At Sheridan CCA, everything we do flows from a deep-rooted commitment to faith and the enduring values drawn from the Bible. These beliefs are not abstract doctrines but the living foundation of our community, shaping how we worship, serve, and grow together. We invite you to explore the core tenets of our Christian faith, which guide us in love, hope, and purpose.
The Foundation of Our Faith: The Triune God
We believe in one living and true God, who exists eternally in three co-equal persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This mystery of the Trinity is at the heart of Christian revelation. God is not a solitary being but a communion of love, and from this overflowing love, He created the universe, sustains every molecule, and governs all of history with perfect wisdom and power. The Trinity is not merely a doctrine to be confessed but a reality we experience in prayer, worship, and daily life as we relate to the Father, follow the Son, and are filled by the Spirit.
Throughout Scripture, we see glimpses of this triune nature. From the creation account where the Spirit hovers over the waters and God speaks the Word, to Jesus' baptism where the Father's voice affirms the Son and the Spirit descends like a dove, the three persons are distinct yet one. This divine harmony models for us a community of unity and diversity, calling us to reflect that same love and oneness within the body of Christ.
Our worship and teaching consistently point to the triune God. We do not segment our faith into isolated compartments; rather, every prayer is offered to the Father through the Son in the power of the Spirit. This Trinitarian framework enriches our understanding of salvation, from the Father's planning, the Son's accomplishing, to the Spirit's applying. It is the bedrock upon which all other beliefs stand.
God the Father: Loving Creator and Sustainer
God the Father is infinite, personal, and perfect in every attribute. He is holy beyond our comprehension, yet He intimately involves Himself in the lives of His children. Far from being a distant, indifferent deity, the Father is deeply concerned with our joys, sorrows, choices, and eternal destiny. He hears our prayers, responding not as an impersonal force but as a loving parent who delights in relationship with us.
The Father's power and wisdom are beyond measure. He spoke the cosmos into existence and continues to uphold it by His sovereign will. Every star, every creature, every breath is sustained by His hand. Yet this same majestic God numbers the hairs on our heads and catches our tears in a bottle. His love is not passive but active: He sent His only Son to rescue us from sin and death, offering adoption into His family for all who come to Him through faith in Christ.
In our daily walk, we approach the Father with confidence because of Jesus' sacrifice. We rely on His guidance, trusting that He works all things together for the good of those who love Him. Our identity as beloved children shapes how we view ourselves and others, fostering a culture of grace and compassion within our church. The Father's heart for the lost and broken compels us to reach out with the same love we have received.
Jesus Christ: Our Savior and Lord
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, fully divine and fully human. Conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, He entered our world without ceasing to be God. This mystery of the incarnation—God taking on flesh—is central to our faith. Jesus lived a sinless life, demonstrating perfect obedience to the Father and revealing God's character in tangible ways. He taught with authority, healed the sick, and showed compassion to the marginalized.
His death on the cross was the ultimate expression of love and justice. Bearing the weight of humanity's sin, He satisfied God's righteous wrath and opened the way for reconciliation. Through His shed blood, we receive forgiveness and are made righteous before God. But death could not hold Him; on the third day He rose bodily from the grave, conquering sin and death forever. His resurrection guarantees our future hope and validates every promise He made.
Today, Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father, interceding for believers and reigning as Lord over all. He is not merely a historical figure but a living Savior who desires a personal relationship with each of us. Confessing Jesus as Lord means submitting every area of life to His kingship—our time, talents, relationships, and decisions. At Sheridan CCA, we strive to center our lives on Christ, making Him known in our community and beyond.
The Holy Spirit: Our Guide and Comforter
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, proceeding from the Father and the Son. He is not an impersonal force but a divine Person who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. In the life of a believer, the Spirit's work is indispensable: He regenerates us, bringing us from spiritual death to life, and He indwells us permanently, sealing us as God's possession until the day of redemption.
Beyond regeneration, the Spirit sanctifies us—progressively transforming us into the likeness of Christ. He empowers us for ministry, bestowing spiritual gifts for the building up of the church. The Spirit also illuminates Scripture, helping us understand and apply God's Word. He intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words when we don't know how to pray. Our dependence on the Holy Spirit is not optional; it's essential for living the Christian life.
"The Spirit's presence is the wellspring of our vitality—He convicts, comforts, and commissions us to be witnesses of Christ's love in a hurting world."
We encourage every member to cultivate a sensitivity to the Spirit's leading. This means walking in step with Him daily, yielding our will to His, and producing the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. As a church, we seek to be a Spirit-filled community, marked by unity, worship, and power to share the gospel effectively.
The Path to Salvation: Repentance and Faith
Salvation is God's gracious gift, offered to all through Jesus Christ. It's not earned by human effort or good works but received through repentance and faith. Repentance involves a genuine turning away from sin—a change of mind that leads to a change of direction. Faith means trusting in Jesus alone as Lord and Savior, believing that His death and resurrection are sufficient to save us.
When a person repents and believes, they are born again—a supernatural new birth by the Holy Spirit. This moment brings immediate forgiveness of all sins—past, present, and future—and the believer is sealed by the Spirit, indicating eternal security. Justification is by faith alone: we are declared righteous before God not because of our own righteousness, but because Christ's righteousness is credited to us. This truth liberates us from guilt and fear, anchoring our identity in His finished work.
Salvation is both an event and a process. We are saved, we are being saved, and we will be saved. At Sheridan CCA, we celebrate new life in Christ through baptism and communion, visible testimonies of inward grace. We also walk alongside one another in discipleship, nurturing growth and perseverance. Our mission is to share this good news with everyone, inviting them to experience the transforming power of God's love.
The Authority of Scripture: The Living Word of God
The Bible is God's inspired Word. Comprised of the Old and New Testaments, it reveals God's character, His plan of redemption, and His will for our lives. We believe the original manuscripts were without error, and though we don't possess them, the faithful transmission of the text under God's providence gives us a reliable and sufficient guide. Scripture is the infallible rule for faith and practice—meaning it's trustworthy in all matters of belief and conduct.
Every word is "God-breathed," making the Bible more than human literature; it's alive and active, convicting, correcting, and equipping us for every good work. We approach Scripture with humility and reverence, allowing it to shape our worldview rather than conforming it to cultural trends. The unity of the Bible, despite being written by many human authors over centuries, testifies to its divine authorship. From Genesis to Revelation, the thread of Christ weaves through every page.
How We Engage the Bible
- Regular reading plans that guide us through the entire narrative
- Memorizing key verses that anchor our faith in daily life
- Small group studies that foster discussion and shared insights
- Applying the Word in practical ways, living out its commands
At Sheridan CCA, the preaching and teaching of God's Word is central to our gatherings. We encourage personal Bible study and group discussions that dig deep into the text. Through these practices, we encounter the living God and allow Scripture to transform us from the inside out. To discover more about the community that holds these beliefs, visit our About Sheridan CCA page or explore Our History to see how our faith has been lived out through the years.