To help people discover and fulfill their God-given purpose
for living.
What are your essential beliefs?
The Bible
We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are inspired by God and without error in the original writings, and that they are our supreme and final authority in faith and life. II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20; II Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105, 160; Psalm 12:6; Proverbs 30:5
SUMMARY OF BELIEFS:
The Bible is our only authority and our compass for living.
Jesus is God showing Himself to us.
Through His Holy Spirit, God lives in and through us now.
God is good, merciful, loving, and holy. He is worthy of our worship.
God made it all. Nothing in creation “just happened.”
Grace is the only way to have a relationship with God.
The Christian life is about us growing spiritually to become like Jesus.
God has the ability to work good even out of evil.
God
We believe in one God, the Creator, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is called the Trinity. Genesis 1:1, 26-27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; I Peter 1:2; II Corinthians 13:14
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary and was and remains true God and true man. Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14; I Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; I Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13
Human Beings
We believe that God created Adam and Eve in the divine image; that they sinned, and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death – which is separation from God; and that, as a result of Adam’s sin, all human beings are now born with a sinful nature and stand guilty before God. Genesis 3:17; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; II Thessalonians 1:6-9; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1-2
Salvation
We believe that the Lord Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures, as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice; and that all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood. We believe that all who by faith receive the Lord Jesus Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God. John 14:6; Romans 5:1; Romans 6:23; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5.
The Resurrection
We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, in His ascension into Heaven, and in His present life there for us, as High Priest and Advocate.
Christ’s Return
We believe in the blessed hope of the personal and imminent return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Coming soon...
MORE ABOUT BAPTISM:
Frequently asked questions about baptism
Hear a message on baptism by Senior Pastor Chip Henderson
The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells and gives spiritual life to all believers, enables them to understand Biblical truth, empowers them for Godly living, gives them spiritual gifts and equips them for service and witness. John 16:7-13; Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 2:12; 3:16; II Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18
Eternity
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting punishment of the lost. John 3:16; John 14:17; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:17; I Corinthians 2:7-9; Revelation 20:15
The Church
We believe that the New Testament church is a local body of baptized believers with Christ as its head and the Holy Spirit as its guide. New Testament churches promote God’s work by cooperating together for missions and many other joint efforts. The local church is to be governed independently of outside persons, bodies, groups, or authorities.
The Ordinances
We believe that the local church observes two ordinances – baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe that all who have received Christ as Savior and Lord should be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; that baptism is by immersion as a picture of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ; and that the Lord’s Supper should be observed in remembrance of Him as a testimony to His death for our sins until He comes again.
What does Pinelake believe about
baptism?
Why should I be baptized? There are three reasons that we would offer to you in regard to why you should be baptized.
To follow the example set by Jesus Christ. “At that time Jesus came from Nazareth and was baptized by John in the river.” Mark 1:9
Because Christ commands it. “Jesus said, ‘Go then, to all people everywhere and make them my disciples, baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit, and then teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.’” Matthew 18:19-20
It demonstrates that I really am a believer “…many of the people who heard Him believed and were baptized.” Acts 18:8 “We know that we have come to know Him, if we obey His commands.” 1 John 2:3
I was sprinkled as a child. Why should I be baptized by immersion?
Because Jesus was baptized that way, “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water.” Matthew 3:16
Every baptism in the Bible was by immersion “…Then both Philip and the man went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water…” Acts 8:38-39
The word “baptize” means “to dip under water.” The Greek word “baptize” means “to immerse or dip under water.”
It best symbolizes a burial and resurrection! The founders of denominations agree: Martin Luther (Lutherans) – “I would have those who are to be baptized to be entirely immersed, as the word imports and the mystery signifies.” John Calvin – “The word ‘baptize’ signifies to immerse. It is certain that immersion was the practice of the ancient church.” John Wesley (Methodists) – “Buried with Him, alludes to baptizing by immersion according to the custom of the first church.”
Who should be baptized?
Every person who has believed in Christ. “Those who believed and accepted His message were baptized…” Acts 2:41 “Simon himself believed and was baptized…” Acts 8:13 “But when they believed Philip as he preached the Good News…and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” Acts 8:2
What about infants and children being baptized?
At Pinelake, we wait until our children are old enough to believe and understand the true meaning of baptism before we baptize them. We actually have a class for those who have completed at least the first grade called “New Beginnings.” Once your child completes that class they can make themselves a candidate for baptism. (Call our children’s ministry for more information). Some churches practice a “baptism of confirmation” for children. This ceremony is intended to be a covenant between the parents and God on behalf of the child. The parents promise to raise their child in the faith until the child is old enough to make his own personal confession of Christ. This custom began about 300 years after the Bible was completed. This is different from the baptism in the Bible, which was only for those old enough to believe. The purpose for baptism is to publicly confess your personal commitment to Christ. At Pinelake, it is a membership requirement that every member must have been baptized the way Jesus demonstrated, even though many of us were “confirmed” as children.
When should I be baptized?
As soon as you have believed!
“Those who believed…were baptized…that day!” Acts 2:41
“Then Philip began with the scripture and told him (the eunuch) the Good News about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water, and the man said, ‘Look, here is water! Why shouldn’t I be baptized right now?’ Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ The man answered, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’ So they went down into the water and Philip baptized him.” Acts 8:35-38.
There is no reason to delay. As soon as you have decided to receive Christ into your life, you can and should be baptized. In the New Testament those who personally accepted Christ were baptized immediately to publicly confess Him. If you wait until you are “perfect,” you’ll never feel “good enough.”
If you need to be baptized, please contact Lanita Banaka at lbanaka@pinelake.org or 601.829.4524, and she will be glad to help you schedule your baptism.
If I have already received Christ and been baptized by immersion in another independent or denominational church, will I have to be baptized again to be a member of Pinelake?
No. Some people, however, who become members choose to be baptized again if they feel their first baptism was for the wrong reason or preceded their conversion to Christ.
What are the membership
requirements at Pinelake?
We have three requirements for being a part of the Pinelake family as a member.
You must be a follower of Jesus Christ who has been spiritually reborn. Only Christians can be a member of the “church.” This means that you admit that you have sinned. Then, acknowledge that Jesus Christ is God’s only Son and that He paid the penalty of sin by His death on the cross. And finally that you trust Jesus Christ by accepting His forgiveness and commit to following Him.
You must follow Christ by being baptized by immersion after conversion.
You must attend a Starting Point information and membership class and have an interview with our Starting Point team. This assures that you get all the information that you need to make an informed, prayerful decision that Pinelake is the church for you.
When are your services?
SUNDAY SERVICES—8, 9:30 & 11 a.m.
WEDNESDAY RENEWAL SERVICE—6:15 p.m.
How can I get involved at Pinelake?
A great place to start if you would like to get more involved in the ministry of Pinelake is the Starting Pointinformation and membership class. This class provides a great overview of the church and all it’s ministries. You can then contact any area in which you are interested in volunteering.
If you would like to get connected to a Small Group at Pinelake, plan on attendingGroup Link. At Group Link, you will meet other people seeking to join a small group, meet Small Group leaders and you can choose the group which best fits your personality, needs, etc
When is The Source open? The Source, Pinelake’s Reservoir campus bookstore is open Monday–Thursday from 10–6 p.m. with extended hours on Wednesday until 8 p.m. The bookstore closes early on Friday at 4 p.m. It’s open on Sundays, from 7:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
