Why We Are Different
By Devin Maddox
Posted: September 19, 2022
Taken from our brochure "Is there a Difference" and revised for our website.
Posted: September 19, 2022
Taken from our brochure "Is there a Difference" and revised for our website.
The above download is the original brochure in PDF format.
"The visible church, which is also catholic or universal under the gospel (not confined to one nation, as before under the law), consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion; and of their children: and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, the house and family of God, out of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation." –Westminster Confession of Faith
We Are Reformed
A Reformed church is Christian, Protestant, historical, and evangelistic. A Reformed church is Christian because it is rooted in the teachings of Christ and His Apostles. Reformed churches hold to the same faith as the early church of the first century. A Reformed church is Protestant because it's associated with the Reformation of the sixteenth century, which sought to correct corruption in the Roman Catholic church. A Reformed church is historical because it affirms biblical, orthodox doctrines and practices that were affirmed in the early Church and Reformation eras. Lastly, a Reformed church is evangelistic because it seeks to bring sinners to the knowledge of Jesus Christ so that they may repent of their sins and trust in Him alone for their salvation.
Our Mission Statement
"Holy Trinity Reformed Church exists to worship and serve the Triune God in liturgy, community, and mission."
In other words, we exist to worship and serve the one true God of the Bible in public worship as a society of Christians under the rule of Jesus Christ who has commissioned His Church to advance His kingdom by the preaching of the gospel and through the means of grace.
Read Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:42, 46-47.
The Marks of a True Church
There are three essential marks of a true church: the faithful preaching of the gospel, the administration of the sacraments, (baptism and the Lord’s Supper), and the exercise of church discipline (governance).
Read Ephesians 2:20; Acts 2:42; Acts 14:23; Matthew 28:19.
Rev. Thomas Smyth said it this way, “What are the signs of a pure church? The signs of a pure church are soundness of doctrine, a lawful and regular ministry, the prevalence of love among its members and towards all saints, and the due administration of Gospel ordinances, including discipline.”
Therefore, is the church we attend really that important?
“...It is our solemn duty to understand the character and signs of a true church of Christ; and to adhere to that church which is found most consonant to the Scriptures, in its doctrines, its ordinances, and its constitution.” -Rev. Thomas Smyth (1808-1873)
Read Matthew 5:19; 1 John 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:21.
Our Characteristics
Word Centered Worship: Holy Trinity maintains a strong emphasis on biblical corporate worship with essential elements, such as the public reading of scripture, confession, prayer, singing hymns and psalms, preaching, and observance of the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Read Deuteronomy 12:32; Matthew 15:9; Acts 17:25; Matthew 4:9–10; Deuteronomy 4:15–20; Exodus 20:4–6.
“...the acceptable way of worshiping the true God is instituted by Himself, and so limited by His own revealed will, that He may not be worshiped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representation or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scripture.” –Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter 21, paragraph 1
Covenant Membership: We do not take membership lightly but seek to protect the body of Christ by ensuring that only those who have made a profession of faith in Christ, have been baptized, and admitted by the Session to the Lord's Table, are entitled to all the rights and privileges of the church.
Read Hebrews 10:24-25; Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 5:12; Hebrews 13:17.
“Saints by profession are bound to maintain an holy fellowship and communion in the worship of God, and in performing such other spiritual services as tend to their mutual edification…” –Westminster Confession, chapter 26, paragraph 2
Fellowship: Holy Trinity seeks to maintain fellowship by knowing one another personally, rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep, and having affection for one another with brotherly love.
Read Romans 12:9-16.
Pastoral Care: Jesus is the Good Shepherd of the sheep. He is the example of watching, loving, warning, rebuking, and teaching the flock. The elders of Holy Trinity seek to follow the example of our Lord and His Apostles with a commitment to pastoral care. This oft-neglected practice is key for a church to maintain encouragement and accountability in its membership.
Read John 10:1-16; Acts 20:28-31.
Presbyterian Government: Because the Christian church is a society, and no society can exist without laws and order, adherence to a biblical form of government is necessary. We believe that the Presbyterian form of government is most consistent with the Word of God. Holy Trinity is a member of Evangel Presbytery (evangelpresbytery.com).
Read Colossians 1:8; Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 2:2; Titus 1:5; Hebrews 13:17.
Our Essential Devotions
"When we hear the word, 'devotions,' we think individually. We think of our own relationship with Jesus through personal prayer, personal Bible reading, and personal meditation -things we do by ourselves. Western culture is all about the individual doing things for himself, but God calls us into the Church and we are to embrace what she does for us." -Tim Bayly, Church Reformed (Bloomington, Indiana: Warhorn Media, 2019) p. 35
These essential devotions are the teaching of the apostles, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer.
"Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.' And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, 'Be saved from this perverse generation.' Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers." –Acts 2:38-42
Conclusion
“I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” -1 Timothy 3:15
“If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” -Psalm 11:3
Holy Trinity Reformed Church sees itself as an outpost of the kingdom of Christ to shine the beacon of the light of the gospel into the darkness of sin, to provide a haven for Christians in community, and endeavors to be faithful despite assaults upon the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. (Jude 1:3)
We Are Reformed
A Reformed church is Christian, Protestant, historical, and evangelistic. A Reformed church is Christian because it is rooted in the teachings of Christ and His Apostles. Reformed churches hold to the same faith as the early church of the first century. A Reformed church is Protestant because it's associated with the Reformation of the sixteenth century, which sought to correct corruption in the Roman Catholic church. A Reformed church is historical because it affirms biblical, orthodox doctrines and practices that were affirmed in the early Church and Reformation eras. Lastly, a Reformed church is evangelistic because it seeks to bring sinners to the knowledge of Jesus Christ so that they may repent of their sins and trust in Him alone for their salvation.
Our Mission Statement
"Holy Trinity Reformed Church exists to worship and serve the Triune God in liturgy, community, and mission."
In other words, we exist to worship and serve the one true God of the Bible in public worship as a society of Christians under the rule of Jesus Christ who has commissioned His Church to advance His kingdom by the preaching of the gospel and through the means of grace.
Read Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:42, 46-47.
The Marks of a True Church
There are three essential marks of a true church: the faithful preaching of the gospel, the administration of the sacraments, (baptism and the Lord’s Supper), and the exercise of church discipline (governance).
Read Ephesians 2:20; Acts 2:42; Acts 14:23; Matthew 28:19.
Rev. Thomas Smyth said it this way, “What are the signs of a pure church? The signs of a pure church are soundness of doctrine, a lawful and regular ministry, the prevalence of love among its members and towards all saints, and the due administration of Gospel ordinances, including discipline.”
Therefore, is the church we attend really that important?
“...It is our solemn duty to understand the character and signs of a true church of Christ; and to adhere to that church which is found most consonant to the Scriptures, in its doctrines, its ordinances, and its constitution.” -Rev. Thomas Smyth (1808-1873)
Read Matthew 5:19; 1 John 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:21.
Our Characteristics
Word Centered Worship: Holy Trinity maintains a strong emphasis on biblical corporate worship with essential elements, such as the public reading of scripture, confession, prayer, singing hymns and psalms, preaching, and observance of the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Read Deuteronomy 12:32; Matthew 15:9; Acts 17:25; Matthew 4:9–10; Deuteronomy 4:15–20; Exodus 20:4–6.
“...the acceptable way of worshiping the true God is instituted by Himself, and so limited by His own revealed will, that He may not be worshiped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representation or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scripture.” –Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter 21, paragraph 1
Covenant Membership: We do not take membership lightly but seek to protect the body of Christ by ensuring that only those who have made a profession of faith in Christ, have been baptized, and admitted by the Session to the Lord's Table, are entitled to all the rights and privileges of the church.
Read Hebrews 10:24-25; Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 5:12; Hebrews 13:17.
“Saints by profession are bound to maintain an holy fellowship and communion in the worship of God, and in performing such other spiritual services as tend to their mutual edification…” –Westminster Confession, chapter 26, paragraph 2
Fellowship: Holy Trinity seeks to maintain fellowship by knowing one another personally, rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep, and having affection for one another with brotherly love.
Read Romans 12:9-16.
Pastoral Care: Jesus is the Good Shepherd of the sheep. He is the example of watching, loving, warning, rebuking, and teaching the flock. The elders of Holy Trinity seek to follow the example of our Lord and His Apostles with a commitment to pastoral care. This oft-neglected practice is key for a church to maintain encouragement and accountability in its membership.
Read John 10:1-16; Acts 20:28-31.
Presbyterian Government: Because the Christian church is a society, and no society can exist without laws and order, adherence to a biblical form of government is necessary. We believe that the Presbyterian form of government is most consistent with the Word of God. Holy Trinity is a member of Evangel Presbytery (evangelpresbytery.com).
Read Colossians 1:8; Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 2:2; Titus 1:5; Hebrews 13:17.
Our Essential Devotions
"When we hear the word, 'devotions,' we think individually. We think of our own relationship with Jesus through personal prayer, personal Bible reading, and personal meditation -things we do by ourselves. Western culture is all about the individual doing things for himself, but God calls us into the Church and we are to embrace what she does for us." -Tim Bayly, Church Reformed (Bloomington, Indiana: Warhorn Media, 2019) p. 35
These essential devotions are the teaching of the apostles, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer.
"Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.' And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, 'Be saved from this perverse generation.' Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers." –Acts 2:38-42
Conclusion
“I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” -1 Timothy 3:15
“If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” -Psalm 11:3
Holy Trinity Reformed Church sees itself as an outpost of the kingdom of Christ to shine the beacon of the light of the gospel into the darkness of sin, to provide a haven for Christians in community, and endeavors to be faithful despite assaults upon the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. (Jude 1:3)
