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Principles, Practices, & Promises

Principles, Practices, & Promises

We are a redeemed community of Jesus followers on mission together!

We are not a building, location, or program. We are a family. Together we are defined by the foundational principles that ground us, the core practices that guide us and the membership promises we make to one another as God’s family.


PRINCIPLES

Principles define us. They are the doctrinal truths that set our worldview and mission. They are unquestionable absolutes from God’s revealed word that ground our church in all matters.

God’s Glory
  • God’s Glory Is Immeasurably Significant 
  • God’s Glory Is The Purpose of His Creation 
  • God’s Glory Is The Aim Of The Church 

    For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. Colossians 1:16
Biblical Authority
  • The Bible Is God-Breathed 
  • The Bible Is Authoritative 
  • The Bible Is Sufficient 

    All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Gospel Sufficiency
  • Jesus Is The God-Man 
  • Jesus Is Righteous 
  • Jesus Alone Is Redeemer 

    For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
The Church
  • The Church Is A Redeemed Community Of Jesus Followers On Mission Together
  • The Church Is A Gifted People
  • The Church Is A Diverse Family 

    So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. Ephesians 2:19-22

PRACTICES

Practices direct us. They summarize the vision of the church and lead us to act faithfully and wisely. They guide us into action.

Abide In Christ

Christianity is not a religion but a relationship. Before anything else, Jesus invites us into a dynamic, love relationship with himself. We are to rest in the completed work of Christ and pursue him daily through spending regular time with Him. 

  • We are in Christ (Position). 
  • We are set apart to be like Christ (Pursue). 
  • We abide personally. 
  • We abide together as the church.
Gather For Worship

Because we exist for Him, Jesus followers gather with others for worship. We gather on Sundays to celebrate the greatness and grace of God in Jesus Christ, to experience His unique presence in our midst, and to demonstrate that we belong to something bigger than ourselves: the Body of Christ. 

  • Together we worship.
  • Together we give.
  • Together we sacrifice.
  • Together we respond, remember, and rejoice.
Equip The Saints

Through gifted pastors and teachers, Tri-Cities provides training and resources that equip disciples to become disciple makers in their homes and in every walk of life. 

  • Together we equip disciples for disciple making.
  • Together we disciple the next generation.
  • Together we serve one another.
  • Together we are being built up in Christ.
Go Make Disciples

We equip and mobilize the church to go make disciples as we make known the love of God and share the gospel. When we live on mission, we will Send Disciples, Serve the Vulnerable, Train Leaders, Reach the Unreached, and Plant Churches

  • Together we are disciples on mission.
  • Together we go to our neighbors.
  • Together we go to the nations.
  • Together we give to go.

PROMISES

A Membership Promise is given by both the church to its members and its members to the church, conveying the commitment to pursue defined expectations. The promise is not dependent on the faithfulness of the other party. Instead, each pursues the fulfillment of his or her promise out of obedience and faithfulness to the instructions of our Heavenly Father.

God’s Glory

We Promise 
to do all as a church to the glory of God. (Psalm 115, Isaiah 43:7, Romans 9:17) 

I Promise 
to do all as a Jesus follower to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:17; Jeremiah 9:23-24)

Biblical Authority

We Promise 
to affirm, teach, and adhere to the absolute authority of the Bible in all matters. (Acts 2:42; 2 Timothy 3:16) 

I Promise 
to affirm and submit to the absolute authority of the Bible in all matters. (Acts 2:42; 2 Timothy 3:16) 

to affirm the doctrinal statement of Tri-Cities Baptist Church. (Romans 16:17; 1 Peter 3:15) 

Gospel Sufficiency: Abide

We Promise 
to make much of Jesus, keeping Him as head of our church and calling people to abide in Him. (John 15:1-17; Ephesians 1:22, 5:23-24; Colossians 1:18) 

I Promise 
to abide in my Savior Jesus by resting in His saving and sanctifying work through faith and pursuing Him through regular Bible study, prayer, and the consistent practice of spiritual disciplines.(Psalm 105:1-2; Psalm 119:97; John 15:1-17; Acts 2:42-47; Hebrews 10:23-25; 2 Peter 1:3) 

to pursue holiness by the grace of God, living a life of obedience to Scripture as an ambassador of Christ and representative of His church. (Ephesians 4:1-3, 6:10-20)

The Church

We Promise 
to lead you with leaders who meet the Biblical criteria according to their role. (1 Timothy 3:1-13, 5:17-22; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4)  

to exhort, admonish, and discipline you when necessary according to Scripture. (Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 5; Galatians 6:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:14) 

I Promise 
to pray for and submit to my church’s leadership. (1 Thessalonians 5:25; Hebrews 13:17) 

to love and promote unity and mutual edification. (Romans 13:13-14; Ephesians 4:1-3, 12-13)

The Church: Gather For Worship

We Promise 
to gather to worship with you. (Matthew 4:10, 22:36-37; Hebrews 10:25) 

to lead you in the two ordinances (Baptism and Lord’s Supper) according to the criteria set in Scripture. (Matthew 26:26-29; 28:19-20; Mark 1:9; Acts 2:41-42; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34; Colossians 2:12) 

I Promise 
to gather with my church family to worship. (Matthew 4:10, 22:36-37; Hebrews 10:25) 

to sacrificially and cheerfully steward the resources God has given me through regular financial giving. (Malachi 3:7-10; Acts 2:45; 1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 8-9; Acts 20:33-35) 

The Church: Equip The Saints

We Promise 
to pursue fellowship, equipping you to connect in community. (Matthew 22:39; Acts 2:42-44, 4:32; Romans 13:8-10; 1 Thessalonians 5:14) 

to pursue mutual edification, equipping you to serve one another. (Romans 12:3-5, 14:19; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:11-13) 

to pray for you. (Colossians 1:3; 2 Thessalonians 1:11; James 5:14-16) 

to love you. (Matthew 22:39; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; Hebrews 10:24; 1 John 4:7,11)

to value and prioritize the family as the first place of faithful ministry for every Jesus follower. (1 Timothy 3:4-5, Deuteronomy 6:4-7, Ephesians 5:22-33).

to resource, encourage, and partner with families for gospel advancement and spiritual growth. (Ephesians 4:12, Deuteronomy 6:4-7, Psalm 145:4-7)

I Promise 
to live in Christian fellowship, connecting in community with my church family. (Matthew 22:39; Acts 2:42-44; 4:32; Romans 13:8-10; 1 Thessalonians 5:14) 

to discover, develop, and use my gifts, talents, and experiences to serve one another. (Romans 12:3-5, 14:19; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:11-13) 

to value my family as the first place of faithful ministry. (Joshua 24:15, 1 Timothy 5:8, Psalm 71:17-18, Ephesians 5:22-33)

to be committed to the discipleship of my family in partnership with the family of faith. (Psalm 78:4-8, Ephesians 4:12, 6:4, Proverbs 1:7-9)

The Church: Go Make Disciples

We Promise 
to pursue the Great Commission, equipping you to go make disciples. (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:44-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8) 

I Promise 
to go make disciples, sharing the love and message of Jesus. (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:44-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8) 


discover
tri-cities

If you’re considering making TCBC your church home, Discover Tri-Cities (DTC) is for you. 

DTC is offered in two formats. A 3-session format meets every Wednesday night at 6:30. Every other month DTC is also offered in a comprehensive format on Sunday afternoons from 4:00-6:15. All sessions meet in room 100 downstairs by the elevator.

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