1) The Lordship of Jesus Christ:  Jesus Christ is declared to be LORD of all by virtue of His birth, His sinless life, His teachings, His miracles, His substitutionary death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead on the third day. Acknowledgment of Jesus' Lordship is the way to salvation and all its benefits. The Gospels and the entire New Testament declare these Truths.  The Old Testament Scriptures point to the coming of Jesus Christ as Messiah and the New Testament Scriptures declare His Divine intervention and the eventual reign of His Coming Kingdom. In fact, the whole story of the Bible points to Jesus. (Listen to these messages:  series "Jesus Christ is Lord", "Paid in Full", series "The Gospel of Grace", series "In Christ", series "The Lost and the Found, series "Restored" - Go to Current Teachings Page and type the title in Search Box)

2) The Fatherhood of God:  Jesus Christ has made a way for us to relate to God as our Father. This intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father is the longing of humanity. The relationship that was lost is now available through Christ, the mediator between God and man. (Listen to the messages:  "The Fatherhood of God", series "The Jesus Way to Pray)

3) The Presence and Power of the Spirit:  Jesus Christ has made a way for the Holy Spirit to live on the inside of every believer. Believer's are now the Temple of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit guides, teaches, convicts, seals and empowers the believer. Believers are encouraged to be sensitive to and live under the influence of the Spirit. (John 14-16, 1 Corinthians 12-14, Ephesians 5:18-19)  (Listen to the teachings:  series "The Holy Spirit, His Mission & Ministry", series "Pentecost - The Giving of the Spirit," "Fruit of the Spirit Baptism," "Under the Influence of the Spirit" - Go to Current Teachings Page and type the title in Search Box)                                                                                                                                      
4) The Gospel of the Kingdom:  The first recorded message Jesus preached was "repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:2). The good news of the Kingdom was the focus of Jesus' life and teachings. This was the message of the prophets and the apostles as well. Jesus is the King of this Kingdom and believers are the privileged citizens of it. When a person is born-again or saved, they enter into the Kingdom and the Kingdom enters into them (John 3:3-5 and Luke 17:20-21). A whole new life begins at the point of salvation. Believers then focus their lives in building for the Kingdom of God which is to come when Jesus returns to earth in glory and power. The return of Jesus, the Messiah and King, and the establishing of His throne and Kingdom is the great hope of the Christian faith. Believers will be given a resurrection body and they will rule and reign with Jesus Christ, forever and ever. At this time, the adversary will be judged, evil & sin will be done away with, sinners will be judged, the heaven and the earth will be made new, the New Jerusalem will descend, heaven will come to earth. There will be no more curse, death, sorrow, tears or pain because these have passed away and the rule of the righteous King will be forever established and of the increase of His rule and Kingdom there will be no end (Revelation 20-22). Believers are to anticipate this, hope for this, pray for this, live for this and proclaim this. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). 
Note:  In the Gospels, the terms Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven are synonymous.
 (Listen to the teachings:  "Resurrection: Why is it So Important", "The New Creation", "The New Humanity", series "Freedom from Sin" - Go to Current Teachings Page and type the title in Search Box)

•  The New Creation: It began in Jesus, is given to believers and will, in time, be  
      extended to creation.

•  The New Covenant: Jesus made a new covenant when He died on the cross. 

•  The New Humanity: The life of Christ is extended to all who believe. Believers 
      become part of the new humanity, the Church.

   - The New Birth: You must be born-again. John 3:1-22
   - The New Exodus: Jesus leads us out of the bondage of sin and death. 
     (Romans 6-8)
   - The NewTemple: Our bodies become the Temple of the Holy Spirit at the 
       New Birth. (1 Cor 6:19)
   - The New Life: Jesus, by the Spirit, empowers us to walk in the newness of    
        life, the way of the Kingdom of God (2 Cor 5:17).

•  The Resurrection of the Dead: Resurrection life began in Jesus Christ and will 
      be extended to all who put their faith and trust in Him.

•  The New Heavens and New Earth: Resurrection life will also be extended to creation. There will be a new heaven and a new earth. Jesus will make the world right and it will operate as it should in righteousness and peace. The City of God (The New Jerusalem) will decend from heaven and be joined with the earth (Revelation 21). This city will be the dwelling place of God and His saints. The prayer Jesus taught us to pray will at this time be answered in its fullness, "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." In this moment, heaven and earth will be forever joined under the leadership of Jesus Christ.

• The Bible, Genesis to Revelation, is the inspired Word of God given to man (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:23)
• The Eternal Godhead: The Trinity, the one true God, as revealed in Scripture, The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
• The Fall of Mankind: Through disobedience, mankind fell from innocence and goodness and was separated from God. Because of this, death, both physical and spiritual, entered into the world. (Genesis 1:26-27, 2:17, 3:6; Romans 5:12-19)
• God’s Plan of Redemption: Restoring mankind’s relationship with Father through Jesus Christ (John 3:16-17; Romans 5:8, 6:23)
• Salvation is through God’s Grace alone and is revealed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
• Repentance of sin and Acceptance of Jesus as Savior is essential for salvation. (Romans 10:9-10; 1 John 1:9)
• The New Birth or being Born-Again is available to all through Jesus Christ.  You must be born-again to enter the Kingdom of God. (John 3:1-21; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20) 
• Water Baptism and the Lord’s Supper: Holy Ordinances of the Church (Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24-26)
• Be Filled with the Holy Spirit:  A work of grace given to the believer on request and evidenced by power - power to live a Holy life and to be effective in building the Kingdom of God.  Believers should seek to be under the influence and control of the Spirit.  Jesus was empowered by the Spirit.  The early disciples were empowered by the Spirit.  We should seek to be empowered & filled by the Spirit.  The Holy Spirit helps us become more passionate followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.  (John 7:37-39, Acts 1:8, 2:4, 19:1-7).
• Believer’s are called to live a Spirit-filled, Spirit-led life (Ephesians 4:30-32)
• The Holy Spirit imparts Supernatural Fruit and Supernatural Gifts to believers. The fruit of the Spirit is the life of Christ produced in the believer by the Spirit.  The Gifts of the Spirit are the supernatural manifestations of the Spirit through believers, helping us be witnesses for Christ and His Kingdom.  (1 Corinthians 12-14; Galatians 5:22-23)
• Divine Healing:  Healing is a mystery.  God gives healing in our spirit, soul and body as He wills and in His time.  The practice of laying on of hands and anointing with oil are acts of faith in the healing power of Jesus.  We ask in faith and trust the results with our gracious Father.  (Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:16-17; James 5:14-16)
• The Second Coming of Christ: Our Blessed Hope. Jesus will return to the earth and establish His Kingdom. There will be a new heaven and new earth. (John 14:1-6; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 8:23; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
• The Church is the Body of Christ in the earth made up of all followers of Jesus Christ from every nation, tribe and tongue. The local church is: the expression of Christ’s love to a particular region, a place to build relationships and a place of accountability for Christians. All Christians are a part of the global Church and each should be a part of a local church. (Acts 16:5; Hebrews 10:24-25)
• The Last Judgment – New Creation: the ultimate reward of God’s people;  Hell: the ultimate punishment for rejecting Jesus Christ.  Jesus will return to judge all people in righteousness and justice. (2 Corinthians 5:10; John 14:1-3; Revelation 7:15-17, 20:10,15)
• Evangelism: Obeying Jesus’ Great Commission. We must reach out to those around us and share the Good News:  Jesus Christ is Lord. (Matthew 28:19-20; James 5:20)
• Tithes & Offerings: God’s plan of provision for the Church and avenue of blessing for believers. (Malachi 3:10; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8)

Helping people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

Connect.  Grow.  Serve.

How? 

Connect people to Jesus Christ.
Connect people to spiritual family for fellowship, cooperation and guidance.                                                                                              Connect people to a small group for deeper community, fellowship and spiritual growth.

Grow in our faith in Jesus Christ by understanding the Scriptures.
Grow in our hope for today and for the future Kingdom.
Grow in our love for God and for others.
Grow a strong, humble, servant heart.

Serve the LORD Jesus Christ.
Serve the family of God.
Serve the world around us.

Everyone.  Everywhere.  Everything.
Everyone is to be about the business of building the Kingdom.
Everywhere we go is an opportunity to share the Gospel in word and deed.
Everything we do is to be for the glory of God.

OUR CONVICTION
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)

OUR COMMAND
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20)  

OUR VISION
This is what we believe God desires The Church of Joy to be and do: 
• Christ Centered
• Gospel Focused
• Bible Based
• Spirit-filled, Spirit-led
• Kingdom Minded
• Harvest Minded
• Relationship Oriented
• Building Strong Families
• Equipping People for the Work of the Ministry