History:
Our church began in 1982 when our Pastor (Rev. Thomas J. Sica) having been led by the Holy Spirit began laying the foundation for our church. He began knocking on doors in June of that year inviting people to be part of this new work and sharing the good news of the gospel. In December the church was incorporated with 15 charter members.
In 1994 our church was reorganized in the city of Scranton. Having rented several different buildings, God blessed and opened the door for our church to buy our present building. This happened in May of 2000. It was amazing to see how God worked in so many great ways to provide this piece of property.
Presently our church averages aprox. 80 people on Sunday. Today our church has many different ministries that reach new born children to adults. It is exciting to see how God has blessed this ministry.
Church Motto:
"Opening Doors to God's Word to Transform Lives for God's Glory"
Our Church Exists For the Following Reasons:
- Worship
- Ministry
- Evangelism
- Fellowship
- Discipleship
Our Church Provides The Following:
1. A Foundation for Living
At ODBC you will hear the Bible taught in a way that you will understand. Our church exists to provide you with a place to learn the Bible through preaching, discipleship, and Bible studies. The Bible, although written some 2,000 years ago, is full of useful information for us today. Sermons at Open Door are meant to take the principles found in the Bible and apply them to our lives in a rich and meaningful way.
2. A Family for Living
The world we live in is ready to condemn and look down on us and so we need a place where we can go to be uplifted, encouraged and supported. And, that is exactly what you will find at Open Door. At ODBC you will find people who care about you. Come and be part of the Open Door Family.
3. A Force for Living
In the "Star Wars" movies the famous saying was, "May the force be with you." At ODBC you will learn how to be connected to the true force of the universe - Almighty God. At ODBC we learn who God is and how to worship and serve him.
4. A Function for Living
ODBC provides a place for you to invest your life in the lives of others. It provides a place for you to become part of a team, working together with others for God’s glory, to impact the lives of people. It is a place for caring, sharing, serving, learning & growing.
5. A Focus for Living
God wants us to be messengers of His Love. He wants us to tell others of the good news of the gospel. At ODBC we learn how to share God’s love and good news to a world which is so in need of good news.
What we Believe:
THE BIBLE
We believe the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, to be the written Word of God, and the supreme and sole authority of Christian faith and practice. The Scriptures were originally given through the Holy spirit by plenary, verbal inspiration, infallibly true and free of error. No other writings, experiences or traditions of any kind are inspired in this sense. Ps 19:7-11; Ps 119:4,9-11,16,60,136; Jn. 17:17; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2Pet. 1:19-21.
THE NATURE OF GOD:
We believe the only true and living God is a tri-une God eternally existing in three persons-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father can be known by understanding His attributes as revealed in His Word. Gen.1:1; Ex.20:2-3; Jer. 45:5-6,21-22; Matt. 28:19; Jn.10:30; Acts 5:3-4; I Cor, 8:6
JESUS CHRIST:
We believe the eternal Son became flesh in the person of Jesus by miraculous conception and virgin birth. He lived a sinless human life, perfectly fulfilling the divine law, and then offered Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of every man. He died on the Cross, shedding His precious blood, in full substitution and atonement for the sins of all men everywhere. He was buried and on the third day he arose bodily from the dead, alive forevermore. He later ascended bodily into heaven where, at the right hand of the Father, He now continually intercedes for those who put their trust in Him. He is fully man and fully God. Isa. 7:14; Lk. 1;30; I cor. 13:3-4; Heb. 10:19-22; I Pet. 3:18.
THE HOLY SPIRIT:
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in creation; that in relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until God's purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of righteousness and of judgment; that He bears witness to the truth of the gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the Agent in the new birth; that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, sanctifies and helps the believer. Isa 6::1-13(cf. Acts 28:5-6); Matt. 28:19-20; Jn. 3:5-6; 14;16-17; 16:8-11; Acts 5:3-4; Eph 1;13-14; 4:30.
MAN:
We believe that man was created in the image of God, that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God, and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature and are now sinners by birth and by choice, positively inclined to evil, and are therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin without defense or excuse. Gen. 3:1-6; Ps 51:5; Rom 1:20; 3:10-19; 5:12-21; I Cor. 4:14
SALVATION:
We believe Man is utterly unable to save himself from the power and penalty of sin. Man can only be saved when he repents of his sin and places his faith in Christ's finished work on the cross in dying for his sins. A true Christian is one who has been "saved: or "born again" by the work of the Holy Spirit upon receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior of His life. The reality of his salvation, as well as one's personal assurance of salvation, will be evidenced by a genuine love for Christ and Christians as seen in his obedience to Christ's Word. One who has been truly born again continues in his walk with the Lord and is kept saved by the power of God for the day of redemption. John 3:3; Rom. 6:23; 10:9-13; 2 Cor 5;21; Eph 1:13-14; 2:8-10; Heb. 9:22; I Pet 3:18; I Jn. 2:3-6; 2:19; 5:13
THE CHURCH:
We believe, in the ultimate sense the Church is composed of all who have been truly saved during the church age. a local church is composed of those who have been saved and baptized (after salvation and by immersion) in obedience to the Lord's command. Local churches are organized for the five purposes as stated in the purpose statement of this church. It is through the church that the ordinances of the church are carried out. The ordinances of the church being the Lord's Supper and Baptism. Christ is head of the church and therefore the church must base it's actions on His Word, which is it's final authority. Matt 16:18; 22:37-40; 28:19-20; Acts 1:6-8; Acts 2; 1 Cor. 11:23-28; Eph 4:11-12; Col. 1:24; I Tim 4:14-15.
THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS:
We believe that the Holy Spirit, according to His will, gives gifts to believers so that they can fulfill the ministry of the church. Some of the gifts given were temporary and limited to the 1st century believers. Other gifts continue today and are to be used by Christians in their ministry for the Lord. Each person has been given a gift by the Holy spirit and is therefore equipped for service in the church. 1 Cor.12; 13:8-10; 14; Rom 12:3-8; I Pet. 4:10.
THE RETURN OF CHRIST:
We believe that all Christians should live as if Christ will return at any moment. He will first come at the rapture (the catching up of his children). This will be followed by 7 years of tribulation which will culminate with the 2nd coming of the Lord. Following this, Christ will set up his millennial kingdom which will last for 1,000 years. Thus we believe in a pre-tribulational rapture and a pre-millennial return of Christ. Acts 1:11; 1 Thess 4:13-18; 1 Jn.3:3; Rev. 19:11-21; Rev. 20:1-6
THE ETERNAL STATE:
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead, both of the saved and lost. The lost will be resurrected to an eternal, conscious punishment in hell. The saved will be resurrected to an eternal joy with Christ in heaven. Matt. 25:34-41; Jn. 14:1-6; Rom 6:23; I Cor. 15; 1Thess 4:16-18; Rev. 20-21.
SATAN:
We believe that Satan is a literal and personal being. He is the god of this age who was defeated at the cross. And, because of his rebellion against God, he will be eternally judged in Hell. Isa 14;12-14; Matt. 4:1-3; 25:41; 2Cor 4:4; Heb. 2;14; Rev. 20:10.
CHRISTIAN LIVING:
We believe that the Christian is to strive at all times for holiness of life; that good works are the proof and the result of genuine saving faith. Matt. 13:23; Jn. 15:1-17; Eph 2:8-10; James 2;14-26; 1 Pet 1;15-16; I John 2:3-6.
CREATION:
We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and that it is to be accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively; that man's creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary changes of species, or development through indeterminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; that all animal and vegetable life was made directly, and God's established law was that they should bring forth only "after their kind." Gen. 1-2; Ex.20:11; Jn.1:3; Col.1:16-17; Rev. 4:11; 10:6
