Preaching – Theology must be at the heart of the message. What we know and believe about God and His character determines everything we do in everyday life. Preaching should be expository in nature, explaining the text in its God-given context, and applying its truths to instruct, exhort, reprove, and correct (2 Tim. 4:2). The preacher’s responsibility is to read the text, explain the text, support the text, illustrate the text, apply the text, and demand obedience to the text. The result should be a theologically literate congregation of people who live out the truth. Words such as justification, imputation, adoption, propitiation, and such should not be foreign concepts. Preaching that is determined by the felt needs of the people is letting the sheep dictate their diet, which is not healthy or wise. Examples of expository preaching in the Bible can be found in: Neh. 8:8 and Acts 2:16.
Evangelism – The Gospel must be understood correctly if it is to be presented to others correctly. Jesus Christ is the central figure in redemption, not the man being redeemed. Mans greatest need is not to be rescued from hell. His greatest need is to know God by receiving spiritual life and deliverance from sin, which comes from Christ alone. The nature of man must be understood correctly in order to evangelize effectively. That he is by nature, spiritually dead, not spiritually sick. He is naturally at enmity against God and is inclined to reject, ignore, disobey, and hate all that is holy, because he is unholy. Man must meet God on His terms: belief and repentance. The law of God is the greatest tool for convicting the sinner of his guilt before God (Gal. ), so that he can be brought to a godly sorrow and to understand his need for grace and forgiveness. The sinner cannot be forced, coerced or manipulated into making a decision to receive Christ.
Corporate Worship – Every thing we do should be a form of worship to God (1 Cor. ).
Music – Music must be centered on pleasing God before it pleases man. The goal of music must not be to appeal to the carnal nature of depraved man. The goal is to teach truth and to praise God (Psa. 150; Eph. ) and that it should cause the unbelieving to see a difference in those who sing it (Psa. 40:2).
Charismatic Movement - The modern charismatic movement which focuses its ministries on the distortion of the supernatural sign gifts of the early church (2 Cor. 12:5-11) is in gross error because of their misunderstanding of scripture at best or because of demonic deception at worst. However, there are many sincere brethren who are in this movement. Scripture specifically mentions that tongues will cease (I Cor 13:8) of themselves. Therefore, we teach that there is no longer a need for sign gifts since the canon of scripture is complete.
Spiritual Gifts – The spiritual gifts as described in Romans 12:6-8 are given by the Holy Spirit to individual Christians at conversion. These gifts are developed in and recognized by the local church as a Christian begins growing in the Lord. The miraculous gifts that were recognized as the gifts and signs of the Apostles (I Cor. 12) are no longer in use and cannot be claimed by anyone in the church today. The gifts of tongues, miracles, and healings ceased after the death of the Apostles (I Cor 13:8). God can still heal today, but we should not seek a healer, rather we should follow the prescription as given to us in James 5:14-15. We do not deny, however, that God can and may at times sovereignly bestow one of these gifts for isolated use in special circumstances. Christians should not seek to obtain these gifts, but should rather seek the gift of prophecy (proclaiming God’s Word – 1Cor. 14:1).
Baptist Distinctives –
Biblical authority (Matthew 24:35; 1 Peter 1:23; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Autonomy of the local church (Matt. 18:15–17; 1 Cor. 6:1-3)
Priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:5-9; 1 Timothy 5)
Two ordinances (believer's baptism and the Lord's Supper) (Acts 2:41–47; 1 Cor. 11:23-32)
Individual soul liberty (Romans 14:5–12)
Separation of Church and State (Matthew 22:15–22)
Two offices of the church (pastors and deacons) (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1–2)
Saved Church Membership (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 5:23-32; Colossians 1:18)