OUR VALUES

While each church location has a specific mission for its local community, the shared foundational values below exist for every church in our RiverTree Movement

LORDSHIP

We love Jesus around here. The Church are people who love Jesus and let Jesus love them. The Church is not a building, but people who love Jesus so much that they allow Jesus to be Lord of every area of their lives.

INCARNATION

We make a tangible impact in our communities. Acting as the primary missionaries to love our unique communities and contexts, each church is a gathering of people who want to see the Good News of Jesus saturate their communities.

MISSION

We are sent out on mission. Jesus was sent to the cross to forgive our sins, but he was
also sent to show us how to live life as truly human in relationships UP to his Father, IN with his disciples, and OUT to the world.

HEALTH

We are committed to ministry for the long haul. Jesus said that if we don’t remain in him we can do nothing. We are humble, teachable, and always maturing in Jesus as the source of our lives.

MULTIPLICATION

We are better together. We believe that being a part of a bigger tribe is so important. This is why we give money and time and energy to more than just our own context. It is in being a part of something bigger than ourselves that we see the Glory of God.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

Expand to view the foundational theology of every RiverTree Church.

There is one God who is the source of everything.
God is one and exists as three equal persons; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God has existed eternally and is the creator of everything that exists in the universe, both physical and spiritual. He is actively involved in sustaining all things in the universe and also supernaturally intervenes in human existence to achieve His purposes. He has made mankind in His image and has gone to great lengths to demonstrate that He wants to be in a love relationship with people. (Genesis 1:26; Matthew 3:16-17; John 3:16; Acts 17:24-30; Romans 1:20; 2 Peter 3:9)
God lives in you.
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third, equal part of the Trinity (God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit) who influences the lives of unbelievers and who comes to live within every Christian. The Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to every believer so that the church might be built up and fully function as the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit also influences the thoughts and actions of every believer for the purpose of increasing the Christ-like character of that believer. The Holy Spirit’s presence in a Christian is the assurance of God’s acceptance and of a place with God in eternity. (John 14:16-17, 16:7-9; Ephesians 1:13-14, Ephesians 5:18; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7)
Although we were made in the image of God, all humans sin and need a redeemer.
Sin entered the world through Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God and affects every person.  Without the rescuing power of Christ’s love for humanity as displayed in HIS death and Resurrection, every person is doomed to eternal separation from God. The Bible promises that anyone who believes in Jesus and confess their sin is forgiven.  Further all who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior are given eternal life, will never be separated from God and are called Children of God. (Genesis 1:27, Genesis 2:7, Genesis 2:16-17; Ephesians 2:1; Romans 1:17-3:12; Romans 3:23) 
Jesus is the only Son of God, the only way to Heaven.
We believe that Jesus Christ is God’s only Son who was physically born as human being while remaining fully God. Because He was both fully God and fully human, His death was able to make the perfect and only payment for our sin and He is, therefore, the only way a person may have his or her broken relationship with God restored and enter God’s eternal presence in Heaven. (John 14:6; Romans 3:21-25; John 11:25-26; Acts 4:12)
What the Bible says about Jesus is entirely true.
We believe that Jesus Christ was conceived and born of a virgin through the power of God’s Spirit, that He lived a sinless life, that He physically died on a cross, that He rose from the dead, and that He currently sits at the right hand of God. We believe He did all of this because He loves us. (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:22-23; Luke 1:34-35; Luke 22:70; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 Peter 3:18; Romans 5:6-8; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Matthew 28:1-7)
Jesus will be back.
We believe that Jesus Christ will return to this earth to judge the world, to gather those who have put their faith in Him and to punish those who have continued to rebel against Him. While the exact moment of his return will not be known, the fact that He will return should cause us to live with urgency and should be a great hope to everyone who trusts in Him. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3; Mark 13:32; Philippians 2:9-11; Titus 2:13)
Heaven and Hell are real.
We believe that every person will exist eternally in God’s presence or separated from Him and that there will be a final judgment.  The Biblical descriptions of Heaven and Hell are meant to give us a basic understanding of these places; but that each will be more wonderful and more awful than we can comprehend.  Scripture does tell us that with Christ’s return, Heaven and Earth will be completely united.  All the works of evil will be destroyed and the earth will be restored.   The dwelling of God will be with humans and Christ will reign forever in perfect love, justice and peace.  At that time, Jesus’s promise that all who believe in Him will live even though they die will be completely realized.  (Ecclesiastes 3:11; Acts 24:15; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Matthew 25:31-34,41,46; Revelation 21:3-5; Revelation 22:5; 2 Peter 2:13-17; 1 Corinthians 2:9; Revelation 14:9-12) 
Salvation is by grace through faith.
We believe that salvation is a free gift from God given to any person who puts their faith in Jesus Christ, accepting Him as Lord and Savior. This gift of salvation includes an immediate restoration of a person’s relationship with God and, through yielding to the Holy Spirit, a lifetime of continuing transformation of that person’s character into the character of Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 3:21-22; Romans 10:9; Acts 16:30-31; Philippians 1:6; Romans 8:29)
Faith is more than just believing.
We believe that Biblical faith is more than just mental
agreement with a list of facts about Jesus. It begins with a faith-decision to trust the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to be the final payment for your sin and to follow Him as the new leader of your life. This true faith in Jesus then naturally influences the thoughts and actions of the believer and is therefore evident in how the disciple actually lives. (James 2:14-26; Matthew 7:21; Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:15)
The Bible is the absolute truth.
The Bible is the source of truth about the origin and purpose of the human race and reveals the nature of our Divine Creator. It communicates God’s perfect standards concerning human life and is the truth by which every person will be judged. We believe the Bible was written under the guidance of God himself, that it contains no errors in the original texts, and that it is sure, safe, and reliable in all matters when appropriately read and interpreted. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 1 Peter 1:24-25; Isaiah 40:8)
The Bible is completely relevant to life.
We believe the Bible is entirely relevant to human existence today and provides the best information for living the highest quality of life on this earth and for all eternity. (Hebrews 4:12; Psalm 19:8; Psalm 119:105; 2 Timothy 3:16)
The local church is the hope of the world.
We believe that the local church is the living, breathing body of Christ on this earth, whose purpose is to continue with the mission that Jesus had when He was here. We believe that all believers are meant to be an integral part of the local church where they will collectively use their God-given gifts to share the good news of Jesus Christ with the world around them and to grow together in community and character. (Ephesians 4:4; Hebrews 10:25; Acts 2:41-47; John 14:12; 1 Corinthians 12:27; Matthew 28:18-20; Matthew 16:18)
Baptism is the perfect expression of your faith.
We believe that baptism, preferably by immersion, is the perfect, outward expression of the faith decision to trust Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and that baptism of new believers was the clear practice of the New Testament church as an integral part of the conversion experience. (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:37-38; 1 Peter 3:21; Romans 6:3-4) 
There is one God who is the source of everything.
God is one and exists as three equal persons; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God has existed eternally and is the creator of everything that exists in the universe, both physical and spiritual. He is actively involved in sustaining all things in the universe and also supernaturally intervenes in human existence to achieve His purposes. He has made mankind in His image and has gone to great lengths to demonstrate that He wants to be in a love relationship with people. (Genesis 1:26; Matthew 3:16-17; John 3:16; Acts 17:24-30; Romans 1:20; 2 Peter 3:9)
God lives in you.
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third, equal part of the Trinity (God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit) who influences the lives of unbelievers and who comes to live within every Christian. The Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to every believer so that the church might be built up and fully function as the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit also influences the thoughts and actions of every believer for the purpose of increasing the Christ-like character of that believer. The Holy Spirit’s presence in a Christian is the assurance of God’s acceptance and of a place with God in eternity. (John 14:16-17, 16:7-9; Ephesians 1:13-14, Ephesians 5:18; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7)
Although we were made in the image of God, all humans sin and need a redeemer.
Sin entered the world through Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God and affects every person.  Without the rescuing power of Christ’s love for humanity as displayed in HIS death and Resurrection, every person is doomed to eternal separation from God. The Bible promises that anyone who believes in Jesus and confess their sin is forgiven.  Further all who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior are given eternal life, will never be separated from God and are called Children of God. (Genesis 1:27, Genesis 2:7, Genesis 2:16-17; Ephesians 2:1; Romans 1:17-3:12; Romans 3:23) 
Jesus is the only Son of God, the only way to Heaven.
We believe that Jesus Christ is God’s only Son who was physically born as human being while remaining fully God. Because He was both fully God and fully human, His death was able to make the perfect and only payment for our sin and He is, therefore, the only way a person may have his or her broken relationship with God restored and enter God’s eternal presence in Heaven. (John 14:6; Romans 3:21-25; John 11:25-26; Acts 4:12)
What the Bible says about Jesus is entirely true.
We believe that Jesus Christ was conceived and born of a virgin through the power of God’s Spirit, that He lived a sinless life, that He physically died on a cross, that He rose from the dead, and that He currently sits at the right hand of God. We believe He did all of this because He loves us. (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:22-23; Luke 1:34-35; Luke 22:70; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 Peter 3:18; Romans 5:6-8; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Matthew 28:1-7)
Jesus will be back.
We believe that Jesus Christ will return to this earth to judge the world, to gather those who have put their faith in Him and to punish those who have continued to rebel against Him. While the exact moment of his return will not be known, the fact that He will return should cause us to live with urgency and should be a great hope to everyone who trusts in Him. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3; Mark 13:32; Philippians 2:9-11; Titus 2:13)
Heaven and Hell are real.
We believe that every person will exist eternally in God’s presence or separated from Him and that there will be a final judgment.  The Biblical descriptions of Heaven and Hell are meant to give us a basic understanding of these places; but that each will be more wonderful and more awful than we can comprehend.  Scripture does tell us that with Christ’s return, Heaven and Earth will be completely united.  All the works of evil will be destroyed and the earth will be restored.   The dwelling of God will be with humans and Christ will reign forever in perfect love, justice and peace.  At that time, Jesus’s promise that all who believe in Him will live even though they die will be completely realized.  (Ecclesiastes 3:11; Acts 24:15; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Matthew 25:31-34,41,46; Revelation 21:3-5; Revelation 22:5; 2 Peter 2:13-17; 1 Corinthians 2:9; Revelation 14:9-12) 
Salvation is by grace through faith.
We believe that salvation is a free gift from God given to any person who puts their faith in Jesus Christ, accepting Him as Lord and Savior. This gift of salvation includes an immediate restoration of a person’s relationship with God and, through yielding to the Holy Spirit, a lifetime of continuing transformation of that person’s character into the character of Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 3:21-22; Romans 10:9; Acts 16:30-31; Philippians 1:6; Romans 8:29)
Faith is more than just believing.
We believe that Biblical faith is more than just mental
agreement with a list of facts about Jesus. It begins with a faith-decision to trust the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to be the final payment for your sin and to follow Him as the new leader of your life. This true faith in Jesus then naturally influences the thoughts and actions of the believer and is therefore evident in how the disciple actually lives. (James 2:14-26; Matthew 7:21; Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:15)
The Bible is the absolute truth.
The Bible is the source of truth about the origin and purpose of the human race and reveals the nature of our Divine Creator. It communicates God’s perfect standards concerning human life and is the truth by which every person will be judged. We believe the Bible was written under the guidance of God himself, that it contains no errors in the original texts, and that it is sure, safe, and reliable in all matters when appropriately read and interpreted. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 1 Peter 1:24-25; Isaiah 40:8)
The Bible is completely relevant to life.
We believe the Bible is entirely relevant to human existence today and provides the best information for living the highest quality of life on this earth and for all eternity. (Hebrews 4:12; Psalm 19:8; Psalm 119:105; 2 Timothy 3:16)
The local church is the hope of the world.
We believe that the local church is the living, breathing body of Christ on this earth, whose purpose is to continue with the mission that Jesus had when He was here. We believe that all believers are meant to be an integral part of the local church where they will collectively use their God-given gifts to share the good news of Jesus Christ with the world around them and to grow together in community and character. (Ephesians 4:4; Hebrews 10:25; Acts 2:41-47; John 14:12; 1 Corinthians 12:27; Matthew 28:18-20; Matthew 16:18)
Baptism is the perfect expression of your faith.
We believe that baptism, preferably by immersion, is the perfect, outward expression of the faith decision to trust Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and that baptism of new believers was the clear practice of the New Testament church as an integral part of the conversion experience. (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:37-38; 1 Peter 3:21; Romans 6:3-4) 

FOUR ADDITIONAL DISTINCTIVES

All of our locations also agree on the following statements.

Women can lead in God’s church

We are "gifts based." Women who are uniquely gifted by the Holy Spirit are empowered to serve at every level of RiverTree including pastors and preachers and elders.

Sexuality is God’s gift and very good

We hold an "orthodox Christian view" of sexuality. God’s gift of sex is meant to be enjoyed between a man and a woman in a lifelong covenant of marriage.

The Holy Spirit is powerful and essential to us

We believe all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit found in the New Testament are in operation today.

The words of Scripture point to the Word

We preach and teach from the inspired Scriptures of the Bible.