Mission
Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 9:23-24
Of all the goals people dedicate themselves to pursuing, what pursuit could be higher than attempting to understand the Creator of the universe? We believe that this is not only possible, but that it is also the defining purpose of our lives. Knowing God is at the core of everything we do as a church, and our mission is to encourage each other as we seek to understand Him together.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
James 4:8
If we are honest, the quest to come to know God can be a daunting task. How can you really know someone whose existence is eternal, whose power is cosmic, and whose nature is spiritual? We readily admit that the sheer vastness of God makes a complete understanding of his thoughts impossible for anyone. And yet, we believe that God has graciously revealed everything that we need to know in order to have an authentically personal relationship with Him.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
We refuse to settle for any incomplete or secondhand understanding of who God is; therefore, we refuse to settle for any other source of information than God’s own word. We believe that the Bible is God’s direct message to us, and as such, it is completely sufficient for us to understand and know Him. With careful study, meditation, and prayer, we can not only know God, but we can better understand ourselves, and be pleasing to the Almighty!
Dedicated to serving Him.
Our Worship
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.
Hebrews 12:28-29
As we come to have a more complete understanding of God, we increasingly realize the need to respond to His glory with both gratitude and reverence. Our worship is intended to reflect both our intimate familiarity and our profound respect. As a pattern for worship that is acceptable to God, we look to the teachings of the apostles and examples of the first Christians in the Bible. Very simply, we want to function like the church we read about there by stirring each other to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24).
Reading & Study
We believe that God’s Word ought to be the foundation for everything we do in worship, as well as for everything we decide about how we live our daily lives. (2 Tim. 3:14-17). Consequently, reading and studying the Scriptures is an integral part of our gatherings. We meet for worship on Sundays at 9:00 AM and afterward, we meet for a period of Bible study at 10:45 am.
Singing
Just as singing was an important part of the Christians’ worship we read about in the Bible, singing is an important part of our worship today. We believe singing is a powerful gift for teaching and encouraging each other, as we unite our voices in praise and thanksgiving to God (Col. 3:16).
Giving
One of the many ways the gospel changes our lives is that it gives us a new perspective towards our physical possessions. Very early on, Christians found that an inheritance in heaven allowed them to readily part with their earthly things when various needs arose. We seek to emulate their example and follow the apostles’ teaching by setting money aside on the first day of every week, according to what each one of us is able (1 Cor. 16:1). The funds we collect are then able to be used for both the care of needy saints and the spread of God’s Word.
Prayer
Prayer is an awesome privilege that we enjoy as a part of our relationship with God. What an amazing thought that we can speak directly to the Almighty and pour our hearts out before his throne (Rev. 8:3-4)! Each time we come together, we devote ourselves to praying for each other’s welfare and God’s glorification.
Communion
On the night Jesus was betrayed, he ate a Passover meal with his disciples, but he also gave it new meaning in light of the impending sacrifice he would make for sin. Following Jesus’s direction and the examples of first-century Christians, we eat a communion meal together on the first day of every week, as a component of our worship. By eating unleavened bread and drinking the juice of grapes, we remember our Savior’s body and blood, and we proclaim his death until he comes again (1 Cor. 11:23-26).
Lesson
Distinct from our period of Bible study, we also have regular preaching from God’s Word as a part of worship. This is also something we observe being practiced by early Christians (Acts 20:7), and it gives us an opportunity to consider ways of applying God’s wisdom directly to our lives.
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