HIS CHURCH, YOUR FAMILY, OUR COMMUNITY
Covenant
Having, as we trust, been brought by Divine Grace to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and to give up ourselves to Him, and having been baptized upon our profession of faith, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, we do now, relying on His gracious aid, solemnly and joyfully renew our covenant with each other.
We will protect the unity of our church by working and praying for the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
We will walk together in brotherly love, as becomes the members of a Christian Church; exercise an affectionate care and watchfulness over each other and faithfully admonish and entreat one another as occasion may require.
We will not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, nor neglect to pray for
ourselves and others.
We will endeavor to bring up such as may at any time be under our care, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and by a pure and loving example to seek the salvation
of our family and friends.
We will rejoice at each other’s happiness and endeavor with tenderness and sympathy to bear each other’s burdens and sorrows.
We will seek, by Divine aid, to live carefully in the world, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, and remembering that, as we have been voluntarily buried by baptism and raised again from the symbolic grave, so there is on us a special obligation now to lead a new and holy life.
We will work together for the continuance of a faithful evangelical ministry in this church, as we sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines. We will contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel through all nations.
We will, when we move from this place, as soon as possible unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the
Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen.
Our Philosophy of Ministry
Why We Exist
CrossPoint
desires to fulfill the principle as stated in
We will love with three priorities in mind: His Church, Your Family, Our Community
´ Our church will be marked by friendships that display to our surrounding neighbors that the church is a living, active group of people who are genuine. We must be…
o Covenantal—a mutual commitment to doing each other good spiritually.
§ Bearing each other’s burdens,
§ Sharing joys,
§ Giving to support the ministry
§ Exercising affectionate watchfulness over one another,
§ And at times rebuking the unrepentant or submitting to correction ourselves as occasion may require.
o Careful—a deliberateness, that shows our concern for obeying God’s Word in every aspect of our corporate life together.
o Corporate—becoming more like Christ is accomplished in our individual walks, but also in the corporate setting.
§ Eph. 4:15-16 Rather, let our lives lovingly express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [with power adapted to its need] is working properly [in all its functions], grows to full maturity, building itself up in love.
§ Heb. 10:24-25 And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities, Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.
o Cross-cultural—Kaufman is a blend of different cultures; we need to show the world that blacks, browns, and whites can all worship together.
o Cross-generational—old and young should mark our church. There is much to learn from older generations and younger generations are needed for their youth and strength to serve.
´ CrossPoint is…
o A hospital for the wounded.
o A lighthouse for those tossed by the wind and waves.
o A sanctuary for the lost.
We envision a regional church where people from every walk of life, who themselves have encountered God in life changing ways, make intentional efforts to share the hope of restoration with others; a place of celebration not condemnation; challenge not complacency.
We envision a community of warriors committed to the global expansion of God’s kingdom; where preparation for and participation in bold mission ventures is considered a normal expression of the Christ life.
We envision a center where those who are abused and neglected find a safe haven; where the aimless find direction in life and those who have fallen find a hand to help them up.
What We Value
(adapted from Grace Community Church in California, Pastor John MacArthur)
V A church needs to have a…
o Skeleton—a framework
o Internal Organs—spiritual attitudes
o Muscles—functions
o Flesh—programs
V The Skeleton (five non-negotiable)
Ü The church is an institution for the glory of God
Ü Pro. 9:10
Ü Matt. 4:4
Ü The teachings of God’s Word make up sound doctrine.
Ü People need truths that they can hold on to.
Ü 2Cor. 7:1
Ü Matt. 18:15-17
Ü Christ is the head of the church—Eph. 1:22; 4:15.
Ü He mediates His rule through godly elders—1The. 5:13-14; Heb. 13:7, 17.
V The Internal Organs—Spiritual Attitudes
J A skeleton gives a framework to a church, but it isn’t alive. The life of a church comes from its spiritual attitudes.
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Ü Matt. 5:3
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Ü Eph. 4:3
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Ü Paul use of the word “minister” is literally “under-rower.” On Roman ships the lowest tier of the ship held the slaves who were the ones rowing the oars. These were the despised, yet the power in the ship.
Ü We don’t want to be glorified servants, we want to be the unseen ones washing the feet of everyone else.
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Ü Life is hard and serving Jesus can be trying, but that knowledge of our salvation should bring a deep conviction that produces joy.
Ü Whereas joy is an inward experience, peace is outward.
Ü Filled with the Spirit, being cleansed of your sin will give you peace.
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Ü 1Cor. 9:24-27
Ü Accountability involves the one-another’s of Scripture: exhort(Heb. 10:24-25), pray (Jam. 5:16), love (Gal. 5:13; Eph. 4:2; 1Pet. 1:22), teach (Col. 3:16), edify (Rom. 14:19; 1The. 5:11), and admonish (Rom. 15:14; Col. 3:16)
Ü Matt. 6:12,14-15
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Ü We need in our hearts a sense of insufficiency so that we are forced to depend on God and pray for whatever Jesus wants done.
Ü Seven last words of a church should not be, “We’ve never done it that way before.”
Ü Some churches have a style of ministry that is so unbiblical that when they are introduced to a command from God that goes against their traditions, they ignore it.
Ü Change is necessary sometimes so people don’t get confused between routine and reality.
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Ü We grow by feeding on the Word of God.
Ü Even though we all have different abilities, the Spirit of God works in all of our hearts to help us love His Word and grow at the pace that we can grow.
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Ü Many Xns are spiritual sprinters—they get involved, serve for a while with all their energy, but then go into spiritual retirement.
Ü Hope means, “Security for the future.”
Ü There is no fear of death. We can actually look forward to what’s ahead of us in life and death.
Ü Matt. 6:19—if our hearts are focusing on our hope in eternity, then our treasure is going to be in eternity, too.
Ü We should be living in hope, and that means we should be more committed to investing in eternity than investing in what is temporary. Our energy, thoughts, dreams prayers, and money are only ours as a means to invest in an eternal reality.
V THE MUSCLES
J The muscles represent the function of a body. The body gets its form from its skeleton, its life from its internal systems, and its muscles enable it to function.
J The muscles are the responsibilities of the church, the things that make the church move.
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Jesus said to the Father in
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Ü He was told not to neglect preaching (v.14), but to meditate upon God’s truths (v.15), take heed to it, and continue in it (v16).
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Ü The reason to put so much emphasis on preaching and teaching is because they help everything else to happen. We have to know what the Bible says about something before we know how to act. Teaching is the sine qua non of everything. We don’t know how to worship, pray, evangelize, discipline, shepherd, train, or serve unless we know what the Word of God says.
Ü It is the Scripture that makes people “wise unto salvation” (2 Tim. 3:15b). It is the Word that “is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (vv. 16-17).
Ü Eph. 4:23—“be renewed in the spirit of your mind.”
Ü Rom. 12:2—“Be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Ü Evangelism
· It’s our lives that make our testimonies believable or unbelievable.
· Living out the bible is what makes Christianity credible.
· Satan’s scheme is not to destroy the church, but to undermine its credibility.
· Matt. 5:13—we are a preservative of the earth, that’s why we’re called to live pure lives.
· Matt. 5:16
Ü Missions
· Missions is a world wide view of outreach—it involves reaching across the globe to whatever areas God will open to us.
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Phil. 3:3;
Ü Obedience is the best definition of worship.
Ü The church is to meet together for the purpose of praise—1 Tim. 2:8
Ü Prayer is selfless.
Ü In the Disciples prayer (Matt. 6:9-13) we see that prayer embraces the Kingdom of God, His glory, and the needs of His people. Only humble people can abandon themselves to embrace the will of God and the needs of His people.
Ü Matt. 28:19-20—Go therefore and make disciples (Gk. Matheteusate = make learners, or make disciples). Discipling is leading people to Christ and leading them to maturity in Christ.
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Ü Some elements to discipleship:
· Evangelism (1Cor. 4:14-15)
· Love—a commitment of self-sacrificing humble service to a person with a need (1Cor. 4:14—“my beloved child”).
· Admonishment—discipling is corrective. It’s just like raising a child. You have to warn your children what to stay away from (v. 14—“I warn you”).
· GUIDANCE—the person you are discipling is to follow your example. You have to be further along the path of spiritual development than the person you’re discipling (v. 16).
· Teaching—(v. 17) there must be a imparting of divine truth.
Ü Jesus said that when a man is fully discipled he “shall be as his teacher” (Lk. 6:40). We are to reproduce ourselves. LIFE THAT DOESN’T REPRODUCE ISN’T LIFE; IT’S DEATH.
Ü When you disciple someone, you’re basically teaching him to live a godly life style. A person is spiritually mature when his involuntary responses are godly. That’s how to know if the Spirit of God has control in someone’s life. In discipleship, you’re to bring a person to the point where he doesn’t have to figure out how to act right, but where he can react right spontaneously.
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Jn. 21:15-17;
Ü How can you say you love God if you don’t care about people? You have to be involved in the shepherding process.
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Ü God uses the family for passing righteousness on from one generation to the next Deut. 6:7, 20-25.
Ü Three basic units of preservation in society are the government, the church, and the family.
· Wherever God has ordained a government that punishes evildoers and does good to those that are right, Satan will assail it.
· Wherever there is a church that exalts Christ and proclaims the Word, he will attack.
· Satan doesn’t want families to pass on righteousness; therefore, he tries to disintegrate them.
Ü Eph. 4:11—the church is to equip people for ministry.
Ü We don’t want to just give them general information; we want to prepare them for a specific ministry.
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Ü He gives you money and asks you, “Can I trust you with this money?” You must prove that He can trust you with the money He gives you by giving it back to Him.
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What you have doesn’t really belong to you anyway. When you trust
them to God, you become free. Then all you have to do is manage them. If you
own something that someone else needs more than you do, then give it to him.
That is
Ü Means “a common life together.”
Ü It is all these other things summed up together.
V The Flesh
J It’s not important what the flesh of a church is like.
J God looks on the inside, not what is on the outside (1 Sam. 16:7b).
J It’s what’s in a church’s heart that makes a church.
J A church must have a skeleton
o A high view of God
o The absolute priority of Scripture
o Doctrinal clarity
o Personal holiness,
o And Spiritual authority
J A church must have internal systems; it must have certain spiritual attitudes present in it.
J A church must be committed to certain functions.
J But when a church has all those things, it doesn’t really matter what it looks like on the outside or how its programs take shape.
J The true beauty of a church comes from its insides. The flesh takes its form after all the things on the inside are right.