OUR VISION
SCRIPTURE ALONE
Scripture is the sole source of divine revelation. It is the inspired, infallible, final, and authoritative norm of faith and practice.
FAITH ALONE
God declares a person righteous
before Him solely on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ.
GRACE ALONE
It is through grace alone, and not any work, that God will pardon a person's sins.
CHRIST ALONE
Christ is the head of the church. People do not need any mediator aside from Christ, because He alone is the object of our faith.
GOD'S GLORY ALONE
Christians are called to do all for the glory of God alone. From doctrine to worship, everything exists for the God's glory alone.
DOCTRINE. VALUES. CULTURE.
​
Specifically, in that order. The vision of Fireside is to plant a church that has a culture which is deeply rooted in the Word of God and brings together people from all cultures under Jesus Christ. This vision seeks to shepherd the church to develop biblical values and lifestyles.
​
And while values are important, even more important are the doctrines of a church. Values and culture follow doctrine. What a church believes; they value. What a church values then determines the culture of a church.
At Fireside, we are seeking to build a church culture based on explicitly biblical doctrine so that the culture and values of Fireside are authentically Christian. The following doctrines help to cultivate the values and culture of Fireside Baptist Church:
​
​
Fireside's Distinctive Doctrines
ELDER LED
Fireside is lead by a plurality and parity of biblically qualified elders. In other words, this means we have more than one pastor and all the pastors share equal status. They all preach, teach, and are responsible for shepherding the flock. This is the biblical model for church leadership in the New Testament. This facilitates accountability, emplaces checks and balances of authority, and establishes an atmosphere where the church cultivates and produces leaders from within the church.
Acts 11:30; James 5:14, 15; Acts 15; Acts 14:23; Acts 20:17; 1 Tim 3:1-7, 5:17-25; 2 Tim 2:24-26; Phil 1:1; Titus 1:5; Titus 2:2; 1 Pet 1:1, 5:1; Heb 13:17
​
DEACON SERVED
The Bible teaches that a vital component to a healthy church is the office of deacon. Deacons function under the leadership of the elders as servants of the church. Deacons do not serve as leaders or directors, nor do they govern or guide the affairs of the church. Biblically, deacons are assistants to the elders and help meet the physical needs of the church in order to facilitate the elders meeting the spiritual needs of the church.
Acts 6:1-6; 1 Tim 3:8-13; Titus 2:2; Acts 19:22; Col 4:7; 2 Tim 1:16-18; Philemon 13
​
CONGREGATIONALLY GOVERNED
The members of the congregation are the highest authority in the local church. It is the membership of the church that appoints and dismisses elders and deacons, receives and dismisses members, and holds the elders accountable to teach the Word of God in a faithful manner. This means that the members of the church are bestowed a great amount of responsibility, and it means that membership should be entered into in a sober and solemn manner.
Matt 18:15-17; Acts 13:1-3; 14:23; 1 Cor 5:12-13; 2 Cor 2:6-8; Acts 6:1-6; 13:1-3; 15:4, 12, 22.
​
MEANINGFUL MEMBERSHIP
The local church is comprised of those who are united around shared convictions of belief and practice that are publicly declared through a statement of faith. This allows the church and the watching world to understand what exactly the church believes, teaches, and practices. These shared convictions cultivate an atmosphere of unity and solidarity. They also serve to protect the doctrinal and moral integrity of the church.
Matt 16:15-19; Acts 2:47; 14:27; 16:5; 5:14; 1 Cor 5:12-13; 2 Cor 2:6-8; Eph 4:1-3; ​1 Pet 3:10; 1 Cor 12:12-27; Eph 2:19
​
CHRIST CENTERED
It is exclusively through our union with Christ through faith that we may know God. Our theology, ministry, philosophy, biblical interpretation, preaching, counseling, and outreach efforts are centered on the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Lk 24:27,44; Jn 1:1-18; 5:39, 46; Gal 4:4-7; Heb 1:1-4; 2 Cor 5:14-15
THE ORDINANCES
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the two ordinances given by Jesus Christ to the local church, and members of a local church that are of similar faith and practice are allowed to partake.
​
Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is obligatory upon every believer, and it is a volitional act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to the believer's faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord’s Supper.
​
The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming.
Matthew 3:13-17; 26:26-30; 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11; 14:22-26; Luke 3:21-22; 22:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:35-39; 16:30-33; 20:7; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 10:16,21; 11:23-29; Colossians 2:12.
​
​
Fireside's Core Values
​
BIBLICAL COMMUNITY
Life is meant to be lived together in a community where people know and are accountable to each other. We are committed to praying specifically for one another, speaking the truth in love to one another, and encouraging one another in the faith.
Acts 2:44; Eph 4:15-16; Heb 10:25; Jas 5:16
PURPOSEFUL DISCIPLESHIP
Saving faith is only the beginning of our relationship with Christ and His church. Jesus calls His disciples to grow in faith, maturity, a knowledge of the Scriptures, and obedience to the Word. This not only means adults, but it also means the children that Fireside has been blessed with by God.
Deut 6:1-10; Neh 8:1-8; Lk 10:27; Matt 22:37
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
Christianity is the faith of enlightenment and intelligence. In Jesus Christ abide all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Therefore, all sound learning is a part of the Christian heritage. Regeneration of hearts opens all human faculties and creates a thirst for knowledge. Moreover, the cause of education in the Kingdom of Christ is co-ordinate with the causes of missions and general benevolence and should receive along with these the generous support of the churches. An adequate system of Christian education is necessary to a complete spiritual program for Christ’s people.
Deuteronomy 4:1,5,9,14; 6:1-10; 31:12-13; Nehemiah 8:1-8; Job 28:28; Psalms 19:7ff.; 119:11; Proverbs 3:13ff.; 4:1-10; 8:1-7,11; 15:14; Ecclesiastes 7:19; Matthew 5:2; 7:24ff.; 28:19-20; Luke 2:40; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Ephesians 4:11-16; Philippians 4:8; Colossians 2:3,8-9; 1 Timothy 1:3-7; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:14-17; Hebrews 5:12-6:3; James 1:5; 3:17
​
ACCOUNTABILITY
It is not just that we are to confess Jesus with our lips, but we are to follow Him with our life. We are committed to helping people live lives that are holy, transparent, honest, and humble before the Lord. The church helps each other walk faithfully and consistently before God and the world.
James 5:16; 1 Jn 1:19; Prov 28:13; 32:5
​
EVANGELISM
Every human being has sinned, and therefore is under the judgement of God. However, the gospel has the power to save anyone who turns from their sin and believes in Jesus Christ. Therefore, we will clearly and consistently share the gospel with all who will listen.
Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:5-6; Isaiah 6:1-8; Matthew 9:37-38; 10:5-15; 13:18-30, 37-43; 16:19; 22:9-10; 24:14; 28:18-20; Luke 10:1-18; 24:46-53; John 14:11-12; 15:7-8,16; 17:15; 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2; 8:26-40; 10:42-48; 13:2-3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 3:1-11; 1 Thessalonians 1:8; 2 Timothy 4:5; Hebrews 2:1-3; 11:39-12:2; 1 Peter 2:4-10; Revelation 22:17.
​
THE FAMILY
The preeminent institution of any society is the family, and it is composed of persons related by marriage, blood, or adoption. Marriage is the uniting of one man and woman in covenant commitment for life. The husband and wife are of equal value before God since both are created in God's image. Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord. Parents are to demonstrate to their children God’s pattern for marriage, teach their children spiritual and moral values, lead them through consistent lifestyle example and loving discipline, and to make choices based on biblical truth. Children are to honor and obey their parents.
Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-25; 3:1-20; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Joshua 24:15; 1 Samuel 1:26-28; Psalms 51:5; 78:1-8; 127; 128; 139:13-16; Proverbs 1:8; 5:15-20; 6:20-22; 12:4; 13:24; 14:1; 17:6; 18:22; 22:6,15; 23:13-14; 24:3; 29:15,17; 31:10-31; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 9:9; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31-32; 18:2-5; 19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16; Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21; 1 Timothy 5:8,14; 2 Timothy 1:3-5; Titus 2:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7.
For a more detailed description of Fireside's faith and practice, the links below will provide specificinformation regarding church doctrine, polity, and covenant.
​
​
KNOW. GROW. GO.
FOR THE GLORY OF GOD AND THE JOY OF HIS PEOPLE.