A STATEMENT OF CORE VALUES AND BELIEFS
First Presbyterian Church, Morehead City, NC

1.  We Worship The Living God.
God Almighty, revealed to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is the Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer of the world. This Triune God is the one true and living God, who will be the center of our devotion, worship and service.

2. Jesus Is Our Life.
God’s love came to earth in Jesus. Through his life, death and resurrection, Jesus restored the relationship with God which sin had broken. Salvation comes by grace through faith in Christ. He alone is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Jesus is ruler of heaven and earth. We will dedicate our hearts to Jesus as Lord.

3. The Bible Is Our Source of Truth.
The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the inspired Word of God. They serve as a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, and are our source for doctrine, for guidance, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness. We will read and study these Scriptures, for they are our only rule of faith and life.

4. Faith Will Transform Our Lives.
God loves us, accepts us as we are, and transforms us into the people we were intended to be. As disciples of Christ we are to lead a life worthy of our calling, as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God. We are to bear the fruits of the Spirit, expressing  love through service in God’s kingdom and seeking obedience to God’s will. We will strive to grow in understanding and faithfulness, adjusting our lives to reflect God’s glory.

5. We Are Part of a Christian Family.
Each person who confesses faith in Jesus as Lord receives new life and salvation. Faith is a personal decision, but it is not a private event. Christians are called to become actively involved in the Christian community through the Church, the Body of Christ on earth, and to make their faith public to the world. In thought, word and deed, we will declare our commitment to Christ through the community of the Church.

6. The Spirit Guides Our Mission to the World.
The Holy Spirit gives individuals within the Body of Christ a variety of gifts to equip the Church for its work and ministry. God intends us to be the light of the world, sharing the love of Christ so that all might come to a fuller knowledge of God’s eternal purposes. We will use our gifts to build a Church that is known for its love, marked by its unity, and determined to have an impact on the world through its outreach and mission.

7. We Have a Long Way to Grow.
As God’s elect, holy and beloved, we are to clothe ourselves with kindness, humility and meekness, for we still sin and fall short of God’s glory, and cannot claim to know the will of God fully.  We are to study and pray, worship and serve, and together discern what God is calling us to do. In love, we will run this race of faith, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, always looking to Jesus as the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.