Some thoughts on Belief

We believe God’s love story is presented in the Scriptures, aka the Bible. Scripture is the norm of our faith and life. We believe scripture is our primary source of knowing what God has done, is doing, and is yet to do. Scripture should be faithfully examined in a community.


We believe God has been revealed through history. The church is connected by a great web of people who wrestled with God. We believe our communal history has much to teach us about who God is today. Martin Luther, a theologian from the ancient church called upon the church to depend solely on God for our salvation, in lieu of what we say or what we do. Luther called the church to always be reforming and never become too comfortable. We believe our tiny corner of the kingdom can be a challenge.


College is not just fun and games- life can get messy, and can challenge you to the core of your identity. So, at Common Ground we have room to wonder who Jesus is and where he fits into our lives, what God is doing in the world, and how we can become a part of it.


If you are looking for a place where everyone believes exactly the same thing, this place will make you uncomfortable. If you are looking for a community where everyone will have the same opinions as you do about politics, religion, life or whatever, this place will make you uncomfortable. If you are looking for a church where questions are discouraged, this place will make you uncomfortable.


BUT, if you are ready to wrestle with God and your faith, be in community with people who are different than you, and to live into the values of humility, vulnerability, dignity, and authenticity all under the banner of Jesus, then this may be the place for you...




Some older thoughts on belief

Since Jesus called the Church into being the church has tried to sum up its beliefs.  The Nicene Creed has bound most of the body of Christ since 325.  Here is what it is.


We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son,* who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.