Jesus rebukes the Pharisees and Sadducee's for their mandate on vengeance based on the Mosaic Law of "Eye for Eye and Tooth for Tooth." He then sets forth God's standard and teaching on the importance of non-violence and resisting the temptation of personal revenge.

Jesus begins to preach after John the Baptist was arrested by Herod, and proclaiming that the Kingdom of God was at hand. He called His first disciples to follow after Him and to one day be the very hands, feet, and voice of their Teacher.

A continuation of the series: "The Real Event"

There are no Growth Group notes this week, as the current term has ended and the first term of 2011 will begin the week of January 9th. If you haven't joined a Growth Group yet and would like to get plugged in, contact Leah in the church office at 503-656-8582 or e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

1. The Triune God
   We believe there is but one true and living God, a Trinity of one substance and power, and coeternal, namely the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
   Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14
2. Jesus Christ is the Son of God
   We believe in the deity of Christ, in His virgin birth, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to glory, in His coming again.
   Acts 17:3; Matthew 1:23; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Acts 1:9-11
3. The Holy Spirit
   We believe that the Holy Spirit proceeds from and is one Being with the Father and the Son, and convicts the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment.
   John 15:26-27; Acts 5:3-4; John 16:8-11
4. The Bible is God's Word
   We believe the Holy Scriptures in their entirety are the inspired, inerrant, written Word of God. They alone contain the will of God as far as it is necessary for us to know it for our salvation. By the Holy Scriptures we understand those sixty six canonical books of the Old and New Testament.
   2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21
5. Humanity is separated from God through sin and in need of God's grace
   We believe that through the transgression of Adam man is fallen from original righteousness and apart from the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, is not only entirely destitute of holiness, but is inclined to evil, and that continually, and except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.
   Ephesians 2:1; Romans 3:10-18; Romans 3:23-26
6. God has provided the way of Salvation through Jesus Christ
   We believe that God was in Christ reconciling the work to Himself and that Christ's death on the cross was the perfect and sufficient sacrifice.
   John 3:16; Hebrews 7:26; Hebrews 9:26; Hebrews 10:12
7. The Spirit-filled, Spirit directed life
   We believe in the Spirit-filled life and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit resulting from the total consecration of the believer to the whole will of God.
   1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; Galatians 5:22-23; Romans 6:11-14; Romans 12:1-2
8. Security of The Believer
   We believe that the believer is secure in Christ as long as he/she walks in obedience and faith.
   Philippians 1:6; Philippians 2:12
9. The Second Coming of Christ
   We believe in the imminent return of Jesus Christ.
   Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18
10. Resurrection, Judgment, and Future State
    That there is a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. All stand under the righteous judgment of God, both now and in that day. Those that are saved will inherit eternal life; those that are lost eternal punishment.
    John 5:22; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Matthew 25:41

Excerpts taken from: The Discipline of the Evangelical Church.