Adult Ministries

Our ministry to adults is rooted in our mission: To Serve in Our World as Christ Served in His. And how did Christ serve in His world? He drew men to Himself, then built them up in their faith, finally sending them out into the world to be His ambassadors. As our philosophy and ministry statements show we delight to see people come under the loving reign of Christ and find fullness of life in Him. All our efforts directed to our adults flow toward that glorious end.

Our Mission for Adult Ministries

The life of each adult
increasingly transformed into the image of Christ
through the power of a cross-centered ministry
whose highest aim is the glory of God.

• Each – that is, every adult no matter their current station of life: single or married, young or old, …. We want to involve all who form our body. We also seek to minister to increasing numbers of adults as God prospers the ministry. (Colossians 1:28)

• Increasingly transformed – that is, we want to see each adult come to true faith in Christ and then grow in that faith. This requires that we provide nurturing opportunities for a variety of maturity levels. We recognize that we all are in process, none ever arriving in this life. (2 Corinthians 3:18, Romans 12:1-2)

• Image of Christ – that is, being like Christ; living as He lived as He walked the earth. That means we want to see each adult learning to proclaim, boldly and selflessly, in word and in deed, the coming of God’s Kingdom. (Colossians 1:15, Romans 8:29)

• Cross-centered ministry – that is, ministry that focuses on the cross of Christ and exhibits the cross through humble, self-sacrificing service. We proclaim the cross powerful to free all men from sin. We demonstrate that power by those Christ-like qualities that characterize our ministry. (1 Corinthians 1:18, Galatians 6:14, 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8)

• Glory of God – that is, the ultimate goal of all our labors and prayers is to be used of God to have His person and works known and praised by increasing numbers of people. We seek not to glorify any man, nor do we desire the applause of men. (1 Corinthians 10:31, 1 Peter 4:11, Revelation 1:6, 4:11)

 • Gospel: We believe the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). Our adult ministries must be characterized by a clear and consistent passion to point all men to Christ (1 Corinthians 9:16)

• God’s Word and Prayer: We believe the Spirit of God uses the Word of God to transform lives. Thus, our ministries must all be bathed in prayer and centered on God’s Word. (1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:13,14; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:12; Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17)

• Local Church: We believe the local church is the primary vehicle through which God works out His plan to transform lives and expand His kingdom (Ephesians 3:10). We want to encourage God’s people to commit themselves to a local gathering of Christ’s church and order their lives around it. (Romans 12:10, Acts 2:42-47)

• Leadership: We believe the local church will flourish under God-ordained, godly leaders. The church must actively and prayerfully make as a priority the identification and equipping of leaders for the shepherding of the body as well as for specific ministries. (Ephesians 4:11-13, Acts 20:28, 2 Timothy 2:2, Hebrews 13:17)

• Ministry: We believe that God has equipped every adult with spiritual gifts for the building up of the entire body. Serving in ministry is not optional. It is essential for each member’s growth in Christ and is God’s plan for maturing the church. (1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12:4-8, 1 Peter 4:10-11, Ephesians 4:11-16)

• Fellowship: We believe that God uses the sharing of our lives together to accomplish His purposes in His children and to communicate His love to the world. God will do His greatest work for His glory when we come together joyfully submitting to each other (demonstrating humility and unity), sacrificially loving each other, and exhorting one another to love and good works (encouraging, admonishing, nurturing). (Acts 2:42-47, Ephesians 5:19-21, Hebrews 10:24-25, Philippians 1:9, 2:1-11)

• Household: We believe that God intends for the Christian home to be the center of nurture for each believer and to be a center of ministry to the body, to the community and to the world. The church must encourage and then equip every home to fulfill this vision. (Ephesians 5:22-6:9, Deuteronomy 6:4-11, Colossians 3:18-4:1 )

• Stewardship: We believe that God requires of His people the wise use of time in light of His coming. We want to strive for ministry structures that purposefully direct and instruct people in their pursuit of the transformed life (Christ) so that this God-given resource is used for God’s glory with the joyful expectation of Christ’s imminent return. (Eph 5:15-16, 2 Peter 3:10-12, Philippians 3.20)

Motivated by God’s Spirit and the purpose to which the Father has called us, and consistent with the biblical values He has given us, we invite every adult to serve in our world as Christ served in His by participating in the ministries of:

Drawing in to Christ
• Every adult actively seeking to bring others to and encourage their incorporation into the body.
• Every adult proclaiming Christ through a godly lifestyle

Building up in Christ
• Every adult encountering an exalted yet intimate God through weekly corporate worship.
• Every adult growing in God’s Word and Christ-like character as he shares his life in the context of a small(er) fellowship.
• Every adult eagerly and actively using his gifts and God-given resources for the common good of the home and the body.

Sending out for Christ
• Every adult sharing the gospel in the workplace and in their neighborhood depending on God for desire, boldness and ability.
• Every adult participating in ministries of mercy and compassion