Our Biblical DNA.

1. Devoted Worshippers

2. A Loving Family

3. Disciples Making Disciples

4. Spirit-filled Family Teams on Mission

5. Sojourners

6. Purpose Over Structure

7. A Kingdom Gospel

Devoted Worshippers. The first and greatest command that sums up many other commands of God for his people, is to “Love God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength.” A marriage without strong communication and deeply intimate and growing knowledge of one another through experience is bound for hard times. Likewise, our relationship with the Lord grows deeper and more profound as we spend time communicating with Him and learning his word. For that reason, we will be a community of individuals who are dedicated to personal time each day reading scripture and communicating with God through prayer. We will also corporately hold to the public reading of scripture in our gatherings and corporate prayer for revival, spiritual formation, and healing, and for our city and community, the global Church, and the world. The inerrant Word of God will be the single source of authority in our lives, shaping the way we live, often counter to the culture around us.

A Loving Family. The second greatest command is to love others more than we love ourselves. In John 13:34 Jesus tells us that by this profound love for each other as believers, the world will know that we are his disciples. Scripture is clear about the unique, supernatural unity that should be displayed within the body of believers that make up the Church. We are a new family, knit together by the Spirit of God, perfectly in need of, and complementing each other. (Matthew 12:50, Matthew 10:34-39, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 2:19-22) We are called to love one another and develop a level of unity, intimacy, and closeness with one another that is supernatural and peculiar to the world around us. There are 59 “one another” commands in the New Testament that help us accomplish this when we’re faithful to live them out.

(Mark 9:50, John 13:14, John 13:34a, John 13:34b, John 13:35, John 15:12, John 15:17, Romans 12:10a, Romans 12:10b, Romans 12:16, Romans 13:8, Romans 14:13, Romans 15:7, Romans 15:14, Romans 16:16, 1 Corinthians 11:33, 1 Corinthians 12:25, 1 Corinthians 16:20, 2 Corinthians, 13:12, Galatians 5:13, Galatians 5:15, Galatians 6:2, Ephesians 4:2, Ephesians 4:32a, Ephesians 4:32b, Ephesians 5:19, Ephesians 5:21, Philippians 2:3, Colossians 3:9, Colossians 3:13a, Colossians 3:13b, Colossians 3:16a, Colossians 3:16b, 1 Thessalonians 3:12, 1 Thessalonians 4:9, 1 Thessalonians 4:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:11a, 1 Thessalonians 5:11b, Hebrews 3:13, Hebrews 10:24, Hebrews 10:25, James 4:11, James 5:9, James 5:16a, James 5:16b, 1 Peter 3:8a, 1 Peter 3:8b, 1 Peter 4:8, 1 Peter 4:9, 1 Peter 4:10, 1 Peter 5:5, 1 Peter 5:14, 1 John 3:11, 1 John 3:23, 1 John 4:7, 1 John 4:11, 1 John 4:12, 2 John 5)

Disciples Making Disciples. We’re commanded in Matthew 28:19-20 to go and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that he commanded. As implied, a core part of making disciples is teaching believers how to obey the commands of Jesus. We also believe in preaching the good news of the Kingdom, both for salvation and for the sanctification of the saints. Romans 10:14-15 reminds us that people cannot believe in the news they have not yet heard. We will be committed to cross-directional discipleship where we are engaged in being personally discipled by a more mature believer, and also discipling a less mature believer who we can in turn help come to a greater level of spiritual maturity. (Ephesians 4:11-16, Matthew 4:19, Titus 2:1-8) A recent Barna study found that 1% of pastors believe discipleship efforts are working (99% are not) so we aim to look to the life of Jesus in scripture first for clues on how to disciple well, then from there to contextualize and organize our efforts in a way that can be effective in our current cultural moment.

Spirit-filled Family Teams On Mission. We believe that the family was created by God for the purpose of carrying out his mission on the earth. The first mention of the family in scripture (Genesis 1:27-28) tells us man and woman were created in God’s image, then blessed by God, then sent to go multiply, fill, and subdue the earth and rule it. In the broken world that came about through the fall of man, we’re often faced with fracturing, brokenness, and challenges in regard to family. Also as a result of our sin, the culture has prescribed an individualistic and consumeristic approach to life that makes God's original intent for the family, very difficult to live out. When possible we encourage families to operate on mission together, and when a biological family isn’t a healthy option (or an option at all), the spiritual family of the Church provides a place of belonging and mission. We believe a man’s first ministry responsibility is that of leading his home and family well, and training up his kids. Paul tells us this is actually a prerequisite for eligibility to be a spiritual leader within the church. (1 Timothy 3:5) We believe that the greatest training ground, leading to the deepest impact on our children, is the mission field of the believer, starting in their own home. Seeing and experiencing the power of God in the real world gives the greatest chance of leaving a child in awe of the majesty of our God. If each family can raise 3 passionate Jesus-following children, who each raise 3 passionate Jesus followers of their own, and on and on, in 12 generations we could have an impact that ranges in the millions!

Sojourners. We are not in our final eternal home. There will be a renewal of all things to include the earth. Revelation tells us there will be a new heaven and a new earth. Keeping the perspective of being a sojourner helps keep us from getting sucked in by the comforts of this life. Sojourners can sometimes encounter challenges, opposition, persecution, and rejection. Jesus tells us in John 13 that no servant is greater than his master. Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 3:12 that all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Paul also tells us in Philippians 3 that he desires to share in the sufferings of Christ and calls us to be imitators of him. In Acts 14: 22 we’re told that “through many tribulations, we must enter into the kingdom of God.”. Countless other scriptures discuss the hardship of a believer. Now the point here isn’t to seek out suffering and trials and persecution. Nor is it a call to become sadistic. But rather, simply to be prepared with a mindset to embrace it as part of taking up our cross daily. Either you have, you are, or you will experience suffering, trials, or persecution at some point in your life, to varying degrees. We must remember and hold strong to the reality that the New Earth and New Jerusalem we’re told about in Revelation 21:1 & 4, have not yet arrived. Suffering can be mental, physical, spiritual, emotional, or any combination of these four. Suffering is easiest to endure in the context of community as we bear each other's burdens. Suffering is a spiritual battleground that leads us closer to God - or further away if we’re not careful. Suffering prepares us for deeper levels of ministry (2 Corinthians 1:4), and according to 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, it prepares us for eternal glory in the Father.

The flip side of the coin is the reality that the Kingdom of God is at hand and advancing and we will see victory take place in part now, and in full in the age to come at the return of our Lord.

Purpose over Structure. We will live with a fierce dedication to the purpose of gathering together and never latch on to our own traditions or the traditions of others if they bring with them any potential risk of diminishing the effectiveness of believers fulfilling Biblical commands. As an example, we’re not dedicated to house gatherings, but we are dedicated to Biblical communities that are effective. We just happen to strongly believe that in today’s culture, homes (or other small venues) are the most effective location for a Biblical community to thrive. If that is ever to change, we’re open to exploring whichever paths lead us to the greatest degree of faithfulness.

A Simple Kingdom-Focused Gospel. In 1 Corinthians 1:17, Paul reminds us that he does not preach the Gospel message with words of eloquent wisdom, or else the cross of Christ can be emptied of its power! Then again in 1 Corinthians 2, he says “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” We aim to rely on a simple gospel message when sharing, for two reasons. First, we’re told that the gospel is foolishness to those born of the world. If we speak it plainly and people respond in faith, we can be assured it is the work of the Spirit in their hearts and not a response to our eloquence, influence, persuasion, or convincing arguments. Second, a simple and true kingdom-focused gospel message is something that all believers can easily be equipped to share, ensuring that all members are involved to varying degrees in evangelism. Third, Jesus came to proclaim the good news of the kingdom. (Matthew 24:14) The kingdom is any place where what the king says, goes. Where his will is obeyed. Where his ways and principles are observed and honored. Where his glory is experienced by viewing creation, through our work, in worship, etc. God is after the renewal of all things - not just the salvation of souls. This is why heaven is not our eternal resting place, but rather we will live eternally on a new physical earth with resurrected physical bodies. The gospel of the kingdom is the renewal of everything by a good king.

Our Community Practices.

1. Bible Reading Plan

2. We Meet In Homes

3. Everyone Discipled

4. Everyone Disciples

5. Pursuit of Biblical Qualification

6. Everyone Uses Their Gifts

7. Simple Gatherings

8. Gospel-Centered Sacrificial Generosity

Bible reading plan. Every church and each individual will be reading the same portions of scripture each day/week. We will not be a people who are more focused on scholars’ interpretation of scripture than we are on the scripture itself. This practice of Bible reading lends itself to true devotion to seeking the presence of, and wisdom from God. We believe that when compared with a single ‘Bible expert’ delivering information to a mass of people who are largely Biblically illiterate (only 25% of self-proclaimed Christians read the Bible daily, and only 11% have read the whole Bible through, in their lifetime), a smaller community of believers, led by the Spirit, testing what they hear according to scripture, can be a much safer practice for preventing the spread of heresy when done well.

We meet in homes. Free & easily replicable spaces. No budget restraints. Less barrier to entry for starting new gatherings when it multiplies. Deep intimacy and family-like closeness are easier to foster. Most living rooms are the right size for 15-20 people, which builds in the need for healthy multiplication.

Everyone discipled. Everyone is responsible for allowing other believers to speak into their lives and mentor them into a deeper intimate relationship with Jesus and more obedience to the commands of Jesus.

Everyone disciples. Everyone is responsible for leading another into a deeper level of maturity in Christ through discipleship. Brand new believers can/should even take part by being equipped to share a simple, raw, kingdom-focused gospel message anchored around their own testimony, and spending time sharing that with their not-yet-believing friends.

Pursuit of Biblical Qualification. A plurality of qualified “elder-like” men is the healthiest approach to gathering. Every man in our community is focused on allowing the Spirit to work in him and his family through his intentional actions, in pursuit of being a qualified elder/leader. Every man should aspire to meet the qualifications for spiritual leadership, not necessarily as a desire for a position or office, but as a desire to live a faithful life. (Titus 1:5-9, 1 Tim. 3:1-7) Each community gathering will be facilitated by a biblically qualified elder.

Everyone uses their gifts. Ephesians 4:11-13 tells us that the church will mature into the image of Christ when all 5 ministry giftings are present for the building up of the Church. This includes pastoral, evangelistic, teaching, prophetic, and apostolic-type giftings. Part of everyone using their gifts includes leaders not overusing theirs. Leaders are there to facilitate drawing gifts out of their people in order to strengthen the whole community. Our gatherings will be more like a spiritual potluck that is tested and evaluated for scriptural accuracy by discerning leaders (and the whole community) and if corrections are needed, they will be made on the spot with gentleness, encouragement, grace, love, and sensitivity. Gatherings are not centered around a single leader’s contribution. In our gatherings, everyone is encouraged to bring something to contribute. We encourage this because we deeply believe that everyone's contribution, no matter how small, is meant to help us all grow in faith and be edified. It can be as simple as 60 seconds about something that you feel the Lord is encouraging you in this week from your reading. We also believe that when each part of the body is functioning properly then Jesus is manifested to the world properly through his Bride.

Simple gatherings. We intentionally keep gatherings simple and reproducible. Don’t complicate it so much that others can’t replicate it. We let the Holy Spirit lead and we help each church find its own unique yet doctrinally-sound DNA.

Gospel-Centered Sacrificial Generosity. Our community will be dedicated to living sacrificially and open-handed with our financial resources. We will commit to giving our money and belongings sacrificially, cheerfully, and in response to God’s generosity when those within our families are in need, and also to community service needs related to the poor, orphans, widows, prisoners, homeless, hungry, thirsty, sick, etc.

A Gathering Liturgy Blueprint.

  • Opening blessing prayer over the time of worship

  • The Lord’s Supper (love feast - Jude 1:12)

  • Potluck-Style Fellowship Feast

  • Psalms, Songs, and Hymns of Praise 

    • Can be played with instruments if you have someone gifted for that, or can be played via YouTube or Spotify

  • Prayer (some or all of the below)

    • Inviting the presence of God

    • For the city/Government leaders

    • Persecuted church

    • Prayer requests

  • Scripture Reading

    • Usually a passage or full chapter

    • Short discussion - usually naturally leads into open sharing, below

  • Open Sharing

    • What’s the Lord teaching you this week

    • A song that’s been on your heart

    • An word or an encouragement for the community or a specific individual

    • Any other Biblical use of gifts

  • Doctrinal Teaching

    • A focused time for teaching a core truth - usually 5-10 minutes 

  • Prayer of repentance (the “changing of our mind” - metanoia)

    • Respond to the teaching through humble prayer and “turning towards the truth” in your mind.

  • Closing Prayer & benediction.

Our Personal Spiritual Formation Practices.

1. Scripture Reading

2. Silence & Solitude

3. Listening Prayer

4. Fasting

5. Intercessory prayer

6. Repentance

7. Cultivating Joy to become a non-anxious presence

8. Engaging people of peace in spiritual conversations

9. Leveraging the table and mealtime for community, discipleship, and evangelism.