Our priorities as taken from God’s Word define our mission and purpose (why we exist). These priorities can be summarized in these four statements:
God Centered Worship
Our church is focused first and foremost on God – he is our primary audience. Worship (to glorify God) is the ultimate reason we exist. When we gather as a church, we gather to worship the living God. Our worship focuses on the glory of God in Jesus Christ – his life, death, resurrection – and his place as King over all.
Word Centered Teaching
In the “Great Commission” (Matthew 28:18-20), Jesus calls the church to focus on discipleship (that is, teaching others to follow Christ in love and obedience). And according to Jesus, the church accomplishes this by “teaching them to observe all that [Jesus] has commanded.” The church’s only source for teaching is the Word of God (see 2 Timothy 3:16-17). And therefore, so much of what we do at church is centered upon the Word of God (preaching, Sunday School, children’s programs, Bible studies, small groups, etc.). It is our desire that through the teaching of God’s Word that we may “present every person mature in Christ” (see Colossians 1:28).
Gospel Centered Evangelism
The church is not only to be focused on growing up, but also reaching out. An important part of the commission given to the church is to “go to all the nations” with this gospel message (Matthew 28:18-20). So the church is to proclaim the gospel of salvation to all people everywhere both by speaking the message of the gospel to others and by exemplifying the gospel in our love and service. So it is our goal to be always reaching out and loving those who do not believe the gospel, both in our community and throughout the world.
Love Centered Community
The church is the place where believers gather for community. The church exists to help, encourage and admonish one another – and all in the spirit of love. In fact, this priority of love is to be the hallmark of the Christian church (see John 13:35). And God has given us the church because we were not created to live the Christian life alone, but together with others in loving community. So it is our desire that in our church you find a place of genuine love and fellowship with other believers in Christ.