OUR BELIEFS
OUR PURPOSE
Our vision for Leawood East is simple. We exist to worship God, grow together, and serve others. These three foci are the biblical mandates of the local church.
We WORSHIP God
When we worship God, we express our love and devotion to Him. What an honor it is to humbly come before the Creator of the Universe. All of us are wired for worship, and the only way we can express true love to God and worship Him is through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We worship with all of our life, and we work hard to provide an exciting and God honoring environment for corporate worship through our Sunday worship services.
We GROW Together
We also exist to help you grow in spiritual maturity and in community with other believers. We help each other become fully devoted followers of Christ. Because the Christian life is one of constant growth and development, we are focused on teaching biblical principles in our Bible Study Fellowships and Life Groups that can be applied to everyday life.
We SERVE Others
Another key purpose of Leawood East is to reach out to people who are outside the family of God. Every day, we rub shoulders with people who are just an invite away from a life-changing encounter with Christ. We reach out by serving, being involved in missions, and inviting others to hear and understand what it means to be a follower of Christ.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
God
Genesis 1:1,26,27; 3:22 | Psalm 90:2 | Matthew 28:19 | I Peter 1:2 | II Corinthians 13:14
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.
Man
Genesis 1:27 | Psalm 8:3-6; | Isaiah 53:6a | Romans 3:23 | Isaiah 59:1-2
Man is made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. He is the supreme object of God's creation. Although man has tremendous potential for good, he is marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called "sin." This attitude separates man from God.
Eternity
John 3:16 | I John 2:25 & 5:11-13 | Romans 6:23 | Revelation 20:15
Man was created to exist forever. He will either exist eternally separated from God by sin or in union with God, through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are places of eternal existence.
Jesus Christ
Matthew 1:22-23 | Isaiah 9:6 | John 1:1-5 & 14:10-30 | Hebrews 4:14-15 | I Corinthians 15:3-4 | Romans 1:3-4 | Acts 1:9-11 | I Timothy 6:14-15 | Titus 2:13
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven's glory and will return again to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Salvation
Romans 6:23 | Ephesians 2:8-9 | John 14:6 & 1:12 | Titus 3:5 | Galatians 3:26 | Romans 5:1
Salvation is a gift from God to man. Man can never make up for his sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God's offer of forgiveness can man be saved from sin's penalty. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord into his life by faith.
Eternal Security
John 10:29 | II Timothy 1:12 | Hebrews 7:25 & 10:10-14 | I Peter 1:3-5
Because God gives man eternal life through Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives this security.
The Holy Spirit
II Corinthians 3:17 | John 16:7-13 & 14:16-17 | Acts 1:8 | I Corinthians 2:12 & 3:16 | Ephesians 1:13 | Galatians 5:25 | Ephesians 5:18
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their sin and their need for Jesus Christ. He also 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. The Christian seeks to live under His control daily.
The Bible
II Timothy 3:16-17 | II Peter 1:20-21; | II Timothy 1:13 | Psalm 119:105,160 & 12:6 | Proverbs 30:5
The Bible is God's Word to all men. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without any mixture of error.