Short profile:
We insist that personal salvation always involved Christian mission and service to the world. By joining heart and hand, we assert that personal religion, evangelical witness, and Christian social action are reciprocal and mutually reinforcing. Scriptural holiness entails more than personal piety; love of God is always linked with love of neighbor, a passion for justice and renewal in the life of the world.
Keywords:
bible readings, elementary school, childrens ministries, teacher, first united methodist church, faith, toddler nurseries, confirmation, gospel, churche, first umc, affiliations, worship, womens bible study, bible study, youth ministries, 1st umc, haiti, adult ministries, georgia, support haiti, port prince, john wesley, apostles, kindergartens, conversational prayer, spiritual care, faith in god, choir, god, childcare, umcorg, memberships, learning, first united methodist, emotional care, elementary schools, portal, sanctuary, church, home missionary, bible conferences, preschools, events, child opportunities, haiti disaster, gods word, after school care, illness, find a church, local church service, biblical interpretation, nursery ministries, unique products, missionary, chapel, classes, youth choir, nursery, earthquake, school, family music, prayer, prayer chapel, programs, marietta, prayer service, fellowship, music ministry, news service, christians, associations
Detailed description:
The Bible is sacred canon for Christian people, formally acknowledged as such by historic ecumenical councils of the Church. Our doctrinal standards identify as canonical thirty-nine books of the Old Testament and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament. Our standards affirm the Bible as the source of all that is "necessary" and "sufficient" unto salvation (Articles of Religion) and "is to be received through the Holy Spirit as the true rule and guide for faith and practice" (Confession of Faith).We properly read Scripture within the believing community, informed by the tradition of that community. We interpret individual texts in light of their place in the Bible as a whole.We are aided by scholarly inquiry and personal insight, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. As we work with each text, we take into account what we have been able to learn about the original context and intention of that text. In this understanding we draw upon the careful historical, literary, and textual studies of recent years, which have enriched our understanding of the Bible.Through this faithful reading of Scripture, we may come to know the truth of the biblical message in its bearing on our own lives and the life of the world. Thus, the Bible serves both as a source of our faith and as the basic criterion by which the truth and fidelity of any interpretation of faith is measured.
