Belonging at Hope

Belonging at Hope

OUR HISTORY

Hope Christian Community Church was originally planted in the 1950s, by migrants from the Netherlands who settled in the area. It was first established as the St Marys Reformed Church. The change to Hope Christian Community Church was to better express the good news of hope we have in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Hope CCC is a member of the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia, which were established in the early 1950s. While the origins of the CRCA are strongly linked to the Dutch community, the denomination was never established to solely serve Dutch migrants. In light of substantial similarities in theology and practice, there was discussion about joining the Presbyterian Churches of Australia in the early years, but for a variety of theological and practical reasons this never happened.

The term "Reformed" is not well understood by many today, especially those in our community – hence the change to Hope CCC. It derives from the Protestant Reformation in the 1500–1600s. The Reformation represented a call to people everywhere to return to the Bible's teaching. Some particular aspects of that will be considered later.

Our Vision & Mission

Just before Jesus ascended into heaven, he gave his disciples, and we who follow them, the command recorded in Matthew 28:18–20:

¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Then have a look at Colossians 1:28:

He [Christ] is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.

And also Ephesians 4:16:

From Him [Christ] the whole body  [the church], joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

What do these verses suggest is important for God's people?

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To make disciples (followers/learners) of Jesus, including teaching them to obey what Jesus has taught. That teaching should be for full maturity. We should be building one another up.

To see why the gospel's worth sharing, you might like to reflect later on 1 Peter 1:3–5 & Ephesians 1:3–14.

OUR VISION

To be a community of people who are:

Joyfully following Jesus and sharing his love

OUR MISSION

Our mission details how God might use us to achieve our vision. We strive to glorify God as we:

WIN  EVANGELISE people to a living faith in our Lord Jesus Christ:

·       Positively engaging the un-churched where we live, work and play.

·       Attractively exposing the un-churched to God's people and God's Word.

BUILD ESTABLISH a committed, loving community of believers for Christ by:

·       Discipling all people, young and old, to understand and live out the gospel.

·       Strengthening community life by integrating newcomers well.

·       Growing a sense of God's presence in our meetings with joyful, contemporary worship.

SEND EXTEND well-equipped followers of Christ to serve him with the gospel by:

·       Equipping followers of Christ to use their gifts in his service.

·       Establishing every person in some ministry.

·       Sending out and supporting overseas missionaries.

DISTINCTIVES OF REFORMED CHURCHES – WHAT WE BELIEVE

Most of what we believe we hold in common with the Christian church around the world and throughout the ages, right back to the early church of the New Testament.  As Reformed churches we emphasise the five "alones" that were declared at the Reformation (1517-1600).

SCRIPTURE ALONE

We believe the Bible is the Word of God. In it, God has revealed himself to us and only as we get to know the Scriptures do we get to know God. Because it is His Word, it has ultimate authority. We want to submit our lives to it, following its principles and testing everything we do and teach by its standards. Where we find conflict between the Bible and reason, experience, or traditions of the church we must side with the Bible.

So… at Hope CCC we place a strong emphasis on preaching, teaching, reading and studying the Bible.

We want you to get to know the Bible – reading and studying it regularly. It's the most important book in the world because through it we get to know God himself. It is our source of guidance, life, joy, peace, hope... sweeter than honey (Psalm 19:7–11).

CHRIST ALONE

The Bible reveals Jesus Christ as the Son of God, who became human. He came into this world to be our Saviour.  He alone is the bridge between God and mankind. In His death on the cross He paid the price for our sins and turned away the wrath of God from us. In His resurrection Jesus secured victory for us over sin, death and condemnation. New life is found in Him – and only in Him.

So… at Hope CCC we talk a lot about Jesus Christ. He is our focus and our chief desire. We believe the work of the Holy Spirit is focused on Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit gives us faith to believe in Him, He draws our attention to Him, He helps us understand His Word, makes us more like Him, and enables us to witness for Him.  Get to know Jesus! Talk to him. Talk about him. He must be the central focus of your life. (See Galatians 2:20, Philippians 3:7–11, Colossians 1:18–20).

FAITH ALONE

The only way to be saved by Christ is to have faith in Him. We are not saved by our good works, or our attempts to be religious, or our nice lifestyle. We are saved by believing in Jesus and accepting His death and resurrection in our place.

So… at Hope CCC we call people to believe in Jesus Christ – to trust Him and not rely on themselves or anyone else for salvation. We want people around us, family, friends and community, to come to know, love and trust in Jesus alone.

Aim to grow in your faith – by living it out in action, depending completely on God. (See James 2:14–26).

GRACE ALONE

Our salvation in Jesus is not something we have earned or deserved. It is the free gift of God. Grace is about undeserved favour. We believe that is what we have from God – undeserved blessing. Our new experience of joy, peace, hope, love and purpose is a free gift from God.

So… at Hope CCC we stress that God's grace to us is to be celebrated and enjoyed and it is to motivate us in living grateful lives, to the glory of God.

GOD'S GLORY ALONE

We believe that God alone is worthy of praise and worship. He is our Creator and Redeemer. He is to be honoured, loved, feared, praised.

So... at Hope CCC, the focus is on God and His glory. And worship is not just what we do at church — all of life is worship. In everything we do, we are responding to the God who made us and saved us. Every area of life is to be embraced as an area of service to God and an expression of love for Him.

Give him all the honour. Don't draw attention to yourself but to God. He is worthy of praise in all things. (See 1 Corinthians 10:31).

Another Important Truth

God's Sovereignty – For most reformed people, this is important. Sovereignty means rule, and the sovereignty of God means that God rules over His creation with absolute power and authority. He determines what is going to happen, and it does happen. God is not alarmed, frustrated, or defeated by circumstances, by sin, or by the rebellion of His creatures.

God is entirely sovereign even in salvation itself. Yet we are not robots – we are responsible for our rejection of Him and His grace. Ultimately, with our finite understanding, we can't understand how God's sovereignty fits together with human responsibility. Yet, we must hold them both as equally true at the same time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DISTINCTIVES OF REFORMED CHURCHES – HOW WE FUNCTION

LEADERSHIP & STRUCTURES

The Christian Reformed Churches are a federation of independent, local churches. Each local church is governed by office bearers, including elders, deacons, and ministers (or teaching elders), called the Session, which meets monthly to discuss and decide matters both administrative and pastoral, of the local church.

Local churches fellowship with other local reformed churches and make decisions about ordination of ministers and testing of preachers through the state or regional Classis meeting (like a Presbytery in Presbyterian churches, or an Assembly among Baptists, or a Synod among Anglicans).

All churches in the denomination in Australia come together to make decisions in a national Synod. During our church services we often have special offerings for activites of our denomination such as the Reformed Theological College (RTC), TRAINing of elders and deacons, overseas missionary work, and other ministries. We always have a local church offering for the work of our church here in St Mary's.

In short: the local church members annually elect the Session (elders- who have pastoral responsibility, deacons- who have management responsibility for the local church) whose members serve for three years before stepping down for a season of refreshment. Session elects elders to attend Classis (5 half day meetings held every second month). Session and Classis appoints representatives to attend denominational meetings held yearly or less frequently.

CONFESSIONS

The important doctrines and beliefs of Reformed churches – what we understand to be the truths that Scripture teaches – is outlined in our Confessions. There are three main confessions that the CRCA holds to:

• The Belgic Confession: a complete statement of faith covering many areas of Bible teaching (comes from Belgium) 1561.
• The Canons of Dort: a statement of the doctrines of grace as discussed in the first section of this course (comes from Dort in Holland) 1618–1619.
• The Heidelberg Catechism a complete statement of faith to teach people the basics of Reformed Theology. It was written in 1563 to help ministers catechise (instruct) their parishioners.

BAPTISM

Covenant baptism (including children of believers). "Covenant" implies that it is a deliberate decision to follow the Lord Jesus as Saviour and Lord. It also implies taking on of obligations to the local church. Folks are normally only baptised once, at conversion. Children of believers may also be baptised as way of saying that our household will follow Christ as Lord and Saviour.

LORD'S SUPPER

This taking of bread and drinking of the cup each month is a reminder to each believer of our pardon through Christ's atoning death at the cross and it is a personal and corporate celebration and thanksgiving for our blessings we have received through the gospel. Only believers in good relationship with other believers should take of this sacrament as an indicator of our unity on the Lord Jesus Christ.

BELONGING TO THE CHURCH

Why Membership in the Local Church Matters

The New Testament has a lot to say about relationships with other believers, and submitting to the spiritual leadership of elders or overseers.

Hebrews 13 says " Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.⁹ Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them…. ¹⁷  Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

 

In a local church, we make a commitment to partnering with those God has brought together locally for the sake of the work of the gospel that God wants us to do.

Privileges and Responsibilities

Church membership, like all meaningful relationships, has two sides: privilege and responsibility.

Basic privileges

• To be identified with Christ's body and share fully in all aspects of the church's life
• To be part of the ministries of the church, using your God-given gifts for the up building of the body of Christ (e.g. evangelism, music, teaching, ministry etc.)
• To receive the aid, help and guidance of the church in both physical/material and spiritual matters.
• To have a voice in the government of the church, including the calling of office bearers.

Basic responsibilities

• To honour God in the whole of your life – work, leisure, family
• To meet with God's people regularly for worship and fellowship
• To serve God by using your gifts for building up the church and helping spread the gospel of the Lord Jesus to give financially to the work and ministry of the church
• To honour the elders and deacons in the church, and accept their spiritual oversight
• To exercise the right to vote in church matters, doing so in a prayerful and Biblical way.

How Do I Get Involved?

There are many ways we can serve together in the local church. Participation in worship is the most important way.

We recognise that the scriptural pattern for the local church was laid out long ago.

Acts 2: ⁴¹ Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.⁴² And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.⁴³ Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.⁴⁴ Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,⁴⁵ and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. ⁴⁶ So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,⁴⁷ praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

 

Four emphases become apparent:  Worship, Instruction, Fellowship and Evangelism

These were very important to the first churches.

WORSHIP

We are so thankful for our worship team who lead us in worship each Sunday. God has blessed us with wonderful musicians. In our worship on Sundays we desire to present our lives to the Lord.

Romans 12:1,2  "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

Worship is something that reflects our understanding of God's grace to us in Christ, and our response of surrendering our lives to Him who loved us and gave Himself for us.

Worship continues each day as we read God's word and seek His face in prayer in our personal devotions and lifestyle. We seek to honour the Lord and glorify Him in all we do and say.

 

INSTRUCTION

We believe that the education of God's people the church is essential to spiritual maturity.

Ephesians 4: 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Our goal is to be equipped to have unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, Spiritual maturity to "the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" which occurs as we "speak the truth in love" in our growth and ministry groups, as "the body builds itself up in love."

 

FELLOWSHIP

We enjoy the fellowship of kindred minds and hearts, as we gather each Sunday and through the week at church and growth groups. We also enjoy friendships and fellowship as we seek to assist our fellow believers with worries and concerns that may be upon their hearts and minds. Often our deacons as an expression of the fellowship of the church will assist with material needs of our fellowship and friends.  Our elders make calls upon members of our fellowship to encourage and support spiritually and emotionally in times of need, "speaking the truth in love," building up the body of Christ.

GROWTH GROUPS Each week we encourage every member to be involved with a fortnightly Growth Group.  These groups are conducted in homes throughout our community, and provide opportunities for Fellowship, Instruction and sharing of needs, serving one another through ministry.  Here we as a church pray together about each other's needs and our needs as a local church.

We pray together for those we know who are lost. We pray for our families. Sometimes we eat together as an opportunity to fellowship together.  We believe that the Growth Groups are the heart-beat of HOPE Christian Community Church. Please be involved in a growth group. You will encourage and build up others. Please invite folk to join our local growth groups. Sometimes our Growth Groups use the questions that accompany our pastor's sermon notes each Sunday. Other times the growth groups use material selected by our growth group leader and affirmed by Session.  Sometimes special studies related to the immediate needs of the Growth Group members will be used. This is a great opportunity to fellowship and learn together.

EVANGELISM

We believe the most important thing about the church is that it is outwardly focused. We do not exist for ourselves, but for those who do not yet know Christ. The Lord Jesus gave His final most important orders:  Matthew 28:18-20 " And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

He said "go" so we go to others who need the Saviour. We have numerous opportunities for evangelism in our region.  Some of our folk are involved in street ministry on a Saturday morning in Queen Street St Mary's.  We have card making groups, men's and women's breakfasts and dinners, dance group, children's ministries, Sunday School and youth and children's ministries that can draw young people and young adults to a saving faith in the Lord Jesus.  This year the church has commenced a ministry to those needing help with Food Bank. All of these activities give us opportunities to share the gospel through caring ministries towards others. Please contact one of the members involved in these ministries.  There are wonderful challenges and blessings to be involved in these ministries to others.

In order to facilitate these emphases we come together on Sunday to Worship together. We are involved in instructional events through special classes on a Sunday afternoon: Growth Basics class, Church Membership Class (this class today),  Evangelism training class, and other classes as requested from time to time.

 

WHAT DO I DO NOW?

If you would like to become a member of Hope Christian Community Church you may do so by Profession of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Ask the elders to have a talk with you about the genuineness of your faith, your motives and your knowledge of the fundamental teachings of the Bible. The elders will be most keen to hear this from you.  At a church service very soon we will welcome you into the fellowship of Hope Christian Community Church.  In the church service we will ask you to come to the front of the church. 

On Behalf of the church these statements and questions will be asked.

Profession of Faith At Hope Christian Community Church

Today we are privileged to welcome into the full life of the church's fellowship those who wish to confess their faith in Christ as Lord and Savior. When they were baptized God made clear his claim on them as his own, and they were received into the church. Now they wish to share fully in the life of this congregation and of the whole church of God. And so today they will publicly accept and confirm what was sealed in their baptism, confess their faith in the Lord Jesus, and offer themselves to God as his willing servants. We thank God for having given them this desire and pray that as we now hear their confession, he will favor us with the presence and guidance of his Holy Spirit. It is God's sovereign grace and love that made you hear the good news of Christ Jesus in years gone by, and so you were not left ignorant of the open Way to the Father. It is God's sovereign grace and love that led you to repentance , to make you humbly see your need of the gospel of salvation. It is God's sovereign grace and love that calls us all, who were doomed to die eternally, to live instead and be bearers of hope and life in a dark world.

In the presence of God and His people, we now invite you to profess your faith in Him.

The Vows*
(name), will you stand now, and in the presence of God and his people respond to the following questions:

1. Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God sent to redeem the world, do you love and trust him as the one who saves you from your sin, and do you with repentance and joy embrace him as Lord of your life?

Answer: I do.

2. Do you acknowledge that  believe that the Bible is the Word of God revealing Christ and his redemption, summarized in the Apostle's Creed and our Confessions, and taught in this Christian church faithfully reflect this revelation and is the true and complete doctrine of salvation?

Answer: I do.

3. Do you accept the gracious promises of God sealed to you in your baptism and do you affirm your union with Christ and his church which your baptism signifies?

Answer: I do.

4. Do you promise to do all you can, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to strengthen your love and commitment to Christ by sharing faithfully in the life of the church and its means of grace, honouring and submitting to its supervision and discipline; and do you join with the people of God in doing the work of the Lord wherever you are?

Answer: I do.

5. I profess that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Saviour and I want to follow and serve Him as His disciple. So with all my heart, by the grace of God, I say 'Yes!' to these questions.

Minister: In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ I now welcome you to all the privileges of full communion. I welcome you to full participation in the life of the church. I welcome you to its responsibilities, its joys, and its sufferings.

Hebrews 13:20-21 "Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."