Our Mission is to Exalt God
A Powerful Call, A Meaningful Destiny, A Sure PurposeExalt God
The church exists for one purpose: to glorify and exalt God. (Ephesians 1:12) We are not here to exalt men, ourselves, or our church.
We exalt God by reaching people with the love and good news of Jesus Christ, connecting believers through life-giving relationships in genuine community, transforming lives through the message of grace and grace-empowered discipleship, and equipping disciples to reach others.
These activities are part of our mission to exalt God and to spread and increase His glory and fame throughout the earth.
But we can’t do this on our own. Jesus said, “You can do nothing apart from Me.” (John 15:5) Under the new covenant, God’s grace enables us, motivates us, and provides for our humble performance. Grace instructs, teaches, and purifies us as we listen to the Holy Spirit and as our minds are renewed by His Word to live in line with the reality of what God has already done in our spirit. (Titus 2:11) Grace changes our mission from mission impossible to mission possible.
Listen to the sermon about Exalting God
By the grace of God we will.
Reach people with the love and good news of Jesus Christ.
Sometimes reaching people involves taking a trip to another country. Usually it starts with a walk across the room or back yard. Just a few steps and a friendly hello may be all it takes to change someone’s life and his or her eternity!
Intimidated? The good news is, it has more to do with taking a genuine interest in another person than with methods and techniques. All it takes is a heart in tune with the Holy Spirit and a willingness to venture out of our comfort zone. Whether we’re here or somewhere else, we’re on a mission together during the week at work, at the grocery store, and with our families. You can even be a missionary at church through our Vacation Bible School, food pantry, and other outreach events.
Connect believers through life-giving relationships in genuine community.
There are many metaphors used in the Bible to describe the church: a body (connected by our interdependence on what each part supplies) or army (band of brothers). We are also a family: God’s family. (1 Timothy 3:15)
God didn’t design us to live in isolation or alienated from one another but to be connected together in relationships. As you play a part in making that happen – whether praying with someone, making a phone call or meal, being in a life group, greeting, teaching Sunday School, or being a friend – you’re helping accomplish this part of our mission. You’re helping create a genuine sense of community.
Transform lives through grace-empowered discipleship.
If we try to transform lives through non-grace-empowered discipleship or do-it-yourself discipleship, all the good things taught will just become to-do lists, disciplines without life, a performance, and legalism. The sad result is a life without God and a focus on our self, our behavior, our failure to measure up in our marriage, in our parenting, our witness, etc.
Grace-empowered discipleship starts with understanding the inner transformation of being a new creation and the provisions God has made for us to live a new life. Grace-empowered discipleship takes place when we start with people’s identity, before we focus on their outer behavior. Because discipleship is more than just getting the behavior right, it’s about seeing Jesus formed in people.
This type of discipleship happens in LAF, Youth Core Group, Life Groups, and through teachers and individuals who understand grace and identity in Christ. It happens in your home as you bring your children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord in a grace-filled atmosphere. It happens as we model a transformed life to others.
Equip disciples to reach.
God calls and equips each of us with gifts so we can participate in His mission of reaching the world. We each play a part in this growing cycle as share the love of Jesus with others and discover our work of service both within the church and without as we together reach the world for Christ.