Orland Evangelical Free Church

Statement of Faith

Pastor Raley will survey the new EFCA doctrinal statement in his sermons for the next several weeks. The following shows the new statements (proposed) in comparison to the current statements.

Proposed:

1. We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally divine persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Having limitless knowledge and sovereign power, God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things new for His own glory.

Current:

We believe in one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

To Whom Shall We Go?

Everything went right. I zipped through my errands and was headed home early. Cruising down the rural highway crooning to Alison Durham, I felt filled with the Holy Spirit. Life was good - until five minutes later.

Suddenly a sea of red rolled toward me. I stood on my brakes. Screeeeeeech...the SUV loomed ahead. The world began spinning in slow motion. I swerved to the left. Was it enough? Careening down the road I wondered, "Why isn't the car stopping? I'm going to hit." Crrrrrrrunch...the SUV vanished as the hood accordioned to the windshield. Hisssssssss. I sat dumbfounded as noxious fumes assaulted my nostrils, "Great. Poison gas. At least the seatbelt worked."

How did it happen? I wasn't speeding. I wasn't tailgating. The CHP officer offered these comforting words, "That's why they're called accidents."

I was a new Christian. I saw my sinful lifestyle as a depressing waste. Life was going to be good from now on. I didn't know then about the Refiner's fire. I didn't know that the accident was only the first in a 10 year series of trials that would repeatedly bend me to the breaking point. But like Simon Peter, going back was never an option.

Open Your Eyes

"For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ." (Philippians 3:18) Surely the apostle Paul is referring to axe murderers and Satan-worshipers, not members of the Philippian church.

Oh, if only.

Paul gives them three names: dogs, evil workers, and the false circumcision.

Recent Sermon

Christianity Expressed in Action

Matthew Raley(02/07/10)

Acts 2:42-47

One of the great issues of today among evangelicals is whether life-change is part of the salvation experience.\n\nIn this sermon we’ll see that to excuse believers from the Spirit-led way of life is to harden their hearts against the true gospel, and to change the terms of God’s redemptive plan.\n