Shepherd's Gate United Methodist Church

We Believe In:

THE PRIMACY OF GRACE

Grace, simply defined, is God's gift-giving nature – the powerful, undeserved, loving activity of God in human existence.

THE CENTRALITY OF JESUS

God's initiative of love is uniquely and ultimately expressed in Jesus Christ. Jesus is literally “grace personified”.

THE NECESSITY OF CONVERSION

If Jesus is God's ultimate gift of grace, then conversion is consciously saying “yes” to the Gift and “thanks” to the Giver.

THE GOAL OF MATURITY

The goal of the Christian life is to look to Jesus for guidance and look like Jesus in lifestyle.

THE PRIORITY OF MINISTRY

Ministry is meeting the needs of people with the power of Christ.

THE GUIDANCE OF SCRIPTURE

United Methodist Christians hold the Bible as God's inspired and essential witness to God's redeeming work toward God's creation.

THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH

The Bible describes the church as “the body of Christ;” that is, the visible and communal expression of Jesus in the world.

CONCERN FOR SOCIETY

Jesus is God's indispensable gift not only to individuals, but to all levels and expressions of human community. Marriages, families, neighborhoods, corporations, cities, states, governments and nations, and the whole earth need Jesus as much as any individual does.

TOLERANCE FOR DIVERSITY

The God of scripture is far larger than any one person or personal viewpoint. As long as our different beliefs are rooted in the essentials of the Christian faith and are consistent with the Scriptures, then these differences will enhance our understanding of God and challenge us to grow in Christ.