God
We believe in one true and living God, eternally existing in three coequal and coeternal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things, holy and loving, sovereign over history, and He has been pursuing a redemptive relationship with humanity since the beginning of time.
Genesis 1:1; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14
Jesus Christ
We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, fully God and fully man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, and lived a sinless life. He died on the cross as the substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of all people, was bodily raised from the dead on the third day, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will return in glory as King of kings and Lord of lords.
John 1:1, 14; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4; Philippians 2:5–11; Revelation 19:16
The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, coequal with the Father and the Son. He convicts the world of sin, indwells every believer at the moment of salvation, and works within us to teach, guide, comfort, and equip us with spiritual gifts for a life of growing Christ-likeness.
John 14:16–17, 26; 1 Corinthians 12:4–11; Ephesians 1:13–14
The Bible
We believe the Bible, composed of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is the inspired and inerrant Word of God. It is fully trustworthy, sufficient, and the final authority for all matters of faith and life.
2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:20–21
Humanity & Sin
We believe every person is created in the image of God and carries inherent worth and dignity. We also believe that, since the fall, all people have sinned and fall short of God's glory, resulting in separation from God and a need for a Savior that no one can meet on their own.
Genesis 1:27; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12
Salvation
We believe salvation is a gift of God's grace, received by faith alone in the finished work of Jesus Christ — His life, death, and resurrection — and not by any human effort or good works. All who trust in Christ are forgiven, born again by the Holy Spirit, and welcomed as children into God's family.
Ephesians 2:8–9; John 3:16; John 1:12–13
The Church
We believe the Church is the body of Christ, made up of all who have placed their faith in Jesus, with Christ Himself as its head. We believe the local church is called to gather regularly for worship, teaching, prayer, and fellowship; to build one another up through community and accountability; and to carry out the Great Commission by making disciples in Duncanville and to the ends of the earth.
Matthew 16:18; Matthew 28:18–20; Hebrews 10:24–25; Acts 2:42–47
Church Governance
We believe GracePlace Church is an autonomous local church, self-governing under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and accountable to no denominational hierarchy or outside governing agency. Our church is elder-led and ministry-team driven: our elders provide spiritual oversight, biblical direction, and accountability for the church as a whole, while our ministerial staff and lay leadership serve as the driving force behind the programs and activities of the church — developed and carried out in partnership with the elders. Church leaders who shepherd well build congregational structures that free them for real flock-building rather than crowding it out — much of their leadership is hands-on and personal, because that is how flocks are formed.
Acts 20:28; 1 Timothy 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9; 1 Peter 5:1–4; Hebrews 13:17
The Ordinances
We believe Christ established two ordinances for His Church to observe in obedience to Him and in remembrance of the gospel.
Baptism by Immersion
We believe that baptism by immersion in water is the biblical pattern given by Christ and the practice of the early Church. It is a public declaration of a believer's faith — identifying with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection, and testifying to the new life found in Him. Baptism marks a believer's committed next step in following Jesus.
Matthew 28:19; Acts 8:36–39; Romans 6:3–4; Colossians 2:12
Communion (The Lord's Supper)
We believe that communion, which we observe weekly, is a sacred meal instituted by Jesus Himself. As we share the bread and the cup together, we remember His body broken and His blood shed for the forgiveness of sins. In this observance we proclaim the Lord's death and His subsequent resurrection, until He comes again in glory.
Luke 22:19–20; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26
Eternity
We believe that every person will exist eternally in one of two places: heaven, in the eternal presence of God, for those who have trusted in Jesus Christ; or hell, eternal separation from God, for those who reject Him.
John 14:1–3; Matthew 25:31–46; Revelation 20:11–15
This Statement of Faith reflects the core convictions of GracePlace Church in Duncanville, Texas, and serves as the doctrinal foundation for our life and ministry together.