What We Believe
At Lakewood Presbyterian Church, we are dedicated to the historic Christian faith. The core truths of this faith are encapsulated in the gospel, which means "good news." Through Jesus Christ, it is possible for you to know God personally. If you have questions about how this can happen or if you are skeptical about Christianity or any specific teachings, we would be happy to discuss this with you further.
What do Presbyterians Believe?
If you're curious about what the Presbyterian Church entails, it’s helpful to start with the meaning of the term "Presbyterian." The word comes from the Greek word "presbyteros," which means "elder." Essentially, a Presbyterian church is one that is led by elders.
So, what exactly is an elder? An elder is a member of the congregation who has been nominated and elected to oversee the church's affairs. In Scripture, elders are also referred to as "overseers" or "bishops." The terms "elder" and "bishop" are used interchangeably in the Bible and refer to the same office, as noted in passages such as Acts 20:17, 28, and Titus 1:6-7. "Elder" describes the office itself, while "bishop" or "overseer" refers to the function of that office. In essence, an elder serves the role of a bishop by overseeing and shepherding the people of God.
The Bible clearly outlines the necessary qualifications and responsibilities of elders, as well as the nature of the office, in passages such as 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Timothy 5:17, 1 Peter 5:1-3, and Acts 20:17-31.
What does our church believe?
We believe that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God and serves as our final authority in matters of faith and life. For this reason, we make a conscious effort to preach and teach the Bible during our Sunday services, in Sunday school, and in small group settings. We hold that the teachings of the Bible are best represented in the Westminster Confession of Faith, as well as in the Shorter and Larger Catechisms. If you would like a copy of the Confession, please let us know, and we would be happy to send it to you. As a church, we embrace a Reformed theology, believing that the distinctives of the historic Reformed faith are, at their core, nothing more or less than Biblical Christianity.
We believe that the best way to describe the path to salvation is through the phrase "God saves sinners." This means, first and foremost, that all people, without exception, are "dead in sins and trespasses" (Ephesians 2:1ff) and are unable to save themselves apart from God's sovereign mercy.
Secondly, it signifies that God, and not humans, is the author of salvation (Romans 8:33; Ephesians 2:4ff). While individuals are responsible for exercising faith in Christ, they will do so only in response to God's initiative in regenerating them (John 6:44, 63, 65).
Thirdly, it affirms that God truly saves sinners. He does not merely make salvation possible through Christ and leave the outcome to each person's free will. Rather, God actively accomplishes the salvation of specific individuals (Romans 8:29-30; 1 Timothy 1:15), ensuring that those individuals, and no others, will be in heaven with Him (Romans 9:10-23). God carries this out in a manner that upholds "the liberty and contingency of second causes" without diminishing their significance (WCF, 3.1).
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal and only begotten Son of God. Through His perfect life on earth and His sacrificial death on the cross, He made atonement for the sins of all who trust in Him alone for their salvation. We believe that He will return bodily for all to see and that He will judge the world. When He returns, "every knee will bow...in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and...every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10-11, NASB).
We believe in the significance of Christian discipleship, missions, and outreach. Fulfilling Jesus' Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), we are called to make disciples by going into all the world and proclaiming the good news that freedom from sin and guilt is found in Christ.
Why are we here?
We are here to glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31) and to equip His people for works of service. Our goal is to build up the body of Christ until we all reach unity in faith and knowledge of the Son of God, becoming mature in our beliefs. This way, we will no longer be tossed back and forth by every new teaching or swayed by the deceit of those who are cunning and crafty in their schemes (Ephesians 4:12-14).
What do we believe about Worship?
At LPC, we believe that worship should be guided by four main principles: it must be God-centered, Bible-based, Christ-exalting, and Spirit-empowered.
By "God-centered," we mean that God is the primary focus of all our worship. Our services are directed towards Him rather than aimed at people. We seek to "ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name" and to worship Him "in the splendor of His holiness" (Psalm 96:8-9, NIV).
Because knowing God truly and rightly requires Scripture, our worship must also be Bible-based to ensure it remains God-centered. By "Bible-based," we mean that the Bible—not human opinions or traditions—guides the content of our worship. The Bible informs the specific elements of worship (for example, we sing, pray, read, and preach because Scripture supports these activities when Christians gather to worship God). Furthermore, it shapes the content of each of these elements. This means we don’t just sing; we sing the Bible. We don’t merely pray; we pray the Bible. We don’t just read and preach; we read and preach the Bible.
Worship must be Christ-exalting, as Christ Himself is the only Savior for sinners and the sole mediator between God and humanity. He has provided the only way of salvation through His life and death (John 14:6; see also Acts 4:12; 2 Cor. 5:21). He is the "Lamb who was slain," and He alone is "worthy to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise" (Rev. 5:12, NIV).
Finally, biblical worship must be Spirit-empowered. As Jesus states in John 4:23-24, those who wish to worship God correctly must do so "in spirit and in truth" (NIV). This means that our worship should not only be "in truth." While it is essential to use the right elements and content in our worship, it is equally important to worship Him with our "spirits" in the power of the Holy Spirit. Worship is not merely a cognitive exercise, nor is it just an emotional experience; rather, it is meant to be a "whole-soul" communion with Christ empowered by the Holy Spirit.
What do Presbyterians Believe?
If you're curious about what the Presbyterian Church entails, it’s helpful to start with the meaning of the term "Presbyterian." The word comes from the Greek word "presbyteros," which means "elder." Essentially, a Presbyterian church is one that is led by elders.
So, what exactly is an elder? An elder is a member of the congregation who has been nominated and elected to oversee the church's affairs. In Scripture, elders are also referred to as "overseers" or "bishops." The terms "elder" and "bishop" are used interchangeably in the Bible and refer to the same office, as noted in passages such as Acts 20:17, 28, and Titus 1:6-7. "Elder" describes the office itself, while "bishop" or "overseer" refers to the function of that office. In essence, an elder serves the role of a bishop by overseeing and shepherding the people of God.
The Bible clearly outlines the necessary qualifications and responsibilities of elders, as well as the nature of the office, in passages such as 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Timothy 5:17, 1 Peter 5:1-3, and Acts 20:17-31.
What does our church believe?
We believe that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God and serves as our final authority in matters of faith and life. For this reason, we make a conscious effort to preach and teach the Bible during our Sunday services, in Sunday school, and in small group settings. We hold that the teachings of the Bible are best represented in the Westminster Confession of Faith, as well as in the Shorter and Larger Catechisms. If you would like a copy of the Confession, please let us know, and we would be happy to send it to you. As a church, we embrace a Reformed theology, believing that the distinctives of the historic Reformed faith are, at their core, nothing more or less than Biblical Christianity.
We believe that the best way to describe the path to salvation is through the phrase "God saves sinners." This means, first and foremost, that all people, without exception, are "dead in sins and trespasses" (Ephesians 2:1ff) and are unable to save themselves apart from God's sovereign mercy.
Secondly, it signifies that God, and not humans, is the author of salvation (Romans 8:33; Ephesians 2:4ff). While individuals are responsible for exercising faith in Christ, they will do so only in response to God's initiative in regenerating them (John 6:44, 63, 65).
Thirdly, it affirms that God truly saves sinners. He does not merely make salvation possible through Christ and leave the outcome to each person's free will. Rather, God actively accomplishes the salvation of specific individuals (Romans 8:29-30; 1 Timothy 1:15), ensuring that those individuals, and no others, will be in heaven with Him (Romans 9:10-23). God carries this out in a manner that upholds "the liberty and contingency of second causes" without diminishing their significance (WCF, 3.1).
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal and only begotten Son of God. Through His perfect life on earth and His sacrificial death on the cross, He made atonement for the sins of all who trust in Him alone for their salvation. We believe that He will return bodily for all to see and that He will judge the world. When He returns, "every knee will bow...in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and...every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10-11, NASB).
We believe in the significance of Christian discipleship, missions, and outreach. Fulfilling Jesus' Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), we are called to make disciples by going into all the world and proclaiming the good news that freedom from sin and guilt is found in Christ.
Why are we here?
We are here to glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31) and to equip His people for works of service. Our goal is to build up the body of Christ until we all reach unity in faith and knowledge of the Son of God, becoming mature in our beliefs. This way, we will no longer be tossed back and forth by every new teaching or swayed by the deceit of those who are cunning and crafty in their schemes (Ephesians 4:12-14).
What do we believe about Worship?
At LPC, we believe that worship should be guided by four main principles: it must be God-centered, Bible-based, Christ-exalting, and Spirit-empowered.
By "God-centered," we mean that God is the primary focus of all our worship. Our services are directed towards Him rather than aimed at people. We seek to "ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name" and to worship Him "in the splendor of His holiness" (Psalm 96:8-9, NIV).
Because knowing God truly and rightly requires Scripture, our worship must also be Bible-based to ensure it remains God-centered. By "Bible-based," we mean that the Bible—not human opinions or traditions—guides the content of our worship. The Bible informs the specific elements of worship (for example, we sing, pray, read, and preach because Scripture supports these activities when Christians gather to worship God). Furthermore, it shapes the content of each of these elements. This means we don’t just sing; we sing the Bible. We don’t merely pray; we pray the Bible. We don’t just read and preach; we read and preach the Bible.
Worship must be Christ-exalting, as Christ Himself is the only Savior for sinners and the sole mediator between God and humanity. He has provided the only way of salvation through His life and death (John 14:6; see also Acts 4:12; 2 Cor. 5:21). He is the "Lamb who was slain," and He alone is "worthy to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise" (Rev. 5:12, NIV).
Finally, biblical worship must be Spirit-empowered. As Jesus states in John 4:23-24, those who wish to worship God correctly must do so "in spirit and in truth" (NIV). This means that our worship should not only be "in truth." While it is essential to use the right elements and content in our worship, it is equally important to worship Him with our "spirits" in the power of the Holy Spirit. Worship is not merely a cognitive exercise, nor is it just an emotional experience; rather, it is meant to be a "whole-soul" communion with Christ empowered by the Holy Spirit.
