Vision of SBCC
OUR VISION
The vision of Santa Barbara Community Church is shaped by the foundational convictions that God is supreme, humans are in need of salvation and Jesus Christ provides the solution to our desperate spiritual condition. As a church we want to emphasize the central beliefs of Christian orthodox faith. This means we find our unity in the central tenets of the Christian faith: God is sovereign; sin and rebellion from God is our core problem; Jesus is the answer; the Bible is true; and Heaven and Hell are real.
THE CHURCH GATHERED
The primary arena where Christians are to grow spiritually, worship, and fellowship with other believers is the local church. God intends to accomplish his will in the world primarily through churches (Ephesians 3:10). Because of the tremendous importance the Bible puts on the church, we strongly encourage those who call SBCC their home to take seriously the call to commitment and involvement in their church.
The New Testament uses many word pictures to describe the church. The metaphors of flock, vine, body, family, building all point to our interdependence in living the Christian life. Because of this, we must constantly be working to meet together in ways that encourage sharing, accountability, dependence, fellowship and spiritual nurture in each others’ lives (Galatians 6:1-2, Hebrews 10:24-25).
The Bible teaches that all Christians are “ministers” (Ephesians 4:11-12). Our hope is that everyone at SBCC will catch the vision that they are gifted by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:20-30, Romans 12:3-8) and are to be involved as ministers in the life of the church and service to the world. Since all believers are called to ministry, this means no one has second-class status in the church.
The elders - or pastors - of the church work to provide leadership, direction and vision for the body of Christ (Acts 6:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Timothy 3:1-0). The New Testament always describes the leaders of local churches in the plural. Leadership at SBCC begins as a shared ministry of servant-minded elders.
Since we believe the Bible is true and has authority in the life of the Christian we are a church that gives priority to studying and understanding God’s word. God’s people are to be instructed by his word so they may be equipped to live the Christian life (2 Timothy 3:16-17, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Timothy 3:1-10). Where the Bible is clear we want to speak with a strong obedient voice and when the Scriptures are silent or less clear we want to speak with humility. The ultimate goal of the church is to produce disciples that are in love with God, finding their joy and purpose in him. We agree with the Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647) that asks, What is the chief end of man? It answers: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. Therefore, we are striving to be a body of people who have an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ and who grow to spiritual maturity (Colossians 1:28, Ephesians 5:1-2).
THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
As a church we want to change Santa Barbara and the world. Our schools, neighborhoods, sports teams and places of work should be impacted for God’s kingdom as we live life in our city.
We are to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16). Christians are called to make disciples of all peoples helping them to come into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:16-20). The task is urgent because we understand that apart from salvation in Jesus there is no hope in this life or the next.
Alongside the joy of telling others about new life in Jesus Christ, we have the pleasurable calling to be involved in healing a broken world. Feeding the hungry, caring for the widow and orphan, standing for justice and caring as stewards for our physical environment are integral parts of our calling as Christians. All of this is to say that our inner spiritual growth is to manifest itself in tangible outward expression.
This vision of SBCC requires humble obedience and dependence on God. We are well aware that no church is perfect. Yet, we do not want to be a church that settles for mediocre church life. If any of the above is to be realized it will be because we work hard at healthy church life and because God blesses this church. We invite you to work and pray that God would bless Santa Barbara Community Church as we attempt to be faithful to our calling.
The Bible, both Old and New Testaments, to be the verbally inspired word of God; the supreme and final authority in faith and life.
That there is but one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
That Jesus of Nazareth was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, and is true God and true man.
That man was created in the image of God; that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death, but spiritual death. This results in separation from God; that all human beings are born with a sinful nature and that those who reach moral responsibility still sin in thought, word and deed.
WE BELIEVE
The Bible, both Old and New Testaments, to be the verbally inspired word of God; the supreme and final authority in faith and life.
That there is but one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
That Jesus of Nazareth was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, and is true God and true man.
That man was created in the image of God; that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death, but spiritual death. This results in separation from God; that all human beings are born with a sinful nature and that those who reach moral responsibility still sin in thought, word and deed.
That Jesus rose from the dead, ascended to heaven, and is coming again to reign on earth.
That Jesus was the Christ; that His death provided atonement for man's sin and that all who place their faith in Him as Lord and Savior are justified before God.
That all who place their faith in Jesus Christ are immediately baptized by the Holy Spirit into one united spiritual body, the Church; that the establishment and continuity of local churches is clearly taught in the New Testament; that the members of this one spiritual community are directed to associate themselves together in local assemblies.
That all who place their faith in Jesus Christ are regenerated spiritually by the Holy Spirit and thus become children of God.
That all who place their faith in Jesus Christ are to demonstrate their obedience through participation in baptism and the Lord's Supper.
In the bodily resurrection of all men and women to face the righteous judgment of God, the saved to eternal life and the unsaved to everlasting separation from God and punishment.
