About

At Atonement, we want to love God and love people. To fulfill this purpose, we lift up these core teachings and values: 

Who is God? There is one God, but three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God the Father is our Creator. God the Son is Jesus Christ, our Savior, Lord and Redeemer. God the Holy Spirit makes us holy by calling and guiding us through the Gospel, enlightening us through his gifts, and preserving us in the true faith. (Matthew 28:19, Ephesians 4:4)

Who are we? As human beings we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

What does “Atonement” mean? Jesus died on the cross for our sins and was raised to life in a total victory over sin, death, and the devil. The work of Christ on the cross is called the atonement. (Romans 3:21-26, Hebrews 9:11-28, Revelation 5) 

How can I be saved? 

You are saved by grace alone…: You are saved, not by your works or what you do, but by God’s grace. (Romans 3:27, Ephesians 2:8-9)

…through faith alone…: Forgiveness and salvation is a gift which you receive by faith in Jesus Christ. (Romans 3:28, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 10:17)

…in Jesus Christ alone: You receive the assurance of salvation in Jesus Christ when you “…confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead.” (Romans 10:9) 

What is Holy Baptism? Holy Baptism is a visible means by which God brings you into His family and bestows His promises on you. It is water used according to God’s command and connected with God’s Word. Baptism brings about forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and gives everlasting salvation to all who believe, as the Word and promise of God declare. (Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:16, Titus 3:5-8a, Romans 6:4, 1 Peter 3:21) Therefore, you are baptized once, whether an infant, child, or adult, since Holy Baptism is God’s first and final promise concerning you; and should be used daily through repentance of sin.

What is Holy Communion? Also called the Lord’s Supper, it is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in, with, and under the bread and wine, given to Christians to eat and drink, as it was instituted by Jesus Christ himself, for the forgiveness of sins. (Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-24, Luke 22:19-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

What is discipleship? Jesus calls us to follow Him in a life of discipleship. Therefore, we encourage lifelong faith practices such as: daily prayer, weekly worship, Bible reading, endurance, service, fellowship, and giving (tithing). From the moment that we say, “I believe” we spend the rest of our lives growing deeper in faith, hope, and love by following Jesus. (John 8:31-32, 10:27-28) 

What is the Bible? The Bible is the written, inspired and authoritative Word of God. Followers of Jesus are encouraged to read the Bible on a regular basis. As we do, the Holy Spirit reveals Jesus to us and guides us. The Bible is the definitive source and norm for faith and life. (John 1:1, 14, 20:30-31, 1 Corinthians 12:3, Timothy 3:16-17)

What is the church? The church is the assembly of believers gathered around Jesus where he promises to be: his Word preached and his Sacraments administered for the forgiveness of sins. Believers in the church are a family -brothers and sisters in Christ- who are called to encourage spiritual growth and accountability in each other. (Matthew 16:15-19, Acts 2:42-47, 1 Corinthians 10:16-17)

What is worship? The heart of a believer desires to worship God. In our worship of God, we glorify him, we come to understand our sin, our need for a savior and our dependence upon God. God uses worship to speak to us and nurture our faith. God’s proclaimed Word and Holy Communion are means used by God for these purposes. (Acts 2:42-47, 1 Corinthians 14:26-33)

What are callings? Every Christ follower is called to share the good news of Jesus Christ and has been given spiritual gifts to serve as a minister in Christ’s church and in the world. Callings are not limited to public ordained ministry, like pastors or missionaries. They include all daily roles, jobs, and responsibilities that give glory to God, such as: parent, student, wife, husband, farmer, lawyer, truck driver, teacher, assembly line worker, food service, etc. (Romans 1:7, 8:28, 1 Corinthians 1:21-31, 12:4-31, Ephesians 4:1-3, Philippians 1:6, 1 Peter 5:10)

What is marriage? Sexual intimacy is a created gift of God designed and intended for one man and one woman in the bond of marriage. Marriage is instituted by God to create, protect, and sustain life within a family. (Genesis 2:18-24, Proverbs 31:28, Matthew 19:4-6, Mark 10:6-9, Ephesians 5:25-33) The gift of a family is to be cared for and nurtured, built upon a spiritual foundation of love and faithfulness to God, his Word, and family members. (Proverbs 22:6, 2 Corinthians 12:14, Ephesians 6:1-4) “We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)