First United Methodist Church Coppell

FUMC Coppell is a growing community of a faith built around helping people connect to, grow in, and be sent out to live the life God created us to live.

What We Believe:

ABOUT GOD

God is the Creator and ruler of the universe. God exists eternally in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and is both holy and loving.

ABOUT JESUS CHRIST

Jesus Christ is the unique Son of God, showing humanity what the Father is like. He lived, taught, performed miracles, and ultimately died on the cross as the atonement for our sin. He rose from the dead, ascended to heaven and has sent his followers out to carry on his work.

ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is present in the world to draw people toward God and make them aware of their need for Jesus Christ. When we receive Jesus as the leader of our lives and the forgiver of our sins, the Holy Spirit comes to live within us. The Spirit then empowers us by grace to live the God-honoring life for which we were created.

ABOUT THE BIBLE

The Bible is God’s written word, inspired by the Holy Spirit. These words come to us through human authors, and therefore contain both the timeless truths of God, while also retaining the character and personality of the people who wrote them. They are the complete and sufficient rule for what we believe and how we are to live.

ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS

People are made in the image of God, and each person possesses great worth. We are deeply loved by God. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of self-centeredness which the Bible calls “sin.” This attitude and the actions that come from them separate us from a life-giving relationship with God, also damaging our relationships with others, as well as our own soul.

ABOUT BEING MADE RIGHT WITH GOD

Because we are made in God’s image, and so much loved by him, God longs to redeem all of us who have fallen away. So God has reached out to us by grace in the person of Jesus Christ, that all who trust in him to forgive their sin, and then begin to live as forgiven and transformed persons, are made right again with God. We call this justification, or salvation. It represents the beginning of a new life and adventure with God that starts here in this life, and continues in the life to come.

ABOUT THE KIND OF LIFE WE ARE CALLED TO LIVE

Once God has justified a person by his grace in Jesus Christ, a new life begins. This is called sanctification, or being set apart for God’s use. It is a life-long process of shaping our character, actions and beliefs to be more conformed to the image of Christ. In other words, we begin to live as if Jesus were in our place – seeing the world as he sees it and responding with grace and love just as he did, and would. There are no spectators in the ongoing mission of Jesus. We are all participants.

ABOUT BAPTISM

Baptism is a means and sign of God’s grace, initiating us into the church and identifying us as children of God. God initiates this relationship welcoming us as daughters and sons, beginning our life-long journey of faith. This welcome of grace is extended regardless of our age or our response. Because this is an act initiated by God’s grace, and not one initiated by us, it is an act that is not be repeated, as though God’s grace was somehow insufficient the first time. Those that are baptized as children have the opportunity to make the choice to confirm their belief in Christ, and continue as members of the church.

ABOUT HOLY COMMUNION

Communion is also a means and sign of God’s grace. It is an opportunity for us to renew our relationship with Jesus Christ. On His last night before His death, Jesus ate a special meal with His disciples. He charged his church with repeating this meal to remember His sacrifice and celebrate our new life through His death and resurrection. God offers this relationship to everyone, so all who have faith, or desire to have faith in Jesus are welcome to participate and receive communion.

PRAYERS, PRESENCE, GIFTS, SERVICE, WITNESS

All persons joining First United Methodist Church Coppell are asked to take a vow of membership, promising to uphold the church with their Prayers, Presence, Gifts, Service and Witness.

Prayers: Even Jesus needed to take time to pray. This is a promise to pray daily for the church, its leaders, members, ministries, mission and health. Prayer invites the activity of God, and God makes the impossible suddenly very possible.

Presence: This means members will do all they can to be in regular attendance in worship, and to participate in the community life of the church. It is like a team. When all the members show up, the chances of success in our mission are so much greater.

Gifts: Giving is big part of the life of a healthy follower of Jesus and church member. When we are invested in the mission of the church though faithful and generous giving, there is a greater sense of urgency that our mission be effective and successful. God is a giving, open-handed God, and we seek to be like him. This is our promise to do just that.

Service: Jesus said that he did not come into the world to be served, but to serve. Those who follow in the footsteps of Jesus are therefore also people who serve. In this community of faith, there are places to serve no matter what your gift or talent might be. But we all make a promise to be used by God in serving this community of faith, and the larger mission of God’s kingdom.

Witness: This promise is to represent the grace of Jesus that we have all been given, and extend that to a broken and hurting world. We can do this through service and acts of love, but we also do it through words. So each of us promises to give witness to our faith, as often as we can, in whatever way is most appropriate for the moment.