About Smith Corner Church

Explore the foundational principles that guide our faith.

Committed to the gospel of Jesus Christ

We Welcome You!

Welcome to Smith Corner Church, where Faith, Family, and Fellowship form the cornerstone of our vibrant community. Nestled in the heart of our central Pennsylvania, we are a Non-Denominational Christian Church committed to inspiring lives through the transformative power of God.

We are not just a church; we are an exciting, growing, and active community. Smith Corner Church is a place where you can engage in meaningful worship, dynamic learning, and outreach initiatives that make a positive impact on our world both locally and abroad. Join us on this journey of faith, where you are not just a member, but a valued part of the Smith Corner Church family.

The Power of Scripture

We affirm the divine inspiration, truthfulness and authority of both Old and New Testament Scriptures in their entirety as the only written word of God, without error in all that it affirms, and the only infallible rule of faith and practice. It is from these sacred teachings that we draw our inspiration and guidance. Our passionate and dedicated team of pastors and leaders strive to create an environment where spiritual growth and understanding thrive.

Our Cornerstone

Faith

What sets us apart is our unwavering focus on Faith. It is the driving force behind everything we do, guiding our decisions, actions, and interactions with one another. As we navigate the challenges of life, we find strength, solace, and purpose in the unshakeable foundation of our faith.

Family

Family is at the core of our community. Smith Corner Church is a place where you can find a second home, where bonds are formed, and where individuals of all ages and backgrounds come together as one family in Christ. We celebrate the diversity within our congregation and cherish the unique gifts each person brings to our community.

Fellowship

Fellowship is not just a concept; it’s a lived experience at Smith Corner Church. We understand the importance of coming together, sharing in each other’s joys and supporting one another through life’s trials. Our church is not just a place of worship; it’s a community where lasting friendships are forged.

What We Believe

Doctrine of the Bible (Bibliology)

We believe that the Bible was inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Tim. 3:16) who used men as instruments to record His word (2 Peter 1:21). We believe the Bible is without error in all that it affirms to be true (John 17:17; Titus 1:2) and is to be the absolute authority in all aspects of the life of a believer (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

The Doctrine of God (Theology Proper)

Trinity

We believe that God is one God who exists in three equal persons; Father, Son and Spirit. God is a trinity and, while all members of the Godhead are equally divine (Father- John 6:27, Son- John 1:1, Spirit- Acts 5:3-9), they have different responsibilities, offices and functions. We believe that the triune God created the universe (1 Co. 8:6; Job 26:13) in six literal days (Gen. 1 and 2) apart from any evolutionary event.

The Person and Work of God the Father

We believe that God is Spirit (John 4:24). We believe that God is sovereign and is in control of all things. We believe that He has been carrying out His divine plan since eternity past and will continue to do so into eternity future (Eph. 1:11, 1 Peter 1:20). He possesses all the divine perfections of God the Son and God the Holy Spirit and is therefore equal in power and divinity with the other members of the Godhead.

The Person and Work of Christ (Christology)

We believe that Jesus Christ was both fully human (Rom. 5:15) and fully divine (John 20:28). He was the God-man who was sent from the Father (1 John 4:14), born of a virgin (Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:34) lived a sinless life (2 Co. 5:21), and died on the cross in our place as a payment for our sins (Eph. 1:7). We believe Jesus resurrected from the grave three days after His death (Luke 24:7) as evidenced by the empty tomb (Jn. 20:1-9, Mk. 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-8, Matt. 28:1-6) and appearances to women, the disciples and other brethren (Matt. 28:8-10; Mk. 16:9-11; Mk. 16:14; 1 Co. 15:4-8; etc.). We believe Jesus ascended to heaven (Acts 1:9) and is now seated on the right hand of the Father (Col. 3:1; Eph. 1:20) interceding for us (Heb. 7:25) and being our advocate (1 Jn. 2:1). We believe that Jesus will, at the appropriate time, return and receive all the redeemed unto Himself and we will forever be with Him (John 14:1-3).

The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit (Pneumatology)

We believe that the Holy Spirit exists as the third Person of the Godhead and possesses all the qualifications of deity that the Father and Son possess. We believe that the Holy Spirit was responsible for the conception of Jesus (Matt. 1:18). We believe that the Holy Spirit can fill a believer (Eph. 5:18), indwells a believer (1 Co. 6:19), sanctifies a believer (1 Peter 1:2) and is active at the time of regeneration (Titus 3:5). We believe the Holy Spirit is responsible for “convicting the world of sin, and righteousness, and judgment” (Jn. 16:8), illuminates the believer so they can value and understand the scriptures properly (1 Co. 2:10-13), baptizes each believer (Rom. 6:1-10; 1 Co. 12:12-13) and seals each Christian so that they are secure in their salvation (Eph. 1:13, 4:30). Lastly, we believe the Holy Spirit is responsible for the giving of gifts to Christians (1 Co. 12:8-11) and guides us in our Christian walk (Jn. 16:12-15).

Spirits Good and Evil (Angelology)

A. Holy Angels

We believe angels are spirit beings who were an innumerable (Heb. 12:22), special creation of God. Scripture teaches that angels are God’s messengers that appear and perform ministries here on earth (Matt. 2:19, 4:11, 28:2) and worship God (Is. 6:3).

B. Fallen Angels

1. Satan

Satan (Lucifer) was a created angelic being who at one time was the chief cherub in heaven (Is. 14:12; Ezek. 28:14). Satan was “full of wisdom and perfect in beauty”, was created “blameless” (Ezek. 28:15) and enjoyed the presence of God (Ezek. 28:14). Satan desired to elevate himself to the status of God and therefore sinned (Is. 14:13-14; Ezek. 28:15) causing him to be cast out of heaven (Ezek. 28:17) along with those wicked angels who sided with him (Rev. 12:4,7-9). Since this time Satan has been the adversary to both men and God.

2. Demons

We believe demons are the angels that followed Satan while in heaven and were consequentially cast out with their “prince” who is Satan himself (Mt. 12:24). These demons carry out the work of Satan in trying to thwart God’s plan for the redemption of man (Dan. 10:10-13). All demons will eventually suffer the same fate as Satan and will be cast into the Lake of Fire for all eternity (Mt. 25:41).

The Doctrine of Humanity (Anthropology)

We believe that mankind was made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27) and consists of both material (body) and immaterial parts (soul/spirit) for the purpose of glorifying God (1 Co. 10:31), bearing fruit (Jn. 15:8) and carrying out a relationship with Him. Mankind was created without sin (Gen. 1:31) and Adam and Eve inherited a sin nature when they sinned in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:6-7). Since that time, every human being was born with a sin nature which was imputed to us from Adam making us all sinners at birth (Rom. 5:12-21), recipients of the penalty of our sin, which is spiritual and physical death (Rom. 6:23; Ezek. 18:4) and in need of the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:8-9). We believe all who are dead will be resurrected at the appropriate times, believers to a resurrection of life and unbelievers to a resurrection of damnation (John 5:25-29). Those who turn from their sin to faith in Christ will spend eternity in heaven (1 Peter 1:3-5; Jn. 5:24). Unbelievers will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:11-15).

The Doctrine of Sin (Hamartiology)

“Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4). Sin can be committed through thought (Gen. 6:5), word (Hos. 4:2) and deed (Rev. 21:8), as well as by being passive (James 4:17). Ultimately, sin separates us from God (Is. 59:2, 1 John 1:6) and provokes Him to justly bring forth punishment (2 Thess. 1:7-9) and wrath (Rom. 1:18, 2:5). The penalty for being a sinner is death (Rom. 6:23; Ezek. 18:4) and the cure is faith in Jesus Christ (1 Jn. 1:7).

Doctrine of Salvation (Soteriology)

We believe that there is only one way to be saved (John 14:6). Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone and apart from all merit or works of our own (Eph. 2:8-9). We believe that once man is truly saved, he is always saved and therefore his salvation is secure (Jn. 10:27-30; 1 Peter 1:4-5; Rom. 8:1). Lastly, it is Christ’s sacrificial atoning work on the cross that makes salvation possible (2 Co. 5:21).

The Doctrine of the Church (Ecclesiology)

A. Universal Church

We believe that the church is the body of Christ in which He is the head and consists of all born again believers (1 Co. 12:12-31; Eph. 1:22-23, 4:1-16).

B. Local Church

We believe the local church consists of all those who belong to the corporate church, but gather together for worship, fellowship (Acts 2:42), edification (1 Co. 14:26) of one another and teaching of the Word of God (1 Tim. 3:2) so that we can all mature into “the measure of the stature and of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13). We believe the local church is “the pillar and ground of truth” (1 Tim. 3:15) and is to provide the ordinances listed below (see ordinances). Its primary purposes are to fulfill the Great Commission by proclaiming the gospel in an effort to make disciples of all men (Matt. 28:19-20) and to exalt Christ (Eph. 3:21, 1 Co. 10:31).

C. Ordinances

We believe the ordinances of the local church are baptism in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit by water immersion (Matt. 28:19-20; Rom. 6:1-4) and the Lord’s Supper (1 Co. 11:23-26).

D. Church Government

We believe that the church should be governed with a congregational form of government placing the final authority with the congregation (Acts 6:1-7, 15:1-6). This is to be done using the authority of the scriptures and not apart from them. Leaders are to be appointed (Titus 1:5) and are responsible to the congregation which is responsible to Christ. These leaders are to exercise the administration of their offices according to the scriptures (2 Tim 3:16).