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Our Purpose
The purpose of every church is --
To glorify God by building up Christ’s body, the
church, through the ministry of the Word, exercising spiritual
gifts, personal godliness and proclaiming the person and work
of Christ at home and abroad.
Biblical
Analogies of Christ’s Church
Body
of Christ
God appointed Christ to be Head over everything for the church,
which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in
every way.
Ephesians 1:19-22
People
of God
You are a chosen people… a people belonging to God… now
you are the people of God.
1 Peter 2:9,10
Dwelling
place of God, the Holy Spirit
You are… members of God’s household, built
on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus
Himself as the chief cornerstone. In Him the whole building is
joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.
You… are being built together to become a dwelling in
which God lives by His Spirit. Ephesians 2:19-22
Bride
of Christ
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church
and gave Himself up for her, to make
her holy… to present her to Himself as a radiant church… holy
and blameless. This is a profound mystery -- but I am talking
about Christ and the church.
Ephesians 5:25-27,32
Our
Vision
The vision of the Bible Church is -
To be a community that experiences and expresses
the love of God.
To be a Missional Church: "A
missional church is a reproducing community of authentic disciples,
being equipped as missionaries sent by God, to live and proclaim
His kingdom in their world."
- from Shaped by God’s
Heart, The Passion and Practices of Missional Churches, by Milfred
Minatrea, p12
Our
Strategic Initiatives
Community: Providing a place for everyone to belong
Spiritual Formation: Enabling people to live
like Jesus
Cross Cultural Mission: Extending the compassion
of Jesus to our local communities
Resources: Developing leaders, finances and
facilities to accomplish our vision
University & Young
Adults: Recommitting
to why God started this church
Our
Values & Characteristics
Who we are
Believer & non-believer:
Welcoming those in the faith and those who are not quite sure.
Majority & non-majority: Reflecting Christ
in ethnic variety - white, African American, Hispanic, 40+ countries
represented; Southern & Northern; breaking down walls of
hostility and mistrust.
Culture of our area: Predominantly university-oriented,
with UNC, Duke, & NC Central, meeting people at life-crossroads;
medical, with teaching hospitals; and business, with the Research
Triangle Park.
Essence of Christian Beliefs
Core Christian teachings: Focusing faith on the
central teachings. (see Statement of Faith).
Ordinances: Practicing believer’s baptism
yet accepting those baptized as infants.The Lord’s Supper, as
a symbol of Christ’s
death, is open to all believers.
Conservative/
Progressive: Conservative theologically; political/ social from
a variety of perspectives.
Non-denominational: People from many Christian backgrounds;
non-affiliated.
Cooperative: Partnering, not competing, with churches & agencies
around similar values.
Meeting
place: The church is God’s people; a building helps facilitate
meeting together.
Leadership
Governing structure: Elder governed, staff & lay
led. Congregational approval on some
major decisions—i.e., officers, pastors & ministers,
budget and Constitution.
Multiple elders: A group of men oversee the church’s
direction. A layman chairs the elders. Click
here to read Pastoral Letter on Women in Leadership. Click here to
read the basis for the elders' discussion on Women in Leadership.
Pastors: Pastors join lay elders in guiding the church.
Decision-making: Elders attempt to make major decisions
by consensus.
Lead pastor: As team leader, moves the church & staff
toward a vision; not a senior pastor.
Professional staff:
Staff lead by serving and equipping others to serve for Christ’s
kingdom.
Lay ministry: Every believer is spiritually gifted to
serve, some in ministry leadership.
Deacons: Men and women as designated servants for budget,
facility, Sunday services & prepared for serving.
Finances: Money is managed responsibly with fundraising
not a regular emphasis.
Style of Ministry
Worship: God is the audience with a variety
of styles and tastes from the worshippers.
Prayer: The privilege of conversing with God
comes in many expressions.
Spiritual life: Challenging people to trust
Jesus, yet it is normal to struggle and hurt.
Biblical teaching: Scripture is taught as authoritative & relevant
to daily living.
Lifelong learning: Personal insight & growth
is encouraged throughout life’s journey.
Training of children:
The church supports parents in raising their children to the Lord.
Community life: Loving one another distinguishes that
we belong to God.
Small & mid-sized groups: Gathering regularly fosters
close relationships.
Missional living: Living out our faith, in words & actions,
by being other-person centered.
Cross cultural missions: Venturing into needy worlds
- local, regional, & international; partnerships with churches in
Kenya, South Africa, Brazil, and Durham; commitment to cross-racial ventures;
40+ nationalities in the church; along with traditional overseas missionaries.
Church planting: Reproducing churches in Christ’s
name…as we were reproduced. New churches: Emmaus Way in Durham
to post-moderns, and Chatham Community Church to a growing area nearby.
Commitments
Involvement:
Investigate, belong, serve, lead – sometimes before becoming
a member.
Membership:
Take part in a prep-class, an interview, commit to Covenant of Fellowship.
Discipline:
Accountability in Matthew 18:15,16 is meant to restore and to discipline.
Personal giving: Believers
are to give to God with appreciation & compassion, cheerfully.
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