About
Sanctuary Berkeley is a non-denominational, Christian church located in a few blocks South of Cal's campus.
Established in January 2012, this local church has focused on what God has been doing in Berkeley, and the broader East Bay communities.
Must like the city of Berkeley, the church has been made up of a diverse group of peoples over the years.
Different seasons have brought different groups of people together. From young families, to those who serve in the Coast Guard, to Graduate, undergraduate, and post-doc students, International students, and a few who have had long time residences in Berkeley, God has been faithful to meet the needs of each group, in each season.
While there is always change and movement with our membership, one thing that always remains is our core understanding of who we are as God's people.
Theology
Who God is, and who we are in relation to Him. We love Him because He first loved us. Our pursuit of God is not academic. We do not desire to know about God in the academic sense, but we desire to know Him personally, in the relational sense. We draw near to Him, and He draws near to us. James 4:8
Relationships
God has created us to be in relationship with Him. We understand that He has also created us to be in relationship with one another. We grow in faith, in community. We meet one anothers needs, in community. We bear each others burdens, in community. We respond in worship, in community.
Mission
We join in the mission to help people meet and enjoy Jesus. Our desire for, and participation in God’s mission is birthed out of a proper theological understanding of God’s grace. When we see Him clearly, we want others to see the same thing.
We Believe
There is one Creator, God who eternally exists in three persons…
…the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 28:19, Isaiah 44:6, Revelation 1:17).
In the deity of Jesus Christ…
…(Romans 9:5, Philippians 2:5-6, Colossians 2:9, 1 Timothy 3:16), His virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:21-23), His sinless life (John 8:46, Hebrews 4:15,7:26), His vicarious, substitutionary and atoning death (Isaiah 53:1-12, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Timothy 2:5-6), His bodily resurrection (John 11:25, Acts 1:3, Revelation 1:18), His ascension to the right hand of the Father (Mark 16:19, Acts 7:55), and His return to earth in power and glory (Revelation 1:7, Revelation 19:11-16).
In the person and work of the Holy Spirit…
…who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgement (John 16:8). It is He who indwells us and empowers us to live a life of godliness (Acts 1:8). We believe the gifts of the Holy Spirit are available today and are necessary for the edification of the body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Romans 12:3-16).
Salvation is by grace through faith alone in Christ Jesus…
…who defeated sin and death through His atoning work upon the cross (Ephesians 2:8-10, Titus 3:5). We believe that good works are an essential part of the Christian faith, but good works do not equal salvation; however they are the result of salvation (Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 2:12-13; John 15:4-5).
The Church is God’s new society and community pictured in scripture as…
…God’s kingdom, God’s family, and God’s temple (Ephesians 2:19-22). We believe that the purpose of the Church is to glorify God and to evangelize and disciple people of every nation. (1 Peter 2:5,9; Matthew 28:19-20).
The Bible to be the Inspired Word of God…
…having absolute authority over our lives, providing us with all that we need to live godly, productive lives. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21).