Our Beliefs

The power of our beliefs is when they cause a change in the way we act . At the very core of Rockford First are these principles from the Bible which influence our actions as individuals and as a family.

Jesus As Our Leader

We recognize Jesus Christ as the ultimate leader of Rockford First, not a person, group, or religious organization. While recognizing the value of associating and cooperating with other groups of Christians, we believe every local church should be self-governing and independent from any denominational control. This is consistent with the Assemblies of God stance, called “a voluntary, cooperative fellowship” with us.  For more information on the AG, please visit www.ag.org.
Colossians 1:18

Tithing - Giving Back To God

At Rockford First, we practice tithing for the support of Christ's Body, the church, as God commands. We recognize that giving 10% of our income is Biblical. Some will argue that tithing only applies to Old Testament times. However, we recognize that Jesus taught about money a great deal while on earth, and stated a profound truth when he said, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matt. 6:21) We believe that how we spend our money is a reflection of our relationship with God and His influence in our lives.
Leviticus 27:30

Spirit-Led Living

We believe the only way possible to live the Christian life is by God's power within us. So we seek to practice a daily dependence on God's Spirit to enable us to do what is right, and to obey God's command to "be filled with the Spirit" (Eph. 5:18).
John 15:5

Bible As Our Sole Authority

We accept the Bible, God's Word, as our manual for living since it is the only completely reliable and truthful authority. Our first question when faced with a decision is "What does the Bible say?" We practice and encourage daily Bible reading, Bible study, and Bible memorization. More than just a good book of advice, we believe that the Bible is the basis for everything we believe!
2 Timothy 3:15

Baptism By Immersion

We practice baptism by immersion under water - the way Jesus was baptized. We do not believe there is any reason to wait to be baptized. Paul, himself, was baptized immediately following conversion. Once you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, we believe that water baptism is an important step to take.
Colossians 2:12

Every Believer Is A Minister

The Bible teaches that every Christian is called to "full time" Christian service, regardless of his/her vocation. This is called the “priesthood of believers” and means that we're all called to be ministers, not just the staff pastors! At Rockford First, every believer is encouraged to find a place to volunteer and serve others!
1 Peter 2:9

Telling Others About Jesus

Jesus asked every one of us to share the Good News with the people in our lives! We believe that it is the responsibility of every Christian to tell others about the great news in Jesus and invite friends to church. It's not hard – instead of using high-pressure tactics, we just spread our excitement about who Jesus is!
1 Peter 3:15