First Riverview exists to influence others
We derive this purpose from the Great Commission given by Jesus just before His ascension:
"'And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'" (Matthew 28:18-20).
We say it this way:
"'And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'" (Matthew 28:18-20).
We say it this way:
Our primary purpose is to glorify God.
We glorify God best by making disciples of all peoples.
We make disciples by leading people to a saving faith in Christ, scripturally baptizing them, and teaching them to become thriving followers of Christ.
We desire to:
Trust in the Sovereignty of God
Devote ourselves to the Word of GodFocus on the Mission of God
Commit to the Son of God
Love the People of God
We strive for
unity in:
Our Practice
Our Belief
Our Commitment
Our Belief
Our Commitment
What we believe....
About God
There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual and personal Being. He is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He is all powerful, all knowing and all loving. He is holy and perfect in every way. God has revealed himself to us and has eternally existed as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Genesis 1:1; 2:7; Exodus 3:14; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 19:1-3; 90:2; Isaiah 48:16; Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19; John 4:24; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 11:6; 1 Peter 1:2
About Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, fully divine. He became a man supernaturally conceived and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God without sin. He fulfilled God’s plan by his substitutionary death on the cross, making provision for the redemption of people from sin. He was raised from the dead and then ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God. He is the one mediator between God and mankind, fully God, fully man and he will return one day in power and glory to judge the world and finish His redemptive mission.
Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; 53:1-12; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:22-23; 16:15-16; John 1:1-5,14; 14:6-11; Acts 1:9 -11; Romans 1:3-4; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 4:14-15; Revelation 1:13-16; 19:16
About The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. He is present in the world to make people aware of their sin and their need for Jesus. He lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth and guidance in doing what is right.
Genesis 1:2; Isaiah 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Matthew 1:18; 3:16; John 4:24; 14:16-17; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4,38; 4:31; Romans 8:9-11, 14-16, 26-27; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14; 3:16; 2 Corinthians 3:17; 3:16; Galatians 4:6; 5:22-25; Ephesians 1:13-14; 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; 1 John 4:13
About the Bible
The Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man. All scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It is God’s word to us. It is an accurate revelation of God and what he wants us to know. It is the supreme source of truth and the supreme authority for Christian beliefs and living.
Deuteronomy 4:1-2; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 19:7-10; 119:11,89,105; Proverbs 30:5; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 5:17-18; Luke 24:44-46; John 5:39; Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 1:13; 3:15-17; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:20-21
About Salvation
People are the special creation of God, made in his own image. By free choice mankind sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. The sin of mankind has affected every person and everything on our planet. Human beings are in need of forgiveness and redemption. Salvation is the redemption of man through the person of Jesus Christ for the glory of God. Salvation occurs through faith in Jesus Christ. When a person places genuine faith in Jesus they are, by God’s grace, made spiritually alive, righteous in their moral standing before God and are indwelt with the Holy Spirit who guarantees the work of salvation until it is complete.
Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7; 3:15-19; Psalm 8:3-6; Matthew 1:21; Luke 2:10-11; 19:10; John 1:12,29; 3:14-18; 5:24; 10:9-10; 14:6; Acts 2:21; Romans 3:23; 5:1,8; 6:23; 10:9-10,13; 2 Corinthians 5:17 -20; Galatians 2:20; 3:26; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5
About God's Kingdom
The Kingdom of God describes the sovereign reign of God over the universe and the particular rule of God in the hearts of people. God’s purposes and plans will be finally and completely accomplished. The Church is an expression of God’s kingdom as a local congregation of believers who fellowship together to fulfill God’s purposes in the world. The Church is the body of Christ, and each believer is baptized into his body. Each believer is given a gift for use in the body of Christ and called to work in harmony with other believers to fulfill God’s plan of redemption on the earth.
Genesis 12:1-3; Isaiah 9:6-7; Matthew 3:2; 12:25-28; 16:17-19; 18:19-20; Mark 9:1; Luke 4:43; Acts 2:40-47; 6:1-7; 13:1-3; 14:23,27; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 9:13-14; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; Ephesians 1:20-23; 2:19-22; 3:10-11,21; 4:3-6; Colossians 1:18; Hebrews 10:25; 1 Peter 5:1-4
About Eternity
God, according to His plan, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to his promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth, and Christ will judge all men. Those made righteous, through the gracious work of Christ, will be resurrected and glorified, will receive their reward, and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, a place of everlasting punishment.
Isaiah 2:4; 11:9; 13:6-9; Joel 2:11; Obadiah 15; Zechariah 14:1-4; Matthew 16:26-27; 19:28-29; 24:14,29-31; 25:31-46; 26:64; Luke 12:40; 17:22-36; 21:27-28; John 3:16; 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; 17:31; Romans 6:23; 14:10; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 15:24-28,35-55; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1,8; Titus 2:13; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:1-4
About Marriage
According to the scripture marriage is designed by God to be a relationship between one man and one woman. The Christian marriage is between one man and one woman who are followers of Christ.
Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-25; Proverbs 5:15-20; 12:4; 18:22; 31:10-31; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 9:9; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31-32; 19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16; Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21; Titus 2:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7
What we believe....
About God
There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual and personal Being. He is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He is all powerful, all knowing and all loving. He is holy and perfect in every way. God has revealed himself to us and has eternally existed as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Genesis 1:1; 2:7; Exodus 3:14; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 19:1-3; 90:2; Isaiah 48:16; Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19; John 4:24; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 11:6; 1 Peter 1:2
About Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, fully divine. He became a man supernaturally conceived and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God without sin. He fulfilled God’s plan by his substitutionary death on the cross, making provision for the redemption of people from sin. He was raised from the dead and then ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God. He is the one mediator between God and mankind, fully God, fully man and he will return one day in power and glory to judge the world and finish His redemptive mission.
Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; 53:1-12; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:22-23; 16:15-16; John 1:1-5,14; 14:6-11; Acts 1:9 -11; Romans 1:3-4; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 4:14-15; Revelation 1:13-16; 19:16
About The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. He is present in the world to make people aware of their sin and their need for Jesus. He lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth and guidance in doing what is right.
Genesis 1:2; Isaiah 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Matthew 1:18; 3:16; John 4:24; 14:16-17; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4,38; 4:31; Romans 8:9-11, 14-16, 26-27; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14; 3:16; 2 Corinthians 3:17; 3:16; Galatians 4:6; 5:22-25; Ephesians 1:13-14; 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; 1 John 4:13
About the Bible
The Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man. All scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It is God’s word to us. It is an accurate revelation of God and what he wants us to know. It is the supreme source of truth and the supreme authority for Christian beliefs and living.
Deuteronomy 4:1-2; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 19:7-10; 119:11,89,105; Proverbs 30:5; Isaiah 40:8; Mat- thew 5:17-18; Luke 24:44-46; John 5:39; Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 1:13; 3:15-17; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:20-21
About Salvation
People are the special creation of God, made in his own image. By free choice mankind sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. The sin of mankind has affected every person and everything on our planet. Human beings are in need of forgiveness and redemption. Salvation is the redemption of man through the person of Jesus Christ for the glory of God. Salvation occurs through faith in Jesus Christ. When a person places genuine faith in Jesus they are, by God’s grace, made spiritually alive, righteous in their moral standing before God and are indwelt with the Holy Spirit who guarantees the work of salvation until it is complete.
Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7; 3:15-19; Psalm 8:3-6; Matthew 1:21; Luke 2:10-11; 19:10; John 1:12,29; 3:14-18; 5:24; 10:9-10; 14:6; Acts 2:21; Romans 3:23; 5:1,8; 6:23; 10:9-10,13; 2 Corinthians 5:17 -20; Galatians 2:20; 3:26; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5
About God's Kingdom
The Kingdom of God describes the sovereign reign of God over the universe and the particular rule of God in the hearts of people. God’s purposes and plans will be finally and completely accomplished. The Church is an expression of God’s kingdom as a local congregation of believers who fellowship together to fulfill God’s purposes in the world. The Church is the body of Christ, and each believer is baptized into his body. Each believer is given a gift for use in the body of Christ and called to work in harmony with other believers to fulfill God’s plan of redemption on the earth.
Genesis 12:1-3; Isaiah 9:6-7; Matthew 3:2; 12:25-28; 16:17-19; 18:19-20; Mark 9:1; Luke 4:43; Acts 2:40-47; 6:1-7; 13:1-3; 14:23,27; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 9:13-14; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; Ephesians 1:20-23; 2:19-22; 3:10-11,21; 4:3-6; Colossians 1:18; Hebrews 10:25; 1 Peter 5:1-4
About Eternity
God, according to His plan, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to his promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth, and Christ will judge all men. Those made righteous, through the gracious work of Christ, will be resurrected and glorified, will receive their reward, and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, a place of everlasting punishment.
Isaiah 2:4; 11:9; 13:6-9; Joel 2:11; Obadiah 15; Zechariah 14:1-4; Matthew 16:26-27; 19:28-29; 24:14,29-31; 25:31-46; 26:64; Luke 12:40; 17:22-36; 21:27-28; John 3:16; 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; 17:31; Romans 6:23; 14:10; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 15:24-28,35-55; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1,8; Titus 2:13; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:1-4
About Marriage
According to the scripture marriage is designed by God to be a relationship between one man and one woman. The Christian marriage is between one man and one woman who are followers of Christ.
Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-25; Proverbs 5:15-20; 12:4; 18:22; 31:10-31; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 9:9; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31-32; 19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16; Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21; Titus 2:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7
What we value...
Biblical Teaching
We value careful, honest exposition (study and explanation) of God’s Word (the Bible) and personal application of its Truth to daily life as the means whereby God grows His people in spiritual maturity and equips them for the work of ministry and mission.
Authentic Worship
We value the celebration of God's supreme worth through Christ-centered worship, which we seek to live out daily in full devotion to Christ and weekly as we gather for corporate worship.
Grace-Filled Community
We value the transforming power of healthy relationships and small groups founded upon our shared faith and infused with grace and truth that shapes our acceptance and interaction with others.
Intentional Discipleship
We value intentional relationships and processes designed to help others become thriving followers of Christ by leading them to saving faith in Christ and teaching them to observe all that Christ commanded us through His Word (the Bible).
Courageous Mission
We value daily missional living that crosses cultural, ethnic, and social lines as we interact within our communities, along with purposeful mission in our region, nation, and world as we seek to make disciples of all peoples in partnership with other like-minded, local churches.
Faithful Leadership
Selfless Commitment
We value biblical leadership through a true plurality of elders who are tasked with overseeing and shepherding the Lord’s church and are assisted by staff pastors, deacons, support staff, and various directors.
We value a selfless commitment by all members to the health and growth of the Lord’s church through devoted prayer, covenant membership, faithful stewardship, and sacrificial service.