We believe God has a purpose for all of us, that we all were created for a purpose. First, we are planned for God's pleasure which is called worship. Second, we are formed for God's family which is fellowship. Third, we are created to become like Christ which is called discipleship. Fourth, we are shaped for serving others which is called ministry. And, finally, we are made for a mission which is called evangelism. Our church structure has been designed around these purposes.
Worship is loving God
more and know Him better. The Bible says, "Love the Lord your God with all
your heart and all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength" (Mark
12: 30, New Century Version). It also says, "Because of God's
great mercy to us... Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God,
dedicated to His service and pleasing to Him. This is the true worship that
you should offer" (Romans 12:1, Today's English
Version). So, worship is my response to God's love. And,
it's about offering myself to God.
When the Bible
speaks about fellowship, it says, "And God himself has commanded that we
must love not only Him but our Christian brothers and sisters, too" (1 John
4:21 " New Living Translation). Fellowship is about
loving God's family. Paul tells us, "I'm writing . . . so you'll know how to
live in the family of God. That family is the church. . ." (1 Timothy
3:14-15, New Century Version).
Discipleship is about growing and maturing spiritually. God
wants you and me to become more godly, more like His Son, Jesus. The
Bible says, "For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become
like his Son, . . . with many brothers and sisters" (Romans 8:29, New
Living Translation). It also says, "Instead, we will hold to the
truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, . . ."
(Ephesians 4:15, New Living Translation).
"We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10 " New International Version). We are shaped to serve God by serving others. In 1 Peter 4:10 it says, "Each one should use whatever gift he's received to serve others" (New International Version).
Jesus tells us that we are made for a mission. He says, "In
the same way that you gave Me a mission in the world, I give them a mission
in the world" (John 17:18, The Message). He also says, "As the Father
has sent Me, I am sending you" (John 20:21, New International Version).
The Bible word for this is called evangelism. Evangelism is simply
sharing the goods news that you know to someone else who doesn't know it.