What kind of a church is Stonebridge?
We are an Evangelical, Reformed, Presbyterian congregation that is committed to living out and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ here in Perrysburg and metropolitan Toledo. Stonebridge Church was founded in 1996.
We gladly submit ourselves to the authority of Scripture and exalt God’s sovereignty and gracious covenants in all of life.We believe that faith in Christ alone is necessary for salvation and that God is the One who works that faith in us.
We believe that the Christian life is not about having it all together, nor is it about doing whatever we feel like doing. The Scriptures say,
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works (Titus 2:11–14).
As an Evangelical, Reformed Presbyterian church, we hold to the Westminster Standards for our doctrine and practice. The Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF) is a confessional statement of orthodox Presbyterianism. The WCF is our standard of doctrine as found in Scripture. It is a positive statement of the Reformed Faith. The WCF constitutes a system of biblical truth that an officer of an Evangelical, Reformed, and Presbyterian church is required to believe, acknowledging that each individual court has the freedom to allow exceptions which do not infringe upon the system of doctrine in the WCF.
We also make use of a wider collection of documents taken from the Westminster Standards, which were collectively written in the 1640s. The documents we still use from the Standards also include the Westminster Shorter Catechism and the Westminster Larger Catechism.
While our beliefs are most fully stated in the Westminster Standards, below we summarize our beliefs in the Five Solas, the Doctrines of Grace, and in Presbyterian church polity (or governance). We also provide a few specifics regarding our worship and practice.
What does it mean to be Evangelical?
The basics of being Evangelical are summed up in the Five Solas, which teach that we are saved by faith alone, through grace alone, in Christ alone, according to the Scriptures alone, to the glory of God alone. To be evangelical means that through Jesus Christ the kingdom of God and the new creation has been inaugurated, freeing people from the guilt and power of sin through the forgiveness of sin given by the Father through the sending of His Son in love, purchased by Christ in His substitutionary and atoning sacrifice, and applied by the Spirit through His work of effectual calling and regeneration and sanctification, and received through personal faith and repentance in conversion, expressed through membership in the visible church and a God-glorifying and pious life.
What does it mean to be Reformed?
The Reformed faith desires to be as biblical as possible in worldview, faith, and practice—to be as consistent with the Bible as possible. We believe that we are a continuation of the one true Church from the Patristic era but reformed (renewed, not reconstituted) according to the bible. The Reformed faith has its roots in the teachings of the Apostle Paul, the Patristic era, and St. Augustine. The Reformed faith was articulated and defended during the Protestant Reformation (~1517–1650) by men like Huldrych Zwingli, Martin Bucer, Heinrich Bullinger, John Calvin, John Knox, Theodore Beza, William Perkins, and Francis Turretin. Being Reformed means that we emphasize and teach particular doctrines, or teachings. These are:
- God’s glory as the purpose of all creation and God’s work of redemption
- God’s sovereignty over all creation: everyone and everything
- The utmost importance of biblically derived worship
- The understanding of God’s relationship with man and promises to man through covenants, also called Covenant Theology
- The continuing importance and benefit of Church history and creeds and confessions
- The teaching of the Doctrines of Grace (a.k.a. TULIP or Calvinism), which assert that salvation is wholly of God’s grace received by faith, and not according to doctrines, precepts, or will of man
In summary, at the end of the day our goal isn’t “to be Reformed” but to be Biblical. We want to be faithful to our Lord with everything we are—our whole heart and body. For more information, see also R.C. Sproul’s online video series, “What is Reformed Theology?“
What does it mean to be Presbyterian?
To be Presbyterian is to believe that the Church is “a body of congregations connected to one another by a plurality of elected representative officers.”1 The most fundamental belief of Presbyterians is that Jesus is the only head and sovereign of His Church (Eph 1:22–23; 5:23; Col 1:18), and that all His officers serve only in a ministerial and declarative capacity.
Churches have a form of government called polity. The Presbyterian polity is named after the Greek word presbuteros, which means “elder” or “old man”. Presbyterians are governed by elders. Most Presbyterians have three offices: minister (or pastor or teaching elder), elder (or ruling elder), and deacon. (Some express this through a two office view, having two kinds or classes of elders and deacons. Both views amount to the same practice, and the chief point is that ministers and elders have an equal vote.) Officers are chosen by the congregation and confirmed by the elders. The minister(s) and elder(s)—together called the Session—are the pastors of a Presbyterian church. The Session represents the congregation and has authority over the congregation. The Session oversees the affairs of the congregation, prays and provides biblical teaching and pastoral care for the members through the ministry of the Word. Deacons are ordained for a ministry of mercy, service, and compassion in the physical care of the members; this, too, is pastoral ministry.
Presbyterian churches are connectional. While our church is the local body of believers, our church is also all the other churches in our region and in our denomination. We are united and have mutual responsibility for one another and work together for ministry, missions, fellowship, care, and accountability. All the Sessions (or churches) in particular region are called a Presbytery. The Presbytery is responsible for overseeing the churches in her region, for starting new churches and ordaining new pastors, and more. All the Presbyteries together are called the General Assembly (GA). The GA oversees the Presbyteries, sends missionaries, assists church planting, and provides various other benefits and functions.
We believe Presbyterianism is clearly found in Scripture and was practiced by the Old Testament church and the early New Testament church. We believe that the practice of episcopalianism, or government by bishops, in which only ministers or bishops may ordain others, is a later corruption of the church and does not reflect the Bible’s teaching on church polity.
Who is Stonebridge?
Stonebridge is an Evangelical, Reformed, Presbyterian church who could be described through her core values. The core values of our church can be summarized in four words: 1) Gospel, 2) Church, 3) Worship, and 4) Mission. These four values help us shape how we make decisions and what we do.
The Gospel
The Gospel is at the heart of who we are and what we are to be as God’s people. We acknowledge there to be but one truth set forth in the Holy Scriptures contained in the Old and New Testaments. The Gospel is the proclamation that God has sent a Savior for man to redeem him from his sins and to give him eternal life, not for his works but for faith in the work of Jesus Christ. This Christ is the promised King of the Old Testament, and following His death, resurrection, and ascension, Jesus has ascended to His throne in heaven and inaugurated the kingdom of God. One day Christ will come again and will consummate His kingdom.
Now through union with Jesus through faith given by the Holy Spirit’s effectual call and work of regeneration, we are declared righteous before God and adopted into His family.
Because of this glorious news, the gospel of Jesus Christ is the center of all we do. This gospel of Jesus is our hope and strength and the solution to man’s problems.
The Church:
The Covenant Family, the Body of Christ, and the Fellowship of the Spirit
When God saves people through His gospel, He brings them together as a Covenant Family of adopted sons and daughters of God the Father, as the Body of Jesus Christ, and as the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit. The ministry of the local church is God’s means for bringing the good news of the gospel to the sinful world. We are united not be mere voluntary association but by God’s covenant promises realized in Christ. We are united not as many unconnected individuals but as one, joined together in our mystical union to Christ as His spiritual body and He as our spiritual head. We are united not as a social club but as a fellowship brought about by the indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit Who brings forth God’s love and spiritual gifts for the benefit, encouragement, equipping, and upbuilding of God’s people.
This union in the Church is thus to be expressed in the local congregation and in the families of all believers. We are to be covenant families in covenant community so that:
[our] hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:2–3).
Worship
People were created to worship and Christians have been saved from their sins that they would worship their Creator and Redeemer, the Triune and sovereign God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. While we could describe all of life as worship since we are to glorify God in all we do (1 Corinthians 10:31), yet the chief call of God upon our lives is to set aside Sunday as the Christian sabbath, the Lord’s Day, that we would worship God as a corporate body. Those who have been saved by Christ desire to worship Him; it is the proper response of a heart filled with thanksgiving. We gather together as the covenant people of God, the body of Christ, the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, that we together hear the glories of the Gospel and uplift one another with the truths of the Gospel until our Lord comes again.
As we gather we partake of the means, or instruments, of grace: reading God’s Word; singing God’s Word; praying God’s Word’ joining in loving fellowship according to God’s Word; listening to God’s Word preached, and seeing and tasting God’s Word made visible in the sacraments. God has given these means of grace, as well as others, to be used by His people. We are to use them when we worship God, and as we do so, God uses them to give us grace. As we worship God according to His prescribed way of worship, God works in us, shaping us by His grace, that we would be more and more transformed into the glorious and holy image of Jesus Christ.
Mission
With the glorious news that man can be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ by His grace through faith, how could we ever contain such good news to ourselves? We believe all people redeemed by the Gospel, joined together in the Church, gathering together for worship, are to go into their families, neighborhoods, workplaces, and beyond to share the good news of Jesus Christ, that Christ would receive the glory due His name for His great work of redemption and that more people may be gathered together to join us as the Church, gathered together in worship, to exalt the God of the Gospel.
Joining
If you desire to become a member of Stonebridge Church, you may inform the pastor or one of the elders of your desire to join. We will arrange for an Inquirers Class. The class will meet with the pastor and he will teach you five things: what it means to be Presbyterian; a survey of church history; what the Church is; what it means to be Evangelical; and what it means to be Reformed.
After the class the elders will interview those interested in joining. At that meeting, you will be asked to share:
- how you came to faith in Jesus,
- how you’ve seen God at work in your life since coming to know Him,
- how you would like to serve the Lord alongside of the rest of the congregation,
- and how the officers and members can serve and encourage you.
After meeting with the elders, a day will be scheduled for you to take public membership vows during the worship service. At that time, you will be formally received into the congregation.
Growing and Serving
Discipleship
Learning about our Christian faith has always been a priority for us. The chief way we learn about our God is through corporate worship, but we also believe corporate gatherings for prayer, Bible study, and fellowship are vital for the Church’s ministry. We have a weekly prayer meeting that meets on Wednesdays where we pray for the many needs of our church, our families, our country, and our world. We also have a weekly Bible study to foster growing in the Word.
Local Evangelism and Service
We desire to show the love of Christ to our community through outreach and service. All Christians have been saved from a life of depravity and sin and are called to a perpetual duty of thanksgiving and praise of God, and this requires witnessing to His glory in all of life that others may repent and follow Jesus.
Please contact the church if you need assistance or see Need Help?. We would love to help you find resources and to know God and His love for us in Jesus more.
World Missions
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18–20).
From her founding Stonebridge has desired to support world missions. While it is important for us to reach out to our neighbors, coworkers, families, and friends, yet our desire is Paul’s:
thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, but as it is written,
“Those who have never been told of him will see,
and those who have never heard will understand” (Romans 15:20–21).
Therefore, men must be raised up, trained, and ordained to the ministry and sent to the remotest parts of the world that the Gospel may be preached. In addition to these ministers, other men and women must go.
For those who do not go, we are called to give of our time and money to send others.
Our missions strategy as a local church is to support a few missionaries well. We support work on five continents in addition to North America. We support individuals, couples, families. Our missionaries work in religious as well as secular settings. We support efforts to evangelize, to train nationals, and to build church families.
Why do you do what you do in worship?
Below we answer a questions about some of our church’s worship practice.
You can also find a description and explanation of our liturgy, or our order of the worship service, here.
What do you believe about baptism and the Lord’s Supper?
The Reformed believe that the sacraments are covenantal signs and seals of God’s covenant of grace (Rom 4:11) which signify God’s grace and not of a person’s faith (1 Pet 3:21). In this way, we believe that the sacraments are visible words to be accompanied by the preaching of God’s Word by an ordained minister of Christ which show forth that our salvation is wholly of grace and not of works. We believe that the sacraments do not automatically communicate grace, as in baptismal regeneration, the promises which the sacraments sign must be received by faith.
We believe that what is required for a valid baptism is the administration of water—whether by sprinkling, effusion, or immersion—in the one name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, by an ordained minister of Christ. Baptism is to be done once in a person’s life and is not to be repeated.
We also believe that children who have not made a profession of faith are to be baptized. Since children have a sin nature and need a Savior just as much as adults, we baptize them in worship to show that God gives His promises not only to believers, but to all who are near and far off, to believers and to their children, as God promised to Abraham (Gen 17:1–14, esp. 17:7) and as the Apostle Peter repeated at Pentecost (Acts 2:39). In this way, baptism replaces circumcision as the sign and seal of the covenant of grace (Col 2:11–14). Thus children receives all the rights and privileges of the members of the church, such as being permitted to hear the Word of God preached, to pastoral care and oversight, to training and instruction in the faith, being permitted to pray to God, and more. We do not believe that God has anywhere commanded children to be dedicated to God, and so we do not believe that child dedications are proper elements of worship.
We believe that before a person may receive the Lord’s Supper, he must be baptized and must make a public profession of faith. Those who are not members in good standing of a faithful, Bible-believing local church should not partake of the the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor 10:14–22; 11:27–32). We do not believe that a person must be perfect to partake of the Supper, but that the Lord Jesus has given us this sacrament for our encouragement and strengthening. We believe that the table is open to all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, and not just to members of our church or to a narrow group of denominations. We believe that in the Lord’s Supper, the Holy Spirit makes the Lord Jesus spiritually present to all of us by faith in a mystical way. Because Jesus’s incarnate flesh is human flesh, it cannot be everywhere present at one time, but Jesus’s divine nature being omnipresent can be. As such, we believe that real grace is communicated to us through the sacraments, and that these sacraments are not merely ordinances or ceremonies.
Why do you say in the creeds, “One holy catholic Church”?
Many Protestant churches have decided to replace the original wording (“catholic”) with some other wording (e.g., “one holy Christian church”), but these alterations change the meaning of the creeds. The word “catholic” is a Latin word which means “universal.” After the Protestant Reformation the part of the church that did not reform but which remained loyal to the Pope in Rome claimed to be the only true Church by adopting the name “Roman Catholic Church” and condemning all those who did not belong to her institutions. However, Protestants assert the unity of the Church is found not in her institutions but in her doctrine. We cannot be united with the Apostles if we do not teach what they taught; if we do not teach what they did, we are guilty of preaching a false gospel, as Paul says in Galatians 1:8–10. Every church that can affirm the “ecumenical creeds” (e.g., the Apostles Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Chalcedonian Creed, etc.), and which is united through faith in Christ upon the teaching of the apostles, are therefore indwelt by the Holy Spirit and joined to the one, holy, universal, and apostolic Church. Christians do not need to be in communion with the Pope for salvation but with Jesus Christ. We affirm the faith once delivered to all the saints by the Apostles; preserved by the Holy Spirit in the Holy Scriptures; and articulated in the creeds and confessions of the Church which have been used by Christians for no less than 1800 years.
Why do the elders serve the elements when the church celebrates the Lord’s Supper?
Rather than the people approaching the table, our elders serve the bread and the cup as a symbol of God’s grace to us. God serves us at the table.
In our understanding of the proper governance of the Church, we believe that the Lord governs His Church through a plurality of elders. He also shepherds, teaches, and leads His people in this same way. As a result, when we come to celebrate the sacraments (Baptism and the Lord’s Supper), it is not the pastor who administers them of his own authority, but rather the minister acts as a representative of the session as a whole who in turn represent the mind Christ to His people. Also, all elders—both “ruling” and “teaching”—share the same office of “presbyter,” a Greek word meaning “elder.” Presbyters exercise their authority jointly. Thus, the elders act together to serve the Lord’s Supper to His people.
The reason the pastor does not serve himself is because all of us come to the Lord’s Table in the same manner—as beggars who have found the Bread of Life. The minister must be served just as he serves, for the only One who serves Himself at the Lord’s Table is the Lord Jesus Himself.
Why is the pulpit in the center of the chancel (i.e., “the stage”)?
Prior to the Reformation, the altar was at the center of the chancel. This emphasized the sacrifice of the mass was the heart of the service. But in a Reformed church the pulpit is at the center of the chancel to remind us that the very center of all of Christian worship is the Word of God. The centerpiece and high point of Reformed worship is the reading and the preaching of the Word of God.
Do you observe a church or liturgical calendar?
We don’t believe Christians must hold to the Church calendar for salvation but may benefit by doing so. In this spirit we observe the Evangelical Feast Days—Easter, Good Friday, Ascension, Pentecost, and Christmas—and events as long as they help us to meditate and reflect upon our salvation in Christ and our sanctification by the Holy Spirit.
- Advent:The four weeks before Christmas in which we remember the Old Testament promises of the coming of Christ & the story of the Nativity. Each week we have a different reading, light a candle in the Advent Wreath, and sing Christmas hymns.
- Christmas: Every year we have a special evening worship service on Christmas Eve in which we retell the Christmas Story through the reading of some of the key Old Testament prophecies, the Nativity story, and a whole lot of singing of Christmas carols. When Christmas is on the Lord’s Day, we celebrate worship as God commands us in the 4th Commandment.
- Lent: The forty days leading up to Easter is a time of prayer and reflection on the reason why Jesus went to the cross to die—namely, our many sins. This is a time both to examine ourselves that we might remind ourselves how sinful we are as well as a time to rejoice that our God loves us enough that He would willingly choose to send his one and only Son to die that we might be forgiven and accepted.
- Holy Week: The week before Easter is a time to remember the great love of Jesus for us as well as the awesome culmination of prophecy that climaxed in Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. One major aspect of this week’s celebration is Maundy Thursday. This is often a somber service in which we reflect on the Passion (or suffering) of Christ the night before his crucifixion.
- Easter: Every year we celebrate the Lord’s death and resurrection. This Sunday service is particularly fitting to hear the Gospel presented in all its glory and to celebrate the forgiveness of our sins in Christ’s name.
- John M. Frame, Evangelical Reunion: Denominations and the Body of Christ (Baker Book House: Grand Rapids, MI) 1991, 109. ↩︎