What we believe
The heart of it.
This is what we believe, and it starts with love. We hold these convictions with confidence and with humility, and you're welcome to explore them with us, questions and all.
Our statement of belief
What we believe
God Is Love
There is one God, who has always existed as a relationship of love: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Three persons, co-equal and one God. Everything God has made flows out of that love.
You Were Made Good
Every human being is made in the image of God. Before you were anything else, you were created, wanted, and called good. You were built to be loved, made for relationship with God and with others, and given a purpose bigger than yourself.
We Lost Our Way
Each of us has chosen to go our own way instead of God's. The Bible calls this sin. It breaks our relationship with God, hurts the people around us, and keeps us from the life we were made for. It isn't who we were created to be, and it isn't something we can fix on our own.
Jesus Changes Everything
Jesus of Nazareth is God with us, fully God and fully human. He was born of the Virgin Mary and lived the life we couldn't. He died on the cross for our sins, and three days later he rose from the grave, defeating sin and death. In Jesus we see who God really is: a God who comes close, who heals, and who loves people enough to give everything to bring them home.
Grace Brings Us Home
Salvation is a gift. It can't be earned and doesn't have to be. Anyone who turns toward Jesus and trusts him is forgiven, made new, and welcomed into God's family, by grace, through faith. God never stops pursuing people and desiring their good.
The Spirit Is With Us
The Holy Spirit is God present with us. He draws people to Jesus, lives in everyone who follows him, and gives us power, comfort, and gifts to become who we were created to be.
The Bible Shows Us the Way
The Bible is God's Word to us. It was written by human authors under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and it is true and trustworthy. Its story points to Jesus, and it is our final authority for what we believe and how we live.
The Church Is a Family
The Church is everyone who has chosen to follow Jesus together. We aren't meant to do this alone. As we follow him side by side, we are slowly transformed to live like Jesus would if he were in our shoes, and we're sent to share his love with our neighbors in word and in how we live.
Baptism and Communion
Jesus gave us two practices to remember who we are. Baptism is a public declaration that we follow Jesus and that he is making us new. Communion is how we keep remembering his death and resurrection, together, until he returns.
All Things Made New
The story isn't over. Jesus will return to set the world right and make all things new. Those who belong to him will live with God forever, in a renewed creation, the way it was always meant to be.
Scripture that inspires us
Scripture that shapes us.
These passages shape how we do ministry at The Reef.
Genesis 1:26-28 and 31
Why we start with good: every person bears God's image, and God called it very good.
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.” God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.
Matthew 22:37-40
What everything comes back to: loving God and loving people.
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
John 1:14
Why we show up in person: God moved into the neighborhood.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Galatians 3:28
Why we're one human family: we're all one in Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 2:7-8
Why Tables matter: we share the gospel and our lives.
Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.
2 Timothy 2:2
Why we raise up leaders: so the love of Jesus keeps multiplying.
And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.