The Purpose
Of Our Church
The Church
exists to glorify and honor God by introducing people to a
vital, personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and by
helping them to develop into mature representatives of
Christ in society. This purpose may be summed up in
the three-fold function of exaltation, edification, and
evangelism.
EXALTATION -
The Church Existing for
Christ
Worship is the
sincere response of adoration, fear, and obedience that
believers give to God for what He has done. The
purpose of the church begins with the recognition that we
do not belong to ourselves but to the Lord who purchased us
with His own blood. Thus, worship is to be the
lifestyle of each individual Christian and the focus of the
corporate gatherings of the church. Since the Lord is
enthroned with majesty and endued with all authority, we
should seek in all things to serve Him with our time,
treasures, and talents, to follow His will revealed in the
Bible, and to honor His name. (John 4.23-24; 1 Peter 1.18-19;
Philippians 2.8-10; 1 Corinthians 6.19; Psalm 99.5-9;
Isaiah 57.15)
EDIFICATION -
The Church Existing for
Itself
The result of
the gospel and a central purpose for the church's existence
is the life-transformation of each of its members. To
this end, God calls believers into mutually accountable
relationships in which they can encourage one another to
live holy lives and to serve the Lord. This requires the
responsibility of the leadership to provide practical Bible
teaching and training in discipleship and personal
evangelism. It also requires the responsibility of
each uniquely gifted member of the body to exercise his or
her spiritual gifts and natural abilities for the building
up of the body and the bearing of one another's
burdens. (Ephesians 4.11-13; Hebrews 10.24-25;
2 Timothy 4.2-4; 1 Corinthians 12-14; Galatians 6.1-2)
EVANGELISM
-The Church
Existing for the World
We accept the
Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ as a priority of
the church collectively and of each believer
individually. It is our desire to share as widely and
effectively as possible the good news of God's love and
forgiveness in Christ. Every believer is unique in
his or her personality, abilities, and vocation, and within
that context they are to be witnesses by word and deed to
the Lord Jesus Christ. The proclamation of the gospel
should be motivated by genuine concern and love for all and
for the whole person. (Matthew 28.18-20; Acts 1.8;
Colossians 4.3-6; Matthew 5.13-16)
