Elements City Church
We wanted to take a night to remind ourselves of our calling as a church. So we’re leaning back into our “mission mash-up” - a full tilt look at the heart behind what we’re to be about as a part of The Church globally and through our church locally. A deep dive into how we choose to live out our mission and values that God has set before us in order to help move His kingdom forward.
Every Jesus focused Church - every church that adheres to the Scriptures and is following Jesus has this ‘gospel gelato’ if you will — it’s called the Great Commission and Great Commandment. Jesus is saying "This is what I want you to do & to be about!” The HOW each church does that is what brings in the different flavors of expression.
Our Vision
To change lives by bringing the hope and light of Jesus to the heart of the city and beyond.
Our Mission
Invite people into a life-giving and life-changing relationship with Jesus.
Our 3 Core Cultural Values
REACH people with Jesus
EQUIP people to know Jesus
SEND people out for Jesus
Romans 12:1
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Worship isn’t just singing songs, friends - your worship (your lifestyle) is a signaling of what your heart desires the most. Jesus said to seek God first and foremost! Grow your love for God. Reach Up to Him!
John 13:34-35
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
The life aimed to REACH OUT isn’t about trying to convince people, convict people, or coerce people…. It’s a life, centered on LOVE and living that out… It’s really just about trying to include others - to be FOR people, to BLESS…to share God’s story of love, redemption and forgiveness in Jesus. We are to REACH OUT, because Jesus came to seek out - each one of us. see Luke 19:10
EQUIP
Matthew 4:18-20
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.
Definition of discipleship:
“A disciple is someone who knows and follows Jesus, is becoming like Jesus, and is committed to the mission of Jesus.”
Discipleship is about PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT
- equipping people as apprentices / students of Jesus.
Ephesians 4:11-13
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Pursuing spiritual growth, development, and God’s sanctifying work within us, == is meant to be a NORMAL thing, not an optional thing.
Spiritual depth matters in a superficial world.
We EQUIP by:
-weekend services
-serving teams and opportunities
-Egroup living out biblical community
-Discipleship Groups learning what it means to follow Jesus
SEND
SEND is an important word. The word is used often throughout the New Testament. As a matter of fact, one of the very first words that came out of Jesus’ mouth after he was resurrected was SEND.
John 20:21, and he says,
“As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
Matthew 28:19 – GO… and make disciples in every nation…
Acts 1:8 -- be my witnesses, to the ends of the earth…
2 Corinthians 5:14 – “For the love of Christ compels us.”
2 Corinthians 5:14-5:20 (NLT)
Christ’s love controls (compels) us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.
19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”
Everybody matters to God.
God loves PEOPLE. He cares about them - and because God cares, He sends YOU and ME to show God’s care to all we encounter. We need to help people encounter that truth.
We won’t change people through protests. Or arguments Or nasty online comments. We can HELP them see the truth of God’s heart, by how we live & how we love.
Being public about your faith simply means not hiding the
wellspring of your life, not hiding who you truly are.
–Timothy Keller
Jesus releases his people into the world to be agents of reconciliation, ambassadors of hope, & stewards of justice.
As a church - we want to release and SEND each follower of Christ to live this way - to approach life this way…
REACH
EQUIP
SEND
...that's what WE are about.
We hope you have been blessed by your time worshipping with us -- through song and through the Word!
We'll see you back at Elements next weekend -- on-site or online -- as we begin a brand NEW series: The Rooted Life...transformational values that help us walk in the way of Jesus