Our Values


We believe the Bible is not to be considered just a book of literature. It is God’s inerrant truth, is God inspired, and it is meant to be applied to every area of life, and at every stage of life. The Bible contains the answers to ALL of life's questions.  We as believers are responsible to adapt our lives to fit the Bible, rather than the other way around.  It is our guide.

Sound Contextual Teaching

Teaching

We are constantly asking from the Bible, the meaning and the reason of the text, and the relevance of the text. The challenge for us here at New Salem comes from 2 Timothy 2:15 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” We value what the Bible says and what it means. Therefore, we care tremendously about what is taught. We are not interested in making verses of Scripture say something that is not there. Nor are we afraid to teach both the negative and positive aspects of a certain subject.


Reaching New People
We say with William Temple: “The Church is the only organization organized primarily for the benefit of its non-members”. Our ministries and programs are designed to welcome people just as they are with the view that God is the one that brings about transformation in their lives.


Spiritual Growth
Our small group classes are geared toward not only making friends and taking care of each other, but also that spiritual growth comes through teaching the Bible.



Serving the Body of Christ and the Community

We make personal sacrifices such as our time and the use of our spiritual gifts to serve the people who not only walk through our doors, but our community as well. By serving others, we grow closer to Christ and show His love in a way people can see.


Humility
The Bible describes the Church as Jesus's Bride. His Bride is to be involved in four main areas. They are Worship, Instruction, Fellowship, and Evangelism. To accomplish this requires humility of the Bride. New Salem is organized around those four Biblical principles. 

  • Ephesians 5:25-32
    Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.
  • Revelation 21:9
    Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”