About DSBC

Christians throughout the ages have held a wide variety of beliefs, perspectives, and convictions. DSBC is a community made up of many different convictions, backgrounds, and opinions. We firmly believe that Jesus is at the center of all things (Colossians 1:15).

Rupertus Meldenius, a 17th century theologian, once wrote on Christian unity. His thoughts express our posture well:

In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.

The following statement is our current understanding of the ”essentials” of “the Way” as Luke refers to Christianity in the book of Acts, and as such, is core to understanding what God is doing.

In the Beginning…

God created.
God eternally exists as one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit created the heavens and the earth.

God formed humans in his image.
In God’s overwhelming love, he created humans in the image and likeness of God, each having inherent dignity, worth, and purpose. God, desiring to live with humanity, formed a garden paradise, a place of peace, justice, beauty, and love. He offered eternal life with him and called humans, his ‘image bearers,’ to be like him and be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and work it.

Humans rebelled against God.
Though made in God’s image, humanity rebelled against God, each turning to their own way. Humanity sinned against God. Sin begets evil and death. Humanity is still hiding from God and our rebellion leads to evil and death.

Jesus, the turning point of the story
God became human.
Jesus, God the son, fully divine, became fully human and was born of the virgin Mary. He proclaimed that the Kingdom of God had arrived in him, and called all people to turn from sin and turn to him. Though sinless and innocent, he was crucified on a cross, died, and was buried.

Jesus conquered evil and death.
Jesus did not stay dead. He resurrected, rising from the grave. After appearing to many of his followers he ascended into heaven where he now sits at God’s right hand. He is ruler over all powers, living, active and present with us now, serving as a high priest and advocate.
Through his death and resurrection, Jesus freed all people from the power of evil and death. One day, he will return and reunite heaven and earth, like the garden paradise mentioned above. All who follow Jesus will live forever with Him in a world of peace, justice, beauty, and love.

Jesus continues his work

Jesus formed the Church.
As we await the return of Jesus, we live in unity with one another as his church, ‘the body of Christ.’ The Church is composed of all believers. Each local church is an expression of this one Church, and is called to live the values of the Kingdom of God ‘on earth as it is in heaven.’

The Holy Spirit empowers the Church.
The Holy Spirit is eternal, continually drawing people to God. Being filled by the Holy Spirit, believers are encouraged, transformed to be like Jesus, convicted of sin, and given spiritual gifts to be used in the service of others.

Scripture guides the Church
The scriptures are breathed out by God (inspired) and testify to the things mentioned above. They are given to us by God so that through them we might find a Jesus-centered wisdom for our lives today. The scripture, not the opinion of a religious leader, serves as the final word on matters of faith and practice.