WE’RE GLAD YOU’RE HERE!

What is more, I consider everything a loss because if the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. Philippians 3:8

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. Acts 20:24

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another…” John 13:34

He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Luke 10:27

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Matthew 5:44

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 1 Timothy 6:17-19

To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. 1 Corinthians 9:22-23

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. Ephesians 2:14-16

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of graceand truth. John 1:14

so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.
1 Thessalonians 2:8

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.  Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:3

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3-4

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3:23-24

There is one God who is the creator and sustainer of all things. The one God exists eternally in the persons of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God came to earth in the person of Jesus the Son who was both fully God and fully human. (Genesis 1:1-3, John 1:1-14, John 10:30)

Jesus was crucified, killed, and buried. After three days, he rose again, overcoming death and breaking the power of sin. The resurrection is the foundation of Christian faith, as without it all of creation is left to the decay of death. (Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-7, Luke 24:1-49, John 20-21, 1 Corinthians 15:1-34)

Salvation is the result of Jesus work through the cross. We cannot save ourselves nor can we earn salvation as a result of our deeds.  God came to earth in the person of Jesus because of his love for us, and it is by his grace that we are saved. (John 3:16-17, Galatians 2:16, Ephesians 2:8-9, Galatians 2:16, Titus 3:5)

The Bible is a witness to the acts of God among his people. As the embodiment of Israel and the architect of the church, Jesus is the climax of the Biblical story and the hinge point on which all of history rests. As a witness to the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus the Bible is the inspired word of God and the authority on matters of faith. (Genesis 3:14-15, Isaiah 9:6-7, Luke 24:27, John 20:31, 2 Corinthians 1:20, Galatians 3:24, 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21) 

The church is the family of God consisting of all followers of Jesus everywhere. After his ascension, Jesus sent his presence in the Holy Spirit to live in and work among the church. The Spirit leads and empowers the work of the church by teaching, equipping, guiding, and transforming us to live more like Jesus. (John 14:15-30, Acts 2:42-45, Romans 8:1-17, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 12:1-31,  Galatians 4:6, Galatians 5:22-25, Ephesians 1:13-14,)

As the Father sent the Son, and the Son sent the Spirit, so the Spirit sends the church into the world to partner in God’s saving work. The worldwide movement of the church is made up of local congregations whose mission is to proclaim and embody the good news of Jesus in their local context and around the world. The only motive and posture in which the church can engage in its mission is love. (Matthew 5:13-16, Matthew 28:19-20, John 13:34-35, John 17:6-26, Acts 1:8, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, 1 Peter 2:9-10)

As a result of his resurrection and ascension, Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth. Through his work, Jesus inaugurated the kingdom of God on earth, and through his ongoing presence in the life of the church that kingdom continues to advance. The church lives within present social realities but always and only under the lordship of Jesus Christ. Submitting to Jesus as King begins when we hear, believe, repent, confess, are baptized by immersion, and follow him.  One day Jesus will return to earth completing his saving work by reuniting heaven and earth for eternity. (Isaiah 9:6-7, Daniel 7:13-14, Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:9-11, Acts 2:30-32, Acts 2:38-39, Romans 6:3-4, Romans 10:9-10, Ephesians 1:20-21, Hebrews 1:3-4, Revelation 19:13-16)