OUR DOCTRINE
We believe the Bible is the written word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit and without error in the original manuscripts. The Bible is the revelation of God’s truth and is infallible and authoritative in all matters of faith and practice.
We believe in the Holy Trinity. There is one God, who exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
We believe that all are sinners and totally unable to save themselves from God’s displeasure, except by His mercy.
We believe that salvation is by God alone as He sovereignly chooses those He will save. We believe His choice is based on His grace, not on any human individual merit, or foreseen faith.
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, who through His perfect life and sacrificial death atoned for the sins of all who will trust in Him, alone, for salvation.
We believe that God is gracious and faithful to His people, not simply as individuals but as families in successive generations according to His Covenant promises.
We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells God’s people and gives them the strength and wisdom to trust Christ and follow Him.
We believe that Jesus will return, bodily and visibly, to judge all mankind and to receive His people to Himself.
We believe that all aspects of our lives are to be lived to the glory of God under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
OUR VALUES
God’s Word that is Truth: infallible, inerrant and sufficient.
The Gospel of Grace that is the foundation, formation and motivation of the Christian life.
Authentic worship that exalts God, encourages His people and attracts seekers to Christ as Lord and Savior.
Faithful preaching and teaching of God’s Word that is supported by committed personal Bible study.
Every member, seeking to fulfill the Great Commission by making disciples, participating in the following ministries:
- UpReach [Worship and Celebration]
- OutReach [Missions and Evangelization]
- InReach [Enfolding and Assimilation]
- DownReach [Discipleship and Maturation]
Leadership development that mentors and matures leaders who diligently shepherd the “flock of God” and consistently reproduce themselves.
Intentional evangelism that winsomely communicates the Gospel and includes personal training, one-to-one relationships and church-wide events.
Dynamic discipleship through life-on-life relationships in small groups that provide prayer, Bible study & fellowship.
Congregational Communities that shepherd, assimilate and assist in building meaningful relationships among God’s people.
Intercessory prayer that is consistent, systematic and focused.
Serving God’s purpose in this world by the power of the Holy Spirit, the preeminence of Christ and the glory of God.
OUR MINISTRY PRINCIPLES
The biblical term “covenant” describes a Christian’s sacred relationships with the Triune God, His Church and one another. At Briarwood, these loving relationships characterize how we learn, live and serve.
The Bible
The Bible is clear about the primacy of the teaching and preaching of God’s Word in the exaltation of our Lord, the building up of the Church, the maturing of Christians, and the extending of His Kingdom. At Briarwood, a commitment to equipping the saints, in accordance with Holy Scripture, serves as a foundational ministry principle to fulfill our purpose and desire to be salt and light in our community and throughout the world, “that in all things Christ might have the preeminence” (Col 1:18).
Each Sunday morning and evening afford an opportunity to benefit from the hearing and faithful preaching of Scripture as our Pastor presents in-depth and relevant studies in the books of the Bible, together with practical application for the daily Christian walk.
As an extension of our pulpit ministry, our pastor presents expositions from God’s Word each Monday through Friday on the “InPerspective” radio program carried on a number of local and national stations. Sermon tapes are available to our members and guests weekly, and are frequently broadcast nationally and internationally.
Our form of doctrine is also Scriptural. The term “Reformed” denotes our doctrinal beliefs. We stand in the Reformation heritage of true-to-the-Bible theology. That means we believe in the Trinity, the inerrancy of the Word of God, and that salvation comes solely through the sovereign grace of God—apart from any works or merit of our own.
The Church
Briarwood seeks to be Scriptural in both its government and its doctrine. The form of church government we hold to is called “Presbyterian.” This means the local church is governed by “presbyters,” or elders, who are elected by the congregation. There are two kinds of elders: teaching elders who minister the Word, and ruling elders who shepherd the flock. A second church office is that filled by deacons, who also stand election for the purpose of fulfilling their call to serve alongside elders and lay leaders in the administration of the church and its ministry areas.
Worship
Together, we seek to “bless the Lord” in His house through corporate worship.
In addition to the preaching of God’s Word, worship services at Briarwood include a blend of music styles from the time-honored hymns of the faith to contemporary choruses. The objective of worship at Briarwood is to exalt God as Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer. Therefore, we eagerly seek to offer music and worship with an excellence that would bring honor to His holy name. The Sunday Evening Fellowship Hour at Briarwood is a relaxed time together as God’s Word is again preached and we as a church family use hymns and spiritual songs of praise along with contemporary music to glorify God, encourage one another and magnify the message of salvation by grace in God the Father through His Son our Savior Jesus Christ and by the Holy Spirit.
Outreach
Briarwood is committed to taking the gospel to our community, our nation and our world. In addition to financial partnership with some 225 missionaries under some 60 mission agencies, our World Missions effort keeps our congregation informed about the movement of the Spirit of God around the world and equips those so called to personal participation in missions. Our U.S. Missions has us ministering and supporting over 130 missionaries and 50 Christian organizations in the United States. A fully staffed ministry to our urban neighbors attests to Briarwood’s efforts to impact that community.
Discipleship
At Briarwood, we believe our thankful response to God’s invitation to know Him, through His Son, is to seek to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, to abide in Him and to share this life with others.
Our Sunday worship is just one of many opportunities at Briarwood to learn about God’s Word, to disciple, or to be discipled. Relationships built in Sunday School and small groups are open doors to learning and sharing with others that each may “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
In addition to the elementary, Jr. and Sr. High Ministries, College, Singles, Young Business Leaders, Christian Medical Ministry and other discipleship opportunities which focus on the needs of those specific groups, there are many Bible studies, discipleship, sharing and prayer group opportunities for the men and women of the church available year-round.
Relationships Through Communities
In the Bible, God presents His model for the church, offering examples of believers who gathered for worship in both large and small group settings. Meeting together in homes, the early Church recognized the need to develop significant relationships that would provide instruction, encouragement and accountability for the Christian. That’s why, since its inception, Briarwood has promoted the involvement of its membership in Sunday School Communities, in small groups and in corporate worship.
Congregational community is entered into primarily through the home-based Sunday School classes and our extensive small group ministry. These communities provide a regular fellowship home where meaningful friendships, spiritual growth, and ministry opportunities are created. There are also special events throughout the year, such as the church picnic, Wednesday-night family fellowship, men’s and women’s retreats, etc., that are designed to create an environment where community can flourish.
The Pastor’s Inquirers Class offers an introduction to the ministries of Briarwood. Our guests are encouraged to seek the Lord’s direction through this class to learn how He might use them in the church.
Ministry and Service
Because the church is a people and not a building, the involvement of its members in the life and work of this body is vital. The Bible states that the Lord has given each of us particular gifts and talents to be used in the service of His people. There are many opportunities for service here. Each of the more than 120 ministries at Briarwood has specific needs for leaders and volunteers so that there is both a place and a role for each member and his or her gifts.
OUR MINISTRY STRATEGY
For God’s glory, Briarwood is committed to equipping Christians to worship God and reach Birmingham to reach the world for Christ. To fulfill our mission in the new millennium, Briarwood desires to be an “EQUIPPING CHURCH” which radiates the Gospel of grace by “making disciples” through:
- Gospel Ministries of Evangelism and Discipleship
- Gospel Church Planting Initiatives and Church Revitalization Efforts
- Gospel Leaders Developed and Deployed
- Gospel Deeds Of Love, Mercy and Justice
These Gospel tremors from the epicenter of Briarwood would then result in a prayerful and strategic extension of the Kingdom of God:
- Locally (Birmingham)
- Regionally (Alabama)
- Nationally (United States)
- Internationally (The World)
The leadership of Briarwood is committed to implementing a biblical “fitness plan” designed to produce “healthy” Christians and families who are “growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ,” resulting in a church that is W.E.L.L.
- Worships Authentically
- Evangelizes Intentionally
- Loves Purposefully
- Learns Consistently
As Briarwood members and families commit themselves biblically and prayerfully to a relationship with their Savior, entrusting themselves, their resources and gifts to a Faithful Creator [1 Peter 4:19], we will GLORIFY GOD AND ENJOY HIM FOREVER.
OUR WORSHIP PHILOSOPHY
We desire true worship that:
- Glorifies God
- Edifies the body of Christ (Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16)
- Magnifies the message of salvation through Christ alone (1 Corinthians 14:24-25)
Reformed worship is God-centered and governed by the biblical guidelines given to us through scripture alone. In our worship, we seek to be connected to the best of the past without becoming idolatrous of the past (i.e., traditional, not traditionalism), contextualized in the present without allowing popular culture to dictate our approach to worship, and establishing worship that sets a standard for the future.
Drawing from all the bounty that God has given to His church, from the rich musical and liturgical traditions that have come down to us from our past to the exciting new movements of God today, enables us to set a worship “feast” or “banquet” before the people of God–a well-balanced “meal” to strengthen the body of Christ and keep her healthy spiritually.
OUR DENOMINATION—THE PCA
A YOUNG DENOMINATION
The birth date of the Presbyterian Church in America is December 4, 1973, but our spiritual roots are in the Protestant Reformation. We came into existence because we strongly believed there was the need for a scriptural, evangelical and Reformed witness for Christ. We also wanted to be a part of a denomination that honors God and His Word. We desired a believing fellowship committed to evangelism, Christian education and training as top priorities in the Church. We believed that ministers and church officers should affirm without compromise the great biblical beliefs of Christianity.
Many of our churches separated from their denomination because of the compromise of our basic Christian doctrines. Though we earnestly desired close fellowship with Christians of like mind, we wanted no part of the National or World Councils of Churches because of their pluralistic theology. (We are members of the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Churches and the National Association of Evangelicals.) After years of sincere efforts to call our former denomination to revival and renewal, we were led by God to withdraw and form a new body. The new denomination began with 250 congregations and 50,000 members.
Within a few years it grew to include more than 500 churches with nearly 80,000 members. In 1982 the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod joined with us, bringing almost 25,000 new members into the PCA. As of December 2008, there were over 1,400 churches and 340,000 members. Of the numerous Presbyterian denominations in North America, the PCA is among the fastest growing. Together we are lifting high a banner of love and testimony to Jesus Christ the Lord, locally and globally.
A SCRIPTURAL DENOMINATION
Our Church seeks to be scriptural in both its government and its doctrine.
The form of church government that we believe is most biblical is called “Presbyterian.” This means that the local churches are governed by “presbyters,” or elders, who are elected by the people. There are two kinds of elders. Teaching elders are pastors. Ruling elders are ordained laymen. This was the kind of government the New Testament Church enjoyed (for instance, see Acts 20:17; Titus 15-7). It has been the form followed by the great Reformed and Presbyterian branches of Christendom since the days of John Calvin in Europe and John Knox in England and Scotland.
The elders sit in a “session.” This session has the oversight of the faith and life of the local church congregation.
Representatives from the session along with the ordained ministers of the churches compose the “presbytery.” The presbytery has oversight of the ministries of the churches in a given geographical area. Through the presbytery the work of many churches is coordinated and their combined efforts enable them to extend the Kingdom of Christ much farther than would otherwise be possible.
The local churches also send commissioners—elders and ministers—to the highest court of the church, the General Assembly. The assembly meets annually and enables all the churches to have a voice in guiding the spiritual and practical affairs of the entire denomination.
In the Presbyterian Church in America the local church owns and controls its property. A church’s relationship with the denomination is based on mutual love and commitment to the Bible, the Reformed faith, and the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. Though a congregation may withdraw from the denomination at any time by a simple majority vote of its members, we agree that the Bible teaches that congregations should be yoked in faith and practice and should bind themselves together for the edification of the whole body of Christ.
Our form of doctrine is also scriptural. Just as “Presbyterian” refers to our form of government, “Reformed” denotes our doctrinal beliefs. We stand in the ancient heritage of true-to-the-Bible theology. We earnestly strive to follow Christ and His Apostles. We believe that the purest expressions of scriptural doctrine are found in the Calvinistic creeds, particularly the Westminster Confession of Faith with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms.
This means that we believe in the Trinity. There is one God who exists eternally in three Persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.
We believe that the Bible is the written Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit and without error in the original manuscripts. The Bible is our infallible and divine authority in all matters of faith and life.
We believe that all men are sinners and are totally unable to save themselves or even to cooperate with God in efforts to earn their salvation.
We believe that salvation is by the sole action of God, who sovereignly chooses out of the fallen race of mankind those whom He will save. God alone saves the people whom He draws to Jesus by His Holy Spirit. He convinces them of their sin and enlightens them so that they repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as He is offered in the Gospel. Because God alone knows who are His, we call on people everywhere to repent and to trust in Jesus Christ.
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, who became man and lived and died and rose again to atone for the sins of those who trust Him alone for their salvation. Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man.
We believe that God s Holy Spirit gives Christians the daily strength and wisdom that they need to walk according to His will and to grow in holiness.
We believe that Jesus Christ shall return personally, visibly, and bodily to judge all mankind and to receive His people unto Himself.
A PROGRESSIVE DENOMINATION
We sincerely desire to spread the Gospel to every land, to make disciples and teach them the faith once for all delivered by God to His Church. And we happily serve people in need, resisting man’s inhumanity to man, working for peace, honor, and dignity among all men and women without discrimination.
We are “conservative,” but not old fashioned! We hold to the faith of the Bible and of our fathers, but we strive to proclaim God’s Truth as imaginatively and creatively as possible.
We are busy. Busy about God’s work. Starting new churches in the United States and Canada; supporting small congregations who want a full ministry in their communities, teaching and training workers and leaders how to study, apply, obey and share the Scriptures; sending missionaries to many countries throughout the world, publishing literature and curricula for individuals, groups, schools, and churches; caring for retired ministers and their families; sponsoring youth and children’s ministries; guiding men and women and families to a closer walk with the living God.
Click here to visit the website of the PCA.
PCA Foundation
The PCA Foundation facilitates generosity to advance God’s Kingdom and helps donors give a variety of assets to do this and alleviate their tax burden.