What we believe as Christians

Our Statement of Faith in Plain Language describes the Christian convictions held by Lake Shore Baptist Church in Waco, Texas. It is written to be understood by first-time church visitors, long-time Christians and people who have heard Christian language but still wonder what the words mean.

These beliefs are not offered as private opinions or as a barrier to belonging. They give worship, teaching, service and neighbourly love a shared direction, while leaving room for honest questions and the work of the Holy Spirit.

We worship one living God

We worship the one God made known in the Bible: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. We do not treat the Trinity as three separate Gods. We trust God to be creator, sustainer and redeemer, worthy of praise and obedient love.

God is holy, just, merciful, patient, faithful and love. These qualities are connected. Justice without mercy can become cruelty, while mercy that ignores wrongdoing can become dishonest comfort. We seek a fuller picture shaped by Scripture and a life of character.

God made people in God’s image. Every person therefore has worth, regardless of background, ability, wealth, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, faith status or social position. Our welcome is to be genuinely shared, not merely announced.

Jesus shows us the way to God

Jesus of Nazareth is central to Christian faith. We believe he is fully divine and fully human, God’s Son and Messiah. His life, teachings, suffering, crucifixion and resurrection reveal God’s character and stand at the centre of the gospel.

We believe Jesus died for sin and rose again on the third day. Through his death, sins are forgiven; through his resurrection, a new relationship with God is opened. Personal faith in Jesus brings reconciliation, spiritual renewal and a life shaped by love and obedience.

Resurrection does not remove our responsibility to live differently. The Holy Spirit works in believers through truth, love, humility and holy habits. Easter makes this hope visible: our Waco Easter sunrise service gathers people at dawn to sing, pray and remember that death has not had the final word.

The Bible guides a believing community

We regard the Bible as trustworthy written witness to God and a trustworthy guide for life. Reading it well means asking what a passage meant in its historical setting, how it fits with the wider biblical story and how it should be obeyed today.

The Bible is read in the congregation, rather than by each person in isolation. Good interpretation uses careful study, prayer, humility and discussion. Some questions require patience; confidence should never be confused with pretending to have every answer.

That discernment matters when strange material is placed beside spiritual claims. A search result may lead to an online casino story rather than a sound spiritual teacher. Readers should consider the source, motives, evidence and fruit of a message, and reject anything that uses spiritual confidence to encourage gambling, exploitation or greed.

Salvation is grace rather than a prize

We believe salvation begins with God’s grace, not human achievement. Through faith in Jesus, people turn from sin toward God, call on the Lord and receive forgiveness. We call this turning repentance; it is an honest change of mind and direction, not a casual apology.

As Baptists, we follow believer’s baptism and remember the Lord’s Supper. Baptism represents dying and rising with Christ, while the Supper recalls his death and anticipates his return. The church is a fellowship of worship, teaching, prayer, correction, care and mission.

For people joining from Australia, service times need care. Waco uses Central Time; Sydney is generally ten hours ahead during standard time and eleven during daylight saving, while Perth is two hours behind Sydney. The offset can change when daylight-saving periods differ, so online participants should confirm the listed service time rather than assume.

Prayer and mission shape daily life

Prayer is conversation with God: praise, confession, thanksgiving, intercession and listening. We pray through Jesus and in the Holy Spirit’s name. We also believe persistent prayer changes us and can lead to action, while remaining open to God’s wisdom and timing.

Australian English often carries a friendly directness into phrases such as “no worries” and “fair go”. Applied to faith, those ideas deserve careful words. Repentance takes responsibility rather than shrugging off wrongdoing, and grace never licenses careless treatment of another person.

Service follows from God’s love. We encourage adults and young people to share time, hospitality and skills through schools, community groups, emergency services, Rotary, Lions and surf lifesaving clubs. Community service in Australia often embodies a spirit described as mateship, turning care for neighbours into practical action across cities, regional towns and remote communities.

Faith is shared in freedom and hope

Our welcome includes freedom of conscience. We expect faith to guide conduct, not dominate people. Theology that supports abuse, hatred or coercion contradicts the love of God and the witness of Christ. Clear safeguarding, honest speech and accountable leadership are part of Christian belief in action.

We also confess our limits. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples hold distinct spiritual traditions and knowledge, and many communities continue to face injustice and exclusion. Any Christian mission in Australia must listen carefully, respect cultural sovereignty and work alongside local people rather than treating faith as an instrument of cultural control.

We hold beliefs in the hope of Christ’s return, the resurrection of the dead and final judgement informed by both justice and mercy. People can learn more through sermons, Sunday school, music, prayer and community programs. Those wishing to visit can check the Waco contact and location for service times and practical details.

This hope is not escape from the world but a promise that transforms responsibility within it. Our shared witness is Christ, and our shared response is love, justice, mercy and faithful service.