of the Father as our High Priest and advocate.
(Matt. 1:21-23; Heb. 7:26; 1Cor. 15:3; Matt. 28:6; Philippians 2:9-11; Heb. 2:17; Rom. 8:34)
4. The Holy Spirit is actively convicting people of sin, drawing them toward Christ, birthing them into God's family, cleansing them of sin, overflowing them with love and joy, empowering them for service, and giving them the gifts and fruit that glorify the Lord Jesus.
(2Cor. 3:17; John 16:7-13; 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 2:4; 1Cor. 12; Eph. 1:13-14; Gal. 5:22-25)
5. People are the supreme object of God's creation, and are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us have been stained by sin. This sin separates us from God and causes many problems in life.
(Gen. 1:26-27; Rom. 3:23; Ps. 8:3-6; Is. 53:6a; 59:1-2)
6. Salvation is God's free gift to us, but we must accept it. We can never pay for our sin simply by good works. Trusting in Jesus Christ is God's way of forgiveness from sin's penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith, we are saved.
(Rom. 5:1; 6:23; Eph. 2:8-9; John 1:12; 14:6; Titus 3:5; Gal. 3:26)
7. Water Baptism and Communion are to be observed by the church today. However, they are not to be regarded as a means of salvation.
(Matt. 28:19; Rom. 6:4; Matt. 26:26-28; 1Cor. 11:23-29)
8. The church is composed of all those who are born again into God's family. Through this new birth we are united together in the Body of Christ to follow His teachings and to grow in Christs likeness. Jesus is the Lord and Head of the church.
(1Cor. 12:27; Eph. 4:11-15; 2 Cor. 3:18; Acts 2:42; 2 Peter 1:3-4.
9. People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be separated from God is Hell. To be in union with Him is Heaven. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.
(John 3:16; John 2:25; 5:11-13; Rom. 6:23; Rev. 20:15)
