what to expect...

Living Hope is in the stage of replanting.  We are seeking to re-establish the health and vitality of our church ministry.  Although we are small, we care about sharing the Gospel with our community, friends and family.  We are involved in partnering with our community agencies and organizations to help those in need with the love of Christ.  We are small in numbers, but we serve a big God who can do exceedingly more than we can ask or think.  If you would like to partner with us, please contact us via email at livinghopebcpoconos@gmail.com 

Singing

Every service gives you an opportunity to join in singing hymns and spiritual songs as a congregation. It can include a multi-generational style of music.  NOTE: Song videos that show the lyrics so that we can sing along to them are commonly used on video-sharing platforms.  

Prayer

We are a church that believes in prayer. Throughout the service, prayers are led by the Pastor and members of the church. Some of these prayers deal with the needs and requests of our church family and friends, while others simply praise and thank God for His goodness and faithfulness.

Offering

We have a time where our members have an opportunity to give an offering to the Lord. While you are welcome to participate in the offering if you desire, we want you to know that we do not expect your participation.  

Preaching

We consider the preaching and teaching of the Word of God to be the most important time of the service. We believe that the best help you can get comes from the instruction you receive from the Word of God.

Service can last approximately 120 minutes and include a warm welcome, a multi-generational style of music and a relevant message from the Bible. 

When you arrive, you will notice "Living Hope" signage on the property.  We share the church with Cherry Lane UMC.  There is handicap parking and accessibility.  When you come into the church there will be someone to warmly greet you. The worship service begins at 12PM.  

Although, we desire a children's church, we currently DO NOT have a children's ministry (coloring pages, crayons and children's books will be provided).  If your children should become restless there is a nursery and a fellowship hall with bathrooms on the lower level.    

Living Hope has a “come as you are” atmosphere.  You will see some people dressed up and others dressed casually.  We have no expectations for attire.  Just simply come as you are.

We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Having limitless knowledge and sovereign power, God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things new for His own glory.  

We believe that God has spoken in the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, through the words of human authors. As the verbally inspired Word of God, the Bible is without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged. Therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises.  

We believe proper interpretation, known as hermeneutics, is essential to understanding and applying timeless Biblical truth to our lives. This requires consideration of the historical setting, grammar, literary form, and the purpose of the Biblical writing. We also see value in trying to understand what the entire Bible teaches on any one subject, which is known as systematic theology.  Proper Biblical interpretation requires adherence to the authority of the Bible, not seeing the Bible as under the authority of any theological system.

(See Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Nehemiah 8:8, Matthew 5:17-18, Mark 7:1-13, 2 Timothy 2:15, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, and 2 Peter 1:19-21)

We believe that God created Adam and Eve in His image, but they sinned when tempted by Satan. In union with Adam, human beings are sinners by nature and by choice, alienated from God, and under His wrath. Only through God’s saving work in Jesus Christ can we be rescued, reconciled and renewed.  

We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, one Person in two natures. Jesus—Israel’s promised Messiah—was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate.  

We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, shed His blood on the cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for salvation. 

We believe that the Holy Spirit, in all that He does, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ. He convicts the world of its guilt. He regenerates sinners, and in Him they are baptized into union with Christ and adopted as heirs in the family of God. He also indwells, illuminates, guides, equips and empowers believers for Christ-like living and service. 

We believe that the moment a person welcomes Jesus Christ by faith, the Holy Spirit indwells him or her. The baptism of the Spirit means that we have been united to our heavenly Father and belong to the family of God. The filling of the Spirit means that we are controlled by the Spirit, which is a continuing process as we submit our will to His. The fruit of the Spirit is the inner qualities resulting in outward actions of the believer who is filled with the Spirit. We also believe every Christ follower is given spiritual gifts to encourage believers and expand God’s Kingdom. While all the spiritual gifts outlined in the Bible are active today, we do not believe that every church practices every gift in every age. Therefore, we choose not to use the gifts of tongues, prophecy, and healing in our corporate worship services because we cannot ensure that the Biblical mandate of order can be upheld in large gatherings of people. (See John 14:15-18, Acts 2:1-5, Romans 8:14-17, Romans 12:3-9, 1 Corinthians 2:12-13, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 1 Corinthians 12:1-14, 1 Corinthians 14:1-40, Galatians 5:22-26, and Ephesians 1:13-15) 

We believe baptism is commanded by God to display an individual’s personal and living faith in Jesus Christ. As an act of worship and obedience, we immerse believers in water to publicly declare their loyalty to Jesus and to celebrate adoption into the family of God.  See Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 8:36-40, Acts 16:13-15, Acts 16:31-34, and Romans 6:3-4)

We believe that the true church comprises all who have been justified by God’s grace through faith alone in Christ alone. They are united by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. The true church is manifest in local churches, whose membership should be composed only of believers. The Lord Jesus mandated two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which visibly and tangibly express the gospel. Though they are not the means of salvation, when celebrated by the church in genuine faith, these ordinances confirm and nourish the believer.  

We believe that God’s justifying grace must not be separated from His sanctifying power and purpose. God commands us to love Him supremely and others sacrificially, and to live out our faith with care for one another, compassion toward the poor, and justice for the oppressed. With God’s Word, the Spirit’s power, and fervent prayer in Christ’s name, we are to combat the spiritual forces of evil. In obedience to Christ’s commission, we are to make disciples among all people, always bearing witness to the gospel in word and deed.  

We believe church membership is an important part of growing as a disciple of Jesus Christ.  Members have the opportunity to exercise their spiritual gifts, be cared for by the body of Christ, and flourish under the authority of spiritual leadership. Faith Church membership requires evidence of saving faith in Jesus Christ and a commitment to this local family. Members vote on the annual budget, appointment and dismissal of the Lead Pastor and Elders, and changes to the Faith Church Bylaws. The Faith Church Bylaws provide Elders with the authority to direct and care for the needs of the Faith Church family on behalf of the membership. The Elders oversee the Lead Pastor and approve the appointment and dismissal of executive-level staff. Under the direction of the Lead Pastor, the staff leads the church family in fulfilling our Purpose Statement. (See Matthew 18:16-17, Acts 14:23-24, Acts 15:22-23, 1 Corinthians 5:1-6, 1 Timothy 3:1-10, Titus 1:5-10, Hebrews 10:24-25, Hebrews 13:17, James 5:14, and 1 Peter 5:1-5)

We believe in remembering the work of Christ for us by regularly celebrating the Lord’s Supper. The elements served at the Lord’s Supper are symbols which remind us of the sacrifice Jesus made to forgive our sins and reconcile us to God. Participation in the Lord’s Supper gives us the opportunity to confess sin, rejoice in our salvation, be united as the family of God, and look forward to Christ’s return. Everyone who has received Christ as Savior is welcome to participate in the Lord’s Supper.  (See Matthew 26:26-29, Luke 22:14-20, and 1 Corinthians 11:23-27) 

We believe human life at every stage is sacred and created in the image of God. Therefore, we will celebrate and protect life from conception to natural death and treat every person with dignity. We will seek to guard the life of the unborn, find parents for the orphaned, secure shelter for the homeless, care for the elderly, and assist the oppressed. (See Genesis 1:26-27, Psalm 8:3-9, Psalm 127: 3-4, Psalm 139:13-16, Proverbs 31:8-9, Isaiah 58:6-8, Jeremiah 1:5, Matthew 25:31-46, and James 3:9)

We believe men and women are created in the image of God, equal in value but distinct in roles. Like the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have different roles within the Trinity, men and women have distinct roles in the family and in the church. We believe God has reserved the role of elder/overseer for qualified men. Under the headship of male Elders, God designed His church to be a place where individuals are redeemed, provided for, and protected. This distinction between men and women is not a reflection of worth or capabilities, but how God has graciously ordered His creation. Therefore, the members of Faith Church will appoint qualified men to the roles of Elder and Lead Pastor. The title of Pastor will be reserved for individuals who have earned ministry credentials within the Evangelical Free Church of America [EFCA] or a like-minded denomination. Beyond these distinctions, women and men are encouraged to use their abilities in all areas of ministry to build up the church and reach the world with the love and message of Jesus Christ.

(See Genesis 1:26-27, Matthew 3:16-17, 1 Corinthians 11:2-3, Galatians 3:26-28, Ephesians 5:21-33, 1 Timothy 3:1-7, and Titus 1:6-9)

We believe God created sex to be enjoyed within marriage – a lifelong, monogamous relationship between one man and one woman. The Bible teaches that any sexual pleasure outside of marriage is sin and falls short of God’s ideal for us. Therefore, we will celebrate sexuality within the covenant of marriage and exhort people to abstain from any sexual pleasure outside of God’s ideal. We will treat those who struggle with sexual identity, temptation, and sin with love and respect, while pointing them to God’s ideal. (See Genesis 2:23-25, Malachi 2:13-17, Matthew 19:4-6, John 8:1-11, Romans 1:18-32, Romans 7:2-4, 1 Corinthians 6:13-17, 1 Corinthians 7:1-6, Galatians 5:16-25, and Hebrews 13:4)

We believe divorce falls tragically short of God’s ideal for one man and one woman in the covenant of marriage. We recognize, however, that God Himself made provision for divorce and remarriage in the case of adultery or abandonment. As a church, we seek to come alongside those navigating marital problems and divorce by providing the support necessary for personal healing and marriage restoration when possible.  After a divorce has occurred, we will continue to provide care.  (See Matthew 5:31-33, Matthew 9:4-10, Mark 10:2-23, Luke 16:18-19, and 1 Corinthians 7:12-15)

We believe in the personal, bodily and glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission.  

We believe that faith in Christ secures a permanent position in the family of God, making it impossible for a true believer to lose his or her salvation. While people may make false professions of faith or make decisions which contradict biblical teaching, we believe that a true believer will persevere in faith by God’s grace. 

(See John 6:38-40, John 10:27-30, Romans 8:28-31, Ephesians 1:13-15, Philippians 1:3-7, Colossians 1:21-23, and Philippians 1:3-7)

We believe that God commands everyone everywhere to believe the gospel by turning to Him in repentance and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that God will raise the dead bodily and judge the world, assigning the unbeliever to condemnation and eternal conscious punishment and the believer to eternal life and joy with the Lord in the new heaven and the new earth, to the praise of His glorious grace.