The Four Pillars Of Hope Christian Community Church
Hope Christian Community Church is organized around four important activities or ministry pillars. These pillars affirm the Church's identity and are prescribed in Acts 2:42-47 when the earliest believers, gathered to worship, be instructed, fellowship and evangelize.
Acts 2:42-47 "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved."
We invite you to be involved in each ministry as vital to our growth as a church.
WORSHIP
To worship is to come into the presence of God recognising His holiness and beauty, recognizing His truth, opening our hearts to the love of God in Christ, and devoting ourselves wholly to His purposes.
INSTRUCTION
Instruction in the truths of the Bible in a relevant life changing manner is vital. This takes place through the proclamation of God's Word and through our personal bible reading.
FELLOWSHIP
Fellowship takes place whenever followers of Jesus Christ come together and care for one another. We encourage you to consider joining one of our many Growth Groups each week, and in other gatherings.
EVANGELISM
Evangelism is sharing the Gospel in word and deed. As a Reformed Church we believe that God opens hearts and minds to bring others to recognize their sin and then to repent and believe the gospel. We share the goodnews that they may have eternal life in Jesus Christ.
We want Hope CCC to be a Healthy Church
EPHESIANS 4:1-16
I. A Healthy Church Is Marked by Spiritual Unity (4:1-6).
The goal toward which the individual Christian and the Body are to head is defined as firstly, that "we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God." Paul affirmed that there is but "one faith" (Ephesians 4:5). Faith can mean either a body of truth, or an attitude of trust. "Faith as "hope" (vs. 4) it is here used as a noun. In this confessional material (vss.4-6) baptism is mentioned here because it is a comprehensive, "practical, public, binding, joyful confession of that "one faith"! The unity of the faith which is the goal of believers, is thus a unity of belief in an orthodox, confessional manner. Although each member of the Body has confessed that one faith in the one Lord that inaugurates membership in the body of Christ, unity in the faith is to be maintained (vs.3) and is yet a goal to be attained. The goal of true believers is always unity of the faith. A growing ability to agree will be one indication that spiritual progress is being made.
Unity of the faith is coupled with unity of the knowledge of the Son of God. There is to be not only unity of orthodox belief, of but also personal relationship with the Son of God. It is appropriating all that is involved in the salvation which centres in Christ. Again, unity increases as relationship deepens with the Son of God. The unity of the faith is a unity which consists in the same mature understanding of the Son of God as the object of the Church's faith and worship, the Head which fills the Body with its own life and power in fellowship with Him.
A. We are united by divine calling (4:1)
B. We are united by Christlike conduct (4:2-3)
C. We are united by gospel confession (4:4-6)
II. A Healthy Church Is Marked by Spiritual Diversity (4:7-12).
A. We have diverse gifts (4:7-10).
B. We have diverse responsibilities (4:11-12).
NINE REASONS FOR DEVELOPING YOUR PERSONAL MINISTRY
1. We have been created for ministry:
"God in His grace, chose me even before I was born, and called me to serve Him." Galatians 1:15 (LB)
2. We have been saved for ministry:
"It is He who saved us and chose us for His holy work, not because we deserve it but because that was His plan long before the world began." 2Timothy 1:9 (LB)
3. We have been called into ministry:
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light." 1Peter 2:9 (NIV)
4. We have been individually and uniquely gifted for ministry:
We have different gifts according to the grace given us." Rom. 12:6 (NIV)
. We have been authorized for ministry:
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.... teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)
6. We have been commanded to minister: "Take heed to the ministry you've received from the Lord and fulfill it." Colossians 4:17 (NKJ) "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant... just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve." Matthew 20:26-28
7. We are accountable for our ministry:
"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.' His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things." Matthew 25:19-21 (NIV)
8. We will be rewarded for our ministry: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward." Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)
9. The Body of Christ needs our ministry:
"All of you together are the one body of Christ and each of you is a separate and necessary part of it." 1Corinthians 12:27 (LB)
III. A Healthy Church Is Marked by Spiritual Maturity (4:13-16).
The believer's destination is maturity. When contrasted with the "little children" of verse 14, the word (telion) has the nuance of the goal of maturity. This conveys the thought of the full, mature, robust strength of adulthood. The meaning of (telion) includes the idea of stability as opposed to instability, a unified whole.
A. Maturity involves Christlikeness (4:13).
B. Maturity involves doctrinal stability (4:13-14).
C. Maturity involves truth joined with love (4:15-16).
D. Maturity involves contribution (4:16).
We invite you to become a part of the fellowship of believers at Hope Christian Community Church. Please join one of our "catechism" classes held after church on Sundays, and become a member with us in our commitments to Worship, Instruction, Fellowship and Evangelism.
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