OUR VISION

 

"To send out servant-hearted disciples 
with a passion for Jesus and the world"

   

OUR PURPOSE

 

We exist to:

• glorify God and His Son Jesus

• communicate the good news about God’s kingdom through word and deed

• help all men and women experience God’s forgiving love

• and to help one another grow in the knowledge and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

 

OUR CORE VALUES

 

Jesus Is Our Savior, Lord and God – Jesus is our Lord, as such we place our relationship with Him first above all others. Jesus Christ alone is our only real and lasting hope (John 14:6).

Worship is at the Center of All We Do –Worship is more than just attending a service. It is about cultivating an on-going deep and intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ; therefore worship is foundational to who we are. We recognize and value a diversity in worship styles. Matthew 23:13-36; John 9:1-41).

The Bible Is Foundational -The Bible is God’s Holy, Inspired Word. God has spoken to us through the Bible and we recognize it as the final authority for our lives. (Psalm 119:105; Acts 2:42-47).

Telling Others About Jesus –All people are made in God’s image and were created to know God intimately. Therefore, we strive to obey both the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:36-40) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) by reaching out to the world around us and sharing the love of Jesus Christ (John 20:21).

Caring Community of Friends – While we are a church of individuals, different in many ways, yet we recognize that God has called us together. As individuals we each need to feel that we belong and are cared for; therefore we rejoice together and we suffer together (1 Corinthians 12:25-27). We pray for each other (James 5:16), accept each other (Romans 15:7), serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13) and carry one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:1-2).

Committed to the Nurture of Children -- Children are a gift from the Lord and it is our responsibility as a church to partner with parents in raising a next generation fully committed to the Lord. As individuals and as a church we take seriously the training and equipping of the Next Generation (Deut. 6).

Kingdom Builders – the Kingdom is the story of a King and His people. God is establishing a Kingdom. He is extending the reign of His Son, Jesus Christ, over all the earth. The Bible calls us to seek the realization of this Kingdom as our first priority in life. Jesus taught us to pray "Thy Kingdom come." Wherever Jesus is acknowledged as King in personal repentance, faith, and obedience, there the Kingdom manifests itself. It is, therefore, a present reality, but its fullest expression is still to come. Our goal is not the advancement of a single church, association, or movement, but this Kingdom of Jesus Christ. (Genesis 1:26-28; Matthew 5:10)

 

 

OUR STRATEGY

 

We invite all those who worship with us to incorporate these values into their life daily and weekly ­ discovering how each can worship with God’s people, grow in their discipleship/relationship with Jesus and actively incorporate some form of service or vocational calling in their lives for the advancement of God’s kingdom.

 

 

STATEMENT OF BELIEF

 

At First Baptist of Dexter We Believe that:

The Bible is the inspired word of God, without error and is the final authority in life and doctrine. 
(2 Timothy 3:16)

There is one God, eternally existing in three persons ­ Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 
(Deuteronomy 6:4; Colossians 1:16-18; Acts 5:3-4)

God created man and woman perfect without sin, in His image. Men and women rebelled (sinned) against God and broke their relationship with God, others, creation and self. 
(Genesis 1-2; Romans 3:23)

God in His boundless grace sent Jesus to restore these broken relationships and pay the price for sin. 
(Romans 5:8-11)

Salvation is a free gift of God. The death of Christ on the cross is the only sufficient payment for our sins. This salvation is available for all who put their trust in Christ as Savior. 
(Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; John 3:16)

Those trusting Christ should repent of sin, confess their faith and be baptized and follow Jesus. 
(Romans 10:9; Acts 2:38; Mark 8:34-38)

The church is the body of Christ on earth, empowered by the Holy Spirit to continue the task of reaching the lost and discipling the saved while encouraging believers to work in their vocational areas for the advancement of the Kingdom of God. 
(Ephesians 4:1-16, Genesis 1:26-28; Matt. 5-10)

Christ will one day return to judge the living and the dead. He will then reign with His people forever and ever. 
(I Thessalonians 4:13-18)

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Statement of Biblical Authority

In accordance with our Statement of Faith and in keeping with the historic beliefs of this church, we believe ”the Bible is the inspired word of God, without error and is the final authority in life and doctrine”, as such it speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind and is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of church doctrine, practice, facility use, policy, and discipline, the elders with the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dexter, Maine are the church’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.

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Statement on Marriage and Sexuality

We believe that term “marriage” has only one meaning and that is marriage sanctioned by God which joins one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture.

We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to only occur between a man and a woman who are married to each other. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.

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We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of the church as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the church members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by the church in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, should abide by and agree to this Statement on Marriage and Sexuality and conduct themselves accordingly.

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We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with scripture nor the doctrines of the church.