The beliefs of The Itty Bitty Nitty Gritty Bible Church are fundamentally based upon the Bible, thus we are “Christian Fundamentalists”. All of our “What We Believe About” items, illustrations, preaching, teachings, statements, comments and opinions stand validated or corrected by the Bible.
Preceding and following all of our “What We Believe About” items are Bible passages. These passages serve as general references regarding various points within the text of our belief statements; they are not meant to be the exhaustive Scripture on each subject. Unless otherwise noted, all Bible passages shown are from the New International Version of the Holy Bible, Copyright 1973, The Zondervan Corporation. (Used by permission of the Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.)
We are “evangelical” with regards to our belief that soul-
For those familiar with Christian theology, our views regarding personal salvation through Jesus Christ are along the original lines as those of Martin Luther, Jacobus Arminius and John Wesley. We reject the opinions or “five points” of John Calvin.
Concerning the end times, we are pre-
We believe in God. We believe that God is revealed in the Bible as being triune in nature. He is one God and yet within His oneness are three equal persons, namely, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. We believe that God is eternal, having no beginning nor end. We believe that God is all-
We believe that the Bible is inspired by God, word for word. We believe the Bible is the only writing inspired by God. We believe that the Bible is: complete, without error and contains all the information needed for people to get saved and live holy lives. We believe that the Bible is empowered by God to reach the consciousness of its readers.
We believe that God created our world and universe in six (twenty-
We believe God’s creation was perfect but became defective as a result of the disobedience (sin) of Adam and Eve. We believe their rejection of God brought disorder, disease, pain and death to the entire human race and all of creation. We believe that there was a global flood that devastated the planet. We believe that God confounded the language of the post-
We believe that God called the Jewish people through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob/Israel for the purpose of recording God’s laws and prophetical messages, to tell the world about God and to prepare the way for Jesus’ earthly ministry.
We believe in Jesus Christ. We believe Jesus is revealed in the Bible as having two natures; He is fully God and fully human. We believe Jesus came to the Earth, took on human flesh and was born of a virgin. We believe that Jesus, being God in the flesh, lived a sinless life.
We believe that at the end of His earthly ministry Jesus Christ was crucified. He bodily died, was entombed and then rose from the dead. We believe that while in the process of being crucified, God the Son bore upon Himself God the Father’s wrath and punishment for the sins of the entire human race. We believe Jesus allowed Himself to be viciously crucified for this very purpose. We believe He then ascended back to Heaven where He now is. We believe that Jesus will return to the earth during the turbulent end-
We believe that all people are born sinful, hell-
We believe in the Church, the global network of people who are born again. We believe in the coming rapture (taking away) of those who are born again from the Earth. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead; those who were saved before their death are resurrected during the rapture, those who died unsaved are resurrected at the final judgment.
We believe that after a period of tumult upon the earth and it’s destruction along with the rest of the universe, a final judgment will occur. People who became born again while on the Earth will be saved; those who ignored or rejected God’s love and offer of salvation while upon the Earth will be condemned. The unsaved of Earth will be cast into the lake of fire for an eternity of abandonment and torment while the saved of Earth will eternally enjoy a blissful life in the new Heaven and on the new Earth.
The Itty Bitty Nitty Gritty Bible Church is people; moreover, we are people who have become born again by accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Saviour. We are a portion of the greater Christian Church, the worldwide community of born again believers. We are a network of independent home-
We are unified in one creed: our “What We Believe” statements. These statements reflect the truths that are revealed in the Bible; our creed, as well as our whole organization, stands corrected by the Bible.
We're not about bettering or changing this world, global peace, human unity or a new world order; we're about preparing people for the soon to come new Earth and Heaven. We exist to win souls, teach from the Bible, train believers to be soul-
We equate love for God with compassion and empathy for our fellow humans: a compassion that is concerned about where people will spend eternity, a compassion that yearns to share the truth and love of Jesus Christ with them.
We exist to serve God by propagating all of the theological and spiritual truths that are revealed in the Bible. Additionally, we exist to provide practical Biblical guidance to independent groups of believers. The Biblical guidance we provide is purposed to strengthen and encourage individual believers in their Christian faith as well as equipping them to be effective soul-
Our mission is cyclic: it begins by sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with our lost and dying world, continues on by equipping believers to be soul-
Our vision is the fast approaching new Heaven and new Earth, which will be populated exclusively with those who became born again by accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour while on this Earth. We look forward with anticipation to this coming eternal age where there will be no more sin, suffering and death; God will walk amidst the saved of Earth.
We believe that our current world is not in the same condition that it was originally created in. When God created our universe it was in perfect order. At the moment that Adam and Eve rebelled against God, the universe became defective. This change affected the entire creation, from the galactic scale all the way down to the molecular level. The world changed from a creation of perfection, peace and eternity to an existence of instability, decay and death. Sinfulness, sadness, wildness, war, disease, disasters and death are all a direct result of humanity’s rebellion towards God.
We believe that we are living in the last days of this planet’s existence. We believe that our current world is in an ever increasing state of transition to global oneness: politically, religiously, economically, etc. The stage is currently being set for Satan’s last gasp; the planet will be under the leadership of one government and one pseudo-
We believe that our current world will ultimately come to an end. At that end, this planet will be destroyed by God Himself, not by some natural cataclysm such as global warming, meteors, etc. or by human influence such as pollution or atomic war.
We believe that global peace is not possible on this planet. We believe that in place of our current dying planet, God will create a new Earth, one that is again perfect, at peace and eternal.
We believe that there are two “churches” currently on our planet: the true Church, the cumulative body of those who are born again through Jesus Christ and also a false “church”, satanically inspired religious organizations of sinful people.
We believe that the true Church is an invisible network of true believers, born again in Jesus Christ. They are bound together by God the Holy Spirit Who indwells in each true repentant believer. Its foundation is solely the Bible. The false “church” mimics Christianity, however it is devoid of spiritual connectivity with God. It is comprised of people who “play church”. Its foundation is based upon worldly/pagan traditions, humanism and popular/relative beliefs.
We believe that in these end times, even the true Church is in a state of struggle. Its own leadership and fellowships have been infiltrated by witting and unwitting agents of Satan, namely, people who profess to be saved and evangelical but live double-
We believe that church membership is determined by a spiritual connection with God, not by having one’s name on a man-
Our motto is a particular verse of Scripture that best communicates who we are in Jesus Christ, our loving concern and an evangelistic appeal to all people: “We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.” –Paul (2 Corinthians 5:20)
Our name describes our nature and attitude. We operate as small “Itty Bitty” groups of believers. Our beliefs and goals are the essence “Nitty Gritty” of Christianity: Jesus Christ, God the Son, was punished and died for our sins; we each must become born again in order to be saved from sin, death and hell. The “Bible” is the fundamental source of all of our beliefs. We are a “Church”, a part of The Church, the world-
Our insignia incorporates our name, our mascot: “Zippy” the hummingbird, the victoriously empty cross of Jesus Christ and the most important words of Jesus that each and every individual needs to hear and heed: “You must be born again.” (John 3:7)
Our mascot is “Zippy” the hummingbird. Although the dove is traditionally used as an emblem of the Christian Church, we believe the hummingbird best represents our little part of the greater Christian community. Hummingbirds are small, fast and effective; they are consumed with flying from flower to flower and thus focused on propagating life. The Itty Bitty Nitty Gritty Bible Church’s existence is to rapidly, effectively and bountifully propagate eternal life through the Good News of Jesus Christ.
We believe that Church membership is determined by a spiritual connection with God, not by having one’s name on a man-
We do not bestow a status of individual membership within the Itty Bitty Nitty Gritty Bible Church; however, we do have two prerequisites for individuals who would like to identify with us: first, one must be a born again, repentant and obedient believer in Jesus Christ and secondly, one must be in agreement with our “What We Believe” statements.
Although we do have an individual membership status per se, we do request that you contact us if you have decided to identify with us. Please see the “Contact Us” link on the home page.
The Itty Bitty Nitty Gritty Bible Church operates much in the same manner as the Christian Church operated in its infancy; we simply meet together in our homes as a group of associated believers. We also meet in public places such as malls, restaurants or parks. Taking an outing together also provides a great opportunity for fellowship and sharing Jesus Christ with the lost.
We purposely avoid as much “structure” and/or “overhead” as possible. Our basic operation method is simple: we meet together as a group of believers as we would ordinarily meet in other social gatherings such as parties, dinners, barbeques, etc.
When we gather, we make preparations so that our time together is quality time; we don’t want to cram everything into the classic Church one hour time slot. Our meetings last as long or as short as necessary. Our gathering time length and schedules are mindful of the Lord’s desire for fellowship with us; we also are mindful of the time limitations that our people may have.
We purposely are not locked into any specific routine as we gather. We desire to avoid practices that would develop into a ritual. Our fellowships gather because of a desire to be with each other, not out of habit or a sense of compulsion. Our worship, praise and prayers are spontaneous and from our hearts.
Although the early Church met on the first day of the week (Sunday), we may or may not gather on Sundays. We may or may not even gather on a specific day or with a certain frequency; what is important is that we gather regularly and as often as necessary for the spiritual well being of our people.
As we meet we spend time: reading and studying the Bible; sharing testimonies of praise, thanks and needs; praising God through music; communicating with God through prayer; having a meal, enjoying each other’s company and sharing in the “Lord’s Supper”.
We also provide age appropriate activities for children. They too share in the fundamentals of gathering as believers: sharing testimonies, praising God, studying the Bible, etc.
Our primary goals in time spent learning are to develop each member’s grasp of: the Bible, their own Christian walk, Christian doctrine and the creed of the Itty Bitty Nitty Gritty Bible Church, Biblical guidelines for Christian living and skills for winning the spiritually lost to salvation in Jesus Christ.
As part of our outreach we invite non-
We avoid using treasuries. We share any incurred costs mutually amongst each other. Those who are capable share their blessings with others; those who are financially challenged need not be imposed upon.
Although we are highly flexible in the way we operate, our gatherings are always structured, meaningful and joyous. Summing up the way we operate, we gather together, praise God, study the Bible, fellowship, support each other and introduce the spiritually lost to Jesus Christ and the salvation He offers.
The Itty Bitty Nitty Gritty Bible Church
P.O. Box 417, Nanticoke, PA 18703
Ownership / Privacy Statements
The Itty Bitty Nitty Gritty Bible Church is incorporated as a non-
All communications to the Itty Bitty Nitty Gritty Bible Church will be treated as private unless indicated otherwise.
He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.” –Jesus (Luke 22:36)
A word of caution: ministry is warfare, spiritual warfare. We are seeking people that to be rescued from a sinful world that is filled with demons. Too many today see the Church as a doormat that people may wipe their feet on. Jesus warned us to be on guard against danger, Satan seeks to devour us. Be loving and compassionate but also be smart and safe. Be on guard about the people you encounter. Practice common sense security; be prayerful and call upon God for His watchfulness over your group.
The following ten steps are suggestions for starting your own home Itty Bitty Nitty Gritty Bible Church. The goal of your group should be to provide: outreach, discipleship and fellowship. These ten steps are not set in concrete and not the final word on the subject. Feel free to adapt them as you may need.
STEP 1
PRAY FOR GOD’S GUIDANCE
Go to now, ye that say, to day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: [14] Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. [15] For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
(James 4:13-
Pray for God’s direction in selecting a leader and in making all subsequent decisions. Be sensitive for God’s answers in this process. Look for a consensus that will be made through the core of your group. God’s answers to prayer should be clear to everyone involved.
Pray for your group. Pray for your leader, and teacher. Pray for yourselves. Pray for the contacts that your group will make. Pray for a great harvest of souls.
STEP 2
SELECT A LEADER AND TEACHER
Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-
A leader and a teacher may be the same individual but not necessary. Having a leader is important, but not absolutely necessary. It may be an individual or a small group of people, but someone needs to be in charge and responsible for the leadership of your group.
Teachers must be believers with the gift of teaching. They should be utilized to teach and expound on the Bible lessons being used. They should have a reasonable knowledge of the Bible and the Christian faith. They themselves should be teachable and good listeners.
Leaders and teachers should all be spiritual people with an authentic Christian testimony regarding their life before Christ, their salvation experience and their new life in Christ. Someone may be an excellent leader or teacher but that does not qualify them to serve in the Church; they must be born again.
STEP 3
SELECT A LOCATION TO MEET
On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. [14] One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. [15] When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us. (Acts 16:13-
Decide whether to meet in someone’s home or at a public location. Your meetings can even be at alternate locations from week to week. There are advantages and disadvantages of meeting at homes or in public venues.
Meeting in a home provides a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. It’s easier to facilitate snacks or a meal in your home. You can meet in your living room, family room, den or even outside in your yard. All the supplies you may need are right there.
Meeting at centralized public places provides ease in transportation issues for people. Some people may feel more at ease meeting in a public venue; others may prefer a home. With their permission, you can meet in a restaurant or café. Public parks, auditoriums, community rooms or libraries are also an option.
STEP 4
SELECT A DAY AND TIME TO MEET
And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. (Acts 20:7)
It is important and Biblical to meet on a prescribed day and at a prescribed time. The early Church met on the first day of the week, Sundays, but it’s not necessary to follow that traditional pattern. In these End Time days, it’s more vital to be accessible to people. Pick any day or days of the week. Meet as often as is practical for your local group’s needs. Pick a time that is easiest for all those attending: morning, afternoon or evening. Whatever meeting day and/or time you choose to meet, be consistent and punctual. Be sensitive to being an irritant or distraction towards others around you when meeting in public. Be cautious regarding people’s safety while commuting to and from your meetings.
The length of your meeting should be reasonable: not too short, not to long. It doesn’t have to be ridged. It should have flexibility to accommodate movement of the Holy Spirit within people’s minds and hearts. Be mindful of the fact that people today have very short attention spans. Take periodic breaks in your gatherings. The length of your meetings: one hour, two hours, three hours? We watch TV for hours; how much time we want to spend with the Lord is up to us.
STEP 5
OBTAIN BIBLES AND OTHER TEACHING MATERIALS
Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. (Acts 17:11)
Always have numerous Bibles on hand, Bibles to use together and Bibles to give to individuals to keep. Be sure to have large print Bibles and children’s Bibles available. As your situation would dictate, have some foreign language Bibles available. Bibles can be obtained relatively inexpensively from book publishers. Thrift shops provide them for little or no cost. The King James Version is the most popular and accepted version of the Bible; however, modern translations such as the New King James Version or the New International Version are also acceptable.
In your group, have a good Bible dictionary, topical index and concordance available. A Bible dictionary is a dictionary that explains words, places, people and items that were
relevant to the times when the Bible was written. A topical index is an index of various spiritual topics and their location within the text of the Bible. A concordance, a rather large book, is a catalog of every word within the Bible and where each word is located within the text. Also keep an English dictionary on hand. It’s helpful to keep some notepads, pens and pencils on hand for people to use. For the younger set, Bibles and related study guides are available online.
STEP 6
SELECT MUSIC
I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. (Psalm 71:22)
Music and singing are universal forms of human communication. It’s important to have music and/or singing as a part of your meeting time. Singing fosters worship and praise towards God. You can use live music, recorded music or even simply sing a cappella. A blend of old and new music is a good start. People have their own preference with regards to music but it should be remembered that the purpose for singing in a group is to communicate praise towards God. Music varies with culture, but whatever music is used should communicate Biblical truths in its message. People should be encouraged to sing during times of praise, but not be pressured to. God appreciates every voice; discourage drama and showoffs.
STEP 7
PREPARE A SNACK OR MEAL
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (Matthew 4:4)
Food is an important tool in reaching people for Jesus Christ. Napoleon once said, “ An army marches on its stomach.” Jesus used meals numerous times to draw people unto Himself. Offering people something to eat communicates care, kindness and interest.
Plan to have a meal or snack before conducting the lesson. If food is not possible, at least have beverages. When planning a menu, consider those with medical issues and allergies such as diabetes, nuts, etc. Plan your food choices with children in mind. When meeting at a public venue you can treat the group to light foods: doughnuts, coffee, etc.
STEP 8
SELECT A BIBLE TEACHING PROGRAM
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, [15] and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. [16] All Scripture is God-
Prepare a purposeful lesson. Teach about: God, Jesus Christ, Salvation, the Bible, etc. Use audio/visual aids when possible. Use ready made Bible lesson booklets. Use videos on the Bible and Church history. Use the Itty Bitty Nitty Gritty website’s “What We Believe” articles. Simply use Bible passages to expound upon. Teach believers how to develop and share their personal testimony. Teach and practice the skills of witnessing for Christ. The list of possible subjects to cover is vast.
Use words and language that people can understand; avoid jargon terms. Stick to the chosen topic. Have a question and answer session; be prepared to answer some tough questions. When answers to questions aren’t immediately available, don’t guess at them. Take the time to research them Biblically; the Bible has all the answers necessary to lead people to God and eternal life.
STEP 9
REACH OUT – EVANGELIZE -
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” (Mark 16:15)
Rent a small post office box at a local post office. Use this address for all of your outreach endeavors. Be sure to use it on all of your materials: Bibles, tracts, flyers, etc.
Order and distribute Gospel tracts with your group’s contact information printed on them. Leave tracts everywhere: shopping carts, ATMs, cashiers, tellers, clerks, with tips for food servers, public benches, phone booths, etc. Place your contact info on community bulletin boards, in community newspapers and circulars.
Invite your family, friends, neighbors, acquaintances, co-
Once you’re established, email us with your Itty Bitty Nitty Gritty Bible Church gathering. If you desire we’ll post your contact information on this website.
STEP 10
PRAY AND MEET
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-
Remember your mission: win souls to Christ, teach them to mature in the Christian faith and become soul-
As your group enlarges, prayerfully consider breaking into smaller groups. Encourage new leaders and teachers to start other groups so as to increase the Kingdom of God. Remember, it’s all about getting people saved and spiritually matured while teaching them to become soul winners.
THINGS NOT TO DO
Don’t take a collection of money. Avoid keeping a treasury.
Don’t argue or get caught up in pointless debates.
Don’t discuss politics except when Christian principles are involved.
Don’t force people to read out loud or speak before the group.
Don’t incorporate or purchase property. The true Church is fluid and mobile.
Don’t openly discuss people’s private and/or personal business. Don’t gossip!
Avoid having nurseries; parents should tend to their own children.
THINGS TO DO
Always be kind, gentle and polite.
Speak the truth about controversial issues in a sensitive way.
Be respectful to your guests, agree to disagree.
Be patient, take time to explain difficult Bible passages, word and concepts.
Have coloring books, etc. for younger children.
Keep pets secured from the room and areas you are gathered in.
Be mindful that people may have allergies or personal phobias.
Have an adequate restroom and baby station available.
Dress casual but not too casual, avoid pajamas.
Keep the environment clean, comfortable and well lit.
Keep your Itty Bitty group simple. Avoid overcomplicating things.
Keep your group meetings focused on Jesus Christ, salvation. and soul-
…you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.
(Deuteronomy 4:29a)
Local Itty Bitty Nitty Gritty Bible Church groups each have their own outreach. They may advertise on community bulletin boards, in local papers, on the web or even by word of mouth. God’s Spirit Himself will guide you into the fellowship of believers in your area. Ask God to help you locate believers in Christ.
In the future we will publish a list of groups by country, state and town. Until then, email us and we will do our best to assist you in finding an Itty Bitty Nitty Gritty Bible Church fellowship near you.
