Our First Service | Thousand Oaks, California | October 4, 2015
Worship Online With Us
Sunday 10:30 AM PST · 11:30 AM MST · 12:30 PM CST · 1:30 PM EST
Worship locally With Us
Sundays 10:00 AM MST | 975 W 1700 S, Suite 201, Syracuse UT 84075
Welcome to Our Christ-Centered Community
We are a Christ-centered Bible Church where all things can become new.
Living Well Church is a Christ-centered community that exists to help people become what God created them to be. Our Bible church will help you accomplish this by nurturing a vibrant and interactive relationship with Jesus Christ. Everything we are about and everything we do is for the purpose of helping people grow in their understanding of God and their purpose in life. Where you are on life’s path is not a hindrance because with God, all things can become new! God is for you, not against you—and so is Living Well Church! We are a Christ-centered community in Syracuse, UT where you can grow, believe, and belong.
About Us
Our Beliefs
ARTICLE 3. Statement of Faith
In Essential Beliefs – We Have Unity
Today we live in a culture that elevates opinion over truth. Essentials and absolutes are minimized at best or ridiculed at worst. Culture today is filled with competing theories about God and salvation and rejecting the notion that all paths lead to God is said to be intolerant. Yet, in the midst of a world filled with contradictory claims, Jesus made a bold assertion in John 14:6 (NKJ): I am the Way, the Truth and the Life No one comes to the Father except through Me. There are certain timeless truths that we hold to, as they are essential to the Truth that Jesus is and proclaimed. Without these essentials, Christianity would not be the Christianity as revealed in God’s Word. Simply stated there are some things that are not negotiable and must be proclaimed but always in a spirit of love and humility. We make it our aim to attain to this type of proclamation.
Hebrews 13:8: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.
In Non-Essentials – We Have Liberty
In many ways, denominations and churches have misrepresented the heart of God by “majoring in the minors.” Emphasizing non-essential beliefs as if they were essential beliefs has produced attitudes that are not Christ-like; requirements that are not Biblically-based; and the exclusion of many due to not measuring up to these requirements. We recognize that many beliefs held dear by individuals are at their core “non-essential” if they do not directly affect the eternal destiny of people. So, we welcome everyone with various non-essential beliefs. Romans 14:1, 12-13: 1Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. 12So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13Therefore, let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.
In All Our Beliefs – We Show Love
We believe it is supremely important to welcome people into an atmosphere of genuine love and acceptance as it is in that type of atmosphere in which they grow best. Showing people a lot of love and grace is many times the missing ingredient that would make the difference in their lives. God graciously lets us know that we are loved “while we were yet sinners” (Romans 5:8) and we all need to know we are loved even though each of us is imperfect and still in process. In other words, we don’t have to “get good” in order to be loved. And finally, it takes time for lasting growth to take place. At Living Well Church (LWC), Inc. there is no demand for change to be quick as it is God that causes growth. 1 Corinthians 13:2: And though I … understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
So, with these thoughts in mind, the following is our Faith Statement.
About The Bible
The sole basis of our belief is the Bible, composed of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments. We believe that Scripture in its entirety originated with God and that chosen men wrote it under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. Scripture, thus at one and the same time, speaks with the authority of God and reflects the backgrounds, styles and vocabularies of the human writers. We hold that Scripture is infallible and inerrant in the original manuscripts and is the unique, full and final authority on all matters of faith and practice. There are no other writings similarly inspired by God.
About God
We believe that there is one true, holy God, eternally existing in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – each of Whom possesses equally all the attributes of deity and the characteristics of personality. In the beginning God created the world by His Word and all creation continues to be sustained by the Word of His power. By His providence, He is operating throughout history to fulfill His redemptive purposes. As Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer and Ruler of all things, we owe Him the highest reverence, worship, and obedience.
About Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the eternal Second Person of the Trinity, who was united forever with a true human nature by miraculous conception of the Holy Spirit and birth through the Virgin Mary. He lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father and voluntarily redeemed the sins of all by dying on the cross as our substitute. He thus satisfied divine justice and accomplished salvation for all that trust in Him alone. He physically rose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He lived and died. He ascended into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of the Father, where He, the only Mediator between God and man, continually makes intercession for His own. He shall come again to earth, personally and visibly, to consummate history and the eternal plan of God.
About Salvation
The central purpose of God’s revelation in Scripture is to call all people into fellowship with Him. Originally created to have fellowship with God, man defied God, choosing to go his independent way. He was thus alienated from God. He suffered the corruption of his nature and was unable to please God. The fall took place at the beginning of human history, and all individuals since have suffered these consequences and are thus in need of the saving grace of God. The salvation of humanity is, then, wholly a work of God’s free grace through the shed blood of Jesus. It is not the result, in whole or in part, of human works or goodness, and must be personally appropriated by repentance and faith.
God’s saving work is not limited to the heart. Salvation is an all-inclusive term that includes soundness of the mind and healing for the body. We believe both of these benefits are included in the finished work of Christ on the cross as indicated in Isaiah 53:4-5, where it reads, Surely, He hath borne our griefs (literally, sicknesses) and carried our sorrows (literally, pains), the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. While we rejoice with the good work of doctors and other health care professionals, the benefits we reference in this statement are as a result of God’s work in Christ and can be received by faith in what has been provided us directly from our heavenly Father. There are many biblical ways to receive healing, including prayer and the laying on of hands.
About the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the eternal Third Person of the Trinity. He was sent into the world by the Father and the Son, to apply to humanity the saving work of Christ.
The Holy Spirit indwells people. The essential accompaniment of a genuine saving relationship with Jesus Christ is a life of holiness and obedience, attained by people as they submit to the indwelling Holy Spirit. He enlightens the minds of unbelievers, awakens in them recognition of their need of a Savior and regenerates them. At the point of salvation, He permanently indwells each one who believes to become the source of assurance, strength, and wisdom, and uniquely endows each believer with gifts for the building up of the body. 1 Corinthians 12:13 (NKJ): For by one Spirit, we were all baptized into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free – and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. The Holy Spirit guides believers in understanding and applying the Scripture.
The Holy Spirit fills believers. Additionally, He enhances the ability of Spirit-filled believers to worship God and to work with Him by furthering His purposes in prayer through the resource of spiritual language as well as operate in the nine gifts of the Spirit as listed in 1 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NKJ): But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. This infilling of the Holy Spirit is subsequent to salvation by faith. He enables every believer – whether Spirit-indwelt or Spirit-filled – to lead a life of Christ-like character that is a witness of His power.
About the Church
The Church is composed of all who have experienced the new birth through faith in Christ and are born into the family of God. They become members of what Scripture describes as “His body” (1 Corinthians 12:12). This is known generally as the universal Church, composed of all those who have ever acknowledged Jesus Christ as the only Savior for humanity. The universal Church is composed of all believers whether they are in heaven or on earth.
Believers on earth gather together in local Churches, since the New Testament encourages corporate fellowship, worship, prayer, teaching and evangelism. The local Church is therefore indispensable for God’s plan for His people and the world. Under the care of pastors and other leadership, members of the local Church are to work together to fulfill the great commission.
There are two ordinances given to the Church for believers: water baptism and communion. Baptism in water by immersion symbolizes the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the new life believers have in Him. The regular observance of communion is a celebration of Christ’s finished work on the cross and anticipates His second coming.
About Human Destiny
Death seals the eternal destiny of each person as people were created to exist forever.
For all humanity, there will be a resurrection of the body into the spiritual world and a judgment that will determine the fate of each individual. Unbelievers will exist eternally in a state separated from God in a place known as the lake of fire, because their names will not be found in the book of life. Their detention there is eternal retribution for their rejection of God’s gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ. Believers will exist eternally in fellowship with God in a place known as heaven, because their names will be found in the book of life. Their reception there is eternal reward for their acceptance of God’s gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ.
Our Purpose
Our Purpose Statement
We believe every church is defined by what it is committed to. Living Well Church is committed to:
Adoring God
Matthew 22:37-38: Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.
Genesis 3:8: And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.
We walk with God in daily devotional fellowship because we adore Him in response to His love for us. God has been in a love affair with humanity since the beginning of the creation of Adam and formation of Eve. In fact, everything that was created – earth and everything on it – was created for us! God would come in the cool of the day and fellowship with them. This continued until the serpent deceived Eve, then Adam joined her and rebelled against God. We encourage walking with God every day in a devotional habit that is personal, openhearted, interactive, and genuine. We call it Walking With Jesus Every Day in a nod to what He did with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. When you adore someone, you want to spend time with them regularly.
Befriending People
Matthew 22:39-40: And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.
2 Corinthians 5:19 Clarence Jordan: God was in Christ hugging the world to Himself.
We offer friendship to people believing they matter to God and therefore ought to matter to us. In Jesus’ day He did not have trouble with people being drawn to Him, even people with issues. The only people He had trouble with were the religious ones. He was Truth and Holiness incarnate, yet He loved people with such a compassionate attitude that they were drawn to Him instead of repulsed by Him. We encourage believers to see people as He does and cultivate the same attitude of love for people by using Contagious Christian principles. We must move the love of God from our heads to our hearts and engage people as Jesus did. We believe they will want to know Him as you do, if you love them first.
Cultivating Disciples
Matthew 28:19-20: Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
2 Timothy 2:2: And the things that you have heard from me … commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
We nurture believers to maturity through intimate, accountable relationships using God’s Word as our guide. Discipleship is an intentional relationship; one in which we walk alongside others in order to encourage, equip and challenge each other to grow toward maturity in Christ. When Jesus commanded us to make disciples, He spoke the mission statement for the church. Making disciples ensures that the gospel is embedded deeply in the lives of believers. They will then serve as mentors to future generations. Jesus always lived with a view to the end of His earthly ministry. The preparation of a few who would carry on His ministry after He ascended to the Father was ever before Him. Our C4C groups serve as a vehicle for discipleship.
Developing Ministers
Ephesians 4:11-12: And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
Romans 12:6 (New Living Translation): God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So, if God has given you the ability 8 do it gladly.
We assist in the development of ministers by providing places within the church for expression of their talents. The Bible likens the church to the human body. Neither can be healthy if each member is not functioning correctly. To function correctly we want to be used in the way we have been gifted. At Living Well Church we discover what it is you like to do, are gifted to do and desire to do through our Serving Hub. The Serving Hub connects your gifting with the needs of the church body, allowing everyone to reach their highest potential in service.
Exerting Influence
Matthew 5:13-16: You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
James 1:27: Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble.
We influence our world by being authentic examples of God’s love. At Living Well Church we believe reaching our community is best done by acts of kindness toward people. We encourage volunteerism in our community as well as around the world through our Kindness Corps. We will continue our partnerships with community organizations that are making a difference. We will also participate in other opportunities to share our love with the people of our communities.
We have summarized these five purposes into a single Purpose Statement:
To BEFRIEND people and point them to Jesus,
CULTIVATING them as His disciples,
While DEVELOPING their unique abilities,
Thereby EXERTING godly influence in the world,
And bringing ADORATION to His name.
Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."
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Online Services: Sundays at 10:30 am PT; 11:30 am MT; 12:30 pm CT; and 1:30 pm ET
Local Services are held every Sunday at 10:00 AM at 975 W 1700 S, Suite 201, Syracuse UT 84075
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10:30 AM (Pacific); 11:30 AM (Mountain); 12:30 PM (Central); 1:30 PM (Eastern)
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P.O. Box 3875 Thousand Oaks, CA 91359-0875
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975 W 1700 S Suite 201 Syracuse, UT 84075
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