Cherokee Presbyterian Church, PCA

Doctrinal Overview

Cherokee Presbyterian Church is a member of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), a denomination committed to the historic doctrines of orthodox Christianity. Our ultimate statement of belief is the Bible, as contained in the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. The most important aspect of who we are theologically concerns our belief that God's Word, the Bible, is without error in all that it teaches and that it alone is the infallible guide for faith and practice.

We believe the best summary of what Scripture teaches regarding the nature of who God is, who Christ is, what the Church is, as well as other issues, is found in the Westminster Standards, which includes the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms. We at Cherokee Presbyterian Church gladly celebrate the great truths of the Protestant Reformation:

God's absolute sovereignty over all His creation and in salvation.
Salvation by grace alone through faith, not by works.
A world and life view that has God at the center, and man on earth to represent God's redemption to the world.

Doctrinal Beliefs:

We are Reformed, Covenantal, and Mission Oriented

I. Reformed

A. Reformed by the Word

We believe the Bible to be the inspired, inerrant, and infallible word of God and our only rule of faith and practice. We believe the Westminster Confession of Faith along with the larger and shorter catechisms to be the standard that best explains in a systematic way, the doctrine and truth of what the Bible teaches. Because we believe the Bible is God’s word, Cherokee Presbyterian is careful to make sure that the Word of God is preached in our worship services and that there are ample opportunities for people to study God’s word through Sunday School, small groups and other ministries. We believe that our lives are to be continually reformed as the Holy Spirit applies biblical truth unto our hearts and minds. The Word of God is central to everything in the believer’s life, both at conversion and as the believer grows and matures in the Christian life.

B. Reformed by Worship

We believe worship is for the glory of God. God’s glory and not our own is our greatest desire. We meet with God in worship both to speak to Him and to listen to Him. We speak through prayers and songs unto our God. We confess our sins, praise His name and share our requests for ourselves and others. We listen to God through Scripture, sermon and Biblical messages in song. As God receives glory from us for who He is and for all He has done in Jesus Christ, we receive His blessings. Worship is to God-centered, not man-centered. God reforms our lives through God-centered worship.

C. Reformed by the Community of Faith

We believe in Biblical community. We affirm that all of us are sinners who have been saved by grace alone. God has called us out of our sinful self-centeredness to live in the community of believers called the church. The church is a community of people in fellowship with one another, not just a place where Christians can work individually on their growth in holiness. In the church we learn to love one another, appreciate the diversity within the people of God, and share our lives together.

Cherokee Presbyterian is a warm fellowship of people who love and care for one another. This fellowship is experienced both before and after our corporate worship service, in our weekly Sunday afternoon fellowship meals, in our small prayer groups, and in other small groups. It is also experienced in many informal ways as people express love to one another. We are to love others with deeds as well as words.

A part of our fellowship is the shepherding of the flock by the elders. They strive to encourage the people of God in their Christian walk through loving oversight. Our elders are committed to praying for their undershepherd families weekly, speaking with them monthly, and visiting them yearly. God reforms our lives through the fellowship of the church.

D. Reformed by Prayer

We believe in prayer because we believe in the sovereignty of God and because God uses prayer as a means to impart His grace within our lives as we grow in our knowledge of Him. God is the one who is in control and we come to Him with our adoration, praise, confession of sin and requests, both for ourselves and others. At Cherokee Presbyterian prayer is a significant part of who we are; primary, not a secondary part of ministry. We dedicate a significant portion of our worship service to corporate prayer. Our small groups all have a time for sharing and prayer. Through prayer cards, each member of the congregation is remembered in prayer each week by the church leaders. We also have a “prayer chain” by email and phone that informs us of the prayer needs of our people. We believe God reforms our lives through prayer.

II. Covenantal

A. Covenant of Grace

We believe salvation comes to us through the covenant of grace. Man was created by God and enjoyed fellowship with God until Adam broke covenant with God by eating of the forbidden fruit. God did not leave man in sin but immediately instituted a new covenant with mankind. This covenant was made within the Trinity for the benefit of man. God the Father promised to justify and sanctify those for whom Christ would die. God the Son promised to live a perfect life and die as a substitute to atone for the sins of His people. God the Spirit promised to apply the gift of salvation unto God’s people. This is a covenant of grace, for we receive the benefits of it apart from anything we do.

The benefits of the covenant of grace first came to Adam and Eve. We see the covenant developed throughout the Old Testament and fully revealed in the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The primary message throughout the Old and New Testaments concerns the grace of God found in the salvation God provides through the substitutionary atonement of Christ. There is no salvation apart from God’s gracious covenant love given to us in Jesus Christ.

B. Covenant Community – the Church

We believe the church is God’s covenant community. We are the people of God, the bride and body of Christ and the temple in which God dwells. The church is not a voluntary organization but rather is a called out people that belongs to God. We desire to reflect this covenantal relationship with God through worship, ministry, and mission.

In our worship we practice covenant baptism. Children of believers are a part of God’s people and thus we apply the sign and seal of that inclusion through baptism and we commit ourselves to call them to personal faith in Jesus Christ.

As members of the covenant, it is important for each member to share their gifts and talents in the life of the church. Being served by and serving one another are a part of living in God’s covenant family.

C. Covenant Family

We believe God has established the family and established His covenant with families. Just as God established His covenant with Abraham and his family, so today God’s covenant promise is established with families. We look to God, out of His grace and love, to bring our children to a saving relationship with Him.

Husbands are to show forth loving headship over their wives and wives are to be respectful helpmates of their husbands as they nurture their children together. Parents are to raise their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. They are to strive to set a godly example before their children, pray with and for their children, teach them the truths of the Bible and train them in the ways of the Lord. Children are to respect and obey their parents.

We believe parents are the ones primarily responsible for the Christian education of their children. Sunday School and the church assist in important ways but are secondary to the parents. Schools may assist parents in the broader education of their children but the primary responsibility rests upon parents.

III. Mission Oriented

We believe that we exist for the glory of God and a large part of glorifying God concerns serving others as we share the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. Outreach to others, not our own comfort, is the focus of our Missions ministry. We are to make disciples, and not just converts. Missions and outreach are a vital part of the life of Cherokee Presbyterian Church.

These are the missions/missionaries we regularly support prayerfully and financially:

Geoff & Nancy Donnan; Headquarters in FL; Reformation Christian Ministries

Jean Paul; Haiti; Souls Winning Ministry

Jeremy Jones; Emory University; Reformed University Fellowship

Khen & Rith Tombing; Manipur, India; Presbyterian Ministry International

Phil & Rachel Baron; Manila, Philippines; Campus Crusade for Christ

Roy & Carole Sneed; Middle East; Frontiers

Tim & Kit Brown; Cherokee County; His Steps Ministry (substance abuse)

The HOPE Center; Woodstock, GA (crisis pregnancy)

Cherokee Christian Schools

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