ETERNITY Gospel Redemption
We are a gathering of Christ-followers who believe that there is only one eternal, true living God. He created us, for his own glory, in His Image and likeness with dignity, value and worth. He provided for us, cared for us, and gave us all that we needed. There was no sin, no injustices, no disease, no deformity, no poverty, no racism, etc… But we sinned against God for no good reason and chose to do our own thing. We wanted to be our own saviors and lords. Sin entered the world; there is now death, disease, social injustice, hatred, murder and all kinds of evil. This Creative and Good God could have said, “you sinned, you ran away, you find your way home,” but He didn’t. And because God is a loving, merciful, compassionate and gracious God He didn’t just stand back and watch the mess we were in but initiated relationship with us by entering into this world. Jesus Christ entered human History as a man to identify with us. God the Father sent God the Son to be the sin-bearing substitute that would take the wrath of the Father upon Himself in order to redeem us back from sin, Satan, death, and Hell. This gift is freely given to us by His grace. Genesis 1-3, Romans 3:23-25, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Ephesians 1:7, 1 Peter 3:18
IDENTITY Gospel Transformation
We are also a gathering of Christ Followers who believe that we are no longer our own, we belong to Christ. In the garden, before sin, we had belonging, acceptance and purpose. But because of sin we seek an identity apart from our Creator God and worship created things. Sin, at the root, is the worship of false saviors and lords. In Christ and the gospel we have been made right with God and our identity is restored. It is also this Gospel that transforms us. This aspect of the journey is how we live. God is working in us and little by little we are being conformed to the image of Christ. We have been redeemed by grace, received a new identity by grace, and now, by that same grace we are growing in Him. The gospel is not just entrance in the Kingdom of God, but the way we make all our progress in our new life. The gospel is not just the way we grow; it is the solution to each problem and the power through every barrier we face. As we press and work out the gospel in our life we see it is the answer to things like un-forgiveness, hatred, anger, greed and racism. Genesis 1-3, Exodus 20:1-3, Mark 8:34-37, Romans 1:18, Galatians 2:11-16
COMMUNITY Gospel Restoration
We are also a gathering of Christ followers who believe in Community. God’s eternal nature is community; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, One God in three persons, and since we are created in His image, we are created to be in community. Growing in Christ cannot and will not happen outside of relationships. Gospel communities are people who share life together, restoring true community. Gospel Communities are places not just for information but transformation providing the optimal environment for the life change Jesus Christ intends for every believer. Community is also a Community on Mission. Jesus said “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” The mission of the Church is to proclaim the good news that the Kingdom of God is here, repent and come to King Jesus as He reconciles, redeems and restores the world. As God’s people in Christ, we are God’s partners in His purposes. We are called to live among each other and to the world, in a way that reflects the gospel we believe. We are the missional community of God, called to reflect the missional heart of God. We will seek to meet the spiritual and physical needs of others in our community and our world with the message of Jesus Christ by demonstrating justice, mercy and compassion to others. As we love and serve others, little by little people get to see the goodness and glory of God and the way the world was before sin and will be when God renews and restores all creation through the Gospel. Genesis 1-2, Mark 8:34-35, John 17:18; 20:21, Acts 1:8, Ephesians 4:4-6, Colossians 3:12-17, 1 Peter 2:4-12, Revelation 21-22.
