We value love as the sum of all Scripture. We affirm that the fullest expression of love is the Son of God, Jesus Christ, laying down his life for sinners on the cross. We recognise that we only love because God first loved us. Our love then is an expression of gratitude for Gods gracious love to us and in turn enables us to truly love others.

We know that even if we possess all spiritual gifts but are without love we are nothing, and gain nothing. We value love as an indispensable mark of the Christian life, and the measure and test of this love to God is whole-hearted obedience to his Word. The measure and test of this love to our neighbours is laying down our lives for them.

We value love that lacks self-concern, seeks the neighbours good, and is measured by how much it gives to that end. We value love as a principle of action rather than of emotion. Deeds of mercy are an expression of compassion for people, believers and unbelievers, whether or not we feel personal affection for them.

We value active love for others as a mark of a true disciple of Jesus and evidence that the Holy Spirit is bringing forth fruit in us, the evidence of a changed life and witness to an unregenerate world.

We value prayer because God has spoken to us in and through the contents of the Bible and we then speak to God about Himself, ourselves, and people in His world, shaping what we say as response to what He has said. This two-way conversation is meant to continue as long as life lasts and demonstrates our ongoing dependence on Jesus our Great High Priest.

How we think about prayer, and the priority we give to it, reflects the truth of what we think about God and the priority we give Him. Prayer continually carries us back to God, depending on Him to work, save, bless, and to protect. Gods great movements in this world have been conditioned on, continued by, and fashioned by prayer. Little prayer leads to limited power. God is all-sufficient to supply our every need for the work of his kingdom, yet we often go without because we do not pray.

We value both private prayer as taught by Jesus, and prayer in company with others as modeled by the early church. In prayer, we express:

• adoration and praise for who God is;
  
• confession of our sins and requests for forgiveness;
  
• thanks for Gods goodness; and
  
• petitions for ourselves and intercession for others.
  

We value the Psalms as models of these prayers.

We know that all our prayers are to be made in Jesus name because He is our Mediator, the One who secures our access to the Father, and we look to Jesus as our intercessor in the Fathers presence.

We value a spirit of prayer, both in our personal lives and the life of the church, as the obvious evidence of a genuine work of God.

We value the Word of God as the primary means God has appointed to reveal Himself to human beings in this present world. At Eastgate Bible Church we seek to preach and teach in a way that explains the Bible, without undue dependence on other books, so that all may know God more fully.

We value the Scripture as objective truth which can be understood, and agree the Bible still speaks with authority and relevance to all peoples and cultures across time. We place the highest priority on "word ministries", including preaching but we also seek to elevate the role of Scripture in small groups, evangelism, counselling, and discipleship.

We value a culture of learning, where everyone is seeking to know God more fully through His Word, therefore the Bible is our standard for what we should think, feel, do, and say. We acknowledge that we can only learn what God wants us to know as we trust in the enabling of the Holy Spirit because He is the one who explains what the Bible itself intends to say. The Holy Spirits work is to teach us all things and remind us of everything Jesus has said to us. This work of sanctification is by grace, through faith.

We recognise the Word of God must be individually applied to every area of life, and not simply listened to in the ear. We must be doers of the Word and not hearers only. When we grow in our knowledge of who God truly is there will inevitably be a response reflected through our actions. This response is what is meant by the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

We value the Bible as:

• the Book of the Ages (Ps 119:89; 119:152; Is 40:8; Mt 5:18; 24:35; 1Pe 1:25);
  
• food for the soul (Dt 8:3; Job 23:12; Ps 19:10; 119:103; Jer 15:16; Eze 2:8; 3:1; Mt 4:4; 1Pe 2:2);
  
• divinely inspired (Jer 36:2; Eze 1:3; Hag 2:1; Zec 4:6; 7:12; Mal 1:1; Ac 1:16; 28:25; 2Ti 3:16; 2Pe 1:21; Rev 1:1; 14:13);
  
• precepts to be written in the heart (Dt 6:6; 11:18; 30:14; Ps 119:11; Lk 2:51; Ro 10:8; Col 3:16);
  
• furnishing light in darkness (Ps 19:8; 119:105; 119:130; Pr 2:6; 6:23; 2Pe 1:19);
  
• loved by Gods people (Ps 119:47,72,82,97,113,140,159,163,167,174; Jer 15:16; Tit 1:9
  
• mighty in its influence (Jer 1:18; 5:14; 23:29; Eze 37:7; Ac 19:20; Ro 1:16; Eph 6:17; Heb 4:12; Rev 19:15);
  
• a blessing to those who revere it (Jos 1:8; Ps 19:11; Mt 7:24; Lk 11:28; Jn 5:24; 8:31; Rev 1:3);
  
• purifying for our lives (Ps 119:9; Jn 15:3; 17:17; Eph 5:26; 1Pe 1:22);
  
• written with a purpose (Jn 20:30-31; Ro 15:14; 1Co 10:11; 1Jn 5:13);
  
• something to be read in the Great Congregation (Ex 24:7; Jos 8:34; Jer 36:8; 51:61; Lk 4:16; Col 4:16);
  
• the standard of faith and duty (Pr 29:18; Is 8:20; Jn 12:48; Gal 1:8; 1Th 2:13);
  
• never to be altered (Dt 4:2; 12:32; Ps 119:161; Pr 30:6; Jer 23:36; 36:23; Mt 5:19; Rev 22:19);
  
• something to be studied (Dt 17:19; Is 8:20; 34:16; Da 9:2; Jn 5:39; Ac 17:11);
  
• seed for the sower (Ps 126:6; Is 55:11; Mk 4:4,14-15,26; Lk 8:11; 2Co 9:10; 1Pe 1:23);
  
• absolutely trustworthy (Gen 7:10; Lev 26:44; Jud 13:12; 1Sa 10:9; 2Sa 7:25; 1Ki 8:26,56; 2Ki 5:14; 1Ch 17:23; 2Ch 10:15; Ps 89:34; 93:5; 111:7; 119:76; Is 25:8; 40:8; 58:14; Jer 28:17; 29:10; 34:5; 51:12; Eze 12:25; 17:24; 26:5; Da 9:12; Mt 5:18; Lk 21:33; Ro 4:16);
  
• profitable for instruction (Dt 4:10; 11:19; 2Ch 17:9; Ne 8:13; Ps 40:9; 68:11; Is 2:3; Ac 18:28); and
  
• the message to be delivered (1 Ki 21:19; Ps 40:10; Jer 1:7,17; 2:2; 11:2; Eze 2:7; 3:17; Ac 5:20; Tit 2:15).
  

We value the centrality of the gospel in all that we proclaim because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. The message humanity most needs to hear is what Jesus accomplished through His death on the cross. Through the preaching of the gospel the Kingdom of God advances and captive sinners are set free.

We value the Word of God as the primary means God has appointed to reveal to us how we are to worship Him. At Eastgate Bible Church we seek to promote worship that centres and focuses on our God and Saviour Jesus Christ through the working of the Holy Spirit in and through the people of God.

Worship is giving God His worth. Worship is that which is owed to God by all of God's creation. Psalm 148 tells us that the angels of heaven, the stars and planets of the universe, all of the physical world, the mountains and trees, the animals in the world, and all peoples of the world owe praise to God. He is worthy of our praise for He is the Creator of all.

Worship is about God and not us. Therefore, our worship of God must focus on God and exalt Him. We can only rightly worship God when we have experienced His mercies in saving us from our sins, death, and Hell. Our response must be one of surrendering all that we are and have to Him for this is "our spiritual act of worship."

While all of life is to be a worship to God, the Bible teaches that those who are the Lords people set aside focused times for individual, family, and corporate worship of God.

When Eastgate Bible church gathers for corporate worship it is our desire:

• that God Himself is the focus of our worship, for it is His Name and His Word that we seek to exalt above all things.
  
• that the preaching be biblical, fervent, God-exalting, and personally helpful.
  
• that our worship experience be "in spirit and in truth" and engages our head, our hearts, and our wills.
  
• that we appreciate both contemporary and traditional styles in the way in which we express corporate worship.
  
• We believe that the family is a microcosm of the church and that family worship needs to take place within the homes of our church families.
  

It is our desire:

• that individuals learn how to have their own worship times of Bible reading, prayer, and singing unto the Lord.
  
• that married couples learn how to have times of Bible reading, prayer, and singing unto the Lord.
  
• that families be taught how to practice regular times of Bible reading, prayer, and singing unto the Lord.

We value discipleship as a God-ordained means for the growth in grace of all those who considered themselves followers of Jesus Christ. A key element of the Great Commission was that those who follow Christ must "Go and make disciples." Jesus elaborated on what this means by telling his followers that those who belong to Him must be baptised in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Baptism is a sign of ones being brought into a covenant relationship of grace with our Triune God through the working of the Holy Spirit bringing the individual to repentance of sin and saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus also instructed that those who claim to be His followers by the sign of baptism were to be taught to obey all things that He himself had taught and commanded them. (Matt. 28:19-20)

This instruction is to be both an equipping work and a multiplying work. This means that Eastgate Bible Church is committed to discipleship that enables the Lords people to not only KNOW His Word, but also to LIVE His Word and to PROCLAIM His Word.

We believe the Scriptures teach that this kind of discipleship must be inter-generational. The primary area of ministry for believers is the parental responsibility they have to their children. Parents are to teach their children in the ways of the Lord. (Dt.6:4-9; Ps.78:1-7; Eph.6:4) Older men are to teach the younger men. (2 Timothy 2:2). Older women are to teach younger women. (Titus 2:3-5)

Discipleship involves teaching by both precept and example. The essential elements of Discipleship include learning:

• the lordship of Christ in daily practice
  
• deliberate obedience to Christ in all areas of life
  
• consistent intake of the Scriptures as a daily habit
  
• purity of life as a firm commitment
  
• regularity in church attendance and involvement
  
• consistent Christian fellowship with other believers
  
• learning to be a servant to others
  
• being an eager learner
  
• discovering, developing and using one's spiritual gifts
  
• bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit visibly
  
• carrying out the ministry of giving
  
• deliberately carrying out the Great Commission
  
• Being an imitator of Jesus Christ.
  

Effective discipleship flows out of relationship. It is our desire to develop rich God-honouring relationships within the church. Eastgate Bible Church will seek to promote this kind of discipleship and atmosphere for relationship through:

• Community groups that meet weekly
  
• Women's groups that meet weekly
  
• Men's Groups that meet monthly
  
• Church luncheon following worship every 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month
  
• Bi-Yearly Church camp
  
• Training for one on one discipleship.

We value generous and joyful giving. The God that we worship is by virtue of His very being the God of all grace. Everything that we have from Him is a gracious gift to us.

If we are to be a godly people then we like our God, should be gracious in our giving. Grace is undeserved favour. Our giving should never be seen as a payment to God or to His Church, or to others. We should give willingly and freely as does our God. We should give as we have decided in our heart to give. The source of our giving is not our purse, but our heart. We are not to give reluctantly or under compulsion.

If we are to be a godly people then we like our God, should be generous in our giving. God gives far more than the tithe. He gave His all to us in the giving of His only Son. In the Old Testament God asked for tithes and offerings from His people. In the New Testament, Jesus himself endorsed the tithing principle. Jesus not only teaches us to tithe but to give our all. Jesus commended the widow who gave her all. Gods promise is that those who "sow generously will also reap generously".

If we are to be a godly people, then we like our God should be purposeful in our giving. All that God does is according to His purpose and plan. He likewise tells us that we should give purposefully. "Each man should give as he has decided ("to give considered attention") in his heart to give ". We should therefore purposefully and prayerfully give of our resources, both monetary and in the use of our spiritual gifts, to the Lords work and kingdom.

If we are to be a godly people, then like our God we should be cheerful in our giving. God himself loves to give to us. He wants us to give cheerfully in all our giving.

We believe that the chief aim of evangelism and missions is not primarily for the salvation of souls, but to see the name of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit- glorified amongst the heathen. All outreach is done to see God glorified and feared and that He would receive the praise and adoration that He alone deserves.

We believe that to love God is to obey His commandments, and as all four gospels contain a commission to preach the gospel, all Christians out of love should spread the good news of Jesus Christ, in one form or another.

We believe that we are called to love our neighbour as ourselves and that in light of the imminent return and judgement of Jesus, we are to warn them of this event, to never mention this is the most unloving thing a Christian can do.

We believe that as we submit ourselves to the lordship of Jesus Christ and are obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit that Christ will make us fishers of men.

We are also to pray for boldness in proclaiming the gospel, and that through us the Word of the Lord may run swiftly. We are also to pray that God would raise up labourers for the harvest.

We believe that it is not enough to simply live out the gospel - that is to be the salt and the light of the world - but that the word of God must be proclaimed to the lost that they may hear, and then believe in it.

We believe that it is the role of the local church to send and support missionaries to all areas of the globe, focusing both locally and abroad.

Finally, we believe that the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved it is the power of God. He has also chosen the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. Therefore, any missionary or evangelistic outreach that is not preaching the gospel or aiming to reveal the gospel in its truth is pointless.