Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, which is composed of his disciples from all nations throughout history. Christ provides everything necessary for the Church’s worship. At Tenth Presbyterian Church, we affirm that Christ’s will for his Church is expressly given in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, which is the Word of God, and the only rule of faith and obedience. In faithfulness to his Word, we believe we should be humbly devoted to the following:  

1. Faithful Proclamation of God’s Word. “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:1-2). Our ordained pastors (teaching elders) seek to proclaim the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27) from the pulpit in corporate worship and throughout the week in their teaching ministry.  

2. Joyful Corporate Worship. “O come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!” (Psalm 95:1). We seek to worship reverently in a way which acknowledges the immeasurable greatness of the Triune God and the unfathomable depth of his love for us in Christ Jesus, according to the elements prescribed in Scripture: the reading and preaching of God’s Word, spoken and sung prayers, confessing our faith, giving of offerings, and celebrating the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.  

3. Growing Christian Disciples. “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). We seek to offer a comprehensive Christian education program to equip disciples of all ages to live as faithful followers of Jesus in every aspect of their lives.  

4. Prayerful Dependence on God. “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). We seek to be a church where prayer characterizes our relationship to God and one another.  

5. Loving Care and Fellowship. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35). We seek to be a church family where no one is a stranger, to love one another sacrificially, and to offer every member the full benefit of pastoral care and other privileges entitled to them as members of Christ’s Church. 

6. Extending Mercy. “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” (James 3:17-18). As we have received mercy through Jesus Christ, so we seek to extend mercy within our church body and into the community around us through deeds of service and acts of practical Christian love, sometimes in partnership with other ministries. 

7. Gospel Witness. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts1:8). We seek to extend Christ’s kingdom through the gospel, beginning here in Philadelphia unto the ends of the earth, by raising up, sending, supporting, and partnering with local and global missionaries and agencies.