Engaging the Whole Person with the Whole Gospel

Gospel Proclamation & Fluency: 1 Peter 3:15, 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Gathering together in small and large groups: Hebrews 10:23-25, Acts 2:42-47

Growing more like Christ: 2 Peter 3:18, Ephesians 4:15-16

Giving of ourselves in service, stewardship and story: Galatians 6:10, 1 Peter 4:10 

Go on God's mission locally and globally to make disciples: Matthew 28:18-20, Luke 10:2

A little explanation regarding open-handed and closed-handed issues. Napa Valley  Life Church welcomes all that come to this gathering of Jesus’ followers to  worship. It is our desire that you find a church home, and our prayer that Napa  Valley Life Church proves to be that for you and yours. If your desire is to become  a member of our fellowship, then open and closed-handed issues will become  important.  Open-handed issues, though important, are not the issues that define the core of  Christianity. Open-handed issues include views on spiritual gifts such as speaking  in tongues, musical styles during a worship service, ideas on what happens during  the “end times” —just to name a few. Christians have the freedom to have their  own opinions regarding open-handed issues and may discuss and even debate  their opinions as long as they do not allow these open-handed issues to cause  division within the church. With open-handed issues, Christians can agree to  disagree and still lovingly maintain unity within the church.  However, because closed-handed issues are the absolutes that define Christianity,  it’s important for Christians to have personal convictions that hold closely to  these significant issues. Closed-handed issues may be discussed within the  church, but when someone rejects these core issues, they go outside the realm of  Christian orthodoxy. Likewise, when a church stops holding to and defending 3 closed-handed issues, it loses its doctrinal purity, becomes unhealthy, and can  cease to be a Christian church.  The following represent the closed-handed issues here at Napa Valley Life Church:

The eternal God reveals himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, with distinct  personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence or being. God as  Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures and the flow  of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is all powerful, all  loving and all wise. (Genesis 1:1;2:7; Deuteronomy 6:4; John 1:1; 1 Timothy 1:17)

Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and  born to a virgin. He was wholly man and wholly God. Jesus perfectly revealed and  did the will of God. He died as the atonement for all of mankind’s sins; so that  man could be reconciled to God through belief in Christ. He was raised from the  dead, ascended into heaven and rules forever with God. (Matthew 1:18-23;  Matthew 26-28; John 1:1,14) We believe that Jesus came into the world not to  condemn the world, but to save it. We believe that we are most like Him when we  show love for one another through relationships and through service.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. He inspired the writing of the Scriptures, He  enables man to understand the truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts of sin. His  presence in the Christian’s life is the assurance of God to bring the believer to  fullness in Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in  worship, evangelism and service. (Genesis 1:2; Matthew 28:19; Luke 24:49)

The Bible or Scriptures were written by men divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit. In  the scriptures God completely reveals himself to man. We believe it is inerrant in  the original writings, infallible, God breathed and the final authority for faith and  life. It reveals the principles by which God judges us and is the supreme standard  by which all human conduct, creeds and religious opinions should be tested. The  criterion by which the Bible is to be interpreted is revealed in the life and  teachings of Jesus Christ. (Deuteronomy 4:1-2; Matthew 5:17-18; 2 Timothy 3:15-  17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

Humanity was created by the special act of God, in His own image and is the  crowning work of His creation. Man was created innocent of sin, but by his own  choice he sinned against God. From that time on mankind has been born with a  natural inclination to sin which they cannot control. As soon as we are able, we all  choose to sin and consequently are under the condemnation of sin. Only the  grace of God, manifested in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ can  reconcile sinful people to God. (Genesis 1-3; Romans 3:22-23; 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-  3, 12)

Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man and is offered freely to all  who by faith accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Salvation is the ultimate sign  of God’s grace to mankind. Our just reward for sinful living is eternal separation  from God. Christ’s death on the cross and His blood serve as the atoning sacrifice  that allows sinful mankind to be reconciled to a Holy and Righteous God. This  reconciliation is available to anyone who repents of their sin and through faith  accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. (Genesis 3:15; John 3:3-21; Romans  6:23, Ephesians 2:8-22; Revelation 3:20)

We believe that Jesus Christ died a physical death on the cross and that he rose  from the dead. His resurrection is the central point of our faith. It provides  salvation (Romans 10:9-10) and ensures the resurrection of believers. (1  Corinthians 15:20-28; 2 Corinthians 4:13-15; 1 Thessalonians 4:14)

The New Testament speaks of the church as the body of Christ which includes all  of the redeemed of all the ages. The church is also spoken of in the New  Testament as a local body of baptized believers who are associated by covenant  in the faith and fellowship of the gospel. The church is committed to the teachings  of Christ, the spreading of the gospel to the ends of the earth, exercising the  ministry of believers to one another through the use of the spiritual gifts given to  believers by the Holy Spirit and the observance of the sacraments (Lord’s Supper  and Baptism). (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:41-41, 47)

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the two ordinances or observances that Christ  instructed the church to practice. (Matthew 28:18-20; Matthew 26:26-30; 1  Corinthians 11:23-29)

God in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate  end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in  glory to the earth; the dead will be raised and Christ will judge all men in  righteousness. Those who have not accepted Christ as savior will be consigned to  Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. Those who have accepted Christ as  savior in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will  dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord.

We believe God gives a believer spiritual gifts upon their acceptance of Christ. It is  their responsibility to attempt to develop these gifts.  We believe that particular  spiritual gifts are neither essential, nor prove the presence of the Holy Spirit, nor  are they an indication of deep spiritual experience (1 Corinthians 12:7, 11, 13;  Ephesians 4:7-8, Ephesians 1:13-14). The Baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs at  conversion and seals the believer in the Holy Spirit. This is a guarantee of our  salvation that we walk with all the days of our saved lives.

We believe it is the privilege and responsibility of every believer to minister  (serve) according to their God-given spiritual gifts and the grace of God that is  given to them (Roman 12:1-8; 1 Corinthians 13; 1 Peter 4:10-11)

We believe that Jesus Christ is the head of our Church and is the Shepherd of  NVLC. (Ephesians 1:9, 1:22-23, 4:15, 5:23; Hebrews 3:1; Matthew 16:18; John  10:11, John 10:14-16; 1 Peter 5:4; Colossians 1:17-18) He leads the Church and  directs it through the vision of the Elder's (Lead Pastor being first among equals).  Our form of government is Pastoral Lead, Deacon supported and congregationally  affirmed.  (1 Timothy 2:11-3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9). The Pastors are appointed by God, tested and  approved to shepherd and lead Napa Valley Life Church. Pastors convene  regularly to discuss matters of sound theology, direction for the Church, and  discipline with love for the people and mission of Napa Valley Life Church. Deacons help the Pastors, enabling them to do what God has commanded, (1  Timothy 3:8-13; Acts 6:2-3) (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Peter 5:2). The  members of Napa Valley Life Church are encouraged to live a gospel centered life,  (Colossian 3:1-17) and help to serve in the work of the ministry. Being equipped  to be on mission for Jesus Christ, making his name known in our area and beyond.