History
The Evangelical Brethren Church was established in 1966 through a series of camp meetings in the area. EBC held worship on Maple Ave in Hanover, until it moved to its current location which they built themselves in 1972. The church started Hanover Christian Academy which operated from 1973 to……
Our Mission
Our mission at EBC has three essential parts, 1. To exalt Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of all man kind, and the Bible as God’s word. 2. To disciple, equip, fellowship with, and strengthen all believers who desire to walk with God. 3. To evangelize the world around us, and beyond with the good news of the Gospel in effective and creative ways through the help of the Holy Spirit.
A Stake In The Ground
1. Love
A. Love will be the rule of thumb. Love will be spoken at EBC
John 15:12 “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”
B. The first and greatest commandment
Matt 22:35-40 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
C. Set your mind on things above, always act with God's love
Romans 13:8-10 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
D. The Patient Ferment of the Early Church (Alan Kreider)
*The early church from 100 to 315 until Constantine
*They did not allow non-Christians into worship/ Had to be catechized and baptized
*So how did they evangelize? Love- Radical love- Different then the pagan neighbors
*The churches grew/ on average it took catechumen 3 years to be in worship service
*Set your mind on things above, always act with God's love. Love is spoken here!
2. Unity - Love breeds unity
133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
A. Unity in diversity, diversity in unity (What we want)
Ephesians 4:1- 3 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
3. Handling contentions
A. Unity is vital for church health
*Two places Jesus Taught us how to handle contentions.
1. Matthew 5:23-24 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee. Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
*This is when someone has something against you!
2. Matt 13:15- 17 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
*This is when you have something against someone!
B. Forgiveness
Col 3:12-13 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
4. So How do we do this? Relationship with Christ
A. Love and unity come from a relationship with the triune God through Christ
Galatians 2:20 ESV I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 5:22-23 ESV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Colossians 3:1-3 ESV If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
*Prayer, devotions, fellowship, Church, Daily walking with Jesus
*You always start becoming who you are around most! Spend time with good people
*Spend time with God and Godly people – people with the Holy Spirit
5. Biblical understanding
A. Importance of Biblical Commandments and Principles
2 Timothy 3:16 -17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
B. Not our own ideas
*Not our own ideas. We must have the mind of Christ and His Word in us!
Conclusion:
1. Love
2. Unity
3. Handling Contentions correctly
4. Relationship with Christ
5. Biblical understanding
*Let’s not play Christian, let’s be Christian!
What we believe
We believe there is one God overall, the Creator of all things and in whom all things exist. Deut. 6:4 - Heb. 11:3
We believe there is one Savior, Jesus Christ, the only begotten and eternal Son of God. Matt 3:16-17
We believe there is one Holy Spirit, who is in the world convicting people of their sin and leading the Church into all truth. John 14:16,17,26
We believe The Trinity is made up of The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and the three are one God. Matthew 28:19
We believe the Old and New Testament are absolutely true as originally inspired. 2 Tim. 3:16
We believe that Mankind is born sinful in nature and conduct and is in need of salvation. Rom. 3:23
We believe that the scriptures declare that if we believe on Jesus and repent of our sins, we will have salvation. Acts 17:30 Matt 9:13
We believe the inspired and historical account of the resurrection of Jesus is the corner stone of all Christian faith. 1 Cor. 15:52-55 - 2 Cor. 5:10
We believe that all morality has its foundation in the principles found in Gods Word
In a culture where morality is subjective, we believe that the Word of God is our final authority on all matters of sexuality, family, & relationships 2 Tim. 3:16
We believe that Christians are instructed to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and to walk in the spirit so as to live a holy life. Eph. 5:18 - Gal. 5:25