Question 1

What do you believe?

Accepted Answer

A & P (standing for Aquila & Priscilla, see Acts 18) Home Church Ministry is a nondenominational, family home church ministry adhering to the literal, dispensational interpretation of the Scriptures.
 
We have found our brother's in Christ at Andy Woods' Sugar Land Bible Church and Paul Washer of Heart Cry shared a wonderful statement of beliefs that hit exactly on our thoughts to the matter which we are sharing here.
 
*These financial principles are based in part upon “The Principles of the Institution,” established by George Muller to govern the activities of the Bristol orphanages (The Autobiography of George Muller, Whitaker House, 1984, pp. 59-61).

Question 2

There is one God.

Accepted Answer

Creator of all things.  He is perfect, infinite, and eternal in all His ways.  He exists in three separate, but equal, Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  (Deut. 6:4; Gen. 1:1; John 6:27; Heb. 1:8; Acts 5:3,4; 2 Cor. 13:14).

Question 3

Jesus Christ, the Messiah, is true God and true Man."

Accepted Answer

He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.  He lived a sinless life, died on the cross, was buried, and arose on the third day.  He later ascended into Heaven where He is presently seated at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate. (John 1:1; Phil. 2:5-8; Luke 1:30-35; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Cor. 15:3,4; Heb. 7:25; 1 John 2:1).

Question 4

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity

Accepted Answer

whose ministry is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ.  He accomplishes this ministry by convicting individuals of their sin, by regenerating, sealing, baptizing and indwelling the believing sinner permanently at the moment of conversion, and by empowering the Christian for godly living and service without the manifestation of supernatural sign gifts.  (John 16:7-15; Tit. 3:5; 1 Cor. 6:19; Eph. 1:13; Rom. 8:2,4,12,13, 1 Cor. 12:13).

Question 5

The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are the verbally inspired and inerrant Word of God. "

Accepted Answer

Divine inspiration extends equally and fully to all parts and words of the Bible, so that the whole Bible, in the original manuscripts, is without error.  The Bible is God’s revelation to man and is therefore the final authority for all Christian faith and practice.  (2 Tim. 3:16,17).

Question 6

God created man in His image for His glory.

Accepted Answer

However, Adam disobeyed God and as a consequence died spiritually.  This spiritual death, or total depravity, has been transmitted to the entire human race.  Thus, every person comes into this world with a nature which has neither the desire nor the ability to please God, and is therefore in need of divine grace.  (Genesis 1:26; 2:17; 3:1-7; Romans 3:10-18; 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-7).

Question 7

God has provided the remedy for our disobedience by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to be the sacrifice for our sins.  "

Accepted Answer

God has determined that we do not receive forgiveness as a result of our religious deeds or other good works, no matter how well intended, but only by personal faith in Jesus Christ.  Those who receive Jesus Christ as their Savior are at that point born of the Spirit and are assured of an eternity in Heaven.  (Romans 5:6-9; Romans 4:5; Ephesians 2:8,9; John 3:5-18).

Question 8

"Church" is not a building."

Accepted Answer

The “true Church”, which began at Pentecost, is composed of all individuals who through faith in Jesus Christ have been united together in one body, of which Jesus Christ is the head. (Matt. 16:18; Acts 1:5; 2:41, 42; 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 4:15).

Question 9

Water baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the only two ordinances given in the life of every believer.

Accepted Answer

Baptism follows his/her conversion as a public declaration of his/her identification with Christ.  The Lord’s Supper is to be taken regularly during the believer’s life as a memorial of Christ’s sacrificial death.  Each of these is to be practiced as a testimony to the world, but neither of them is to be construed as a means of, or an additional requirement for salvation. (Acts 10:47,48; 1 Cor. 11:26).

Question 10

We have a blessed hope!

Accepted Answer

Believers live with the constant hope and expectation of the imminent return of Jesus Christ. He will come first for His Saints and then return with His Saints.  (John 14:1-3; Tit. 2:11-14; 1 Thess. 4:13-18).

Question 11

Christ's command to LOVE.

Accepted Answer

As believers in Jesus Christ, it is God’s command that we love Him, love one another, and love those who are not believers.  We can know that we love God if we are living according to His Word.  We can know that we love one another if we are serving fellow believers.  We can know that we love unbelievers if we are befriending them and sharing the good news of the gospel of Christ with them, both personally and through missionaries.  (Mark 12:28-31; John 14:15; Phil. 2:1-5; Luke 19:10; Matt. 28:19-20).

Question 12

Every need of this ministry will be obtained through prayer.

Accepted Answer

We may share our missionary vision with others and even make known to them the specific tasks that the Lord has laid on our hearts to do, but we may not raise support through prodding or manipulating our brothers and sisters in Christ. If this ministry is of the Lord, then He will be our Patron. If He is with us, He will direct His people to give, and we will prosper. If He is not with us, we will not and should not succeed.

Question 13

We will never enlarge or sustain this ministry by contracting debts.

Accepted Answer

This is contrary to both the letter and the spirit of the New Testament. In secret prayer and God helping us, we will carry the needs of this ministry to the Lord and act according to the direction that He gives.

Question 14

We will not compete with other biblical mission agencies;

Accepted Answer

but will use the resources that God has given to us to work in partnership with them. If the Lord directs, we will sacrifice our own goals and resources in order that other mission works may be helped and the Kingdom of God increased.

Question 15

Our family that is employed in this ministry is worthy of their labor.

Accepted Answer

They should be afforded that which is required to live with dignity and to demonstrate that the Lord is gracious to supply the needs of His servants. To neglect their welfare would give excuse for the ungodly to bring unjust accusations against the Lord, that He is either uncaring or unable to meet the needs of His servants. However, those whom this ministry supports shall not be given so much as to waste the Lord’s resources, acquire luxury, or live above those who so graciously give to the Lord’s work. To seek wealth, luxury, or ease of life in the ministry is to deny the call.

Question 16

We will not measure the success of this ministry by the amount of money given or work supported.

Accepted Answer

Rather, we will judge our usefulness to the Kingdom by our faithfulness to the Scriptures in doctrine and practice.

Question 17

Our Goal is not to enlarge ourselves,"

Accepted Answer

or to become a key figure in the Great Commission but to be faithful and obedient stewards according to the grace that is given to us.

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