Poplar Creek Church is not aligned with any particular denominational philosophy or confession. Our spiritual health and consistency is guided, guarded, and governed by our Shepherds (Elders) on whose spiritual maturity and experience we depend to stay biblically centered. However, in order to gain a sense of who we are, the following core biblical beliefs and commitments are explained. These constitute the guiding principles of our teaching, ministry, and life.

WHAT DOES PCC BELIEVE ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE?
We believe all Christians should live for Christ and not for themselves. By obedience to the Word of God and daily yielding to the Spirit of God, every believer should mature and be conformed to the image of Christ.

The Bible: We Believe the whole Bible to be the inspired and infallible Word of God.

We believe the Bible, composed of the Hebrew Scriptures and New Testament, as inspired of God, the supreme and final authority in the Christian faith and life. We submit ourselves to carrying out our mission under this authority and seek to apply biblical principles to all facets of human aspiration and action.

We believe the entire Bible is the inspired Word of God and that men were moved by the Spirit of God to write the very words of Scripture. Therefore, we believe the Bible is without error.

2 Timothy 3:16, 17
2 Peter 1:20, 21
Matthew 5:18
John 16:12, 13
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tHE trinity: God is one “What” and three “whos” with each “who” possessing all the attributes of deity and personality.

We echo the Nicene Creed in our belief in one triune God, eternally existing in three distinct persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - co-eternal in being, co-eternal in nature, coequal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections.

Deuteronomy 6:4
2 Corinthians 13:14

Jesus: We are rigidly focused on the centrality of Christ, His divine nature, His saving purpose and His role as Savior and Lord in life of those who believe in him.

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man (John 1:1, 2, 14; Luke 1:35). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious sacrifice. (Rom. 3:24; 1 Peter 2:24; Eph. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:3-5).

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, after His death, physically returned to life, ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of representative, intercessor, and advocate.

Acts 1:9, 10
Hebrews 7:25, 9:24
Romans 8:34
1 John 2:1-2

Holy Spirit:  We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling every Christian is able to live a godly life.

We hold that the Holy Spirit, who, as an integral part of faith, drives our gifted nature, directs our personal growth and sustains a living faith.

We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling every Christian is able to live a godly life.

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a member of the Godhead and a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and that He is the supernatural agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling them and sealing them unto the day of redemption.

John 16:8-11
2 Corinthians 3:6
1 Corinthians 12:12-14
Romans 8:9
Ephesians 5:18

The Church: The church is currently God's primary means for accomplishing His mission in the world.

​We affirm that the Church is a unit with many parts, forming one body (1 Cor. 12:12). The Church is a spiritual organism and the body of the followers of Jesus, inclusive of persons of all cultures, races and nationalities. We value and seek to unite with local congregations in establishing the Kingdom of God and carrying out the work of Jesus. The purpose of the church is to glorify God by loving him and by making him known to the world.

We also hold to the belief that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Head of the Church and the true Senior Pastor.

Ephesians 1:22
Colossians 1:18

Humanity: People were created in the image of God to have fellowship with him.

We believe that people are created in the image of God (imago dei) to have fellowship with him and are created to love and to be loved. We also believe that humanity is fallen with a radical propensity to sin, and of himself is utterly unable to remedy his lost condition.

Because of our sinful nature and resulted alienation from God, Jesus died and rose in order to save humanity. Humans are incapable of holiness and perfect love without the sacrifice of Jesus.

Genesis 1:26, 27
Romans 3:22, 23, 5:12
Ephesians 2:1-3, 12

The Hope: We believe that the blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross, provides the sole basis for the forgiveness of sin through the free gift of grace.

We believe that the blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross, provides the sole basis for the forgiveness of sin. Therefore, God freely offers salvation by grace to those who place their faith in the death and resurrection of Christ as sufficient payment for their sin.

Ephesians 2:8-10
John 1:12
Ephesians 1:7
1 Peter 1:18-19

Baptism & the Lord's Supper: We believe that water baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances to be observed by the Church during this present age.

BAPTISM: A CELEBRATION OF UNION We practice believers baptism by immersion, a celebratory declaration of a person's unity with Christ, evidenced in this 'living picture' of the death, burial and resurrection.

THE LORD'S SUPPER: A CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY We honor the divinely instituted practice of communion and offer it openly for all people who consider themselves part of God's family. We offer communion in all weekend services in a variety of ways.

Matthew 28:13
Acts 8:36-39
Acts 16:31-33
1 Corinthians 11:23-25
Acts 22:16

Community: We believe that humanity is created for community.

God-as Father, Son and Holy Spirit-exists in eternal community. Poplar Creek Church seeks to participate in that community through corporate worship and consistent fellowship, following Jesus' great command to love both God and neighbor.

We believe that humanity is created for community. God is a community, a Trinity, a plurality of oneness. And we are created in that image. Jesus modeled this community with His disciples, as He lived and as He sent them out and taught them to live. We wish to return to the community like that of the early church in Acts 2:42-47 and Acts 4:32-35. We believe that in this type of community, reconciliation happens. God is establishing a new community, a new Kingdom.

And because the gospel is ultimately about humanity being restored to God's community, only through practicing community will individuals grow fully in the grace and knowledge to be found in Jesus. Furthermore, it is through community that a fragmented world can best witness the power of the gospel and the nature of God's work. As a culture of confession, transformation, friendship, forgiveness, justice, power, and love springs up in the lives of normal people, those who don't know Christ will be compelled to ask what is happening.

And the answer to their questions? It's that the Spirit of God is abiding in Christ's people at Poplar Creek Church as a temple, transforming every person together into the image of a communal God whose nature overflows to the world with faith, hope, and love.

Acts 2:42
Romans 12:9-10
Ecclesiastes 4:12
Galatians 6:12
Psalm 133:1
Philippians 2:1-3

Prayer: We believe that God can and does work miracles and answer prayers.

We believe that God can and does work miracles and answers prayer. We encourage a life of spiritual disciplines including prayer, Bible intake, journaling, spiritual mentoring, faith-building stewardship, corporate and personal worship, fellowship and evangelism. These disciplines, when integrated into the Christian life will spur growth, develop maturity and deepen faith.

Ephesians 6:18
Colossians 4:2-4
Psalm 37:7
Psalm 145:18
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Mark 11:24
Philippians 4:6-7
Luke 6:12

Love: Ultimately, our mission is to love—to love God and to love people.

We recognize the mystery of love. Ultimately, our mission is to love-to love God and to love people. This is the greatest commandment, embodying God's law. All sin stems from not loving God or not loving people. Loving God and loving people are intricately connected and utterly inseparable. We also acknowledge that pure love is God. The greatest act of love is introducing someone to Love, in the person of Jesus.

Galatians 5:13
Romans 5:8
1 John 3:1
1 John 4:7
Matthew 5:43-48
Luke 10:27

Ministry & Spiritual Gifts: We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowing of spiritual gifts.

We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowing of spiritual gifts. It is, however, the believer's responsibility to attempt to develop their sovereignly given spiritual gift(s). We also believe that particular spiritual gift(s) are neither essential (proving the presence of the Holy Spirit), nor an indication of a deep spiritual experience (1 Cor. 12:7, 11, 13; Eph. 4:7-8). We believe it is the privilege and responsibility of every believer to minister according to the gift(s) and grace of God given to him/her. .

Romans 12:1-8
2 Corinthians 13
1 Peter 4:10-11