What We Believe

We do what we believe.

What we believe......the greatest commands.

Jesus Christ says,
"The first of all the commandments is: Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength."

"And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these." Mark 12:29-31

All we do is measured by these greatest commands... These are the standard. If we fail at these, we have failed at everything. We must first love God and others. Thus our simple, clear mission statement: 'Love God, Love People, Make a Difference'.

We believe..... people do what they really believe! A simple list of statements which a church says it believes can be inadequate. Actually, people do what they believe. If they don't do it, then they really don't believe it. So what we believe is encapsulated in a set of attitudes/actions which we call a Covenant. This Covenant is how we agree to relate to God and to each other.......is what we really believe.

The Keystone Church Covenant

(The Relationship Among Members)

I. Covenant Defined:
A pledge or promise between human parties before God to do something together based on common agreement.

II. The Foundation of Our Covenant:
The foundation on which this covenant is built is none other than Jesus Christ. This foundation is laid in each individual's life by a commitment to Him as Savior and Lord. (I.Cor. 3:11)

III. Building on that Foundation:
These below specific attitudes make up our covenant relationship and will naturally lead to a variety of actions and ministries.

A. Love one another... Put on love, the perfect bond of unity....I.Cor.13 ‘type of love’, Col. 3:14, Eph 4:1-3

B. Serve one another... humble one’s self & put others first, Phil. 2:3, I.Cor.10:23-24

C. Forgive one another... quickly release others, not holding offense. Lu 11:4, Col. 3:13

D. Be reconciled to one another.... as far as it depends upon you, be at peace with all men. Roman 12:14, Matt 5:23-24

E. Speak well on one another.....control our tongues, no gossip or speech that tears down/wounds. Rom.12:14, James 3:9, Eph. 4:29

F. Encourage/exhort one another to growth and maturity especially through the practice of our 7 Basic Spiritual Disciplines Heb.10:24-25, II Tim.1:7

G. Be open to one another and to the Holy Spirit. Luke 11:9-13 Mark 10:14-16

H. Be accountable to one another... Give and receive correction within Biblical parameters. Gal.6:1, Matt. 18:15-17

I. Support the whole Body with/by prayer, tithes and offerings, and service. Eph. 6:18, IICor.8:3-5, 9:7, Gal. 6:2, Mal. 3:7-12

IV. Purpose of this Covenant Relationship:
That as individuals and as a local church we might be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ in character and ministry. Ro.8:29, Eph. 5:25-27

That the full commission of Jesus Christ to His Church might be carried out in Central Pennsylvania and to the uttermost parts of the world. Mark 16:15-29, Matt. 10:7-8

That all we do in word or deed would bring honor and glory to Jesus Christ and Him alone. Col.3:17, I. Peter 4:11