What we believe

The Trinity

The one true, unchangeable God who lives eternally in three persons – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

God

The love, grace and sovereignty of God in creating, sustaining, ruling, redeeming and judging the world.

The Bible

The divine inspiration and supreme authority of the Old and New Testament Scriptures, without error in the original manuscripts, which are the written Word of God – fully trustworthy for faith and conduct.

Humans

The dignity of all people, created male and female in God’s image to love, be holy and care for creation, yet sinners by nature and choice, which incurs divine wrath and judgement.

Jesus

The incarnation of God’s eternal Son, the Lord Jesus Christ – conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary; fully divine and fully human, yet without sin.

The Devil

The triumph of God’s Kingdom over the devil, or Satan, and over all those beings created by God to represent Him and rule in the spiritual realm, but who rebelled, corrupted humanity and turned humans against God.

The Cross

The atoning, all-sufficient sacrifice of Christ on the cross: dying in our place, paying the price of sin and defeating sin, death and His enemies, so reconciling us, and every part of fallen creation, with God.

The Resurrection

The bodily resurrection of Christ, the first fruits of our resurrection; his ascension to the Father, where he intercedes on our behalf, and his reign and mediation as the only Saviour of the world.

Salvation

The forgiveness of sins and the welcome into God’s family for all those who repent, turn from their sin and give allegiance to Christ. This justification is solely by the grace of God granting repentance and faith and crediting the righteousness of Christ to sinners.

The Holy Spirit

The ministry of God the Holy Spirit, who glorifies Jesus Christ, leads us to repentance, unites us with Christ through new birth, indwells, illuminates, empowers our discipleship and enables our witness.

The Church

The church, the body of Christ, of which he is the head, and to which all true believers belong, comprised of both local and universal and the priesthood of all believers – given life by the Spirit and endowed with the Spirit’s gifts to worship God, proclaim the gospel and make disciples, promoting justice and love.

The Future

The personal, visible, bodily and imminent return of Jesus Christ who will raise all people to judgement, bring eternal life to the redeemed, eternal condemnation to the lost, and establish a new heaven and new earth.

Start to Stir also accepts the Evangelical Alliance Statement of Faith.