Expository Teaching

We practice continuous expository preaching, where the meaning of the text is the meaning of the sermon and we preach through whole books of the Bible one passage at a time.  We believe that the Scriptures must be carefully examined, powerfully proclaimed, and actively applied in our lives.  Our commitment is that the message you hear will always be anchored in the truth of God’s Word rather than our own thoughts and opinions.  We believe that the preaching ministry is indispensable to the church’s growth in knowledge, holiness, love, and devotion.  It cannot and should not be replaced or diminished.

Reformed Theology

We believe that the faith once for all delivered to the saints by our Lord Jesus Christ and written down by His Apostles is that faith that has come to be called “Reformed” in recent years.  We believe that the substance of the Reformed faith is the faith that was held by the Apostles, the Church Fathers, and a majority of the believing church from the Middle Ages and to the current day.  Standing in the Reformed tradition, we believe that:

• God is sovereign over both salvation and all things that come to pass.

• Jesus Christ is the only source and hope of salvation for all mankind.

• The Holy Spirit grants a new heart and a new life to all who trust in Jesus Christ.

• The Bible is inerrant in all that it claims and sufficient for all matters of faith and godliness.

• Humanity’s chief and highest end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.

• The Church displays God’s love to the whole world by doing good while calling all people everywhere to repent and believe the gospel.
  

Elder Lead

A New Testament church is an autonomous, local congregation of baptized believers.  The church has a body of elders (or pastors) who teach and shepherd the flock. In accordance with Hebrews 13:17, they keep watch over the congregation as men who must give an account to God. According to the same text, the congregation is to obey them and submit to their authority so that their work will be a joy and not a burden. The elders must meet the qualifications set forth in I Timothy 3:1-7, and they exercise authority over the church only to the degree that they teach and lead according to the Scriptures. All authority is derived from Christ who alone is head of the Church.  The elders are passionate about and devoted to being on guard for all the flock, among whom the Holy Spirit has made them overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:28).  Church government is congregational in context, and in certain circumstances the affirmation of the congregation is required (Matthew 18:15-17; Acts 6:2-5; I Corinthians 5:4-5; II Corinthians 2:6).

Deacon Served

According to the teachings of Jesus, the life of every Christian is to be marked by service (Mark 9:35). However, the New Testament also speaks of the specific office of deacon. The word ‘deacon’ means ‘helper’ or ‘servant’. Before a person can be appointed as deacon, he or she must be tested for the qualifications found in I Timothy 3:8-13. The tasks of a deacon are primarily that of meeting the physical and material needs of individual believers and the congregation as a whole. If the deacon serves faithfully, he or she “obtains for himself a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus” (I Timothy 3:13).

Covenant Membership

The Church is not a social club.  Upon joining a church individual Christians take on certain obligations toward one another and the church as a whole, while the church and its elders also take certain obligations towards its members.  We have described those obligations that we accept upon joining Pathway Church in our Membership Covenant.