Core Values
- Gospel-Centered – We seek to maintain a deep and abiding commitment to the message of Christianity – the good news of Jesus Christ’s redemptive work – and allow it to shape our beliefs, values, relationships, and actions. The Gospel is our guide for understanding God’s love, grace, and plan for humanity’s salvation.
- Prayerfully Dependent – We display our dependence on God through honest and authentic prayer. Prayer is not what we do before the work … prayer is the greater work. (2 Samuel 5:11-25 – David inquired of the Lord)
- Authentic Community – We embrace honesty, transparency, and vulnerability as we seek to cultivate genuine, Christ-centered relationships.
- Mission Driven – We leverage our lives and resources to make the gospel known every day, everywhere, in everything. To be driven by missions means that we are dedicated to reaching beyond our church into our community and world to share the Gospel.
- Multiplication Focused – We inspire, train, and equip believers to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others. Because God’s global mission demands that disciples and churches multiply, we believe that by creating a culture of discipleship, we can impact our community and the world one transformed life at a time.
Core Beliefs
The following are the core beliefs of Southside Baptist Church based on the foundational truths taught in the bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.
God
God is the creator and ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities: 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; I Peter 1:2; II Corinthians 13:14).
Jesus Christ
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; I Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; I Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13).
The Holy Spirit
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 (II Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:10).
Man
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).
Eternity
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; Matthew 8:11; Matthew 24:44).
Salvation
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 1:12, 14:6; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1).
Eternal Security
Because God gives man eternal life through Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in the salvation for eternity. Salvation in maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives this security (John 10:29; II Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25, 10:10, 14; I Peter 1:3-5).
The Bible
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 or error (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20, 21; II Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105, 160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5).