This Is Our Neighborhood
OUR VISION
ONE FAMILY
MANY HOMES
FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD
NEIGHBORHOOD MISSION
To be a community of Christ followers who choose to live generously inside and out to bring the love of God to the heart of our community.
14 The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.
John 1:14 (The Message)
NEIGHBORHOOD VALUES
We Value A Neighborhood with Renewed PURPOSE
Eph. 3:7 – “of this gospel I was made . . .”
Our desire is to join God in the renewal of all things, and for us this begins in our lives and neighborhood. It means we get to witness the people closest to us become transformed into passionate followers of Jesus.
We long for people not just to attend church, but to be the church, creating an alternative culture rooted God’s principles, here in our neighborhoods.
We recognize that God has placed within each of us gifts, passions, and abilities to build His church and help bring His kingdom of heaven right here on earth.
We Value A Neighborhood with Renewed GRACE
Eph. 3:7 – “a minister according to the gift of God’s grace.”
In a harsh and often unforgiving world, we believe the church should always be the place where people can find grace and in turn, give grace. One of our greatest opportunities is seeing the resurrection joy on a person’s face as they move from death to life in Jesus, coming out from under a lifetime of shame to embrace their new identity as a member of God’s own household.
We Value A Neighborhood with Renewed JOY
Eph. 3:8 – “ . . . given to us to tell of the unsearchable riches of Christ.”
We have a conviction that the Creator God is at work to heal, renew, and bring joy to our neighborhood. To follow Jesus and join Him in His mission is to become agents of joy to our neighborhoods, industries, and world.
We are truly a privileged people with resources given to us by God to steward His joy into the lives of others—even though most of us would not consider ourselves to be wealthy, we are committed to stewarding what God has given us for His glory and the joy of others.
A Neighborhood of Renewed FAMILY
Eph. 3:9 and 14 – that brings “. . . to light for for every family to live according to the riches of His glory.”
One of the essential metaphors for the church is that of a family. And in a culture that is defined by personal ambition and radical individualism, Neighborhood Friends Church actively desires to live against the trends of our culture by opening our hearts and lives to one another so it can increasingly be said, there are no needy among them.
We Valuer A Neighborhood of Renewed WISDOM
Eph. 3:10 – “so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
It has been said that the church is the only institution left in society where all of the other spheres of culture overlap. Our church does not exist for itself, but to equip people with a theological vision to join God in his great redemptive work and then send them into the world to do just that.
From educators to construction workers, nurses to doctors, mechanics to designers, and every trade possible, we believe that with the manifold wisdom of God our careers are more than jobs, they are mission fields of God’s great story of love.
We Value A Neighborhood with Renewed STRENGTH
Eph. 3:14 – “according to His riches in glory he may grant the neighborhood to be strengthened with power through His Spirit . . .”
People in this city are known for having passion for the outdoors, for their career, for their start ups, and for their sacred weekends. Few people are passionate about seeing souls find Divine strength. But we have come to know there is a God of love who speaks to the weakest parts of our souls with His Spirit, fills us, and gives us strength to live fully alive in Him.
We Value A Neighborhood renewed by SACRIFICE
Eph. 3:7 – “of this gospel I was made . . .”
We believe that the greatest context for a miracle is sacrifice. The good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ is made possible because He was willing to live in our world, move beyond the convenience and glory of His place in the heavenly realm of God, and become one of us.
God becoming man was a sacrifice that made the miracle of salvation possible for us. Jesus, God in the flesh, suffering and dying as a sinless man for us is the greatest sacrifice of all. We are miraculous because of Christ.
Neighborhood Friends is committed to living beyond convenience, to the point of often great personal sacrifice, to build a loving community centered on Jesus for our neighborhood no matter what it takes.
Miracles happen here.
We Value A Neighborhood renewed by PRESENCE
Eph. 3:19 – “to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that we may be filled with all the fullness of God.
There is no greater miracle than experiencing the real-time Presence of Jesus and the life, peace, freedom and joy that comes when He draws near.
In all we do, our prayer is that of Moses, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.”
NEIGHBORHOOD BELIEFS
Neighborhood Friends Church is a part of the Evangelical Friends Church and Rocky Mountain Yearly Meeting of Friends
Friends beliefs are grounded in the essentials of Christianity as found in the gospel of Jesus Christ and the New Testament writers. Foundational truths rest in the Fatherhood of God, the deity and humanity of Jesus the Son, the ministry of the Holy Spirit, the atonement of Jesus Christ which reconciles humankind to God, the resurrection of Jesus Christ which assures faithful believers of eternal life after physical death, Jesus Christ, the High Priest, who provides the believer direct access to the Father because of His death and resurrection, and the individual priesthood of believers who may boldly approach the throne of grace with confidence to receive mercy and help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
God
There is one sovereign God who is revealed through the Bible in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. God is the Creator and Preserver of all things. He alone is worthy of worship. In the unity of the Godhead exist three equal and distinct, yet inseparable persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is God’s revelation of Himself to humankind. Jesus, at once wholly divine and wholly human, was conceived by God’s Spirit and born of a virgin. Through His blood shed in crucifixion, Jesus Christ became the atonement for the sins of humankind, providing direct access to God. Following His resurrection from the dead, Jesus ascended again to the right hand of the Father. Scripture refers to Christ as High Priest of all believers, who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses because He was tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Jesus Christ serves as Mediator and Intercessor for His beloved and, through the work of His Spirit, draws all persons to Himself. When Jesus Christ returns to earth in all His glory, He will receive the Church and judge the world.
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son and is equal with them. His work in the world includes convicting of sin, giving life to penitent believers, and sanctifying the children of God. He teaches and enables men, women, and children to love God supremely and to give evidence of the Spirit’s presence in their lives. The Holy Spirit works through individual lives as well as in corporate groups of the church, enabling service in various ways as He chooses.
The Bible
The Holy Bible was given to humankind by direct inspiration of God. It is sufficient to inform men and women of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. God’s Holy Spirit, who inspired the Scriptures, also interprets them, working through those yielded to Him within His Church. The Bible is the final authority by which all guidance should be measured for truth. Genuine guidance from God is in accord with the Holy Scriptures.
Humanity
Humankind was created in the image of God to enjoy unbroken fellowship with their Maker. The first man Adam, along with his wife Eve, sinned against God incurring His displeasure and the penalty of death. Since that time all people are born with a sinful nature. However, through Christ’s atoning work on the cross and because of the resurrection, men and women may be redeemed from the penalty of sin and death. Christ paid the penalty in full. Through His sacrificial death, Jesus Christ destroyed the wall separating humankind from God.
Salvation
Salvation is a personal matter between an individual and God. It encompasses both the works of forgiveness for sin and sanctification—the cleansing of the sinful nature. A person may be redeemed because of the atoning death of Jesus Christ and the direct work of the Spirit. An individual is saved when, in response to God’s grace, he or she makes a personal choice to accept the provision Christ made through His death on the cross. There is no principle of election or security which removes from humankind the responsibility of free will. It is the Holy Spirit who restores fellowship with God the Father and enables us to love Him wholeheartedly. Salvation does not depend on outward ceremonies or symbols.
Sanctification is the setting apart of the believer by God for transformational service and spiritual worship through the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. A person is sanctified by the participation in the death of Christ through the baptism of the Spirit. Sanctification is an act of cleansing and a process by which one’s life is continuously devoted to God’s purposes. Through this process increasing growth and maturity are realized.
Baptism and Communion
Practices of the outward ordinances of baptism and communion are incomplete without the actual working of the Holy Spirit and fellowship with Christ that comes through sacramental living. Friends believe all of life is sacred. Friends view the outward ceremonies as unnecessary practices and would call the Church to ensure the spiritual realities before any ceremonies are performed. Therefore, most Friends do not practice the outward ceremonies although they are acceptable when the realities are understood, just as wedding ceremonies and baby dedications are acceptable within the life of the Church.
The Church
Those who repent of their sinful way of life and trust in Jesus Christ as personal Savior and as Savior of the world enter into the Kingdom of God by the work of the Holy Spirit. These people are corporately called the Church of Jesus Christ and include believers worldwide. By the Spirit, Christ is present wherever two or three meet together in His name. Such a meeting is a local church which is a visible manifestation of the Church worldwide. Every believer should actively participate in a local, visible part of Christ’s worldwide body in order to worship, witness, and work more effectively for the glory of God. Friends consider meetings for business to be extensions of the corporate worship experience of the Church. Every believer is committed to be involved in the stewardship of God’s Kingdom through the Church until the Lord returns.
Christian Worship and Work
Scripture calls Christians to meet together for the privilege of corporate worship. By doing so, they testify to others of their faith in Christ and also receive the mutual benefits of encouragement, teaching, and fellowship. Worship may be silent or vocal, taking various forms. It does not depend on certain ceremonies or traditions. Worship is a natural outgrowth of union with Christ and should be directed by His Spirit. Friends emphasize that Christ may be known experientially through the Holy Spirit and hold that He is present to lead His people Himself. Though Friends worship has been known for its silent worship, in reality it is not a worship of silence but a worship on the basis of obedience to God.
The emphasis is on the ministry of each individual in the body of Christ and the importance of each one ministering to the spiritual needs of others according to the direction of the Holy Spirit.
It is extremely important that the believer enter into worship as a participant in the communal life of the Church rather than as an observer who has come to listen to a sermon or to repeat certain phrases. Every meeting should be an adventure in which God speaks to His people. Friends encourage daily private and family worship in addition to the times of corporate worship.
Believers are committed to the work of God, not only to manifest personal righteousness as the fruit of a new life, but also to share their faith. All Christians are called upon to witness by word and deed in a Christlike demonstration of love, forgiveness, and peace. Believers are called and ordained by God for special services of leadership in the Church. These services may include ministries of teaching, evangelization, pastoring, or administration. The Church should recognize and encourage the giftedness of its members.
Fruit and Gifts of the Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the indwelling agent of leadership for each Christian. The Spirit always leads in harmony with Scripture. Growth and maturity come as the Spirit is allowed to control the individual life producing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Spiritual gifts are also given by the Spirit for the encouragement and edification of the Body of Christ. While each gift is Spirit-given, Friends emphasize seeking the Giver of the gifts over and above seeking specific gifts.
As believers receive gifts, love will provide the motivation for the best use of each one. Supernatural gifts do not constitute the essential sign of the baptism with the Holy Spirit. The evidence of the fullness of the Holy Spirit is the fruit of the Spirit with love as the foundation.
The Lord’s Return
Jesus Christ will return in power as King of kings and Lord of lords at a time appointed by God to consummate His rule over all humanity in the final triumph over Satan. The dead shall be resurrected, some to eternal life, others to everlasting punishment. All shall be judged by God and receive just recompense for their deeds. True believers shall live forever with Christ, but the lost will suffer eternally in hell.
Liberty
Scripture calls Christians to freedom in Christ. Because of this freedom there may be differences of faith and practice among God’s children. However, Scripture also recognizes the distinctions between liberty in personal belief and practice versus liberty in public teaching and preaching. Persons in public ministry among Friends must teach in accordance with love and respect for the larger body of Friends, using these Basic Beliefs as a foundation for ministry.