It has been said that “a picture is worth a thousand words”, and we feel that the following six paintings* provide a vivid illustration of our values. In turn, these values help define our church and its ministries.
Glory – A Worshiping Church
God is worthy of worship. He designed sunflowers with the inclination to follow the sun as it traverses the sky. Every morning begins facing the rising sun. We have been created by God to worship Him and are invited daily to turn our face toward the Risen Son.
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. Psalms 19:1-2, NIV)
Finding Fertile Ground – A Biblical Church
A biblical church is a fruitful church. In the parable of the “Four Soils,” the seed that fell along the path, on the rocks or among the thorns was unfruitful. The seed that fell on good soil, however, brought an abundant harvest.
“The seed is the word of God.” (Luke 8:11b, NIV)
Still Waters – A Praying Church
Prayer is powerful. Inspired by Psalm 23, this painting illustrates the power of prayer. Through prayer, God provides protection from enemies and fulfillment of needs. As the psalmist sang, “But you, LORD, are a shield around me…” (Psalm 3:3, NIV).
“He leads me beside still waters….You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies…”
(Psalm 23:2, 5, ESV)
Sharing Roots – A Connected Church
A grove of Aspens – on the surface – may appear to be comprised of many individual trees. In reality, it is one living organism interconnected beneath the surface by its roots. Likewise, the church may – on the surface – appear to be a collection of individuals. In reality, all believers are part of the body of Christ, formed by God to live and serve in community.
“And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common.”
(Acts 2:44, The Message)
A Good and Faithful Servant – A Serving Church
God created us to serve. A Border Collie looks expectantly toward her unseen master, joyfully waiting to obey the next command. We, as followers of Christ, also focus our attention on our Unseen Master, joyfully waiting to obey God by serving others.
“I lift my eyes to you, O God, enthroned in heaven. We keep looking to the LORD our God for his mercy, just as servants keep their eyes on their master…for the slightest signal. ” (Psalm 123:1–2, NLT)
Faith like Seeds – An Evangelistic Church
Nothing evangelizes like dandelions. They remind us that the church is called to evangelize the world. The gospel of Jesus Christ, carried by the wind of the Holy Spirit, spreads the message to the ends of the earth.
“Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.” (Acts 8:4, NIV)
*If you wish to purchase a print of one of the paintings, you can do so by contacting Cobalt Moose Art Studios at 406.585.5443 or email art@cobaltmoose.com. Sixty percent of all profits will be donated to the E-Free Church of Bozeman.
Statement of Faith
The Evangelical Free Church of America is an association of autonomous churches united around these theological convictions:
God
1. We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Having limitless knowledge and sovereign power, God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things new for His own glory.
The Bible
2. We believe that God has spoken in the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, through the words of human authors. As the verbally inspired Word of God, the Bible is without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged. Therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises.
The Human Condition
3. We believe that God created Adam and Eve in His image, but they sinned when tempted by Satan. In union with Adam, human beings are sinners by nature and by choice, alienated from God, and under His wrath. Only through God’s saving work in Jesus Christ can we be rescued, reconciled and renewed.
Jesus Christ
4. We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, one Person in two natures. Jesus—Israel’s promised Messiah—was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate.
The Work of Christ
5. We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, shed His blood on the cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for salvation.
The Holy Spirit
6. We believe that the Holy Spirit, in all that He does, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ. He convicts the world of its guilt. He regenerates sinners, and in Him they are baptized into union with Christ and adopted as heirs in the family of God. He also indwells, illuminates, guides, equips and empowers believers for Christ-like living and service.
The Church
7. We believe that the true church comprises all who have been justified by God’s grace through faith alone in Christ alone. They are united by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. The true church is manifest in local churches, whose membership should be composed only of believers. The Lord Jesus mandated two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which visibly and tangibly express the gospel. Though they are not the means of salvation, when celebrated by the church in genuine faith, these ordinances confirm and nourish the believer.
Christian Living
8. We believe that God’s justifying grace must not be separated from His sanctifying power and purpose. God commands us to love Him supremely and others sacrificially, and to live out our faith with care for one another, compassion toward the poor and justice for the oppressed. With God’s Word, the Spirit’s power, and fervent prayer in Christ’s name, we are to combat the spiritual forces of evil. In obedience to Christ’s commission, we are to make disciples among all people, always bearing witness to the gospel in word and deed.
Christ’s Return
9. We believe in the personal, bodily and glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission.
Response and Eternal Destiny
10. We believe that God commands everyone everywhere to believe the gospel by turning to Him in repentance and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that God will raise the dead bodily and judge the world, assigning the unbeliever to condemnation and eternal conscious punishment and the believer to eternal blessedness and joy with the Lord in the new heaven and the new earth, to the praise of His glorious grace. Amen.
