Here is a brief summary of where we come from and the beliefs upon which Bridgeway is founded
Historical Roots
Bridgeway Community Church is affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church in North America. The
Christian Reformed Church is a denomination that has about 300,000 members in 1,000
congregations across the United States and Canada.
We call ourselves
• Christian because we belong to Jesus Christ and want to be his followers. We recognize as fellow-
Christians all people who accept the teachings of the Bible as summarized in the Apostle’s Creed.
• Reformed because we're part of that historic branch of the Christian church that following the
teachings of 16th-century reformer John Calvin, who struggled to return Christianity to its biblical
roots.
• Church because God has called us to be a fellowship of his people in the world.
We often call ourselves "the CRC" for short.
For more information, click on the following link: www.crcna.org
Our ‘Reformed’ identity shapes how we view the world and all of life:
• In the beginning, the triune God made the world wonderfully good.
• Near the start, the human family brought evil into the world and spoiled the awesome goodness.
• In the end, God plans to ‘make all things new’ through Jesus Christ, who will come again, to finish
what he started.
• In the meantime, God’s children are to go into the world and create signs of renewal, pointing
‘passionately yet imperfectly’ to the good world to come.
The following is a summary of these core beliefs held by Bridgeway Community Church and all
Protestant believing churches.
The Bible
We believe the Bible is God’s word, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written
under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and
conduct. In it, God reveals Himself; renews our understanding of the world and ourselves; and directs
us in all our relationships and activities.
2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Mark 13:31; John 8:31, 32; John 20:31; Acts 20:32
The Trinity
We believe there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons, that these are equal
in every divine perfection, and that they carry out distinct but harmonious offices in the work of
creation, providence, and redemption.
Genesis 1:1, 26; John 1:1, 3; Matthew 28:19; John 4:24; Romans 1:19, 20; Ephesians 4:5, 6
God the Father
We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love.
We believe He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of humans, that He hears and answers
prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus.
Luke 10:21,22; Matthew 23:9; John 3:16; 6:27; Romans 1:7; 1 Timothy 1:1, 2; 2:5, 6; 1 Peter 1:3; Revelation 1:6
Jesus Christ
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s one and only Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His
virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death for
our sins, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, continuing intercession for His people and
personal visible return.
Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1; 20:28; Romans 9:5; 8:46; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:21-23; John 20:30, 31; Matthew 20:28;
Ephesians 1:4; Acts 1:11; Romans 5:6-8; 6:9, 10; Hebrews 9:28; 1 Timothy 3:16
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit who came from the Father and Son to create faith, cleanse and renew
hearts, and build a community of love and holiness for all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe the
Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide.
John 14:16, 17, 26; John 16:9-14; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; Galatians 5:22-26
Creation
The world belongs to God, who created it and sustains it by His providence. Creation is the theatre of
God’s glory, displaying His power and majesty. God calls us to discover creation’s resources, to
receive these gifts with thanksgiving and delight, and to use them wisely as stewards and caretakers
who are responsible to God and to our neighbor. We are created by God in His image and now
represent Him on earth.
Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 10:12-14; Isaiah 40; Psalm 139; Romans 1:20; 2 Corinthians 5:20
The Fall
The fall is about sin entering the world and disrupting the natural order of things (creation). All of
creation has been adversely affected by it and is distorted, corrupted or perverted in one way or
another. When our first parents disobeyed God and sought happiness in the lie of Satan, they
brought judgment upon themselves, their posterity and creation. Brokenness, disease, hate,
arrogance, alienation, abuse of creation, and ultimately death are some of the fruits of sin in our world.
Genesis 1:3-19; Romans 8:22; Romans 6:23; 5:12; Galatians 5:19-21
Redemption
Life is about returning to our original state of being. It is a journey back home if you will. The
supremacy of Jesus is our only hope in finding our way back home. He is our only solution to the
problem of sin. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus triumphed over sin and death. He promises
to rescue, renew and bring peace to all that have a living faith in Him.
Colossians 1:12-20; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4, 57; Ephesians 1:7; Psalm 49:7
The Church
We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Jesus is the head and all believers
are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of believers who meet together regularly in
small groups and corporately in Celebration services. We believe the church is the hope of the world
and that God has given the church the privilege of living the gospel of Jesus to all peoples.
Ephesians 2:19-22; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 5:19-21; Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:23-25
Christian Conduct
We believe that a Christian should live for the glory of God and the well being of others. That their
conduct should be blameless before the world; that they should be faithful stewards of His
possessions; and that they should seek in themselves and others a deepening of their vital union with
Jesus to full maturity.
1 Corinthians 10:31; Romans 12:1-3; Hebrews 12:1,2; John 14:15, 23, 24; 1 John 2:3-6; 2 Corinthians 9:6-9; 1 Corinthians 4:2;
Colossians 1:9, 10
Last Things
We believe in the personal and visible return of Jesus to earth and the establishment of His Kingdom.
We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the renewal of creation, the eternal joy
of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked.
Matthew 16:27; Mark 14:62; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; Philippians 3:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:15; 2 Timothy 4:1; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 4:5,
15; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 20:4-6, 11-15