About Us
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Our desire is to serve the Lord Jesus Christ through the teaching of the Scriptures, fellowship, the Lord's Supper, and prayer. (Acts 2:42)
The teaching of the Scriptures The Scriptures are of supreme importance to the life of the assembly and individual believer. It is first in the practices listed in Acts 2:42. Directly from the heart and mind of God is revealed all that man needs to be reconciled to God, to walk with Him, to serve Him, and to love Him. When the Word of God is taken seriously and rightly divided, it all directly or indirectly (through supplemental knowledge, e.g., genealogies, chronologies, etc., or types, shadows, allegories, etc.) contributes to the experiential blessing of the assembly and the believer. There is no Scripture which the Lord intends to simply be fodder for theological discussion for it all contributes to man's understanding of God, himself and the world around him. It shows him the way as he walks with the Lord and His people through this world. I.e., it is all very practical. The Lord Jesus Christ, the living Word, is the focus of the Scriptures, its central figure: He is the Son of God, the Creator, Israel's Messiah, the only Savior, the Head of the assembly, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, the coming King of Kings and Lord of Lords and more. (Hope Bible Chapel considered the subject of the Scriptures to be so important that we have included the text of the supporting passages that are listed below. There are many more that could be added.) "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17 "And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also." 2 Timothy 2:2 "You however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them; and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 3:14-15 (The "time" of which Paul writes in the following passage had already come in his day but unfortunately today many who name His name have only increased in their departure from the understanding of and obedience to the truth. Therefore, the need to know and "rightly divide" the Scriptures and cling in obedience to their light and to the One of Whom they speak has never been greater.) "I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth; and will turn aside to myths." 2 Tim 4:1-4 |
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Fellowship
The saints are to spend time with one another. This includes regular and special public gatherings that may include those who do not know the Lord. It also includes private (outside the public meetings) times with one another. Both are times to encourage, support, instruct, help and receive from one another. (John 13:34-35; Romans 15:5-7; Philippians 2:1-2; Hebrews 10: 24-25; James 2:1-9, All refs.) We welcome all born again believers in Jesus Christ of any nation (from Ireland to Senegal, Israel to India, Brazil to China, etc.) or family (e.g., Croat, Jew, Celtic, Watusi, Arabic, Hispanic, Tamil, Han, Basque, Cherokee, Serb, Anglo-Saxon, Zulu, Mongol, et al.) or economic or social status. The Scripture tells us "do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly." All men are "created in the image of God" with the capacity to receive the true God, the God of the Bible, or reject Him; and if born again through faith in His Son Jesus Christ, they are our brothers and sisters in Him. All such who are seeking to be led by His Spirit, to walk with the Lord in obedience to His Word, these are welcome. (Genesis 1:27; Gal 3:28; Act 17:24-29; Acts 2:5-11; Col 1:23; Acts 8:25-39; James 2:1-9; Romans 12:16; 1 Cor 5:9-13; 2 Thes 3:6-15; All refs.) For those who may know the Lord but are not seeking to walk with Him but living in unrepentant sin, as defined by the Scriptures, these we cannot fellowship with except to help and support them in repentance of their sin. We would "...not regard him as an enemy but admonish him as a brother." (1 Cor 5:9-13; 2 Cor 2:1-11; 2 Thes 3:6-15; All refs.) We also welcome genuine seekers whether they be atheists, agnostics, pagans, etc. While they cannot partake of the Lord's Supper, they can observe. While we will not accept gifts from them or engage them in service or have them speak during public meetings or have them pray; they may attend public meetings, listen and observe, discuss eternal and temporal matters with the saints, are welcome to eat meals with the them, etc. (Col 4:2-6; 1 Cor 5:9-13; 1 Cor 11:23-32; 1 Cor 1o:23-33; 1 Cor 9:19-23; 1 Peter 2:12, 17, 3:15-16; All refs.) |
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The Lord's Supper
The Lord instructed us to meet often to remember Him in the breaking of bread. We gather weekly for the Lord's Supper to remember the Lord Jesus Christ, especially with His death for us at Calvary in view. Saints are to do this until He returns. (Matthew 26:26-30; Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Acts 2:42; Acts 20:7; All refs.) We would ask those who are not known by the assembly but are coming with the intention of partaking of the Lord's Supper to contact the assembly prior (e.g., through this website) or come early so that the elders or someone authorized by them may speak with you about the spiritual state required by the Lord to participate. Otherwise, you are welcome to come and observe. Thank you. (1 Corinthians 11:27-32) Prayer All believers, men, women and children, have access through Jesus Christ, their High Priest, to God the Father; therefore, they may pray to Him at all times from any place. They also have the privilege of appealing to the Father in public prayer as an assembly, offering entreaties, prayers, petitions and thanksgivings on behalf of all men. (Ephesians 3:11-19; John 15:7; Romans 8:26-27; James 1:5-8; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; All refs.) |
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Believers are to participate in service, especially to the saints, as well as evangelism to the lost.
Service Every believer in Christ has one or more spiritual gifts given to them by the Holy Spirit. These gifts are used in serving one another for the glory of God. Every believer should use their gifts to build up one another in the faith and to meet one another's needs, both eternal and temporal. (Romans 12:2-16; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:7-16; 1 Peter 4:10-11; Gal 6:9-10; All refs.) Evangelism The Lord Jesus Christ commanded His disciples to go into all the world preaching the gospel and making disciples. One of the spiritual gifts given by the Holy Spirit is evangelist but the spreading of the gospel to the lost is not restricted to those who possess that gift. Thus, believers should endeavor to present the message of salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone as the only hope for forgiveness of sins and peace with God. (John 3: 16-17; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Tim 2:3-4; 2 Peter 3:9; All refs) |
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The believers who meet at Hope Bible Chapel are not affiliated with any denomination and enjoy fellowship in the Lord Jesus Christ with all others such as we - sinners saved by the grace of God, seeking to walk with Him.
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