WHO WE ARE

Lakeside Bible Church was organized in November 2019 as a church plant out of Laurel Baptist Church in Charlotte. Though we do not formally belong to a denomination or church network, we are baptists in doctrine and practice. You can read more below about what we do and believe, but it is all founded on our conviction that the Bible is the inerrant and authoritative Word of God. Though we try not to take ourselves too seriously, we care deeply about faithfully following Jesus, and we sincerely hope that you will join us on the journey!

OUR PASTOR
OUR PASTOR

After serving for a decade as an associate pastor at Laurel Baptist Church in Charlotte, Jared Blankenship became the Lead Pastor of Lakeside Bible Church when it began in 2019. He is passionate about preaching the Bible and is currently pursuing an MDIV from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Jared lives in Davidson with his wife, Julie, and their two daughters, Ashlynn and Harper.

WHAT WE VALUE

GOSPEL FOCUS
GOSPEL FOCUS

The gospel of Jesus defines who we are and what God has called us to be. Therefore, everything we do as a church, whether through a worship gathering, outreach event, or casual fellowship, has the gospel as its primary focus.

GATHERED WORSHIP
GATHERED WORSHIP

God’s people, by His design, are a gathering people. We gather to worship, encourage, and express affection as we build one another up in Christ. We gather in many ways, but the most important is our weekly Lord’s Day worship service.

BIBLE TEACHING
BIBLE TEACHING

We believe the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God. The Scriptures are God’s revelation of Himself to man, and through its pages, we learn all that is needful for us to live a fruitful life that glorifies Him.

DISCIPLING CULTURE
DISCIPLING CULTURE

To be a disciple means to faithfully follow Jesus. Discipling is when we help others faithfully follow Jesus.  We believe faithful churches have discipling woven into the fabric of their DNA, where personally teaching and encouraging one another is instinctive.

PURSUING HOLINESS
PURSUING HOLINESS

No one is perfect, but it is our desire to live in obedience to Christ by helping one another abandon human passions and live in holiness. By lovingly speaking the truth to each other, we will grow into a mature, holy church.

KINGDOM MISSION
KINGDOM MISSION

Jesus has commissioned His disciples to take the gospel of salvation to the world. Hope4LKN involves outreach initiatives designed to share and display the gospel to our community. We also care deeply about supporting Christian missionaries around the world.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

This statement of faith does not exhaust our beliefs, but it is does accurately represent the core doctrinal convictions of our church.

THE BIBLE

We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as being verbally inspired by God and inerrant and infallible in the original writings, and that they are of supreme and final authority.

Verbally: This means that the individual words of the Bible are true and without error in the original writings. Therefore, more than just the thought or concept is inspired, but also every word (Mat. 5:17,18; Prov. 30:5,6). The term “plenary” is often used with the word “verbal” to give the view that all Scripture is fully and equally inspired (2 Tim. 3:16,17).

Inspired: Inspiration is that particular work of God by which the Holy Spirit, becoming the co-author of Scripture, supernaturally directed the writers of Scripture and without excluding their human intelligence, individuality, literary style, personal feelings, or any other human factor, God’s own complete and coherent message to men was recorded in perfect accuracy and the very words of the Bible bear the authority of this divine authorship. Inspiration is not equivalent to dictation except in certain instances, as God uses the experience, feelings and thinking of the human author. The end result, however, is just as accurate as if God Himself had taken the pen. Hence, the Scriptures were inspired or breathed out by God and, though the authors were fallible men, what they wrote was without error (2 Peter 1:20,21). Inspiration does not suppress the intellectual ability and talent but rather uses that intellectual ability and talent (Luke 1:1-3; 2 Samuel 23:2).

Inerrant: Inerrant means that the Scriptures in their original writings were without error (John 10:35; Luke 16:17).

Infallible: Infallible means that the Scriptures in their original writings were incapable of error and never wrong (John 10:35; Luke 16:17).

Final Authority: The Scriptures are God’s special revelation (communication of truth) to man and because they are inspired and inerrant they become our final authority. However, we take careful note of what the Bible indicates as not being authoritative, such as Satan’s statement to Eve in the Garden of Eden, “You surely shall not die.” (Gen. 3:45; 2 Tim. 3:16,17).

TRINITARIAN GOD

We believe in one God eternally existing in one essence, yet three co equal persons, the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Eternally existing: There is but one God (Deuteronomy. 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-6,14,18,21-22; Mark 12:29 32), Who has no beginning and no ending (Ps. 90:1-2; Gen. 1:1).

Three in One: God is one in essence, yet three persons, co-equal, eternally existing (Mat. 28:19; Eph. 4:4-6; Rev. 1:4; John 12:26; 15:26; 16:15; 1 Peter 1:2; Acts 2:32-36; I Cor. 12:3-6, II Cor. 13:14).

Co-equal: The Bible tells us that the Father is God (John 6:27; Rom. 1:7). The Son is recognized as God (John 1:1; 20:28; Heb. 1:8; I John 5:19-27; Phil. 2:6). The Holy Spirit is also identified as God (Mat. 28:19; Acts 5:4,9).

CHRIST'S INCARNATION

We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by God, conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born to the virgin Mary.

Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ had two natures in one person, so that He was simultaneously fully God and fully man, and this relationship was such that there was no dividing of person nor confounding of the two natures. (John 1:1-14).

Conceived by the Holy Spirit: The conception of Jesus was a divine act of God, without human agency (Mat. 1:18; Luke 1:26-38).

Born to the virgin Mary: At the time of Christ’s conception and birth, Mary was a virgin (Mat. 1:18-25; Isa. 7:14; Luke 1:27).

THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, Who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He is the life of the believer, and He empowers the preaching and teaching of the gospel.

Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, equal with the Father and the Son (John 14:16; Mat. 28:19).

Convicts: Jesus Christ said that the Spirit would perform this ministry with respect to the world (John 16:7-11).

Life: The Holy Spirit is the agent of spiritual birth (John 3:5-8). The Spirit regenerates, indwells, seals, and baptizes into the Church body all believers (1 Cor. 12:13; Titus 3:5; Eph. 1:13; 4:30; 1 Cor. 6:19; Rom. 8:9,11; 2 Cor. 1:21,22). The believer’s life is strengthened and guided by the Spirit (Eph. 1:13; 3:16; John 16:13; Rom. 8:4,14,26-27). The believer is commanded to be filled or controlled by the Spirit, so that the characteristics of Christ likeness will be evident in a powerful life (Eph. 5:18; Gal. 5:16).

Empowers: The Holy Spirit enables the spreading of God’s word in testimony, preaching and practical living (John 15:26-27). Spiritual obedience will give fruit to a spiritually powerful life of service for Christ (Eph. 5:15-21; Gal. 5:22-25).

MANKIND AND SIN

We believe that mankind was created in the image of God, sinned, and thereby incurred not only physical death, but spiritual death, which is separation from God, and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature.

Created in the image of God: Like God, man is a rational, relational, moral and personal being. God created man and women to reflect His glory and be representatives of His righteous character. By willing fully sinning against God, man fell short of God’s glory, and His image in mankind was marred (Gen. 1:27; 5:1; 1 Cor. 11:7).

Separation from God: When mankind, of its own free will, chose to disobey God, it sinned (the breaking of God’s law). This original sin separated us from God, Who, because of His holiness, could not tolerate sin, and therefore, judged such sin (Rom. 6:23; 3:10; 8:7; Gal. 3:22).

CHRIST'S ATONEMENT FOR SIN

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice, and that all who believe in Him are justified on the basis of His shed blood.

Representative: This means that Jesus Christ represented all the sins of the world and that He who knew no sin was made sin for us (2 Cor. 5:14 21). As Adam was the representative of man in the fall, so Christ was the representative of man in the Atonement (1 Cor. 15:22). Therefore, if Christ represented all, His sacrifice will cover all (John 3:16).

Substitutionary: This is called the “vicarious” suffering since Christ died in our place. He did not die for His own sin (Heb. 4:15 16; 1 John 3:5), but died for the sins of others (1 Cor. 15:3; 2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 5:8).

All Who Believe: The gift of salvation provided by the death of the Lord Jesus Christ is for all mankind (Rom. 1:13; 1 John 2:2), yet only those who exhibit faith are justified (Gal. 2:16; 3:11).

Justified: Justification is that act of God whereby He declares the guilty and depraved sinner to be righteous because of God’s own righteousness having been imputed, or credited to the sinner (Deut. 25:1; Prov 17:15; Rom 3:23-26; 4:5 8,25; 5:18; 8:33).

CHRIST'S RESURRECTION AND EXALTATION

We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, His ascension into Heaven and His present life there as High Priest and Advocate for us.

Resurrection: We believe that after three days, Jesus Christ arose bodily from the grave (Luke 24:23-40). The doctrine of the resurrection is essential to salvation (Rom. 10:9,19; 1 Cor. 15:12 23,35-37).

Ascension: After His resurrection and forty day ministry Jesus ascended up into Heaven (Acts 1:1-11; 1 Peter 3:22).

High Priest And Advocate: Since Christ’s atonement has restored our relationship with God, we now can approach God through Christ, Who as our High Priest represents us before God. As our Advocate, He compassionately deals with our needs and strengthens us (John 14:18; Heb. 4:14; 5:1-10; 13:5; 7:25; 8:1-2; 9:11-15,24).

CHRIST'S RETURN

We believe in the blessed hope, the personal, visible and imminent return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Blessed Hope: The return of the Lord is an event that believers ought to wait for with high expectation and excitement. As still imperfect people, we eagerly await the restoration of all things to perfect Christ likeness after the return of Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13; Rom. 8:18-25; 1 Peter 1:7,13; 4:13; 2 Thess. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:7).

Personal, visible: Jesus, not just in spirit, but in bodily form, will return to this earth (Acts 1:11).

Imminent: The Church, as God’s steward, ought to consider the return of Christ as an event which is about to happen, and therefore, though patient, we are to be alert to such an event as we seek to glorify Him through our lives (Mark 3:33-37; Mat. 24:22,24,29-51; Luke 21:34).

Patient Lifestyle: The Bible’s teaching concerning the Lord’s impending return is always set in the context of practical exhortation, focusing upon our present lifestyle, rather than upon undue speculation (2 Peter 3:11; Mat. 24:42-51).

SALVATION

We believe that all who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ are born again by the Holy Spirit, and thereby become children of God and heirs of eternal life.

Faith: Faith is the “gift of God” (Eph. 2:8) and is produced by the Word of God (Rom. 10:14,17). We are saved by faith alone apart from works (Eph. 2;9; Rom. 3:20; Titus 3:5). However, genuine faith necessarily leads to good works (Eph. 2:10; Mat. 5:16; James 2:17-26).

Born again by the Holy Spirit: The new birth (regeneration) is absolutely necessary for fellowship with God (John 3:7). Man is totally passive in regeneration since it is completely a work of God (John 1:13; 3:6). The new birth is the work of the Holy Spirit (John 3:8) by which He creates within a person a new nature, a new heart, a new spirit (John 3:5; 2 Peter 1:4; Ezek. 11:19; 36:26; 2 Cor. 5:17).

Children of God: Those who have received the Spirit of Christ have therefore been born again into God’s family (John 1:1-12; Rom. 8:9,14-17). As members of His family we not only have fellowship with our Father in Heaven, but we are being transformed by the Holy Spirit into the image of Christ, and when Christ returns we will be completely changed in body and spirit to be like Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:19-23; 1 John 3:2). This experience of the life of Jesus Christ within us now by the presence of the Holy Spirit and forever ours in the presence of Jesus Christ is “eternal life”.

HEAVEN AND HELL

We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost in hell, and the fellowship of the saved in heaven.

Bodily resurrection: Those saints who are “asleep in Jesus” will be raised at the same time the living saints are “raptured” and changed (1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-58). After the resurrection, all the unsaved will stand before the Great White Throne for judgment, and since their names will not be found in the Book of Life, they will be cast into the Lake of Fire (Rev. 3:5; 13:8; 20:11-15; 21:8,27; Mat. 25:31-46; Luke 10:20; Phil. 4:3; Acts 13:48).

Everlasting conscious suffering: Luke 16:19-31; Mat. 25:30; 24:51; Heb. 12:23; 2 Cor. 5:6-9; Phil. 1:23; Rev. 6:9; 20:4.

Heaven: We believe heaven to be a literal place where Jesus Christ is preparing an eternal home for believers of all ages (John 14:1-6; Heb. 1:10-16).

Hell: We believe hell to be a literal place where all unsaved will spend eternity (Rev. 20:15; Mat. 13:36-43).

SATAN

We believe in the existence of a personal devil, who is still working in the world to destroy the souls of men and that he and all his angels and all who receive not Christ as their Savior will eternally perish in the lake of fire.

Devil: Though a created being and one of the highest angels, the devil fell because he wanted to be greater than God (Isa. 14:12-15).

Eternally perish: The judgment upon the devil and his followers is an unending punishment (Rev. 20:10,14,15; 19:20).

THE CHURCH

We believe in the Church, whose mission it is to preach the Scriptures to all the world, all of its endeavors being guided by multiple leadership and supported by the wise stewardship of God’s people.

Body of Christ: The collective body of believers in Jesus Christ is the Church (Eph. 5:23-32; Col. 1:18; Mat. 18:20; Eph. 1:22-23, Col. 2:19; 3:15).

Mission: Mat. 28:18-20; Rom. 15:6; Eph. 1:15-23.

Preach: By this term we encompass all of the believers who are to declare and make known God’s truth through the totality of their lives, in addition to the formal proclamation of the Word of God (Eph. 3:8-10; 4:15,16; Col. 1:10-28).

Multiple leadership: Within each local church we believe God provides a team of Pastor(s), Elders, Deacons and other workers who are to guide and enable the congregation to develop spiritual maturity. Pastors are literally shepherds, or those who feed sheep, and therefore, figuratively, those appointed to feed spiritually and serve the congregation. Elders are appointed to exercise spiritual oversight for the flock entrusted to them. Deacons serve as helpers, or ministering workers who fulfill various formal or informal roles within the congregation.

Stewardship: As members of God’s family we recognize the obligation under which God places us to exercise care and concern with regard to all time, possessions, wealth and persons as may be entrusted to us. One mark of the spiritually wise person is the mature choices made with respect to these areas (Mat. 20:8; Gal. 4:2; Luke 16:2,3; 1 Cor. 4:1,2; Titus 1:7; 1 Peter 4:10; 1 Cor. 9:17; Eph. 3:2; Col. 1:25).

GOSPEL ORDINANCES

We believe that the ordinances of the Church given by our Lord, are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Communion).

Baptism: Baptism is commanded of all believers and it is an act of obedience signifying the believer’s death, burial and resurrection “in Christ” (Rom. 6:3,4; Acts 18:8; 1 Peter 3:21). The disciples were commanded to see to it that baptism was a part of their ministry (Mat. 28:19,20; 16:16) and the pattern of the book of Acts (Acts 2:38-41; 8:12,13,36,38) indicates the widespread practice of water baptism for believers. We practice baptism by immersion upon the profession of a person’s faith in Christ alone for salvation and reject the practice of infant baptism. This church does not believe in baptismal regeneration, nor do we hold that baptism is necessary for salvation.

Lord’s Supper (Communion): On the night of His arrest, Jesus instituted what is known as the Lord’s Supper, or Communion service, which symbolizes and calls our attention to the atonement. This celebration is one in which we look back to the finished work of Christ and also forward to the yet to be completed consummation of our redemption (Mat. 26:26-30; 1 Cor. 10:16; 11:23-30; 2 Peter 2:13).

GENDER, MARRIAGE, AND SEXUALITY

We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female.  These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God (Gen 1:26-27). Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.

We believe the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture (Gen 2:18-25).  Lakeside Bible Church will only conduct a marriage ceremony and recognize the marriage between a biological man and a biological woman.

We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other (1 Cor 6:18; 7:2-5; Heb 13:4).  We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.

We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God (Matt 15:18-20; 1 Cor 6:9-10).

We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ (Acts 3:19-21; Rom 10:9-10; 1 Cor 6:9-11).

We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31). Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated.