Making real people who reveal the real Jesus in the real world
What does that mean?
Making real people who reveal the real Jesus in the real world is our way of saying we want to make disciples of Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:18-20).
God wants churches to embody doctrine, culture, and practice that is infused with the good news of Jesus Christ (1 Thess. 4:4-5).
We want God’s grace to overwhelm us to such a degree that it makes us gracious people in the fast-paced, ultra-distracted, uber-anxious way of the world.
Real people is our desire for a culture where people feel the goodness of the good news and enjoy being with one another without the pressure to perform or the burden to pretend. That’s gospel culture.
The real Jesus is our desire for teaching that is faithful to the Bible and always marvels at the boundless riches of Christ. That’s gospel doctrine.
The real world is our desire to live like Jesus in the places where we live and among the people whom we know. That’s faith in action.
Our Values
Start with the Heart
Every heart has a treasure. What controls your heart, controls your life. Our deepest struggles are rooted in false treasures that have real control over our hearts (Matt. 6:21).
In all our conversations, conflicts, challenges, circumstances, and choices, we start with the heart.
There lies all the truth about us. There we need the gracious truth of Jesus to overcome the power of lies.
Leaders Repent
The apostle Paul modeled repentance and faith in his leadership, life, and ministry. It invites us to follow him as he followed Christ and sets the pattern for all leaders in the life of a church.
Treasure the Bible
We want to rely on God’s word the way unwell people rely on a surgeon. The Bible can be tested, trusted, and treasured as true, good, and beautiful.
We want to resist the twin pressures of extremism and relativism. Treasuring the Bible means being loyal to the Word because of the loyalty of the Word who became flesh.
Walk in Line with the Gospel
The Gospel protects us from earning our own way to God and going our own way apart from God. It shows us how Jesus is the way for us to know God.
This protects us from thinking too much of ourselves, thinking too little of others. It brings us to thinking of ourselves less.
Community is better than a Crowd
Human beings are social beings; the Christian life is community life.
It rescues us from the allure of individualism and the pressure of conformity. Jesus frees us to love one another in real friendships with real people that bring real change in our lives.
Gentleness & Respect
How we say something matters as much as what we say. We want to speak boldly, clearly, competently, and compassionately of our hope in Christ Jesus.
We want to speak with gentleness and respect—neither being fearful nor overbearing but gracious and honest in all we do.