Destination Church is a non-denominational church, we meet together to worship and share the word. We encourage each one to bring their gift, a scripture, or encouragement to share.
(You can download a PDF of the Destination Church Franklin Statement of Faith and Operating Bylaws here: https://tinyurl.com/DCFBylawPDF)
We believe:
The Scriptures Are Inspired
The Bible, consisting of sixty-six (66) books of the Old and New Testaments, is the inspired Word of God, a revelation from God to men. It is the only infallible rule of faith and conduct, and superior to conscience and reason, but not contrary to reason.
2 Timothy 3:1517, 1 Peter 1:2325, Hebrews 4:12 John 1:12, 14; Proverbs 30:56
The One True God
There is one and only one true and living God, who is self-existent, and the eternal "I AM," the creator of heaven and earth, and the redeemer of mankind. He has chosen to reveal Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the same in essence, though distinct in personality. These three are one God, having the same nature, attributes, and perfection and are worthy of the same homage and obedience.
Exodus 3:14-15, Isaiah 44:6, 24, Isaiah 43:10-11, Romans 1:20
The Godhead
God has revealed Himself as a relational being (desiring intimate interactions with His creation) and associational being (wanting to His creation to reflect and embody His Divinity). God simultaneously exists as Father, Son and Holy Spirit - the Trinity, three in one.
Deuteronomy 6:4, I John 5:7, John 1:1-2,14, John 17:21
The Father
We believe in God the Father, the eternal Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. God is the creator and all things and all people are from Him and exist for Him. As the author of salvation, He adopts into His family all who are born again by faith. He gloriously upholds and providentially rules over all things, to accomplish the redemption of His people and the restoration of all creation.
Gen. 1:1; Ps. 90:2; John 13:3, 16:28; I Cor. 8:6; Eph. 1:3-4, 4:6; 1 Pet. 1:2-3; 1 John 2:23, 3:1
Jesus: Son of God, Christ, Messiah
Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Messiah, one of the three persons of God. God the Father sent Jesus, by the virgin birth conceived of the Holy Spirit, to be born as a man. He lived, fully God and fully Man, experienced joy, happiness, pleasure, discomfort, sorrow, and anger without sin. Being perfect, He died on the cross and took all blame and sin upon Himself, His sacrifice is the only way to be redeemed from sin. He rose from the dead, ascended to heaven, and forever lives, making intercession for us at the right hand of the Father. He will return, resurrect the dead, and reign on the earth.
John 14:6, John 3:1417, I John 4:9,1415, John 1:1-4,14; John 1:29, Hebrews 12:2, I Corinthians 15:23-28
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit, the third person of the triune God, proceeding from and sent by the Father and the Son. He is the personal expression of God’s power – instrumental in all His works. He is the author and illuminator of sacred Scripture. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He is the agent of the new birth, the one by whom we are baptized into the Body of Christ. As the spirit of holiness, He indwells every believer and His Church, purifying and empowering His people for holy living. He guides them into truth, comforts and encourages them, and enables them to fulfill the Great Commission. He produces His fruit in the lives of believers and gives them spiritual gifts for the good of the Church.
Matt. 28:19, John 3:5-6, 14:16-18, 26, 15:26, 16:7-14; Acts 1:8, 2:1-4, 13:2-4, 15:28; Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 2:10-12, 6:19-20,12:4-11, 13; 2 Cor. 6:16, 13:14; Gal. 5:22-23, Eph. 2:21-22; 2 Thess. 2:13; Tit. 3:5; 1 Pet. 1:2, 1 John 2:20-27
Man’s Fall and Redemption
Man was created good and upright, for God said, “Let us make man in our image and after our likeness.” Man, by voluntary disobedience, fell, and his only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Genesis 1:26-27, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:12,19-2
The Salvation of Man
a.
Conditions of Salvation
Salvation is a gift by The Grace of God, is accessible to all men, through the
repentance of sin toward God and through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Man is
saved by grace, and by that grace is continually renewed and redeemed by the
work of the Holy Spirit dwelling within. Through salvation man has become an
heir of God with the hope of eternal life.
Romans 3:2324, Titus 3:37, Rom. 10:9, 13; John 6:47, II Corinthians 5:20-21
b. Evidences of Salvation
1.
The internal evidence to the believer of his
salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit, and the willingness of his
spirit to submit his sinful nature to God’s law.
Romans 8:16, II Corinthians 3:18
2.
The outward evidence of salvation to all men is a
life of holiness.
1 Thessalonians 4:7, 2 Timothy 1:9, Titus 2:11-14, Galatians 5:22-26
Sanctification Process
By the power of the Holy Spirit we strive to obey the command, “Be holy, for I am holy.” Sanctification (set apart unto holiness) is the will of God for all believers, and should be earnestly pursued by walking in obedience to God’s Word.
Hebrews 12:14, 1 Peter 1:1316, I Thessalonians 5:2324, I John 2:3-6
The Church
The church is the holy Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of her great commission. Each believer is an integral part of the church, and their names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
I Thessalonians 2:4, I Corinthians 12:12-14, 27-28; I Peter 2:9-10
Ministry
Divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for a two-fold purpose:
a. The edification and discipleship of the Body of Christ and
b. The evangelization of and ministry to our community and the world.
Ephesians 4:11-16, Mark 16:15, Acts 2:42-47
Idols
God is the fountain of all perfection and happiness. He is glorified by the whole creation and is worthy to be loved and served by all intelligence. He, therefore, is the only proper object of worship and there shall be no other gods before Him. Believers are commanded to keep themselves from idols.
Exodus 20:3-4, Deuteronomy 5:7, 1 Cor. 10:14, 1 John 5:21
Humanity
We believe that God created human beings – male and female – as co-equal bearers of the image of God. Gender is divinely designed, part of the goodness of creation. Human sexuality is a gift, intended to be expressed exclusively in a monogamous, lifelong marital union between one man and one woman. The Bible also affirms the sacredness of the single state and that some may have the gift of lifetime celibacy.
We believe in the historicity of the first man, Adam, who along with his wife, Eve, were uniquely created by a direct act of God as recorded in Genesis. Made in his image, they are his crowning achievement. Adam and Eve were created without sin for perfect fellowship with God and were commanded to be fruitful and exercise benevolent dominion over the earth. Humankind was created for love of God and neighbor. That love was intended to find expression in every individual and every human institution.
Through the misuse of their wills, however, our original parents succumbed to Satan’s temptation, disobeyed God’s command and thus brought sin into the world and became subject to physical and spiritual death. They became corrupt in their nature, and have passed on that nature to all their descendants. As a result, all human beings – while still bearing God’s image – are polluted in every aspect of their being. They are estranged from God by their sin and thus deserve God’s wrath.
We believe that God desires all human beings to be restored to a right relationship with him. Redemption – the gracious design by which God intends to rescue humanity from the disastrous consequences of sin – has its origin in the love of God and is brought to fruition by his infinite wisdom and might.
Gen. 1:27, 3:13, 16-17; Ex. 20:11; Isa. 64:6; John 10:17-18; Acts 4:12; Rom. 3:23, 5:12-17, 6:23, 7:7; Eph. 1:5-6, 2:1-5; 1 Tim.1:15, 2:5-6; Tit. 2:11-12; Heb. 2:9; 1 Pet. 3:18; 1 John 1:8
Resurrection
The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ, together with those who are alive and remain unto the Lord, is imminent and is the blessed hope of the church.
I Thessalonians 4:15-17, Titus 2:13, I Corinthians 15:51-52, Acts 1:9-11
The Millennial Reign of Jesus
The revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven, the salvation of national Israel, and the millennial reign of Christ on the earth are Scriptural promises and our hope.
II Thessalonians 1:7, Revelation 19:11-16, Revelation 20:1-7
The Lake of Fire
The devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, and whoever is not found written in the Lamb’s Book of Life shall be sent to everlasting punishment in the lake which burns fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
Revelation 19:20, Revelation 20:10-15
The New Heavens and New Earth
As promised in the Scriptures, we look for a new heavens and a new earth where righteousness dwells.
II Peter 3:13, Revelation 21:1
Baptism in Water
Water baptism of a believer is a symbol and type of burial and resurrection with Christ and should be observed (as commanded in the Scriptures) by all that have repented of their sins and in their hearts have believed in Christ as their Savior and Lord. In doing so, they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they have also been released to walk with Him in newness of life.
Matthew 3:16-17, Matthew 28:19, Romans 6:4, Ephesians 4:4-6
Communion
The Lord’s Supper consists of two symbolic elements: the bread and the fruit of the vine. It is our memorial and remembrance of His suffering and death, and a prophecy of His second coming. All believers are charged to take of Communion as a sacred, repeated, and treasured reminder “until He comes”.
John 6:48,51,5357; Luke 22:19-20, II Peter 1:4, I Corinthians 11:24-26
Foot Washing
Foot washing shall be observed as seen fit by all believers, as instructed in the Scriptures towards the encouragement and building of the church. Foot washing is a reminder to all believers to be servants like Christ and to forgive much as we have been forgiven much.
John 13:1-17, Luke 7:36-50
Christian Stewardship
a. God's ownership of all things creatively and redemptively is unquestioned in the Scriptures. Since we are saved by grace and the death of Christ provided our ransom, our whole being, body, soul, and spirit should be freely given to God, which is our reasonable service.
b. Not only does God claim our love and devotion, but He has made us stewards of what we have in time, talent, and temporal goods. Since giving of our means to support the Lord's work is a scriptural injunction and an act of worship received and memorialized by our Lord, and since tithing antedates the Mosaic Law, was confirmed in the Law, and was approved by our Lord Jesus Christ, and since the New Testament clearly indicates that our giving is to be proportionate, believers are encouraged to adopt the system of tithing their income as a minimum expression of their stewardship. Our stewardship in material things is to be motivated by the spirit and example of our Lord who freely gave Himself for us all.
Gen. 14:20, 28:22; Num 18:26, Deut 15:7-11, Mal. 3:8, 10; Matt. 23:23; Acts 4:32; 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 8:9, 9:6-7
Child Dedication
The dedication of children is the presentation of a child to God, and establishes a covenant between God and parents. Such a child is made part of the covenant family of God by the faith of his parents until he/she reaches the age of accountability, whereupon he/she becomes responsible as an individual before God and is commanded to repent.
Deut. 6:5-7, Psalms 34:11, Psalms 78:4-8, Psalms 122:3-5, Prov. 22:6, Eph. 6:1-4
The Lord's Day
The Lord's Day is of divine origin. The Jewish Sabbath was obligatory upon those who lived under the Jewish economy. Desecration of this day invoked the wrath and judgment of God. In this present age the first day of the week has been set aside as the Lord's Day for rest and worship. This observance is commended to the followers of the Lord Jesus in commemoration of His glorious resurrection. The first day of the week has been kept as the Lord's Day by the church from apostolic times. It is imperative that with great care and godly fear we honor the Lord's Day.
John 20:1, 19; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2; compare Gen. 2:1-3; Ex. 20:8-11; Num. 15:32-36
Divine Healing
Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement of Christ and is the privilege of all believers.
Isaiah 53:4-5, Matthew 8:16-17, Mark 16:18, John 5:14
Marriage and the Home
Marriage is created by God and is a covenant union made between one man, one woman, and God. Marriage, which is the foundation of the family and the Christian home, should only be entered into in the fear and will of God. Accordingly, a believer should not be united in holy matrimony with an unbeliever.
Genesis 2:2224, Matthew 19:4-6, Ephesians 5:22-33, Deut. 7:3, Matt. 19:4-6, 1 Cor. 7:7, 39; 2 Cor. 6:14-17
a. Ministers and parents have an obligation to teach the sanctity of marriage and to warn against believers being yoked with unbelievers. Ministers should not knowingly officiate at the marriage of a believer and an unbeliever.
b. Ministers are forbidden from encouraging, blessing, or officiating same sex “marriages” or unions.
Gen. 2:24; Lev. 18:22; Matt. 19:4, 5; Rom. 1:26, 27; 1 Cor. 6:9-10
c. The home is a divinely ordained institution in which the husband is the head but serves its members by the law of love. Filial obedience is to be rendered by children in the spirit of mutual respect and love. The home is the most important institution in which to nurture children in the faith, and great care is to be exercised by pastors and parents in building homes that are genuinely and consistently Christian.
Deut. 6:4-9; Ps. 78:4-6; Eph. 5:22 and 25, 6:1-4; Col. 3:18-21
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