Vision and Beliefs

Sierra Vista Church

We are a member of  ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians.  

Building churches that make disciples of Jesus Christ.

Statement of Beliefs 

As part of ECO, these are things we at Sierra Vista believe:

God is the Creator of the universe. He is one God in three persons: The Father, the Son and the  Holy Spirit. God is all loving, all knowing, and full of forgiveness. He shows mercy to His people.  God is constantly seeking to bring people back into a loving relationship with Himself.  Genesis 1:1, 26-27; Psalm 71:5-6; Psalm 90:2; Isaiah 40:28-31; Matthew 6:33; Romans 8:12-17;  Galatians 4:5-6;  1 Timothy 4:4

Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who is fully human and fully divine. He is co-equal with God the  Father and God the Holy Spirit. Jesus was the human God and offered love, new life, forgiveness  and hope to all people. Jesus lived a life of faithfulness to God and eventually that got Him killed.  His death on the cross was for us, a sinful people who need forgiveness. After His resurrection He  commanded His followers to take over His unfinished mission and He ascended back to heaven.  He reigns with God as our Lord and Savior.  Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:18-25; John 14:6-14; Romans 5:8;  1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 4:14-15

The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son. He is present in the world to make us aware  of our need for Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. The Spirit  provides the Christian power for living, understanding of the Scripture, insights into prayer and  guidance in doing what is right by God standards. He also equips each believer with gifts and  talents to meet the needs of His church and minister in this world.  Psalm 139:1-12, John 16:7,13; Romans 8:11,26; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:25;  Ephesians 5:18

Salvation, the gift of life abundant and eternal, is a gift from God to us. We can never earn this gift  through good works or self-improvement. It comes only through trusting Jesus Christ; our Savior,  Lord and friend. Through trust we are saved from sin’s penalty and offered forgiveness. Salvation  begins the moment we receive Jesus. Salvation is not just about getting to heaven; it is more about  living in this world as we would in heaven.  John 3:5,16-17; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9;  Titus 3:26; Revelation 3:20

The Bible is the God’s word. More specifically, it is the Word of God given to a specific people in  history. We understand the Scripture to be the inspired and authoritative Word of God. Rightly  understood, it is the source of truth for Christians and Christian beliefs. We understand that at  times the Bible can be difficult to understand. However, we believe that the basics are clearly  articulated and with some interpretation can be clearly understood.  Psalm 119:105; Isaiah 40:8; 2 Timothy 3:16-17;  2 Peter 1:20-21

We believe in two sacraments: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We baptize both infants and  believers, recognizing baptism as an entry into God’s family, the church. Baptism is the sign of  God’s unconditional, unearned love as we are cleansed from our sin. The Lord’s Supper –  Communion – was initiated by Jesus Christ and the elements of bread and juice represent His  sacrificial death and triumphant resurrection. Both of the sacraments give witness to the new  covenant of love between God and His people.  Mark 1:8-11; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27; Ephesians 4:4-6; Luke 22:19-20, 24:30-31; John  6:35;  1 Corinthians 10:16-17

Mission and Core Values Of the Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians.  

The Mission of ECO, “To build flourishing churches that make disciples of Jesus Christ.”  

The Core Values of ECO are as follows:  

Jesus-shaped Identity: We believe Jesus Christ must be at the center of our lives and making  disciples of Jesus at the core of our ministry.  

Biblical Integrity: We believe the Bible is the unique and authoritative Word of God, which teaches  all that is necessary for faith and life. The prominence of God’s Word over our lives shapes our  priorities, and the unrivaled authority of the Bible directs our actions to be in concert with Christ’s very  best for our lives.  

Thoughtful Theology: We believe in theological education, constant learning, and the life of the mind,  and celebrate this as one of the treasures of our Reformed heritage.  

Accountable Community: We believe guidance is a corporate spiritual experience. We want to  connect leaders to one another in healthy relationships of accountability, synergy, and care.  

Egalitarian Ministry: We believe in unleashing the ministry gifts of women, men, and every ethnic  group.  

Missional Centrality: We believe in living out the whole of the Great Commission – including  evangelism, spiritual formation, compassion, and redemptive justice – in our communities and around  the world.  

Center focused Spirituality: We believe in calling people to the core of what it means to be followers  of Jesus – what “mere Christianity” is and does – and not fixate on the boundaries.  

Leadership Velocity: We believe that identifying and developing gospel-centered leaders is critical for  the church, and a great leadership culture is risking taking, innovative, and organic.  

Kingdom Vitality: We believe congregations should vigorously reproduce new missional communities  to expand the Kingdom of God.

ECO Theology & Polity Documents

ECO ConstitutionECO-Confessional-StandardsThology Of LifeTheology Of BaptismWomen and Men Toghether in MinistryEcclesiologyPolitics and ChurchTheology of Gender and SexualitySabbath TheologyECO Website