HELPING YOU FIND AND FOLLOW JESUS
To all who are weary and need rest;
To all who mourn and long for comfort;
To all who feel worthless and wonder if God cares;
To all who fail and desire strength;
To all who sin and need a savior;
To all who hunger and thirst for righteousness;
And to whoever will come:This church opens her doors wide and welcomes you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Buck Creek cuts through our neighborhood. It flows from Allegan County, through Gaines and Byron Townships, into Kentwood, through Wyoming and finally to Grandville. Eventually it meets up with the Grand River and into Lake Michigan.
This little waterway was also a stop on the underground railroad. Just across the street from Lemery Park. Escaping slaves would walk in the creek toward freedom.
It is our desire that Buck Creek Community Church would help you experience Living Water and freedom in Jesus Christ. If you don't know what that means, no worries. We are here to help with that. Curious about Jesus? Check this out. Oh, and in the meantime, you belong here.
A NEW, GOSPEL-CENTERED CHURCH
Buck Creek launced October 2023. We are a new church, formed with you in mind and centered on the gospel which is the Good News--the Gospel. You really were lovingly made in God's image to reflect His love in this world. Then sin wrecked everything. But God, being rich in mercy and out of deep love stepped in by sending the Rescuer: Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ really lived the perfect life of obedicen we all fail to live, He really died the sacrificial death we all deserve becaue of our transgressions, He really rose from the grave forever conquering sin and death, He really ascended into heaven and really is coming again to save us from the presence of sin. He will make everything right and wipe away every tear from every eye.
Our job? Loving you into the Kingdom of God. Pointing you to that Gospel message. We are all about moving you from being an outsider to an insider and from moving members into missionaries.
Our Vision: A city transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Our Identity: God's family of missionary servants.
Our Mission: Helping you find and follow Jesus.
OUR BELIEFS
THE BIBLE
The Bible, the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is inspired, authoritative, sufficient and without error. Any creeds or confessions of men, while helpful in outlining and preserving the historic faith, remain secondary and subordinate to the revealed word of God.
We seek unity in essential beliefs. We value liberty in non-essential beliefs. We pursue love in all things.
ABOUT GOD
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.
“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.” Psalm 90:2
Genesis 1:1, 26, 27, 3:22
Matthew 28:19
1 Peter 1:2
2 Corinthians 13:14
ABOUT HUMANITY & DEPRAVITY
People were created in the image of God to be worshipers of His. People are the crown jewel of God’s Creation. Although created in God’s image, sin has infiltrated every area of human existence, and therefore made humanity fully broken, and incapable of living the life God designed for us to live. All humanity has inherited the debt of sin in this world, but also contributes to sin.
Genesis 1:27
Psalm 8:3-6
Isaiah 53:6a
Romans 3:23
Isaiah 59:1,2We believe in the historical and literal fall into sin of Adam as the first created man, which we call original sin. We believe that due to Adam’s sin, all men receive the guilt and corruption of his sin and consequently are deemed sinners by heritage and choice. Humanity, in and of itself, is selfish and does not seek God, but rather seeks his or her own pleasure.
THE ATONEMENT
We believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross as a substitute for sinners. We believe by the death of Jesus Christ, the penalty of sin has been paid for all who believe in Him as Lord and Savior.
Hebrews 2:17
Romans 5:11
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
JUSTIFICATION
Jesus came to seek and save sinners. We believe a sinner is justified (declared not guilty) with God not by his/her own merits or good works but by the unmerited grace of God. Even faith is the gift of God! We believe sinners are saved by grace through faith and not by works.
Romans 4:25
Romans 5:16-18
Ephesians 2:8-10
SANCTIFICATION
We believe a sinner works out their salvation together with the church. The more we submit our lives to Jesus, the more we trust Him and believe the truth, the more of Him we get. The more Jesus rubs off on us the more like Him we become. He loves us just as we are and loves us too much to leave us where we are. This is how Jesus saves us every day from the power of sin. We do all of this together, as God's family on earth.
Romans 4:25
Romans 5:16-18
Ephesians 2:8-10
Philippians 2:12
ABOUT ETERNAL SECURITY
Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in this salvation for eternity. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self effort of the Christian. It is the grace and “keeping power” of God that gives this security.
1 Peter 1:3-5
John 10:29
2 Timothy 1:12
Hebrews 7:25; 10:10-14
ABOUT THE CHURCH
The Church is the living body of Jesus Christ on earth. He is the head and the source of its life. We believe all true believers need to be a part of a local church, so that they can grow in their faith through instruction, worship, and fellowship with other believers. You can techinally be married without ever seeing, talking with or spending time with your spouse but your relationship certainly won't thrive that way. The same is true in the church. You'll never truly flourish the way God intends apart from His church.
Ephesians 5:23
Romans 12:4-8; 1
1 Corinthians 12
Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:1-16
Colossians 1:15-20
BAPTISM & COMMUNION
We believe there are two Sacraments given by Jesus Christ to strengthen our faith as members of His Church. The first is Baptism, which is a sign and seal of God’s eternal covenant of grace for us and our children. Baptism symbolizes what God has done in washing away of our sins through the blood of Christ, and unites us in the death and resurrection of Jesus on our behalf. If you are a believer then you are to be baptized. Find out more about our view on baptism here.
The second is the Sacrament of Communion. The broken bread symbolizes the broken body of Jesus Christ. The cup symbolizes the blood of Christ poured out at the cross for our salvation. Christ, spiritually present in the bread and cup, is a means of grace that strengthens us, and is celebrated to remind us of Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf until he returns.
Genesis 17: 1-10
Deuteronomy 7:9
Matthew 19:13-15; 28:19
Acts 16:14-15; 30-33
Mark 14:22-25
2 Corinthians 11:23-26
Romans 6
END TIMES
When the time is fulfilled, Jesus Christ will return in power and glory to judge the world, and to complete His total victory over sin, death, and Satan. At that time, those who are followers of Jesus will enter His reign forever. Those who are not Christ’s will be eternally separated from Him. When either Jesus returns or we assume room temperature, we will see Him face to face and He will wipe away every tear from every eye. That's when He will save us from even the presence of sin.
Acts 1:6-11
Mark 13:24-27
Revelation 1:7
Matthew 24:29-31; 25:31-46
Revelation 21:4
OUR CORE VALUES
- Gospel Centrality: We focus on Jesus, Who He is and what He has done, not on who we are and what we have done or will do for God.
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Multiplication: More disciples, leaders, groups & churches.
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Relevant: Vintage faith + modern worship.
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Diversity: Growing to reflect the diversity of our community with an emphasis on reaching dudes.
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Hospitality: You belong here.
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Generosity: Out of gratitude using our resources for the sake of the Kingdom...especially the poor.
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Strengthening Families: Equipping parents & kiddos to follow Jesus together.
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Collaboration: Partnering with other like-minded churches for gospel saturation of our city.