It’s important for all Christ followers to grasp that God has called us to conform to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). However we have little understanding of what that looks like and how we can move towards it on our spiritual journey. In our core competencies we have 13 Core Beliefs, 13 Core Practices, and 14 Core Characteristics that we believe lay the foundation to moving closer to the very image of Christ.

NRC 40 Core Competencies

Core Beliefs

1. Trinity: I believe in the one eternal triune God who reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; each fully God and there is one God.  

     Isaiah 45:14-25; Deuteronomy 6:4; John 1; John 16:13-15; Psalm 45:6-7; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Matthew 3:16-17

2. Jesus Christ: I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who came to earth in the form of a man, lived a sinless life and willingly died for my sins, was

     buried and rose from the dead.  John 1:1-14; John 3:16; Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 27-28; 1 Corinthians 15

3. God’s Will: I believe in the power of God’s presence that allows man the opportunity to know the perfect will of God. 

     Job 42:1-6; Ecclesiastes 3:14; 1 Chronicles 29:11; Philippians 4:19; Romans 9:18-20; 1 John 3:18-22; John 9:1-5; Matthew 11:27

4. Holy Spirit: I believe the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and works to clearly show the active presence of God in the world, and especially in the followers

     of Jesus Christ. Genesis 1:2; John 14:15-26; Romans 8:23; 2 Corinthians 1:22, 2 Corinthians 5:5

5. Eternal Purpose: I believe God has an eternal purpose for my life. 

     Proverbs 16:9; 20:24; Jeremiah 10:23; Ephesians 1:11-12; Colossians 1:16; Exodus 3:1-11; Acts 22:8-10; Jonah 4:1-3; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

6. Salvation by Grace: I believe a person comes into a right eternal relationship with God by His grace, through a repentant faith in Jesus Christ alone. 

     Ephesians 2:1–9; Romans 3:23-24: Romans 5:1-2, 20-21; Romans 10:9-10; Psalm 51

7. Authority of the Bible: I believe the Bible is the infallible Word of God and has the right to command my beliefs and actions. 

     2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Luke 1:1-4; Acts 1:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8

8. Sin: I believe in the sin nature of all people and our need for Jesus Christ as Savior. 

     Romans 3:23; James 1:14-15; James 2:10; Acts 17:30-31; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Romans 3:10-18; Genesis 3:1-13; Isaiah 66:3-4

9. Eternity: I believe there is a heaven and a hell and that Jesus Christ is returning to judge the earth and establish His eternal kingdom. 

     John 14:1–3; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28; Luke 16:19-31; Revelation 20:11-15, 5:1-14, 4:1-6; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Corinthians 4:5; Matthew 22:1-13

10. Church: I invest in a Biblical community to accomplish God’s purposes in my life, other’s lives, and in the world. 

     Romans 14:11-12; Luke 19:13-27; Luke 17:3; Galatians 5:14-15; Proverbs 9:8-9; Hebrews 10:24-25; Psalm 26:8

11. Christian Life: I believe God calls every follower of Jesus Christ to make the glory of God the primary pursuit of their life. 

     Genesis 6:9; Isaiah 26:8, Matthew 5:16; 2 Timothy 4:6-7; Psalm 126:5; James 4:4-5; Isaiah 42:8; Psalm 86: 11-12; Ephesians 5:15-17

12. Family: I believe the home is the primary place of spiritual education. 

     Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Deuteronomy 4:9-10; James 4:15, 17; Joshua 24:15; Ephesians 5:22-6:4

13. Marriage: I believe that God’s plan for the covenant of marriage is to be expressed through the exclusive marriage of one man and one woman and

     the marriage relationship is to be above all other earthly relationships. 

     Genesis 2:23-25; Ephesians 5:22-33; Matthew 5:27-32; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Corinthians 7:1-40

Core Practices

1. Compassion: I believe God calls all Christians to show compassion to those in need. 

     Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 10:25-37; Deuteronomy. 15:7-11

2. Stewardship: I believe that everything I am or own belongs to God and that He has called me to joyfully offer a portion of it back to Him. 

     Mark 12:38-44; 2 Corinthians 9:7; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Peter 4:10-11; Malachi 3:10; 1 Corinthians 16:2; Acts 20:25

3. Worship: I worship God for who He is and what He has done. 

     Psalm 63:1-5; Psalm 95:1-6; John 4:24; Colossians 3:14-17; Isaiah 12:5; Hebrews 13:15; Luke 4:8; Psalm 132:7; Revelation 14:7; Isaiah 56:7

4. Prayer: I pray to know God, to lay my request before Him, and to find direction for my daily life. 

     Philippians 4:6-7; Romans 8:26; Matthew 6:6-13; Matthew 26:41; James 5:16; 1 Timothy 2:8; Jeremiah 33:3; Matthew 7:7; Psalm 145:18-19

5. Bible Study: I meditate on the Bible to know God, His truth, and to find direction for my daily life. 

     John 14:15; 2 Kings 23: 1-3; Deuteronomy 6:6-7; 1 Peter 3:15; Revelation 1:3; Psalm 119; 2 Timothy 4:2; Psalm 1:2

6. Ordinance of Confessional Baptism: I declare my faith through the ordinance of Confessional Baptism by immersion. 

     Romans 6:3-4; Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21; Mark 16:16; Matthew 3:13-17; Acts 8:36-38

7. Ordinance of the Lord’s Supper: I declare my faith through the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper. 

     1 Corinthians 11:26-34; Matthew 26:26-30; John 6:53-58

8. Spiritual Gifts: I know and use my spiritual gifts to accomplish God’s purposes. 

     Romans 12:4–8; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:7-16; 1 Peter 4:10-11

9. Sabbath: I believe that God calls all followers of Jesus Christ to observe a Sabbath rest. 

     Exodus 20:8-11; Exodus 31:13; Hebrews 4:9; Isaiah 58:13; Mark 2:28

10. Accountable Biblical Community: I invest in a Biblical community to accomplish God’s purposes in my life, other’s lives, and in the world. 

     Romans 14:11-12; Luke 19:13-27; Luke 17:3; Galatians 5:14-15; Proverbs 9:8-9; Hebrews 10:24-25; Psalm 26:8

11. Evangelism: I will share my faith to fulfill God’s purposes. 

     Ephesians 6:19–20; Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Matthew 9:37-38; Isaiah 6:8; Romans 1:16; Romans 10:10-17; 2 Timothy 4:5; Luke 19:10

12. Daily Surrender: I continually surrender my life to fulfill God’s purposes. 

     Romans 12:1-2; James 4:7; Colossians 3:17; Matthew 6:33; Mark 14:35-36; Philippians 2:5-11; Genesis 22:2-14; Luke 9:23-24; Galatians 2:20-21

13. Serve: I will serve God through participation in His work. 

     Colossians 3:23-24; 1 Peter 4:10-11; Acts 20:35; Matthew 20:28; Galatians 5:13-14; Mark 10:44-45; Philippians 2:1-11; Mark 9:35; Proverbs 11:25; 

     Matthew 25:35-40; Luke 6:38; Ephesians 2:10

Core Characteristics

1. Joy: I have inner contentment and sustained purpose in spite of my circumstances. 

     Philippians 4:4; Psalm 16:11; 30:1-5; Romans 15:13; John 15:11; 16:20-24; Romans 8:28; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Peter 1:8

2. Peace: I am free from anxiety because things are right between God, others, and myself. 

     Philippians 4:6–7; 2 Thessalonians 3:16; Galatians 5:22-23; Romans 12:18; 1 Peter 5:6-7; Psalm 4:8; 1 Corinthians 14:33

3. Faithfulness: I am faithful to fulfill God’s will for my life. 

     Proverbs 3:3–4; Galatians 5:22-23; Proverbs 28:20; 2 Corinthians 5:7; 1 Corinthians 4:2; Matthew 24:45-47; Deuteronomy 28; John 14:15

4. Self – Control: I have the power, through Christ, to control my thoughts, actions, and reactions. 

     Proverbs 25:28; Galatians 5:22-23; 2 Peter 1:5-7; 2 Timothy 1:7; Philippians 4:8; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; 1 Thessalonians 5:6

5. Humility: I choose to esteem others above myself.

     Philippians 2:3–4; James 4:6; Luke 14:11; Romans 12:3; John 3:30; Proverbs 22:4; 1 Peter 5:6; Matthew 23:12; Micah 6:8; Proverbs 11:2

6. Love: I unconditionally love God with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength and others as myself. 

     1 Corinthians 13; John 13:34-35; Mark 12:29-31; 1 John 4:7–21; John 15:13; Luke 6:35; Galatians 5:22-23; Colossians 3:14-15; Romans 12:10; Romans 13:8

7. Patience: I am patient with others and thankful for God’s patience with me. 

     James 5:7-11; Galatians 6:9; Ephesians 4:1-6; Job 42:2-6; Romans 8:25; Romans 5:1-5; Galatians 5:22-23; Psalm 37:7-9; 2 Peter 3:9; Proverbs 16:32

8. Integrity: I choose to live by the righteousness of Christ, in my public and private life. 

     1 Thessalonians 5:15; Romans 8:28; Galatians 5:22-23; James 3:13; Proverbs 10:9, 11:3, 19:1, 20:7; 2 Corinthians 8:21; Philippians 4:8  

9. Gentleness: I am thoughtful, considerate and calm in dealing with others. 

     Ephesians 4:32; Proverbs 31:26; Col 3:12; Luke 6:35; Romans 15:2; Titus 3:2; James 3:17; Galatians 5:22-23; Proverbs 15:1; Ephesians 4:2

10. Hope: I can cope with the hardships of life and with death because of the hope I have in Jesus Christ. 

     1 Peter 1:3-5, Romans 12:12; Luke 8:42-48; Jeremiah 29:11; Deuteronomy 31:6; Psalm 39:7; Isaiah 40:31; Psalm 71:5; Lamentations 3:24

11. Perseverance: I will die too self and pursue God’s will no matter the circumstances of life.

     Galatians 2:20; 2 Peter 1:5-9; James 1:12; Romans 5:3-5; Galatians 6:9; 2 Timothy 2:12; Hebrews 12:1-15; James 1:2-4; Proverbs 3:5-6

12. Godliness: I know that the goal of my life is my transformation into the image of Christ. 

     Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Peter 1:5-9; 1 Timothy 4:8; 2 Peter 3:11; 1 Timothy 6:6; Romans 12:1-2; Psalm 1:1-3; Matthew 6:33

13. Goodness: I will choose virtue of Christ’s character in my decision making. 

     Galatians 5:22-23; Romans 12:9; James 3:13; Galatians 6:10; Matthew 12:35; 1 Thessalonians 5:21; Romans 15:14; 1 Timothy 6:18; Ephesians 5:9; 6:7

14. Kindness: I will treat others the way Christ has treated me. 

     Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 4:32; Luke 6:35; Proverbs 11:17; Colossians 3:12; Proverbs 31:26; Romans 11:22; 1 Peter 3:8-9; Romans 12:15; Galatians 6:2; 

     Proverbs 21:21