Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding our beliefs and worship style.

Why do we stand when we sing?
2 Chronicles 20:19
Then the Levites of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with voices loud and high.

Why do we clap our hands, praise the Lord and at times shout? 
Psalms 47:1 
Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph!

Psalms 100:1-5
Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.

Why do we lift our hands? 
In the OT, one of the Hebrew words for thanksgiving means to extend or hold out the hand. Therefore, we lift our hands as a sign of thankfulness.

Psalms 63:3-4
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.

Psalms 134:2
Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, And bless the LORD.

1 Timothy 2:8
I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;

Why do we sing traditional hymns and contemporary songs?
Ephesians 5:18-19
And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

Why do we speaking with tongues?
We believe this is a gift to the church and was prophetically spoken of in the OT. This was fulfilled when Jesus baptized the believers in Acts 2.

Isaiah 28:11
For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people.

John 7:37-38
On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

Acts 2:1-4
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 10:44-46
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered.

1 Corinthians 14:15
What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.

Why do we believe in gifts and miracles?
(we recommend you read 1 Corinthians 12 which will list the 9 gifts of the Spirit, 1 Corinthians 13 which balances gifting with the greater need for love and 1 Corinthians 14 which gives governs how the gifts should operate in the church.)

1 Corinthians 12:28-31
And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

Why does the whole church pray at once for specific needs?
Acts 4:24
So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, (continue reading to verse 31 and see the outcome of the prayer)

Why do we anoint with oil and pray for the sick and suffering?
Exodus 15:26
…. For I am the LORD who heals you.”
Psalms 107:20
He sent His word and healed them …
James 5:14-15
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

Why do we worship with tithes and offerings?
Malachi 3:8-10
“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.
Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”