WHY WE ARE HERE

We believe that God created the church and you and put both on this earth for 5 purposes.
WE ARE...

1. Planned for God's Pleasure (HONOR God)
Magnification...when we live our lives wholly for God by putting him first, He is honored and glorified.

2. Formed for God's Family (CONNECT)
Membership...we were formed for God's family. Relationships...caring for one another is the heart of what we do at Brooklake.

3. Created to become like Christ (GROW)
Maturity...we gain spiritual maturity when we constantly seek to be like Him and fulfill the 5 purposes for which we have been created.

4. Shaped to serve God (SERVE)
Ministry-Life can be lived on three levels: survival-just getting by; success-having possessions, good health and living in comfort; or significance-knowing the meaning of life and making a difference by helping others.

5. Made for a mission (SHARE)
Mission-we have honor and responsibility of communicating God's love and truth to those around us.

OUR BELIEFS

In essential beliefs we have...unity
In non-essential beliefs we have...freedom
In all our beliefs we show...love

1. God is bigger and better and closer than we can imagine.

2. The Bible is God's perfect guidebook for living.

3. Jesus is God showing himself to us.

4. Through His Holy Spirit, God lives in and through us now.

5. Nothing in creation just happened. God made it all.

6. Grace is the only way to have a relationship with God.

7. Faith is the only way to grow in our relationship with God.

8. God has allowed evil to provide us with a choice, God can bring good even out of evil events and God promises victory over evil to those who choose him.

9. Heaven and hell are real places. Death is a beginning, not the end.

10. The church is to serve people like Jesus served people..

11. Jesus is coming again.

A more complete explanation of our beliefs (including scriptures) is listed below:

1. God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.
Genesis 1:1,26,27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14

2. Man is made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. He is the supreme object of God´s creation. Although man has tremendous potential for good, he is marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called "sin". This attitude separates man from God.
Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1,2

3. Man was created to exist forever. He will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are places of eternal existence.
John 3:16; John 2:25; John 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15; 1 John 5:11-12; Matthew 25:31-46

4. Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven´s glory and will return again to earth to reign as King of kings, and Lord of lords.
Matthew 1:22,23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14,15; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14,15; Titus 2:13

5. Salvation is a gift from God to man. Man can never make up for his sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God´s offer of forgiveness can man be saved from sin´s penalty. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.
Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1

6. The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to live under His control daily.
2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:1

7. The Bible is God´s word to all men. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without any mixture of error.
2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20,21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5)

______________________________________________________

BROOKLAKE BYLAWS... you may download a pdf file of our governing rules