GOD

God as Trinity
God is the uncreated Creator and ruler of the universe. There is one God. God has eternally existed in three distinct persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and each fully God.

Genesis 1:1,26,27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2

God’s Characteristics
God’s is Holy, All Knowing, All Powerful, Ever Present, Just, Loving, Eternal and Good.*

Exodus 34:6,7; Psalm 25:8; 139; Isaiah 6:3

*This list is not complete. However all other attributes can be derived from this list.

HUMANS
Humans are made in the spiritual image of God, which is to have all of God’s characteristics in a limited form. Man is both physical and spiritual. We are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although we have tremendous potential for good, we are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called sin. This attitude separates us from God.

Genesis 1:27; 2:7; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6; 59:1,2; Romans 3:23

ETERNITY
We were created to exist forever. We will be resurrected in the end to 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. The New Heaven/New Earth and hell are places of eternal existence.

Matthew 18:8; 25:44,46; John 3:16; Romans 6:23; 1 John 2:25; 5:11-13; Revelation 20:4,15

JESUS CHRIST
Jesus is fully God and fully man. He is the incarnation of the second person of the Trinity, the Son of God and thus the final prophet displaying God perfectly. He is the Jewish Messiah and lived a sinless human life. He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all by dying on a cross as our high priest. He rose 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.

Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:22,23; John 1:1-5,14,18; 14:10-30; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 1:3,4; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; 1 Timothy 6:14,15; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:14,15

SALVATION
Salvation is a gift from God to us. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can we be saved from sin’s penalty. Eternal life begins the moment we receive Jesus Christ into our life by faith. God will conform us into his image through the Holy Spirit until we are completed at our glorification.

John 1:12; 14:6; Romans 5:1; 6:23; 8:28-30; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5

ETERNAL SECURITY
Because God gives eternal life through Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God that gives this security.

John 10:28,29; Ephesians 4:30; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25; 10:10,14; 1 Peter 1:3-5

THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make us aware of our 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. He also transforms the Christian into the Image of Christ. The Christian seeks to live under His control daily.

John 14:16,17; 16:7-13; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 3:16; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 1:13; 5:18; 2 Thessalonians 2:13

THE BIBLE
The Bible is God’s word to all people. 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 of error in its original forms.

Psalm 12:6; 119:10; Proverbs 30:5; 2 Timothy 1:13; 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20,21

OUR VISION
The Bible has deemed one mission for the church in its pages. That mission is referred to as the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:18-20. Olive Branch has started this mission as, "CHANGING EVERYDAY PEOPLE INTO A COMMUNITY OF PASSIONATE CHRIST-FOLLOWERS." This means allowing a world of everyday people who eat, sleep , laugh and love to come to know the Author of all that we see and enjoy. It means bringing Christians who understand they are forgiven to see the fullness of their redemption by Jesus and to charge after Him in every aspect of their life, to enjoy the wonders of their God and see the depth, shade and strokes of the reality of His creation. This means that we can live in peace, truth, love, and expectations in this world while we passionately follow Jesus.

OUR MISSION
Olive Branch seeks to see everyday people become a community of passionate Christ-followers through the development of the olive tree example.

Everyday people begin their journey by entering into the ROOTS to learn the basics of being a Christ-follower. Here they learn about Christ, the church and our beliefs. They get connected through Sunday worship and finally commit to the church.

Young believers now move toward a stronger passion and community by developing in the TRUNK of the tree. They go as deep as they want in the word of God and in the knowledge of Him. They develop close relationships through small groups and discipleship. Finally they become accountable to others so they can continue on in growing passionate about Christ.In the BRANCHES the community believer continues to grow in passion by using the unique SHAPE God has given them. They learn to serve and love God and men with their lives.

Finally we see the FRUIT of a passionate Christian who yearns for the world to know Jesus Christ and the spread of this community. In the fruit people learn to tell others about this community and about their Lord Jesus Christ and what he has done for them.

OUR CORE VALUES
Biblical Centered - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Loving and Friendly - Romans 13:8-10 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For this, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET," and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Partnership - 1 Corinthians 12:7, 11-12, 20 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good....But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ....But now there are many members, but one body.

Culturally Incarnate - 1 Corinthians 9:20-23 To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.