Mission Statement
Our mission is to connect people to God and each other for the transformation of Southeast Texas
Vision Statement:
In the next decade, in partnership with the Holy Spirit, The Temple will raise up hundreds of leaders who will invite thousands of people on a journey. This is no ordinary trip. This is an adventure of a lifetime that has an eternal destination. Our vision is a journey of transformation: biblically grounded, fueled by the Holy Spirit, and relationally connected, this adventure will focus on nothing else but making fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. Our vision is to see thousands of people move from being spiritual wanderers to becoming bold, Christ-like agents of change in their community. Like Joshua crossing the Jordan River, together, we will spiritually cross over to a new land. A promised land where people find their purpose, where moms & dads are the primary faith trainers in the lives of their children, where adrift marriages are given a spiritual rudder to happily move in the same direction, where people serve their neighbors sacrificially in the Name of Christ. We see cities changed by the unexplainable kindness & grace of The Temple that leads to an unshakeable curiosity that draws them to Christ. We will grow larger by growing smaller as we launch hundreds of groups that serve as rafts drawing people out of the waters of loneliness & despair & across to this new land of spiritual community that Christ died to give them. We see our homes as fortified seawalls against the spiritual erosion of busyness & purposelessness. We see transformed people who live out the destiny for which God created them. We will not stop until God changes the hearts & lives of the people of Southeast Texas forever
Core Beliefs
The following are the core beliefs of The Temple based on the foundational truths taught in the bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.
God
We believe in the one true, holy and living God, Eternal Spirit, who is Creator, Sovereign and Preserver of all things visible and invisible.
He is infinite in power, wisdom, justice, goodness and love, and rules with gracious regard for the well-being and salvation of men, to the glory of his name. We believe the one God reveals himself as the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, distinct but inseparable, eternally one in essence and power.
(Gen. 1:1, 26; Matt. 28:19; John 1:1; Rom. 1:20; Eph. 4:5; 2 Cor. 13:14)
He is infinite in power, wisdom, justice, goodness and love, and rules with gracious regard for the well-being and salvation of men, to the glory of his name. We believe the one God reveals himself as the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, distinct but inseparable, eternally one in essence and power.
(Gen. 1:1, 26; Matt. 28:19; John 1:1; Rom. 1:20; Eph. 4:5; 2 Cor. 13:14)
Jesus Christ
We believe in Jesus Christ, truly God and truly man, in whom the divine and human natures are perfectly and inseparably united.
He is the eternal Word made flesh, the only begotten Son of the Father, born of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit.
As ministering Servant he lived, suffered and died on the cross.
He was buried and on the third day Jesus rose from the dead in the body which had been laid in the tomb, defeating sin and death.
He ascended into heaven to be with the Father, from where he shall return again.
He is the eternal Savior and Mediator, who intercedes for us, and by him all men will be judged.
(Matt. 28:6; 1 Cor. 15:4–9, 14)
He is the eternal Word made flesh, the only begotten Son of the Father, born of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit.
As ministering Servant he lived, suffered and died on the cross.
He was buried and on the third day Jesus rose from the dead in the body which had been laid in the tomb, defeating sin and death.
He ascended into heaven to be with the Father, from where he shall return again.
He is the eternal Savior and Mediator, who intercedes for us, and by him all men will be judged.
(Matt. 28:6; 1 Cor. 15:4–9, 14)
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit who proceeds from and is one in being with the Father and the Son.
He convinces the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment. He leads men through faithful response to the gospel into the fellowship of the Church.
He comforts, sustains and empowers the faithful and guides them into all truth.
He convinces the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment. He leads men through faithful response to the gospel into the fellowship of the Church.
He comforts, sustains and empowers the faithful and guides them into all truth.
The Holy Bible
We believe the Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments, reveals the Word of God so far as it is necessary for our salvation.
It is to be received through the Holy Spirit as the true rule and guide for faith and practice.
Whatever is not revealed in or established by the Holy Scriptures is not to be made an article of faith nor is it to be taught as essential to salvation.
The Bible consists of the 66 canonical books of the Old and New Testaments.
It is the Word of God, fully true; our final authority in all matters of faith, practice, and lifestyle.
(2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20–21)
It is to be received through the Holy Spirit as the true rule and guide for faith and practice.
Whatever is not revealed in or established by the Holy Scriptures is not to be made an article of faith nor is it to be taught as essential to salvation.
The Bible consists of the 66 canonical books of the Old and New Testaments.
It is the Word of God, fully true; our final authority in all matters of faith, practice, and lifestyle.
(2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20–21)
The Church
We believe the Christian Church is the community of all true believers under the Lordship of Christ.
We believe it is one, holy, apostolic and universal.
It is the redemptive fellowship in which the Word of God is preached by men divinely called, and the sacraments are duly administered according to Christ’s own appointment.
Under the discipline of the Holy Spirit the Church exists for the maintenance of worship, the edification of believers and the
redemption of the world.
We believe it is one, holy, apostolic and universal.
It is the redemptive fellowship in which the Word of God is preached by men divinely called, and the sacraments are duly administered according to Christ’s own appointment.
Under the discipline of the Holy Spirit the Church exists for the maintenance of worship, the edification of believers and the
redemption of the world.
The Sacraments
We believe the Sacraments, ordained by Christ, are symbols and pledges of the Christian’s profession and of God’s love toward us.
They are means of grace by which God works invisibly in us, quickening, strengthening and confirming our faith in him.
Two Sacraments are ordained by Christ our Lord, namely Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
We believe all people should be nurtured and led to personal acceptance of Christ.
Water baptism is the next step after inviting Jesus Christ into your life.
Baptism is an act of obedience to the Lord that publicly declares that you have died to an old life of sin and have been given a new life in Jesus Christ (Luke 3:13-17; Acts 2:38-39; Luke 23:39-43).
We believe the Lord’s Supper is remembering the suffering and death of Jesus Christ and what He did for us on the Cross by
purchasing and forgiving and freeing from the power of sin all who put their faith in Him.
When we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, we are in union with Christians around the world as the body of Christ.
They are means of grace by which God works invisibly in us, quickening, strengthening and confirming our faith in him.
Two Sacraments are ordained by Christ our Lord, namely Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
We believe all people should be nurtured and led to personal acceptance of Christ.
Water baptism is the next step after inviting Jesus Christ into your life.
Baptism is an act of obedience to the Lord that publicly declares that you have died to an old life of sin and have been given a new life in Jesus Christ (Luke 3:13-17; Acts 2:38-39; Luke 23:39-43).
We believe the Lord’s Supper is remembering the suffering and death of Jesus Christ and what He did for us on the Cross by
purchasing and forgiving and freeing from the power of sin all who put their faith in Him.
When we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, we are in union with Christians around the world as the body of Christ.
Sin and Free Will
We believe man is fallen from righteousness and, apart from the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, is destitute of holiness and inclined to evil.
Except that a person be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.
In his own strength, without divine grace, man cannot do good works pleasing and acceptable to God.
We believe, however, man influenced and empowered by the Holy Spirit is responsible in freedom to exercise his will for good.
Except that a person be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.
In his own strength, without divine grace, man cannot do good works pleasing and acceptable to God.
We believe, however, man influenced and empowered by the Holy Spirit is responsible in freedom to exercise his will for good.
Reconciliation Through Christ
We believe God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself.
The offering Christ freely made on the cross is the perfect and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, redeeming man from all sin, so that no other satisfaction is required.
Though all have sinned and deserve eternal separation from God, Jesus Christ died on the cross as our substitute—taking upon Himself the penalty for our sins.
(Isa. 53; Rom. 3:23–26; 1 Cor. 15:3; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 John 2:2).
The offering Christ freely made on the cross is the perfect and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, redeeming man from all sin, so that no other satisfaction is required.
Though all have sinned and deserve eternal separation from God, Jesus Christ died on the cross as our substitute—taking upon Himself the penalty for our sins.
(Isa. 53; Rom. 3:23–26; 1 Cor. 15:3; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 John 2:2).
Justification and Regeneration
We believe we are never accounted righteous before God through our works or merit, but that sinners are justified before God only by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
We believe regeneration is the renewal of man in righteousness through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, whereby we are made partakers of the divine nature and experience newness of life.
By this new birth the believer becomes reconciled to God and is enabled to serve him with the will and the affections.
We believe, although we have experienced regeneration, it is possible to fall into sin; and we may even then, by the grace of
God, be renewed in righteousness.
A person can be saved from the condition of sin and spiritual death only by the grace of God, when that person experiences the free gift of new birth by placing his or her personal faith in Jesus Christ. (John 3:3, 16; Rom. 10:9; Eph. 2:8, 9)
We believe regeneration is the renewal of man in righteousness through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, whereby we are made partakers of the divine nature and experience newness of life.
By this new birth the believer becomes reconciled to God and is enabled to serve him with the will and the affections.
We believe, although we have experienced regeneration, it is possible to fall into sin; and we may even then, by the grace of
God, be renewed in righteousness.
A person can be saved from the condition of sin and spiritual death only by the grace of God, when that person experiences the free gift of new birth by placing his or her personal faith in Jesus Christ. (John 3:3, 16; Rom. 10:9; Eph. 2:8, 9)
Good Works
We believe good works are the necessary fruits of faith and follow regeneration, but they do not have the virtue to remove our sins or to avert divine judgment.
We believe good works, pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, spring from a true and living faith, for through and by them faith is made evident.
We believe good works, pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, spring from a true and living faith, for through and by them faith is made evident.
Sanctification and Christian Perfection
We believe good works are the necessary fruits of faith and follow regeneration, but they do not have the virtue to remove our sins or to avert divine judgment.
We believe good works, pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, spring from a true and living faith, for through and by them faith is made evident.
We believe good works, pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, spring from a true and living faith, for through and by them faith is made evident.
The Judgment and Future State
We believe all men stand under the righteous judgment of Jesus Christ, both now and in the last day.
We believe in the resurrection of the dead; the righteous to life eternal and the wicked to endless condemnation.
Jesus Christ will return someday, at a date undisclosed by Scripture, to judge the living and the dead.
Those who have received the gift of salvation will spend eternity with Christ.
Those who have rejected the gift of salvation will be condemned to eternal separation from God. (Acts 1:11; 1 Thess. 4:16–17)
We believe in the resurrection of the dead; the righteous to life eternal and the wicked to endless condemnation.
Jesus Christ will return someday, at a date undisclosed by Scripture, to judge the living and the dead.
Those who have received the gift of salvation will spend eternity with Christ.
Those who have rejected the gift of salvation will be condemned to eternal separation from God. (Acts 1:11; 1 Thess. 4:16–17)