Our Values and Beliefs
Our Values
Gospel
All of the Christian life is about the beauty of the gospel. The refreshing reality of the gospel is something we get to enjoy for the rest of our lives. This means we are a people that look to see all of our life through the lens of the gospel.
Gospel Centrality also impacts the preaching at Northbrook Church. Every Sunday we get the joyful opportunity of proclaiming the beauty of the gospel through the scriptures.
Colossians 1:23, Ephesians 2:7, 2 Peter 1:3, Mark 1:7, Luke 3:18, Acts 5:42
Mission
The heartbeat of the New Testament is sharing the good news of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins. As a people who enjoy the beauty of the gospel, we desire all people to know this same joy.
Because of this desire, we look for opportunities to invite non-Christians into our lives at home and at church. We pray and look to share our story and the gospel with others. We do this locally in our neighborhoods and workplaces, and globally among those that have never heard the gospel.
Colossians 4:5-6, Matthew 28:16-20, Acts 2:42-47
Scriptures
The Scriptures are the means by which the Triune God of the Universe has revealed himself; they are to be treasured. The Scriptures reveal how we, as believers, are to love God and love others.
We do this through studying the Bible, reading the Bible daily, discussing the Bible in community, singing the Bible, praying the Bible, memorizing the Bible, teaching the Bible to our children, and by hearing the Bible preached weekly. This flows out of our belief that the Bible is God’s inerrant Word to His people.
2 Timothy 3:16, John 20:30-31, Psalm 1, 19, & 119
Community
Christian Community is beautiful. Jesus tells us that the world will know we follow him by how we love one another (John 13:35). In the book of Acts, we see an awe inspiring picture of Christian Community in the early church and the hardship of life together: they attend church together, eat together, are happy and generous, praise God, and see more and more people “being saved.” This may sound idealistic, but it is real people following Jesus and loving one another, in the midst of real life.
Community Groups are one of the primary ways we experience this community. In our community groups, we strive to extend rich hospitality to one another, engage in genuine gospel conversations, and pour our hearts before God in prayer.
Acts 2:46-47, Matthew 12:49, James 3:1-12, Ephesians 4:1-13
Family
God has blessed the people of Northbrook with many kids, both through birth and adoption - we treasure each of them. Whether single or a big family, we share the responsibility of pointing the next generation to the hope found in Christ.
We do this through serving in Northbrook Kids and Youth Ministry and cultivating a gospel-rich culture in the home. Although family discipleship looks different from house to house, we are committed to partnering with every home in raising their kids to know, love, and obey the Lord.
Deuteronomy 6, Ephesians 6:1-4, Colossians 3:18-25
Prayer
One of the ways we enjoy intimacy with God is through prayer. God invites us to pour our hearts out to Him in honesty, lamentation, repentance, petition, and worship. All of this happens through prayer. This isn’t about being great at praying, it is about walking closely with Jesus in this life. This happens as we go to our Father, through the work of the Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
We help equip people in prayer through church-wide Nights of Prayer, prayer seminars and cohorts, in our community groups, and intentional prayer in everyday life. Therefore, we are a church that strives to seek Christ through prayer in all of life as individuals and in community. We want every aspect of Northbrook’s ministry to begin with, be saturated in, and end with prayer.
Luke 11:1, Psalm 62:8, Ephesians 6:18
Core Doctrines
The Scriptures
We believe that the Scriptures are completely true, inerrant, authoritative and sufficient.
Psalm 19:7-11; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21
The Triune God
We believe that there is only one God.* We believe that the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God; the members of the Trinity are equal in nature, yet three distinct persons. And each member of the Trinity have roles that are distinct to who they are.**
*Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-6; 46:9-10; John 17:3; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; 2 Timothy 2:5
**Genesis 1:26; Psalm 45:6-7; 110:1; Matthew 3:13-17; 28:17-20; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6
Humanity & Sin
We believe that we are, along with all humanity (Christ excluded), by birth and action, sinners.* We believe that the deserved penalty for sin is death, both physical and spiritual.**
*Genesis 6:5; Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:23; 5:8,12-21; 7:18; Ephesians 2:1-3
**Genesis 2:15-17; 3:19; Romans 5:12; 6:23; James 1:14-15
The Person of Jesus
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, was born of a virgin, is both fully God and fully human, and is without sin.
Matthew 1:20; Luke 2:52; John 1:1-4,14; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:1-3
The Death of Jesus
We believe that Jesus Christ died as our substitute to pay the penalty for our sin.
John 1:29; 10:1-18; Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 1:4; 1 Peter 3:18
The Resurrection of Jesus
We believe that Jesus Christ physically rose from the dead.
Matthew 28:1-20; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-53; John 20-21; 1 Corinthians 15:12-34
The Ascension & Return of Jesus
We believe that Jesus Christ physically ascended into heaven and will one day physically return.
John 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Hebrews 9:28; 1 John 3:2; Revelation 1:7
The Salvation of Humanity
We believe that only by trusting in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone we can be reconciled to God and experience true life and joy.
John 3:18; 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:21-26; 1 Timothy 2:5-6
The Resurrection of All Things
We believe in a future, physical resurrection of the dead. Those who trust in Jesus Christ alone will be raised to eternal reward. Those who have not trusted in Jesus Christ will be raised to eternal punishment.
Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15
Distinct Doctrines
Gospel Centrality in All of Life
This Gospel is not only the means by which people are saved, but also the truth and power by which people experience true life change; it is the truth of the Gospel that enables us to genuinely and joyfully do what is pleasing to God and to grow in progressive conformity to the image of Christ.
Colossians 3:16
The Sovereignty of God in Saving Sinners
We believe that God’s sovereignty in this salvation neither diminishes the responsibility of people to respond to the Gospel call nor marginalizes the necessity and power of prayer and evangelism, but rather reinforces and establishes them as the ordained means by which God accomplishes his saving work.
John 1:12–13, Matthew 11:27–28
The Work of the Holy Spirit for Life & Ministry
We are continuationists who believe that all of the gifts of the Spirit are still operating in the church including prophecy, miracles, tongues, and healings. We joyfully receive whatever gifts God gives us, we earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, seek to not despise them even though some have abused them, and humbly strive to grow in the fullness of all that God has for his church as we seek the Giver and not ultimately the gifts.
1 Corinthians 12:27–31
The Equality of Male & Female and the Principle of Male Servant Leadership
This principle of male headship should not be confused with, nor give any hint of, domineering control. Rather, it is to be the loving, tender and nurturing care of a godly man who is himself under the kind and gentle authority of Jesus Christ.
Plural Elder Leadership
We believe the model for church leadership found in the New Testament is for churches to be led by a plurality of elders. This means there isn’t one person running the show, there isn’t a group of staff that make every decision. Rather the church is charged to find qualified men to fill the role of elder. The scriptures call the group of these men to lead out in shepherding, oversight, leadership, and protection of the church body. The terms pastor and elder are synonymous and can refer to paid staff or nonvocational pastor/elders.
Member Responsibility
We believe each member of the church has also been charged with responsibility and a role to play in the local church. In particular we believe under the leadership of the elders, members have a responsibility to vote on members coming in or leaving the church and the appointment of new elders.