Who We Are

Foundational Statement of Faith

Fourth is a community of people who are learning who God is and how we can follow Jesus together. We are students of the Bible, and as students, we grow and mature over time. Therefore, we do not expect everyone in our community to think or believe exactly alike.

In fact, we value diversity of thought and application. There are, however, a few fundamental truths that we all agree to embrace to protect our unity and direct our journey together.

  • is God’s Word to all people. It was written by human authors, under supernatural guidance by the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme and final authority for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without any mixture of error.

    Psalm 19:7; 1 Peter 2:2; John 17:17; Psalm 119:105–160; Proverbs 30:5; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 5:18; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:20–21

  • exists eternally and reveals Himself in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) having each the same nature, attributes, and perfections that are worthy of the same worship and confidence.

    Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 3:16–17; 28:19; John 1:1–2, 14; 10:30; 14:15–17; Acts 5:3–4; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14

  • is created in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character; yet, Man is sinful. Thus, man is alienated from God and is in need of salvation. Man was created to exist forever. He will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or in union with God, through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are literal places of eternal existence.

    Genesis 1:26–27; Ephesians 2:1–3; Isaiah 53:6A; Romans 3:9–18, 23; Isaiah 59:1–2; John 3:16; 1 John 2:25; 5:11–13; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15; 1 Corinthians 15:21–22

    We believe that God has ordained marriage as the joining of one man and one woman. We believe that God has commanded that intimate sexual activity be set apart within the covenant of marriage between one man and one woman. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender. We believe that God’s gift of sex is corrupted and perverted by sin into expressions such as homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, pedophilia, incest, fornication, adultery, pornography, and other forms of sexual immorality.

    Genesis 1:27–28; 2:24; 19:5–7,13; 26:8–10; Leviticus 18:1–30; Romans 1:26–29; 7:2; I Corinthians 5:1; 6:9; 7:10; Ephesians 5:22-23; I Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4

  • is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven's glory and will return again to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

    Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Hebrews 1:1–2; 4:14–15; 7:25; Matthew 1:22–23; Luke 1:30–35; John 1:1–5, 10–14; 14:10–30; Colossians 2:9; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4; Romans 1:3–4; ACTS 1:9–11; 1 Timothy 6:14–15

  • is God’s free gift to any person who will believe that Jesus Christ’s death is the sufficient and necessary requirement for eternal life. No act of Christian obedience, preceding or following faith in Christ may be added to, or considered as a part of, faith as a condition for receiving eternal salvation. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ by faith.

    John 3:16–18; 4:10; 6:47; Acts 16:31; Romans 4:5; Ephesians 2:8–9; Titus 3:5; Revelation 22:17

  • is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to live under His control daily.

    Acts 5:3–4; 2 Corinthians 3:17; John 3:5; 16:7–13; 14:16–17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 3:16; 6:19; 12:13; Ephesians 1:13; 4:30; 5:18; Galatians 5:25; Romans 8:29

  • for the Church could occur at any moment. This “blessed hope” has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer. Jesus will physically return to earth to set up His kingdom, and there will be a new heaven and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

    John 14:1–3; 1 Corinthians 15:51–52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; Titus 2:11–14; Revelation 22:7, 12, 20; Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; Zechariah 14:2–4; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 19:11–16; 20:4–6; 21:1

  • are to be observed commemorating Christ’s works for the church: Baptism and The Lord’s Supper. Baptism is practiced by individuals as a symbolic expression of personal identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. The Lord’s Supper is practiced corporately as a symbolic reminder of His provision for salvation. These acts, however, are not to be regarded as a means of salvation, but both are an evidence of obedience and fellowship with the Lord.

    Matthew 28:19–20; Acts 8:12, 35–38; Luke 22:19–20; 1 Corinthians 11:23–29; Ephesians 2:8–9

Our Distinctives

  • FMC envisions the church as a disciple making agency, to produce mature believers in Christ (in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and ends of the earth).

  • We are a Bible-believing, Word-centered Church. The Word of God shapes our practices.

  • We adhere to the 5 Solas of the reformation. These 5 attributes of the reformation lay at the center of what distinguished the theology of the reformation from the theology of the Roman Catholic church in the 16th century.

    Sola Scriptura - Is the belief that because Scripture is God’s inspired Word, it is the only inerrant, sufficient and final authority for the church. (II Tim. 3:16-17; II Peter 1:21)

    Solus Christus - Is the assertion that Christ alone is the basis on which the ungodly are justified in God’s sight. (Rom. 3:21-26)

    Sola Gratia - Proclaims that all of our salvation, from beginning to end, is by grace and grace alone. (Eph. 1:4; 9:16)

    Sola Fide - How does the believer receive the redemption Christ accomplished? Through faith and faith alone. Rather than trusting in ourselves, we trust in another: Jesus Christ. (Gal. 2:15-3:14; Phil 3:9; II Cor. 5:21)

    Soli Deo Gloria - Only God receives Glory for our salvation.

  • We believe that expository preaching is one of the best ways to promote health in the Church. In expository preaching, the main message of the biblical text must become the central message of the sermon. The burden of the text must reign supreme over the whims and desires of the preacher. We also believe that consecutive exposition (preaching through books of the Bible) most effectively feeds the sheep for the long term.

  • Jesus reigns as head over His church and He has given elders/pastors to govern and lead local churches under His authority. (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 4:11; Titus 1:5). We believe that men, qualified in both character and gifting, are to serve as elders, shepherding God’s people as under-shepherds of Christ (1 Timothy 2:12; 3:1–7; 1 Peter 5:1–3). A church’s health is, to a great degree, dependent on the health of its elders.

  • We believe it was God’s glorious plan to create men and women in His image, giving them equal dignity and value in His sight while appointing differing and complementary roles for them within the home and the church (Genesis 1:26–28; Ephesians 5:22–33; 1 Timothy 2:8–15). Because these roles give different expressions to God’s image in humanity, we should value and pursue them in joy and faith. As the redeemed community of God, the church has a unique opportunity and responsibility to celebrate this complementarity, contend for it against cultural hostility, and protect it from sinful distortions.

  • Jesus reigns as head over His church and He has given elders/pastors to govern and lead local churches under His authority (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 4:11; Titus 1:5). 

    We believe that a local church should be led by a plurality of male elders/pastors, recognizing that each is a different name for the same office. These men are to be qualified in both character and gifting are to serve as under-shepherds of Christ (1 Timothy 2:12; 3:1–7; 1 Peter 5:1–3). 

    A church’s health is, to a great degree, dependent on the health of its elders.

  • FMC values Gospel-centered Churches planted in the Spokane area and the Pacific Northwest. God graciously has allowed FMC to be involved in multiple Church plants over the years.

    - Valley Fourth Memorial was started on September 24, 1972.

    - Northview Bible Church was established on Spokane’s north side on April 27, 1976.

    - Lampstand Gospel Church: May 26th, 2024

  • FMC has housed multiple Christian higher education institutions over the years.

    - Inland Empire School of the Bible (1972—1988)

    - Spokane Bible College (1989—1993)

    - Moody Northwest (1993—2006)

    - Moody Bible Institute-Spokane [MBI] (2006—2018)

    - Great Northern University (2018—current)