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Our Motives: Why Do We Do What We Do?

Our Motives

Biblically Faithful

We value the Bible as God's fully inspired Word, the complete revelation of His will for salvation and the final authority for Christian faith and life. We commit to preach and teach God's Word with integrity, authority, and clarity. That means we will

  • equip the members of our church in how to properly study the Bible,

  • teach the fundamental truths of the Christian faith in ways that impact people's daily lives and allow them to share those truths with others, and

  • make decisions, conduct minisry, and lead activities based on God's Word.

Authentically Worshiping

We value worship that is biblically accurate and spiritually authentic. We commit to personally worship every day and regularly worship with our church family. That means we will

  • thoughtfully plan and prepare corporate worship to maximize participation and purposefully engage everyone in Christ-centered worship, and

  • train and encourage people to engage dailt in personal times of worship.

Prayer Dependent

We value prayer that is passionate and Spirit-led. We commit to be a church that is characterized by prayer. That means we will

  • Equip and encourage our people to pray daily,

  • provide regular and ongoing opportunities for our people to pray together, and

  • rely on personal and corporate prayer in every phase of ministry.

Missionally Engaged

We value helping people find their way back to God. We commit to reach our neighbors and the nations by sharing God's unchanging message with a rapidly changing world. That means we will

  • equip and encourage our people to reach McDuffie County with the gospel,

  • be creative and innovative in how we reach those in our community who do not yet know Jesus, and

  • engage everyone in reaching the nations through praying, giving, and going.

Compassionately Serving

We value meeting people's physical and spiritual needs through personal, compassionate acts of service. We commit to meeting needs in ways that open doors to the gospel, build trust, and strengthen relationships within the entire body of Christ. That means we will

  • seek the welfare of our community through our presence, awareness, and involvement,

  • steward God's resources wisely to build trust and share the gospel through needs-based ministry, and

  • create a culture within the church where needs are met with compassion, burdens are shared with authenticity, and victories are celebrated with joy,

Family Affirming

We value the home as the place where faith formation begins and the church as the place where all families can grow strong together. We commit to be a church where we can all find family together in Christ. that means we will

  • provide an environment, resources, and programs that strengthen families,

  • commit to providing ministries that help reach and disciple the next generation, and

  • unite together in love, encouragement, and support as spiritual family in Christ.

Relationally Centered

We value being a welcoming church where people know they are loved and that they matter. We commit to going the extra mile to help people feel welcomed, to help them belong, and to help them find their next steps in following Jesus. That means we will

  • encourage every person to participate in a small group as the primary means for spiritual growth, caring relationships, and Christlike service,

  • put people before programs and value relationships over regulations, and

  • create a culture that welcomes guests, connects people with others, and makes people feel at home in our faith family.

People Empowering

We value every member of this church as uniquely shaped by God for helping us fulfill His mission. We commit to be a church where every member can contribute to God's mission with their unique strengths. That means we will

  • help people discover how God has uniquely shaped them for service,

  • encourage and support people in finding how and where they can best serve God, and

  • empower the pastoral staff to carry out their primary responsibility to prepared God's people for works of service.

Our Measures: When Are We Successful?

Our Measures

Thinking Like Jesus: Our Core Doctrines

Thinking like Jesus

Measure 1: disciples who are thinking more like Jesus as they love God

Personal God.

  • I believe the God of the Bible—Father, Son, and Spirit—is the One True God and that He is involved in and cares about my daily life. 2 Corinthians 13:14; Psalm 121:1-2

The authority of the Bible.

  • I believe the Bible is God’s fully inspired Word, the complete revelation of His will for salvation and the final authority for my faith and life. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Our Identity in Christ.

  • I believe I am significant because I am made in God’s image and in Christ I am a new creation. Genesis 1:26; 2 Corinthians 5:17

Measure 2: disciples who are thinking more like Jesus as they love people

The Church.

  • I believe the church is God's primary way to accomplish His purposes on earth today. Ephesians 4:15-16

Cooperation.

  • I believe God calls Christians to work together in unity and to partner with others in solidarity, where we can, and in helping His Creation to flourish. Psalm 133; Philippians 2:2; 1 Corinthians 12

Family.

  • I believe God created the family to be a reflection of Himself and to be the foundational institution of human society. Genesis 1:26-28; Ephesians 5:22-6:4

Measure 3: disciples who are thinking more like Jesus as they make disciples

Salvation by grace.

  • I believe a person comes into a right relationship with God by His grace, through faith in Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:8-9

Eternity.

  • I believe there is a heaven and a hell and that Jesus Christ is returning to judge the earth and to establish His eternal kingdom. John 14:1-4

Humanity.

  • I believe all people are loved by God and need Jesus Christ as their Savior. John 3:16​

Being Like Jesus: Our Character

Being like Jesus

Measure 4: disciples who are being more like Jesus as they love God

Hopeful Patience.

  • I can cope with hardships and endure patiently under the unavoidable pressures of life because of the hope I have in Jesus. Proverbs 14:29; Hebrews 6:19-20

Joy.

  • I have inner contentment and purpose despite my circumstances. John 15:11

Peace.

  • I am free from anxiety because things are right between God, myself and others. Philippians 4:6-7

Measure 5: disciples who are being more like Jesus as they love people

Love and Compassion.

  • I sacrificially and unconditionally love and forgive others in action, not just words. 1 John 4:10-12

Gentleness.

  • I am thoughtful, considerate and calm in dealing with others. Philippians 4:5

Self-Control.

  • I have the power, through Christ, to control myself. Titus 2:11-13

Measure 6: disciples who are being more like Jesus as they make disciples

Faithfulness.

  • I have established a good name with God and with others based on my long-term loyalty to those relationships. Proverbs 3:3-4 ​

Humility.

  • I choose to esteem others above myself. Philippians 2:3-4 ​

Kindness/Goodness.

  • I choose to do the right things in my relationships with others. 1 Thessalonians 5:15​

Acting Like Jesus: Our Behavior

Acting like Jesus

Measure 7: disciples who are acting more like Jesus as they love God

Worship.

  • I personally worship God daily and gather with my church family to worship God weekly. Hebrews 10:25

Bible study.

  • I engage with the Bible daily to know God, learn truth, and find His direction for my daily life. Hebrews 4:12

Prayer.

  • I pray daily to know God, lay my requests before Him and find His direction for my daily life. Psalm 66:16-20

Measure 8: disciples who are acting more like Jesus as they love people

Biblical community.

  • I regularly fellowship with other Christians to accomplish God's purposes in my life, in others' lives, and in the world. Acts 2:44-47 ​

Spiritual gifts.

  • I know and use my God-given SHAPE to accomplish God's purposes in and through the church. Romans 12:4-6

Stewardship.

  • I generously give my time, money, and resources for God’s glory through my church. Colossians 3:17; 2 Corinthians 8:7

Measure 9: disciples who are acting more like Jesus as they make disciples

Sharing the gospel.

  • I am prepared and willing to share the Gospel as I have opportunity. Ephesians 6:19-20; 1 Peter 3:15

Reaching my neighbors.

  • I am regularly engaged in helping my church reach our community for Christ. Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:20​

Reaching the nations.

  • I am regularly engaged in helping my church reach the nations for Christ. Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15​

These measures are a scorecard for our members to use. Sometimes, we can be uncertain "how" to grow as a Christian and we just want some simple bullet points to show us what to do next. We believe that every Christian life should be marked by the measures on this page (at the least), which is why each statement begins with "I". Which of these aren't true for you? Perhaps that's where God wants you to be focusing your time and energy next . . .

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