We agree with the Apostle Paul when he says, “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Phil. 3:7). In fact, this is the reason the gospel is such good news. The Holy Spirit removes the veil so that, “with unveiled face, (we can behold) the glory of the Lord” (2 Cor. 3:18). We can find our soul’s greatest treasure in Christ.

When the Spirit lifts the veil so that we can see the treasure of knowing Jesus, all the other affections of our heart are reordered, diminished, and in some cases, completely driven out. Paul says as much: “I count everything as loss” compared to knowing Christ. Indeed, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field” (Matt. 13:44).

The true north of our church is to see and savor Jesus’ glory as our greatest treasure.

Jesus invites us to learn this directly from Him. In Matthew 11, Jesus said to a crowd wearied by oppressive religiosity, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (11:29). We learn from Jesus by being yoked closely to His side every day. This is a lifelong process that requires our commitment and dedication, one that will not be completed in this life (Phil. 1:6).

Not only do we learn this directly from Jesus, but we do it together. The distinguishing mark of those yoked to Jesus in discipleship is their love for each other (John 13:35). The rest of the New Testament includes over 50 “one another” commands, highlighting the corporate nature of our discipleship. After the first Spirit-filled sermon in Acts 2, we are told not of the transformative effect on the individuals who repented, but of the community the gospel creates.

Treasuring Jesus Christ is a communal endeavor, and We are committed to learning it together.

The more we treasure Jesus, the more we will naturally proclaim the good news. The highest form of enjoyment is praise, when our experience of something is so overwhelmingly good that we cannot keep from sharing it. Therefore, our joy in Christ cannot reach its maximum degree until He is shared.

This sharing looks like explaining the gospel, or caring  for the vulnerable in Jesus’ name, working diligently in our vocations to serve our neighbors for God’s glory, or going to the ends of the earth with the good news.

We are committed to treasuring Jesus Christ so that all the nations can discover the joy we have found in Him.

We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Having limitless knowledge and sovereign power, God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things new for His own glory.

We believe that God has spoken in the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, through the words of human authors. As the verbally inspired Word of God, the Bible is without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged. Therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises.

We believe that God created Adam and Eve in His image, but they sinned when tempted by Satan. In union with Adam, human beings are sinners by nature and by choice, alienated from God, and under His wrath. Only through God’s saving work in Jesus Christ can we be rescued, reconciled and renewed.

We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, one Person in two natures. Jesus — Israel’s promised Messiah — was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate.

We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, shed His blood on the cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for salvation.

We believe that the Holy Spirit, in all that He does, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ. He convicts the world of its guilt. He regenerates sinners, and in Him they are baptized into union with Christ and adopted as heirs in the family of God. He also indwells, illuminates, guides, equips and empowers believers for Christlike living and service.

We believe that the true church comprises all who have been justified by God’s grace through faith alone in Christ alone. They are united by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. The true church is manifest in local churches, whose membership should be composed only of believers. The Lord Jesus mandated two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which visibly and tangibly express the gospel. Though they are not the means of salvation, when celebrated by the church in genuine faith, these ordinances confirm and nourish the believer.

We believe that God's justifying grace must not be separated from His sanctifying power and purpose. God commands us to love Him supremely and others sacrificially, and to live out our faith with care for one another, compassion toward the poor and justice for the oppressed. With God’s Word, the Spirit’s power, and fervent prayer in Christ’s name, we are to combat the spiritual forces of evil. In obedience to Christ’s commission, we are to make disciples among all people, always bearing witness to the gospel in word and deed.

We believe in the personal, bodily and glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission.

We believe that God commands everyone everywhere to believe the gospel by turning to Him in repentance and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that God will raise the dead bodily and judge the world, assigning the unbeliever to condemnation and eternal conscious punishment and the believer to eternal blessedness and joy with the Lord in the new heaven and the new earth, to the praise of His glorious grace. Amen.

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching…” (Acts 2:42)

The first generation of Christians recognized and submitted to the authority of the Apostles, specifically their teaching. This content has been captured and preserved in the Bible, which we believe is the inerrant authority by which our lives must be lived.

Our devotion to God’s Word takes several forms. We preach expository sermons, which simply means we walk through parts of the Bible in order. We look to the Bible to give us language for our worship service, including our songs. Our children spend time in the Word during Creekside Kids programming. And we offer Bible studies for men and women throughout the week.

“And they devoted themselves to…the fellowship…” (Acts 2:42)

This is another way of saying that the members of this first local church were devoted to one another. In fact, the New Testament contains 57 commands with “one another” or “each other” as the object. Jesus’ most basic command to His followers was that they would “love one another just as I have loved you” (John 13:34). Fellowship is the active experience of loving each other.

Later in the passage, we are told that this fellowship took place in various types of gatherings, some at the temple and others over meals in their homes (Acts 2:46). The varying type, degree, and size of gatherings is like a balanced diet in which we can joyfully fulfill the “one another” commands. In fact, Creekside is so committed to these commands that we named our small group ministry “One Another Groups” (or OAGs). Our membership covenant is guided by these one another commands. As we practice these habits together, we do so with a desire to love each other with an enduring affection that itself preaches the gospel.

“And they devoted themselves to…the breaking of bread” (Acts 2:42)

“The Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me” (1 Cor. 11:23-25).

The first generation of Christians regularly gathered around this meal. The purpose was to remember what Jesus had done for them, how they ought to live together as a result, and to long for Jesus’ return when we all will eat with Him. This devotion reminds us not only that our identity as a church is solely based on the finished work of Christ, but that each of us approaches the table on equal footing, completely in need of what this Table represents.

“And they devoted themselves to…the prayers.” (Acts 2:42)

The early church was constantly praying. In fact, the book of Acts includes 30 allusions to prayer, most of which were communal. Christ has purchased us access to the Father so that we can “find mercy and grace to help in times of need” (Heb 4:14-16). Prayer is one of the primary ways we experience fellowship with God this side of the New Creation, and the early church availed herself of that gift often.

One Another Groups are an excellent venue for this particular devotion. The intimacy and relationships found in an OAG makes it the prime location to pray with and for our brothers and sisters in Christ. We have other moments of prayer in our services and at our various programs.

“And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.” (Acts 2:45)

How could the early church not be generous when their salvation was such a radical act of generosity (Rom. 8:28, 2 Cor. 8:9)? The church cared so well for each other that they were willing to sell their own possessions if necessary. After all, our Savior modeled what He taught, that “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

We encourage every Creekside member to be a firstfruits giver - to give a predetermined percentage of the first of our income to the church. Collectively, we enjoy opportunities to be generous with missionaries and partnerships, and we love our annual Generosity Sunday each November, a day we give away our whole offering.

“...they received their food with glad and generous hearts…” (Acts 2:46)

Gratitude is an essential element to the Christian life. The rhythm of searching for and acknowledging instances of God’s loving care builds trust. David encourages himself to “forget not all His benefits” (Ps. 103:2). Paul directs us to include thanksgiving when we present our requests to God (Phil. 4:6). These provide a foundation of God’s faithfulness on which to rest our concerns.

At regular times of celebration throughout the year, we pause to thank God specifically for what He has done and continues to do at Creekside. We thank God at our milestone moments (baby dedications, baptisms, weddings, graduations), and every time we come to the Table.

“While they were worshiping…the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Paul…’ Then…they laid their hands on them and sent them off.” (Acts 12:2-3)

Sure, this moment happens quite a bit later in Acts, but here we see a vital component of a gospel community. As a local church worships together, it should naturally become a sending church. Why? Because we can’t stand to keep the good news to ourselves. The Spirit in us won’t allow it. The more we treasure Jesus amidst a gospel community, the more we will send.

This seeding can look a number of different ways. Our internship and pastoral residency programs are designed to send people off to seminary and eventually into ministry within a local church. We support and send missionaries through short- and long-term missions. But the most common experience is the weekly sending of the church back to their vocations and callings. Whether in paid or unpaid vocations, our congregation is sent every week to work unto the glory of God and for flourishing of our neighbors.