JPC Core Values

What we believe… 

God is the creator of all things both seen and unseen. God is completely good, all knowing, all present, and all powerful. God exists as three distinct persons yet one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God desires to have a relation-ship with us. The way God provides for us to have this relationship is His son Jesus. 

Genesis 1:1, Acts 17:24 – 25. 

Jesus is God in human flesh. He is both fully God and fully man. He was born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, and offered Himself as a sacrifice so that we could be restored to God. He was crucified, dead and buried, resurrected, and ascended into heaven. Jesus promised that His Father would send us a Helper to guide us in our daily walk, and that Helper is The Holy Spirit. 

John 1:1 – 3, Luke 24:5 – 8, Romans 5:8 – 10. 

The Holy Spirit is God’s promised presence with us. The Holy Spirit sustains us and renews us. The Spirit gives us our gifts for service, power for living, and guidance for doing what is right. 

Acts 1:5, Galatians 5:22 – 25, John 16:7 – 14.

Grace is God’s gift freely poured out in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. God’s grace is at work in us through the Holy Spirit. God’s love for us is given without any regard for our goodness. Grace is unmerited, un-conditional, and unending and is received through faith in Him. 

Romans 3:21 – 26, Ephesians 2:4 – 10, John 1:14. 

Salvation is our restoration to God through grace. Through sin our relationship with God was broken. God sent Jesus to die for us to restore that relationship and to give us the gift of salvation. We are saved when we accept God’s grace, repent our sins, and call Jesus Lord of our lives. 

John 3:16, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8 – 10, Acts 2:21. 

The Bible is our standard and authority in all we say and do. We believe that God inspired human authors by the Holy Spirit and therefore we find it trustworthy. We are under the authority of the Scriptures as a guide for our life and faith. 

2 Timothy 3:15 – 17, Hebrews 4:12 – 13, Psalm 119:105. 

How we live out these beliefs… 

As followers of Jesus, we are called to be part of a Christian Community. We strive to create an environment where everyone feels welcomed, and where everyone can discover the love and grace of the Gospel. God creat-ed us to live together in loving relationships that honor Him and build each other up. 

John 17:14 – 19, I Corinthians 12:25 – 27 

Worship is our expression of gratitude to God. In worship we come into the presence of God to hear the Word proclaimed, celebrate the sacraments, sing praises, and lift our prayers to God. We believe that Worship is not limited to Sunday mornings, but is something that we should live out in our daily lives. 

Exodus 20:2 – 3, Psalm 9:1 – 2, Romans 12:1 – 2, I Thessalonians 5:16 – 18. 

Prayer draws us close to the heart of God. It is in prayer that we enjoy God’s presence and seek to understand His will. Prayer is a privilege and a responsibility of the believer. It is a privilege that the God who created the universe hears our prayers. It is a responsibility in that it is commanded in Scripture. As a community of faith and as followers of Jesus Christ, we are committed to living a life of active prayer. 

James 5:13 – 16, Romans 12:12, I Thessalonians 5:16 – 18.

Study is a vital part of our faith formation and growth as followers of Jesus Christ. Through the study of God’s Word, both individually and collectively, we grow as disciples. We need to know about the story of God, what it truly means to be known and loved by God, and how God calls us to act in our daily lives. 

Hebrews 4:12, John 1:1, Matthew 4:4 

Service is essential for followers of Jesus. We are called to serve others and seek opportunities to help those in need, with no task being too menial. The Bible instructs us to use whatever gifts we have received to serve oth-ers. 

I Peter 4:8 – 11, Mark 10:45 

Love is central to our identity as followers of Jesus. Love is active – we are called to love as Jesus loves us. Christ modeled sacrificial love giving everything even when he got nothing in return. Love is the foundation and the force behind everything we do. It compels us, motivates us, and empowers us to live out the gospel. 

John 3:6 – 17, I John 4:7 – 17, Colossians 3:12 – 14.