What We Believe
We are a nondenominational church in Scottsdale, Arizona, welcoming people of all ages and backgrounds. We worship God. Our worship is a natural expression of our gratitude for what He has done in our lives. Everything we do is an act of worship and therefore all of life is to be lived for Him.
Our Mission
We exist to light people’s way to a life-changing relationship with Jesus.
Our Vision
To be used by God to create redeeming communities of Christ-followers
now and for future generations in our city.
God’s Word
We believe the Bible is the written word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and without error in the original manuscripts. The Bible is the revelation of God’s loving truth, and is infallible and authoritative in all matters of faith and practice. Because of our finitude and fallenness, it is impossible for us to understand God’s truth exhaustively. We rely on the Holy Spirit to give us guidance into the truth. Jesus is God in the flesh; therefore, he is the clearest example of who God is.
We teach and apply the Bible. We explain what the Bible means by what it says. We don’t add to it, and we don’t take away from it. The Bible is God’s love story of redeeming mankind to Himself through His Son Jesus Christ. The Bible provides the foundation for orthodoxy and practice. We are open handed with issues the Bible is not explicitly clear on. So then, there is freedom within the church to hold views that are within the scope of biblical Christianity in a spirit that is not divisive.
The Triune God
We believe in the Holy Trinity. There is one God, who exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit indwells God’s people and gives them the strength and wisdom to trust Christ, follow Him, and empower them for service.
Man’s Problem
We believe that God created all things, and that he created humanity in his image. However, through Adam’s rebellion in the garden, humanity incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which is separation from God. Consequently, all human beings are born separated from God with a sinful nature. This means that we have earned God’s righteous judgment towards our sin and rebellion.
God’s Solution to Man’s Problem
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins on the cross according to the Scriptures as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice, and that he rose on the third day. All who repent and believe in Him are redeemed and justified on the ground of His shed blood. We believe that salvation is from God alone through Christ alone, and our salvation is based on His grace, not on any human individual merit. All who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ are born of the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God, a relationship in which they are eternally secure.
Our Place in the World
We believe that all aspects of our lives are to be lived to the glory of God under the Lordship of Jesus Christ; and therefore, we are called to act justly, to do mercy, and to walk humbly with our God.
Jesus’ Return
We believe that Jesus will return, bodily and visibly, to judge all humanity and to receive His people to Himself. Wrongs will be made right and the final destination of every individual will be revealed. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The children of God will dwell forever in the new heavens and new earth with their Lord.
Core Values
Generous living – we desire to be a church where people are overwhelmed by Christian generosity with all God has given us. We are generous with each other and toward those whom Jesus calls “the least of these.”
Redeemed lives – we are a church that freely and boldly shares the gospel of Jesus through proper biblical teaching that explains what the Bible means by what it says. Personal stories of transformation reinforce this life-changing message.
Adoration of God – imagine a people whose worship is genuine, simple, and expressed with their entire lives. It is directed upward through prayer and praise and outward through self-sacrifice.
Community – imagine a gathering where people are fulfilled in close relationship. We are called to pray for one another, bear one another’s burdens, confess our sins to one another and love one another. This is the example of the first church in Acts chapter 2.
Engaged in culture – through truth and discipleship – We hold to a private and public devotion to God. We are devoted to bringing the life-giving message of Jesus in the context of where we live. Examples: Paul at Mars Hill and Daniel and his friends in Babylon.
Our Current Elders
With Jesus Christ as head of the church, Illuminate is governed by a Board of Elders who volunteer their time and support the pastoral team and staff of the church. Their primary responsibility is to seek God’s vision for our church, ensure integrity in our finances and policies, and pray with and for the people of our church. God blesses our Board with a variety of spiritual gifts, allowing them to handle duties with competence and integrity. Accountability is provided within the team format and decisions are made through consensus with the wisdom of many. You can email our elders at elders@illuminatecommunity.com.