• We believe the entirety of the Bible is the inspired Word of God and that men were moved by the Spirit of God to write the very words of Scripture. (2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:15-16.)
  
  
• We believe in God, the creator of the universe, who eternally exists in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (I John 5:7; Genesis 1:26; Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 9:6; Hebrews 3:7-11.)
  
  
• We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who being fully God became fully man (Philippians 2:6-11), was born of a virgin (Luke 1:34-38), lived a sinless life (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22), died on the cross (Matthew 27:44-51, Philippians 2:5-6), was raised bodily (Acts 2:23-24), is exalted to God’s right hand (Hebrews 8:1), and will personally come again (Matthew 26:64) (Luke 1:34-38) (1 Peter 3:18).
  
  
• We believe that all have sinned and are guilty before God, and, as a result, we all suffer the consequences of the fall and are under condemnation. (Romans 3:23)
  
  
• We believe that God sent His Son Jesus Christ, who provided an atonement for sin through His death on the cross, conquered the principalities and powers, and is reconciling the world to Himself. (Romans 3:25, Hebrews 2:17, 1 John 1:7-8.)
  
  
• We believe that the blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross, provides the sole basis for the forgiveness of sin. Therefore, God freely offers salvation to those who place their faith in the death and resurrection of Christ as sufficient payment for their sin. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16, 3:8; Titus 3:5; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 16:31; Hebrews 9:22, Acts 2:21, 3:19; 1 John 1:9.)
  
  
• We believe in the water baptism of believers, as an outward expression of a spiritual reality that has taken place in our souls, and a step of obedience based on God’s commands. (Matt. 28:19; Rom. 6:4)
  
  
• We believe all Christians should live for Christ and not for themselves. By obedience to the Word of God and daily yielding to the Spirit of God, every believer should mature and be conformed to the image of Christ. (James 1:22-25, Romans 8:1-13, Romans 6:1-14)
  
  
•  We believe in Heaven and Hell: the everlasting punishment of unbelievers and the everlasting blessedness of believers in the presence of Christ. While all deserve the latter (Hell) all who believe in the Atonement given through Christ enter the former (Heaven) by grace through their faith. (Matthew 5:3, 12, 20, 6:20, 19:21, 25:34, 41, Mark 9:43-48; Hebrews 9:27.)
  
  
• We believe that the church functions as the Body of Christ, of which Jesus Christ is the head. The members of the church are those who have trusted by faith the finished work of Christ. The purpose of the church is to glorify God by loving Him and making Him known to the lost world. (Ephesians 1:22-23, Matthew 28:19-20)
  
  

Apart from the essential beliefs, we do not cover in our curriculum specific doctrines where Christian churches disagree. We respectfully ask that each church cover their specific doctrines not listed in these essential beliefs.

This interdenominational ministry does not belong to a specific denomination. If you have invited a staff member from “Equip & Grow” to give a teacher training conference or to speak at your church, they will not be teaching on their own personal doctrinal beliefs but will be representing our ministry and will not cover doctrines other than the above-mentioned essential beliefs.