What is Community Bible Fellowship?

Community Bible Fellowship is a recognized corporation in the State of Washington and is organized under federal code 501.C.3 as a not for profit organization. We have a corporate board, articles of incorporation, and by laws.

All that to say, we are a local church! Now, what is a church, and what kind of church are we?

We will borrow from others here: We are a community of regenerated believers who confess Jesus Christ as Lord. In obedience to Scripture we have organized under qualified leadership. We gather regularly for Biblical preaching and worship. We observe baptism and communion. We are unified by the Spirit, disciplined for holiness, and scatter to fulfill the great commandment and the great commission as missionaries to the world for God’s glory and our joy!

Let’s break that down:

1. The church is not a physical building. The church is made up of believers that have been regenerated, or are a new creation in Christ. We believe that salvation is an inward act of God in those who call on Him and believe in the person and work of His Son Jesus.
2. Leaders are qualified and appointed based on the maturing work of the Holy Spirit as evidenced by visible fruit as described in passages such as 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. These are spiritual realities, not earthly talents, or just innate leadership abilities.
3. The church is under the authority of Jesus Christ and gathers under the teaching of the apostles, which is recorded in the New Testament. We do not dismiss the Old Testament scriptures, but find them invaluable in understanding and illustrating the New Testament.
4. The church is privileged to observe baptism and communion.
5. The church is to be a picture and earthly representation of the unity that the Godhead enjoys, and will one day be presented holy and blameless to Jesus as His bride! This unity is only possible through the indwelling, filling, and leading of the Holy Spirit as the believer confesses sin and yields to His work.
6. The church is a holy people. Holy does not mean superior to others. It does mean set apart for God’s use. When we sin, we repent. If someone should fail to repent, the church and its leaders lovingly enact biblical church discipline in hopes of bringing the sinner to repentance and to a reconciled relationship with God and His people.
7. The church devotes itself to fellowship; to connect with other believers for worship, learning, encouragement, sharing and bearing with one another.
8. The church is called to testify. As we scatter we look for opportunity to tell others what God has done for us in Jesus. This results in reproduction and fulfillment of why we are here!