We believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Maker of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;
He descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from from there he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
We believe in the Holy Spirit;
the holy catholic church;
the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body;
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
We believe the gospel is the good news of what God has graciously accomplished for sinners through the sinless life, sacrificial death, and bodily resurrection of his Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, namely our forgiveness from sin and complete justification before God; this gospel is also the foundation for our confidence in the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom, and the consummation of his purpose for all creation in the new heavens and new earth.
This gospel is centered in Christ, is the foundation for the life of the Church, and is our only hope for eternal life; this gospel is not proclaimed if Christ's penal substitutionary death and bodily resurrection are not central to our message.
This Gospel is not only the means by which people are saved, but also the truth and power by which people are sanctified; it is the truth of the Gospel that enables us to genuinely and joyfully do what is pleasing to God and to grow in progressive conformity to the image of Christ.
The salvation offered in this gospel message is received by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone; no ordinance, ritual, work, or any other activity on the part of man is required in order to be saved.
(Mark 1:1; Luke 24:46-47; John 3:16-18; Romans 1:16-17; Romans 1:18-25; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; 2:2; 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 4:1-6; 9:13; Galatians 1:6-9; Ephesians 1: 7-10; Colossians 1: 19-20; 2 Timothy 1:8-14; 2 Peter 3: 11-13 Jude 3-4; Revelation 21-22)
We affirm that God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, not on the basis of foreseen faith but unconditionally, according to his sovereign good pleasure and will.
We believe that through the work of the Holy Spirit, God will draw the elect to faith in his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, graciously and effectually overcoming their stubborn resistance to the gospel so that they will most assuredly and willingly believe.
We also believe that these, the elect of God whom he gave to the Son, will persevere in belief and godly behavior and be kept secure in their salvation by grace through faith.
We believe that God's sovereignty in this salvation neither diminishes the responsibility of people to believe in Christ nor marginalizes the necessity and power of prayer and evangelism, but rather reinforces and establishes them as the ordained means by which God accomplishes his ordained ends.
The Holy Spirit is fully God, equal with the Father and Son, whose primary ministry is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ; he also convicts unbelievers of their need for Christ and imparts spiritual life through regeneration (the new birth).
The Spirit permanently indwells, graciously sanctifies, lovingly leads, and empowers all who are brought to faith in Christ so that they might live in obedience to the inerrant Scriptures.
The model for our reliance upon the Spirit and our experience of his indwelling and empowering presence is the Lord Jesus Christ himself who was filled with the Spirit and entirely dependent upon his power for the performance of miracles, the preaching of the kingdom of God, and all other dimensions of his earthly ministry.
The Holy Spirit who indwelt and empowered Christ in like manner indwells and empowers us through spiritual gifts he has bestowed for the work of ministry and the building up of the body of Christ. Although there are different understandings in our network of the nature and function of these gifts, we all recognize that they are divine provisions central to spiritual growth and effective ministry and are to be eagerly desired, faithfully developed, and lovingly exercised according to biblical guidelines.
(Matthew 3:11; 12:28; Luke 4:1, 14; 5:17; 10:21; John 1:12-13; 3:1-15, 34; 14:12; 15:26-27; 16:7-15; Acts 2:14-21; 4:29-30; 10:38; Romans 8:9; 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:7-13; 12:28-31; 14:1-33; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Galatians 3:1-5; Ephesians 1:13-14; 5:18)
Both men and women are together created in the divine image and are therefore equal before God as persons, possessing the same moral dignity and value, and have equal access to God through faith in Christ.
Both husbands and wives are responsible to God for spiritual nurture and vitality in the home, but God has given to the man primary responsibility to lead his wife and family in accordance with the servant leadership and sacrificial love modeled by Jesus Christ.
The Elders/Pastors of each local church have been granted authority under the headship of Jesus Christ to provide oversight and to teach/preach the Word of God in corporate assembly for the building up of the body. The office of Elder/Pastor is restricted to men.
(Genesis 1:26-27; 2:18; Acts 18:24-26; 1 Corinthians 11:2-16; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 5:22-33; Colossians 3:18-19; 1 Timothy 2:11-15; 3:1-7; Titus 2:3-5; 1 Peter 3:1-7)
We are called to make Christ known through the gospel and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to bring his lordship to bear on every dimension of life.
The primary way we fulfill this mission is through the planting of churches that plant churches and the training of their leaders. Our aim is that Jesus Christ would be more fully formed in each person through the ministry of those churches God enables us to plant around the world.
We also believe we are responsible neither to retreat from our culture nor to conform to it, but with humility, through the Spirit and the truth of the gospel, to engage it boldly as we seek its transformation and submission to the lordship of Christ.
(Isaiah 52:7; Matthew 10:5-25; 28:18-20; Luke 4:18-19; 24:46-47; Acts 28:31; Romans 10:14-15; 2 Corinthians 10:4-5; Galatians 2:10; Ephesians 3:10; 4:11-16; 2 Timothy 4:1-5; Hebrews 10:23-25; 1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10)
Weekend Gatherings are our opportunity to reflect on New Life through the Gospel and an opportunity to worship God as the Gospel has reconciled us to our Creator.
Sunday mornings at 10:00am
1600 East Lincoln Highway DeKalb, IL
Yourself, a friend, and a Bible. The church in DeKalb uses the English Standard Version for preaching and teaching. Free copies of the ESV are made available in the bookshelf next to the sound booth.
We at The church in DeKalb believe the Gospel is such good news that our children are able to enjoy and learn who Christ is. We believe the best teacher for kids is their own parents or guardians. We equip parents with the truth of the Gospel and we hope parents/guardians are able to then disciple (teach & support) their kids with the gospel.
Each week you can expect us to worship using these Key Facets of Worship:
• Revelation: Seeing God; asking God to reveal Himself. Seeing God and His holiness.
• Adoration: People enjoying and adoring God, seen.
• Confession: Seeing God's holiness, people see themselves and see our sin.
• Expiation: Seeing God remove sin.
• Proclamation: Declaring the Gospel, that God is holy and makes us holy in Christ alone.
• Dedication: Joining ourselves to God; dedicating ourselves to Him.
• Supplication: Prayer. Asking God for His grace and help that we may continue to walk in Faith.
• Commission: Being sent out by God to announce the Gospel.
You can listen to recent sermons here, or download our app and listen to sermons on the go. Be sure to enable notifications to get reminders, news, alerts, and even prayer requests sent right to your pocket.
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Pastor Jamie believes that the most important thing about people is our view of God, and to the extent that our view of God is distorted our life will be out of focus. The only way to have a right view of God is to be transformed by the Gospel which is the only way to know God rightly. He came to DeKalb after realizing three things: DeKalb is a beautiful city, a broken city, and a city that the Gospel can and is redeeming. Pastor Jamie graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. Jamie and his wife Cherron have been married for 18 years and have two children, Noël and Calvin.
William Cowper wrote, "Judge not the lord by feeble sense, but trust him for his grace; behind a frowning providence he hides a smiling face." It's one of those ideas that sounds great on paper or when you sing it, but we struggle so often to believe it when it matters most. Steve's desire is that the reality of God's complete providence in Christ would transform our groanings into worship and our trials into praise - and as God constantly reminds us of His good news that we might likewise remind others. Steve believes that one of the most important jobs of shepherding our culture is bridging the gaps between what we know, what we think, and how we live.
Steve was born in Philadelphia, PA, grew up in the city, and was raised in a Jewish family. As a teen he became increasingly bitter toward God and organized religion. While nursing two terminally ill parents during his high school years, he was plagued by the question, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" John 9:1-3 summarizes it best: "As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him." This idea that God might have a purpose for our suffering that is both outside of - and bigger than - ourselves, was, and is, still utterly transformational in Steve's life. Steve attended Philadelphia Biblical University and spent two years on mission in the Dominican Republic before moving to Illinois in 2008.
Most of Steve's relatives are gone; however, he is glad that God has been so good in giving him a new family - both at home and in Christ. He and his wife Desiree live in Rochelle, IL with their son Silas, daughter Martha and a gray tabby named Mina, and too many stuffed animals to name.
In serving at The Church in DeKalb, Dawn's vision is to help foster an environment to help our people know, experience and worship our amazing God. She is passionate about leading people into God's presence and teaching people to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, who teaches us how to worship. Dawn finds great joy in encouraging our people to use their gifts and talents to further God's kingdom here in DeKalb, IL.
Along with her leadership opportunities at The Church in DeKalb, Dawn also teaches music in a local elementary school. Dawn would say that the best part about serving is the opportunity to use her talents learned in school as a way to glorify God. Dawn loves the fact that she can use music as a tool for worshiping the Lord.
Because Dawn's family currently lives in the far off lands of Texas and California, she has seen The Church in DeKalb has stepped into her life in an amazing way. Jesus has shown Dawn in a very real and tangible way how His church really is a body and that we can be united through Christ.
Having grown up in a Christian home, Stephanie has been exposed to Christ all her life. She is truly amazed at just how dynamic and simple the Gospel is as she continues to learn more about a God that has no end. Stephanie has been so excited to hear the Gospel taught in a way that captivates and challenges her heart for Jesus at The Church in DeKalb.
A verse that has struck Stephanie about her caring for the church is this, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the LORD Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Col. 3:17. Her desires are to take the training and knowledge she has learned from previous administrative experience and honor God with using her gifts and talents in that. She has a joy and passion in being able to work in this way. Stephanie and her family arrived at The Church in DeKalb in the fall of 2014 and have been excited to grow in the LORD as a family and serve the LORD as a family.
Stephanie has been married to her husband, Willie since 2006. They settled in Sycamore in 2011 and have been given the blessings of two children, Chloe and Alexie.
Shannon grew up in the Catholic church and as time went on she wanted to grow and understand who God really is. As this began to happen in The Church in DeKalb, she had one vision and that was to spread the Good News by going! She says "Everything begins and ends with God and everything in between only happens with God. There is no better blessing than knowing God responds to our sins with his forgiveness. God design's us and our families in unique ways to share this with the world".
Her goal is continue to share the stories, teach who God really is and spread the Good News throughout the city and beyond. Psalm 77:4 We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders he has done.
Shannon is married to Brian, who also shares the same Christian faith and is growing closer to God since joining The Church in Dekalb. They enjoy the outdoors, camping and off roading most with their 4 children: Reece, Madisyn, Austin and Kaitlyn.
Jill grew up in a Christian home and went to church all her life. However, something was missing: The Gospel. Since coming to The church in DeKalb in 2011, she has learned that the Gospel isn't "just" the plan for salvation, but for the here and now, in everyday life. She is incredibly excited about the Gospel and the change it has and is still making in her own life.
Jill grew up in a Christian home and went to church all her life. However, something was missing: The Gospel. Since coming to The church in DeKalb in 2011, she has learned that the Gospel isn't “just” the plan for salvation, but for the here and now, in everyday life. She is incredibly excited about the Gospel and the change it has and is still making in her own life.
Jill and her husband, Stevie, both grew up in DeKalb, got married in 2014 and have since had two children, Eleanor and Emma.
Willie can be found working on the computers and IT infrastructure at church as well as engaging the church body, getting them plugged into serving. Willie's vision is to create leaders of leaders. It is because we are a church that plants churches, it is important to be raising up leaders and discipling others as we continue to grow.
Willie grew up in a Christian home and accepted Christ at a young age. He helped plant a church in Crystal Lake, where he met his wife, Stephanie during youth group and they married 2 years later in 2006. Willie and his wife moved to Sycamore and bought a home in 2011. Willie and Stephanie joined The church in Dekalb in the fall of 2015. They have since had two girls, Chloe and Alexie. Willie rides a Harley Davidson, V Rod Muscle and loves motorcycles. Willie and Stephanie are also involved in Black Sheep Harley Davidson's for Christ Motorcycle Ministry.
Donna is our "Mary Poppins." That's what we call her because she is practically perfect in every way - at least as a Christian and a Church Member. Donna enjoys history, especially church history. Besides knitting and pouring Cappuccinos for Starbucks, she's a great servant in the church and a great theologian too.
Donna joined The church in DeKalb 9 years ago, and she is one of the very first people that we even met in the beginning of our church plant. She's served in formal roles such as Children's Director and informal-just-get-it-done roles throughout the church, everywhere. Donna grew up in the Sycamore and DeKalb area. She graduated from Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. She is an incredible part of our family.
Mark is a Deacon at The church in DeKalb and has been a member for 4 years. He aims to spread the Gospel throughout the world and to teach properly, using only Biblical Wisdom to do so.
Mark has attended church since childhood, but has grown ever closer to God, especially in recent years. He struggled with understanding justice for many years, but has seen how God's Justice is different from human, worldly justice. His favorite verse is Matthew 16:23 because it encapsulates all Idolatry and misplaced faith, while establishing God's perfect plan. Mark has been married to Layne since 2013, and they have a daughter, Adelaide, born in 2017.
Parents are welcome to check in their children, birth- 2 years old, to our Gospel Kids Ministry. Just go through the double glass paned doors and walk to the check-in desk where you will be assisted in checking in your child.
Sunday “School” hasn't been around forever. We haven't always sent our kids to the back rooms when the Sermon started. They weren't doing that in the time of Jesus. Well, the time that Jesus walked the Earth. But worship has always been an activity of God's people.
And what better way to teach our kiddos how to sing with the congregation, and how to listen and understand a sermon - themselves - than to have a worship gathering just for them? What better way to train men in the church to preach? And what better way to help kids learn that our church includes them, that they're not a distraction, that they don't need to be kept busy by a toy or a tablet, and that they are more valuable than the seldom used time when we use their cute faces for ‘special music'?
When the sermon begins, the kids and teachers will head to their church time. When the sermon is wrapping up the kids and teachers will return for the remainder of the Worship Gathering service.
We at The church in DeKalb believe the Gospel is such good news that our children are able to enjoy and learn who Christ is. We believe the best teacher for kids is their own parents or guardians. We equip parents with the truth of the Gospel and we hope parents/guardians are able to then disciple (teach & support) their kids with the gospel. We have Sermon Notes for kids available to help guide and assist families in learning the gospel at an age appropriate level.
We also are excited as we are hosting events throughout the month outside of Sunday's to encourage kids to enjoy their friends, learn who God really is and how they can be a part of their community in which they live. We will have updates on these events on our calendar, which can be found on our The church in DeKalb app, website or at our Connections Desk on Sunday mornings.
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A Gospel Centered Church in Dekalb, IL
1600 East Lincoln Highway DeKalb, IL
815-763-2029
Copyright © 2022 The Church In Dekalb.