Berea Baptist Church exists to honor and glorify God through the making and maturing of Christ-like disciples who are both useful and
fruitful in the work of God. Instilling a passion for God's glory in His church (Eph 3:21) through the proclamation of His life-changing
Word shall be the central purpose which shapes the ministries of Berea Baptist Church.
The Principles of Our Church
God-Centered in Focus
Existing to bring glory to the great God whom we serve, the focus of the preaching, the programs, and the praise of Berea Baptist
Church shall be God-centered. Our God-centered focus is revealed in our:
A. Commitment to Excellence.
We believe that God's glory is worthy to be honored by the eager effort of God's people. Seeking to reflect the excellence of our God,
BBC is committed to a purpose-driven ministry which establishes measurable standards and seeks to accomplish them by using our
God-given resources effectively. Excellence in ministry is more than being the best or doing our best: it demands proper stewardship
in the performance of the right mission (Matt. 25:14-30).
B. Commitment to a Word-Centered Fellowship.
We believe that the sole authority for the faith and practice of God's people is the Bible, God's inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word.
The making and maturing of Christ-like disciples demands the clear proclamation of the all-sufficient Word of God (2 Tim 3:16-17).
We are committed to building godly hearts for godly living (Pro 4:23) by concentrating on the communication of biblical truth with
practical application to every area of daily living.
C. Commitment to Effectual Prayer.
We believe that God's people must be committed to following God's demand for fervent and persistent prayer (1 Tim. 2:1-7; Luke
18:1-8). As a loving Father, God delights in answering the prayers of His children (Matt. 7:7-11). Most importantly, God is honored by
answered prayer (Ps. 50:15). Therefore, we are committed to regular times of corporate prayer (Acts 1:14; 2:42; 4:23-31; 13:1-3),
loving intercession for fellow believers (Phil. 1:9-11), and continual praying for the furtherance of the Gospel and the redemption of the
lost (2 Thes. 3:1; Rom. 10:1).
People Oriented in Program
The maturing of Christ-like disciples who will be useful and fruitful in the work of the ministry demands a people-oriented focus.
Programs are not more important than people. Our people orientation is seen in our:
A. Commitment to gift-based ministry.
We believe that God has gifted every believer with the abilities necessary for a fruitful ministry in the local church (1 Cor. 12:7; 1 Pet.
4:10). These gifts have been given for the good of the church (1 Cor. 14:12) and for ministering to others (1 Pet. 4:10). Therefore,
we shall seek to place believers into areas of ministry according to their God-given gifts and abilities.
B. Commitment to Spirit-motivated ministry.
We believe that the Holy Spirit works in the hearts of God's people to burden them about ministering for God's pleasure (Phil. 2:13; Ps.
37:4; Neh. 2:12). Therefore, we will seek and encourage the bottom-up development of ministry throughout the church.
C. Commitment to an equipping ministry.
We believe that every member of the local church is responsible and accountable for the work of the ministry (Eph. 4:12). God has
given vocational ministers to His church for the purpose of equipping and empowering church members to engage in effective ministry.
Such ministry will result in the building up and strengthening of the body of Christ (Eph. 4:11-16). Therefore, we shall strive to place
the ministries of Berea Baptist Church into the hands of nonvocational ministers.
D. Commitment to servant leadership.
We believe that God has established clear positions of leadership within His church (1 Tim. 3:1,10). These leaders are committed to
genuine servant leadership which seeks the benefit and development of those who are served (Matt. 20:20-34; 1 Pet. 5:1-4).
Therefore, we honor Christ-like humility and strive to forge consensus among God's people through diligently teaching biblical
principles.
E. Commitment to mentoring spiritual leaders.
We believe that God calls on spiritual leaders to develop the next generation of spiritual leadership through the mentoring process (2
Tim. 2:2). Therefore, we call believers to a serious ministry commitment and invest our lives in the development of spiritual leaders
who can rise to fill our place.
Process-focused in Discipleship
Useful and fruitful disciples who live like the Lord Jesus are not developed through events; rather God's people learn to live godly
through instilling a passion in their heart for God's glory. Learning to live for the pleasure /approval of God (2 Cor 5:9; Eph 5:10)
rather than our own or anyone else's demands that we focus on the process of discipleship. This focus will be demonstrated by our:
F. Commitment to providing accountability in the context of loving relationships.
We believe that a mark of a maturing believer is a commitment to biblical fellowship. Such fellowship seeks to encourage and exhort
other believers to faithfully follow Christ (Rom. 15:14; Heb. 3:13; 10:25) and is best developed in the context of loving relationships
where there is a common interest in the welfare of others (John 13:34-35; Phil. 2:3-4). Therefore, we structure ministry opportunities
where meaningful relationships and mutual accountability can be developed.
G. Commitment to training believers for effective life stewardship.
We believe that God calls on every believer to be found faithful in the stewardship of all that He has entrusted to his care. As
managers of God's resources, believers will be held accountable for how they invest their lives, abilities, material assets, and even
their relationships (1 Cor. 4:5; 2 Cor. 5:10; Rom. 14:12). Therefore, we are committed to the development of stewards who are
well-pleasing to their Lord.
H. Commitment to relationship evangelism.
We believe that God has placed every believer into a relational network of people that is to be their primary evangelistic focus. We
believe that Christ sends each believer out to develop redemptive relationships with the lost (John 17:18; 20:21). Believers are not to
be of this world, but in the world, giving a clear verbal witness about Christ (Rom. 10:9-15), and living out the Christian life so that the
unbelievers may see it (Matt. 5:16; John 13:34-35). Therefore, we encourage every believer to have regular contact with the world,
while avoiding its corruption. We seek to train believers to communicate the Gospel and to provide opportunities for unbelievers to be
introduced to the fellowship of our church.
fruitful in the work of God. Instilling a passion for God's glory in His church (Eph 3:21) through the proclamation of His life-changing
Word shall be the central purpose which shapes the ministries of Berea Baptist Church.
The Principles of Our Church
God-Centered in Focus
Existing to bring glory to the great God whom we serve, the focus of the preaching, the programs, and the praise of Berea Baptist
Church shall be God-centered. Our God-centered focus is revealed in our:
A. Commitment to Excellence.
We believe that God's glory is worthy to be honored by the eager effort of God's people. Seeking to reflect the excellence of our God,
BBC is committed to a purpose-driven ministry which establishes measurable standards and seeks to accomplish them by using our
God-given resources effectively. Excellence in ministry is more than being the best or doing our best: it demands proper stewardship
in the performance of the right mission (Matt. 25:14-30).
B. Commitment to a Word-Centered Fellowship.
We believe that the sole authority for the faith and practice of God's people is the Bible, God's inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word.
The making and maturing of Christ-like disciples demands the clear proclamation of the all-sufficient Word of God (2 Tim 3:16-17).
We are committed to building godly hearts for godly living (Pro 4:23) by concentrating on the communication of biblical truth with
practical application to every area of daily living.
C. Commitment to Effectual Prayer.
We believe that God's people must be committed to following God's demand for fervent and persistent prayer (1 Tim. 2:1-7; Luke
18:1-8). As a loving Father, God delights in answering the prayers of His children (Matt. 7:7-11). Most importantly, God is honored by
answered prayer (Ps. 50:15). Therefore, we are committed to regular times of corporate prayer (Acts 1:14; 2:42; 4:23-31; 13:1-3),
loving intercession for fellow believers (Phil. 1:9-11), and continual praying for the furtherance of the Gospel and the redemption of the
lost (2 Thes. 3:1; Rom. 10:1).
People Oriented in Program
The maturing of Christ-like disciples who will be useful and fruitful in the work of the ministry demands a people-oriented focus.
Programs are not more important than people. Our people orientation is seen in our:
A. Commitment to gift-based ministry.
We believe that God has gifted every believer with the abilities necessary for a fruitful ministry in the local church (1 Cor. 12:7; 1 Pet.
4:10). These gifts have been given for the good of the church (1 Cor. 14:12) and for ministering to others (1 Pet. 4:10). Therefore,
we shall seek to place believers into areas of ministry according to their God-given gifts and abilities.
B. Commitment to Spirit-motivated ministry.
We believe that the Holy Spirit works in the hearts of God's people to burden them about ministering for God's pleasure (Phil. 2:13; Ps.
37:4; Neh. 2:12). Therefore, we will seek and encourage the bottom-up development of ministry throughout the church.
C. Commitment to an equipping ministry.
We believe that every member of the local church is responsible and accountable for the work of the ministry (Eph. 4:12). God has
given vocational ministers to His church for the purpose of equipping and empowering church members to engage in effective ministry.
Such ministry will result in the building up and strengthening of the body of Christ (Eph. 4:11-16). Therefore, we shall strive to place
the ministries of Berea Baptist Church into the hands of nonvocational ministers.
D. Commitment to servant leadership.
We believe that God has established clear positions of leadership within His church (1 Tim. 3:1,10). These leaders are committed to
genuine servant leadership which seeks the benefit and development of those who are served (Matt. 20:20-34; 1 Pet. 5:1-4).
Therefore, we honor Christ-like humility and strive to forge consensus among God's people through diligently teaching biblical
principles.
E. Commitment to mentoring spiritual leaders.
We believe that God calls on spiritual leaders to develop the next generation of spiritual leadership through the mentoring process (2
Tim. 2:2). Therefore, we call believers to a serious ministry commitment and invest our lives in the development of spiritual leaders
who can rise to fill our place.
Process-focused in Discipleship
Useful and fruitful disciples who live like the Lord Jesus are not developed through events; rather God's people learn to live godly
through instilling a passion in their heart for God's glory. Learning to live for the pleasure /approval of God (2 Cor 5:9; Eph 5:10)
rather than our own or anyone else's demands that we focus on the process of discipleship. This focus will be demonstrated by our:
F. Commitment to providing accountability in the context of loving relationships.
We believe that a mark of a maturing believer is a commitment to biblical fellowship. Such fellowship seeks to encourage and exhort
other believers to faithfully follow Christ (Rom. 15:14; Heb. 3:13; 10:25) and is best developed in the context of loving relationships
where there is a common interest in the welfare of others (John 13:34-35; Phil. 2:3-4). Therefore, we structure ministry opportunities
where meaningful relationships and mutual accountability can be developed.
G. Commitment to training believers for effective life stewardship.
We believe that God calls on every believer to be found faithful in the stewardship of all that He has entrusted to his care. As
managers of God's resources, believers will be held accountable for how they invest their lives, abilities, material assets, and even
their relationships (1 Cor. 4:5; 2 Cor. 5:10; Rom. 14:12). Therefore, we are committed to the development of stewards who are
well-pleasing to their Lord.
H. Commitment to relationship evangelism.
We believe that God has placed every believer into a relational network of people that is to be their primary evangelistic focus. We
believe that Christ sends each believer out to develop redemptive relationships with the lost (John 17:18; 20:21). Believers are not to
be of this world, but in the world, giving a clear verbal witness about Christ (Rom. 10:9-15), and living out the Christian life so that the
unbelievers may see it (Matt. 5:16; John 13:34-35). Therefore, we encourage every believer to have regular contact with the world,
while avoiding its corruption. We seek to train believers to communicate the Gospel and to provide opportunities for unbelievers to be
introduced to the fellowship of our church.
About Us
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| Preaching the Gospel Teaching the Word Independent, fundamental and Instilling a passion for God's glory |
Berea Baptist Church
370 Alt US 19 S
PO Box 489
Palm Harbor, FL 34683
Phone (727) 784-2733
Fax (727) 784-5463
office@bereabaptist.us
370 Alt US 19 S
PO Box 489
Palm Harbor, FL 34683
Phone (727) 784-2733
Fax (727) 784-5463
office@bereabaptist.us
Psalm 115:11 Ye that fear the LORD, trust in
the LORD: he is their help and their shield.
the LORD: he is their help and their shield.