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| ...teaching the Bible, the Word of God... the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth |
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Calvary Fellowship Otley is a Bible based fellowship, whose doctrine is taken solely from Scripture. It has been formed as a fellowship of believers under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. We believe that Jesus is central to everything, and having received the grace of God, we are to love one another as the evidence that we are His disciples. Our supreme desire is to know Christ and to be conformed to His image by the power of the Holy Spirit. We do not belong to a denomination, but are not opposed to denominations as such, only their over-emphasis of the doctrinal differences which have led to the division of the body of Christ.
We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God - both old and new testaments - infallible and authoritative, inspired by and to be interpreted by the Holy Spirit.
We believe that there is only one God - the creator of all things, revealed in three separate equal, co-existant, eternal persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - yet not three Gods. One God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is divine, His virgin birth combining perfect Godhead and perfect manhood. We believe in His sinlessness, His redemptive work of atonement on the cross, His bodily resurrection and ascension into Heaven, his present mediatory ministry on behalf of His people and His eventual return in glory.
We believe that man is basically a sinful being, having a depraved and fallen nature, unable by any means to redeem himself.
We believe that God desires to save all men, and the death of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross was to reconcile sinful man to a Holy God through His blood, and His resurrection was for our justification. It is necessary for every man to receive this salvation, which is a gift from God, and is obtained entirely by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, being preceded by repentance and followed by justification and sanctification, known as regeneration or 'the new birth.'
We believe that the work of the Holy Spirit is essential to the 'new birth,' indwelling the believer, imputing righteousness to him, imparting the life of Christ, and is necessary to equip the believer for worship, service and understanding spiritual matters.
We believe in the pre-tribulational rapture of the Church and the pre-millenial return of the Lord Jesus Christ to establish His Kingdom on earth. We believe the dead will be raised and the world judged, with eternal bliss for the redeemed and everlasting punishment for the unrepentant.
We believe that the Church, which is the body of Christ, is one, consisting of all persons who have been 'born again' regardless of denomination, and consisting exclusively of the redeemed - those who know the Lord Jesus Christ as their own personal Saviour, saved by the grace of God through faith.
We believe that there are only two sacraments in the Church; believers' baptism as constituting and outward expression of an inward change, and not imparting saving grace; and the Lord's supper or 'breaking of bread' as instituted by Jesus Himself for remembrance and not in any way as a sacrifice for sin or involving any change in the substance of the bread and the wine.
We believe that the Word of God is the supreme authority in the government of the Church under which, authority is given to pastors, teachers, evangelists, elders and deacons whose appointment, function and ministry is to be exercised in accordance with the same Word of God.
We believe that the possession and exercise of the ministries and gifts cited in Romans 12, Ephesians 4, 1 Corinthinans 12 and 14 are for the edification of the Church and the believer, and should be used in accordance with the instructions given.
We believe that the mission of the Church is to fulfil the will of God; further the work of the Lord Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit; to seek the lost, and make disciples wherever possible. The Church is to manifest the 'agape' love of God to the world and to be His instrument at all times.
We believe that the worship of God should be spiritual. Thus we remain flexible, sensitive and submitted to the leading of the Holy Spirit directing our worship.
We believe that the worship of God should be inspirational and relevent. Thus we give great place to contemporary worship style and music when we gather before God.
We believe that the worship of God should be intelligent. Thus our services are designed with great emphasis on teaching the Word of God exclusively, that He might instruct us how He would be worshipped.
We believe that the worship of God should be fruitful. Thus we look for His love in our lives as the supreme manifestation that we have truly been worshipping Him.
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Calvary Fellowship Otley began on the evening of Easter Day 1980, with the purpose of following Acts 2:42 - "and they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers" - as simply and closely as possible as an alternative to traditional forms of meeting. In the weeks that followed this group grew until the house was filled, meeting Sunday evenings and midweek. Looking "east of Bethel" [ref. Genesis 12:8] (Bethel was the name of a church near the centre of Otley) the Otley Labour Party Rooms were hired in 1982 and morning and evening meetings were held there for the next four years. After much prayer and waiting, God confirmed the move to the present premises which were purchased beside Mt. Pisgah (the name of the street adjacent to the facility) in a completely derelict state in 1985. A whole years work on the part of the congregation brought about a floor to ceiling renovation and the last weekend of October 1986 saw Calvary Fellowship move into it's new home on Westgate, Otley where it has remained since.
Affiliated with Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, development and change has continued in the fellowship with marriages and births, additions and subtractions and the whole cross-section of church experience.
We continue to follow the pattern of Acts 2:42, to be devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ, in order to present everyone mature in Him [ref Colossians 1:28] and pursue the supreme goal of being conformed to His likeness by the power of the Holy Spirit.
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