Mission
St Stephen’s Anglican Church, Warrandyte is a welcoming Christ-centered community seeking to work together through the power of the Spirit to worship God, share his good news and grow as disciples of Jesus.
Vision
We will seek to be a community that is bringing glory to God, Gospel centered, worshipping the Triune God and growing as a prayerful, Spirit led community under the absolute authority of scripture.
We will seek to be a community that is actively engaged in making disciples. This will involve; welcoming all people, reaching out to those around us and mission both local and global.
We will seek to be a loving and caring community, demonstrating God’s love in action; sharing community, hospitality and pastoral care.
We will seek to be a community in transformation, growing as mature disciples of Jesus, open to change and transformation through the Spirit.
We will seek to be a serving community, using our gifts to work together that God’s kingdom might be built up and his love and justice known among the nations.
Our Beliefs
We are a Contemporary Anglican Church committed to allowing God, through the Holy Spirit, to build His church by the free use of the Gifts of the Spirit. We believe in the statement of faith as found in the orthodox Creeds and, the following summary:
Concerning God
God is the Creator and Ruler of the Universe. (Genesis 1:1, Ps 90:2) God has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (John 1:1-5, Matthew 28:19) These three are co-eternal and are one God. (1 Peter 1:2) The Godhead is one yet complex. The Father is not the Son. The Son is not the Holy Spirit. But the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are equally God.
Concerning Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the Son of God; the Incarnate Word of God and therefore co-equal with the Father. (John 1:1-5) Jesus lived a sinless human life (Hebrews 4:14-15) and offered himself as the perfect sacrifice, once for all, for the sins of all people by dying on the Cross. (1 Peter 3:18) On the third day after he was killed, God raised Jesus to life. (1 Corinthians 15:3-8) His resurrection demonstrates God’s power over death (Romans 1:4), His ascension to the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 1:3),) and we look forward to His second coming. (1 Corinthians 15:20-24)
Concerning the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son, was sent and is present in the world to convict people of their sin, (John 16:8) to guide people into all truth (John 16:13) enables us to understand God and His Word (1 Corinthians 2:12-16), assures us of our inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14) and empowers us to live authentic Christian lives through the Gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:7-11) and the Fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22)
Concerning the Bible
The Bible is the written word of God and as such, is supremely authoritative in all matters of faith and conduct. (2 Timothy 3:14-17) The Bible has been written by human hands under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. People wrote; God was in control.
Concerning the creation and humanity
All of creation reflects the glory of God but it is separate from God (Genesis 1:27, Psalm 8:3-9). People have been made in the image of God, yet we are disobedient towards God and cut off from a lasting relationship with Him. (Romans 3:23)
Concerning Salvation
Salvation is God’s free gift to us but we must accept it. (John 1:12, Romans 10:9) Our attempts at bridging the gap between God and us by trying to do good works will never make up for our sin. That is why Christ had to die and our salvation is won through His death and our personal acceptance of such. (Titus 3:4-5) When we turn from our selfish living and ask for God’s forgiveness, we are restored to a relationship with the creator God. (1 John 1:9) Eternal life with God begins when we receive Christ into our life by grace through faith, as saviour and as Lord. (Romans 5:1)
Concerning the future
The resurrection of Jesus is the guarantee that we will also be raised to life on the last day. (1 Corinthians 15) When Christ returns those who believe in him will be raised to life and live with him forever. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) Those who have rejected Christ will be raised to judgment for their sins and will be separated from God forever. (1 John 5:12, Romans 6:23, Matthew 25:41, 46)