About Us
Who Are We?
We are a non-denominational, mid-Acts, Dispensational, Home Bible Fellowship (yep that's a mouthful, but don't let it scare you), here are some basic questions and answers:
What does non-denominational mean?
The Berean Church is independent and non-denominational (not supported by a denomination or part of organized religion). We make every effort to avoid becoming entangled with the affairs of this life (2 Tim 2:4), and we make every effort to avoid acting in a corporate or business capacity, without prejudice (UCC 1-308). We believe Churches should not view themselves as businesses, corporations, or hierarchical organizations. The Body of Christ is an organism, not an organization.
How the Body of Christ is supposed to function:
In Christ, there are no members of the Body that are superior or inferior (1Cor 12:12-27), the kind of fellowship God intended was that all should have the liberty (2Cor 3:17) to participate, ask questions, and share Scripture God has used to speak to them (1Cor 14:24,29-33). While there are occasions for teaching, this is not to be confused with nor should it quench the Spirit of true Biblical fellowship; for true Biblical fellowship only happens when every member is encouraged to participate.
"…from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every member participates, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love"
Ephesians 4:16
What Does Berean mean?
The Bible reference is that of a city in ancient Greece. It was a commercial center of Greek Macedonia, the capital of the province of Imathia. Berea (now Veria) was prominent from the 4th century BC and part of the Kingdom of Macedonia. Part of Rome from 168 BC, both the apostle Paul and Silas preached there in AD 54 or 55.
What is relevant about that city is what the Scriptures say about some of its residents in Acts 17:11.
"These [Bereans] were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."
What does dispensational mean?
It simply means that we believe in the simplicity and practicality of God's message for today. We believe God has given us everything we need to have "the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery (the biggest, best-kept secret) of God, and of the Father, and of Christ" (Colossians 2:2). This is made possible by the Holy Spirit energizing one to be like the Berean's: question and confirm what you hear by searching the Bible for yourself daily (Acts 17:11).
We exist for the purpose of equipping believers to rightly divide the Word of truth. This means, we believe the whole Bible is FOR us, but not all of it is TO us today. We believe that, up until the middle of the book of Acts, Gentile nations were:
"without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world"
Ephesians 2:12
The Result
The practical result of understanding God's holy Word is that souls come to enjoy it more every day. Hearts are being comforted, and we are becoming knit together in the love of Christ! If the Bible is enjoyed, then daily Bible study is not a burden and truly is the food for closer fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ; this filling with the Spirit (cp Ephesians 5:18,19 with Colossians 3:16) cannot help but spill out into the lives of others.