Testimony of Faith I, Michael Aubrecht believe: ...that the Christian faith represents a united congregation of baptized believers, who are called by God to further the cause of Jesus Christ, to the edification of the believers practicing New Testament principles, believing its doctrines, observing its ordinances and exercising its autonomy: The Word: ...that the Holy Bible was written by men through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. Cumulatively, these 66 books, as originally written, literally form the very Word of God. I believe it to be God's preserved Word. (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:19-21) The Trinity: ...that one God manifested in three persons, who coexist equally -- God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ, the only begotten of the Father), and God the Holy Ghost. (II Corinthians 13:14; Luke 3:22; Genesis 1:26) The Deity of Christ: ...that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh, manifested to receive our sins in His own body on the cross of Calvary; that through His sinless blood and by His death and resurrection He paid the only acceptable price for the sins of all mankind. (John 1:32-34; I Corinthians 8:6; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 2:12-15) Our Salvation: ...that the total work of salvation has been completed by our Lord Jesus Christ. It must be received as a free gift. The sinner must repent of his sins, and must trust, by faith, in the shed blood of Jesus Christ for the remission of those sins. (John 3:16; Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:9-10) ...that my church (Spotsylvania Presbyterian Church) is a community dedicated to building disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. As a reformed community in covenant with God and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we seek to: Celebrate the sovereignty of God by presenting the gospel with joy, reverence and thankfulness through Christ-centered worship. Share the grace of God with our community and beyond, while being willing to take risks to meet people where they are. Focus on God's presence in our midst as a covenant community, promoting personal concern and accountability for one another and the enjoyment of being part of the family of God. Exercise a faithful stewardship of ourselves, our time and our resources by simplifying our needs in order to maintain our focus on God and returning our gifts to God. Encourage each person to grow in God's Word through personal and corporate study of the Bible. ...that the Bible is the absolute Word of God and that the study of scripture is essential to living our lives according to His will. My group's Mission Statement: The Stonewall Brigade: A Men's Study for Prayer Warriors: Throughout the course of history, the Bible has ended wars between empires and aided in the liberation of nations. Therefore, it is of no surprise that many of the world's greatest generals relied heavily on its passages for both wisdom and truth. One of these was a devout and fervent student of the Word named Thomas Jackson. It was through this "daily bread" that Jackson fed from that ultimately gave him the courage and strength to become the legendary man we refer to today as "Stonewall." If the study of scripture can give one man the "spiritual armor" required to stand unflinching on a battlefield, imagine what it can do for you! Our topics usually include a deeper look into the day's Covenant Connections and we are hoping to conduct a yearlong study of the Gospels and The Book of Acts. Men of all ages and experiences are welcome. Simply bring your Bible and a thirst for knowledge. Sunday nights from 6:30pm-? (SPC library) ...in the principles below (articulated by John Calvin) that remain at the core of Presbyterian beliefs and The Westminster Confession of Faith that refers to God's grace and "the only efficient agent in the application of redemption". The absolute sovereignty of God, the authority of the scripture, justification by grace through faith and the priesthood of all believers. God is the one and only supreme authority throughout the universe. Our knowledge of God and His purpose for us comes from the Bible, particularly what is revealed in the New Testament through the life of Jesus Christ. Our salvation (justification) through Jesus is God's generous gift to us and not the result of our own accomplishments. It is everyone's job - ministers and lay people alike - to share this Good News with the whole world. ...that we must grow in our faith, live as the disciple the Lord intends us to be, and use our time and talents for His glory. This is accomplished by: Worshiping God with other believers (Bible-based church) Studying God's word with other believers. (Bible-study) Serving God's Kingdom with other believers by using our gifts. Sharing God's love with other believers through fellowship activities.