Our philosophy of ministry reflects the unique priorities and styles of our church as well as our gifts and strengths.
Acts 2:42-47 sets forth a portrait of the early church and describes five elements that should be present in every church:
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
The five elements that should be present in every church are:
- Learning/teaching – “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching.”
- Worship – “They devoted themselves. . . to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
- Fellowship – “They devoted themselves. . . to the fellowship.”
- Acts of mercy – “Selling their possession and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.”
- Outreach – “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
While all of these elements are to be present in every church, because of the unique gifts, callings, and priorities of a church, certain of these elements will be emphasized and carried out especially well. God raises up churches that assume all the biblical purposes, but the distinctive gifts and perspective of a particular church cause it to excel in one or two areas.
It has been said, “The best churches always know what they do best.”
With this in mind, we realize that our church has a focus toward teaching/learning and fellowship.
