Apostles Creed: Article 3 & Foursquare Beliefs

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Feb 28th - Women’s Bible Study

March 9th - Sabina Movie at 6:15pm

April 2 - Iron Sharpens Iron Men’s Conf. is in Champaign (10 for group rate)

*CHURCH UPDATES: Digital and paper connect Card

Membership Class!

DECLARATION:

Ephesians 2:20–22 (ESV)

20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

SVCC is built by God, upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone.

We are joined together by union with Christ, we are growing, and we are a dwelling place of God by his Spirit.

Prayer for… Canada, Russia, Ukraine

INTRODUCTION:

Review:

WHY?…

TODAY: I believe in the Holy Spirit…dedicated to empowered service that is “interdenominational and worldwide evangelism”?

I Believe in the Holy Spirit (3rd article and Foursquare’s beliefs)

Opening Scripture:

Acts 1:8 NLT

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Hebrews 13:8 NLT

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

The Holy Spirit & The Church

This article contains four important points (Source: Barth, 121-122):

1. Faith in the Holy Spirit

God is the Master, he gives salvation to men whom he bids enter his service.

2. Faith in the Church

God creates a place, a means for assuring man’s salvation and the service he is called into.

Those who believe in the confession are seen as part of the Church!

“catholic” means universal and is why “The Catholic Church” (i.e., Roman Catholic Church) based in Rome used it as part of their name.

Foursquare embraces this same universal Church by adopting the cornerstone of Angelus Temple: ”Dedicated unto the cause of interdenominational and worldwide evangelism.”

EX: “non traditional” models of church

3. Forgiveness of sins

This is the gift of salvation under its present aspect.

4. Resurrection of the flesh and everlasting life

This is the gift of salvation under its future and everlasting aspect.

The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel

”Dedicated unto the cause of interdenominational and worldwide evangelism.”

1. Foursquare Beliefs

Term “Foursquare Gospel” was used by our founder, Aimee Semple McPherson when preaching from Ez. 1:4-10.

Jesus Christ, the Savior (Luke 4:18)

Pentecostal Theology in general adds another that goes here: Sanctification

Jesus Christ, the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2)

Jesus Christ, the Healer (Mark 16:17-18)

Jesus Christ, The Soon-coming King (Acts 1:10-11)

2. Foursquare Distinctives

(6 Global Distinctives)

Kingdom Partnerships: We are a distinct movement but hold a cooperative posture as partners in God’s mission with other churches and organizations in our cities and around the world. We look for evidence the candidate embodies this posture for partnership and collaboration.

Sound Doctrine: Our declaration of faith is a biblical statement that affirms the priority of God’s Word as our ultimate spiritual authority. We look for evidence of a personal conviction toward that priority in our candidate.

Empowering Leadership: We want to recognize God’s gift and call, in men and women of all generations and cultures, in all spheres of leadership and ministry, and intentionally partner with God to prepare and release them. We look for evidence that the candidate delights in empowering people.

Family Relationships: We believe that relationships are at the heart of God’s Kingdom, and we want ministers who relate to each other and our global family in love and grace, with cooperation and mutual submission. We look for evidence of a humble posture of love and grace toward people.

Spirit Empowerment: We are a Spirit-filled movement who consistently ministers the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and teaches and encourages believers to walk in the gifts of the Holy Spirit in everyday life. We look for evidence that our candidates are submitted and committed to a Holy Spirit empowered life and ministry.

Shared Mission: We hold to God’s passion for the lost and seek to be a movement of evangelism, mercy ministries, contextualized church planting and the mobilization of indigenous believers among all peoples. We look for an evidence of passion for the lost in our candidates and an understanding of their place in joining God on mission in our world.

3. Foursquare Keystones

Indigenous Empowerment: We look for and prepare leaders to lead in their own context: ethnically, culturally, geographically, and locally. We want to know our candidates understand and prioritize the raising up of leaders from within the context, leading with both the eyes and heart to notice and develop them.

Women in Senior Leadership: We hold the value and belief that women should be celebrated and equipped for every area of ministry leadership. We look for both verbal affirmation of this belief and evidence in both practice and attitude. How does the candidate publicly and privately champion and submit to women in leadership authority?

Integrated Mission: We want leaders who embrace the whole gospel: sharing the Good News in both word and deed. This means embracing both evangelism and social action/care as an integrated approach to ministry. We look for leaders who both proclaim God’s kingdom and know how to demonstrate it.

Moderation: We want to find ourselves operating in a balanced approach to worship and ministry, not falling into extremes in either direction, but walking in the middle of the road where both the Word and the Spirit are valued and prioritized. This has been described as, “In the essentials unity, in the non- essentials liberty, and in all things charity.”

Pentecostal Ethos: We want leaders who embrace the work and power of the Holy Spirit in and through our lives today. We look for evidence of a prioritization of the Holy Spirit’s presence and power in both word and action among our leaders.

4. Foursquare Missiology

Stage 1--Initiate--to make responsible, reproducing disciples...and begin a local fellowship of believers.

Stage 2--Nurture--to make responsible, reproducing leaders...of godly character...who mentor...and become leaders of leaders.

Stage 3--Expand--to make responsible, reproducing congregations who multiply culturally appropriate churches that together become a regional or national church movement.

Stage 4--Send--to make responsible, reproducing missionary-sending national churches who make disciples of the nations.

Story: Sister Aimee was from a rural area of Canada who became a missionary to China before 20 years old, where her first husband died. After traveling the USA in her “gospel car” she finally landed in L.A. and built Angelus Temple. *She was the first woman to operate a major Radio Station. *She fed 1.5 million people during the great depression. *Today there is over 8.8 million members is 67’500 meeting places across 150 nations.

Aimee did not hold to a specific “model” of church but embraced every resource to preach the Gospel!

CONCLUSION:

The confession bids us to allow the Holy Spirit to empower us for service.

The Foursquare Church is dedicated unto this cause.

Are you dedicated to empowered service that is “interdenominational and worldwide evangelism”?

...or are you dedicated to a specific “model” of church?