We don’t see the church as a building you go to; rather, we see ourselves as the church living daily life with gospel intentionality. Below you will find the normal rhythms of life that are lived within every culture. As Christ’s people, we try not to add a bunch of extra things to our already busy lives. Instead, we try to capitalize on what we are already doing in life—doing regular life with gospel intentionality.
SHARE AND LISTEN
As a church, we take time to be shaped by God’s story. We believe we are participants in His story and need to understand it and see how our lives intersect with it. Therefore, we regularly reacquaint ourselves with God's story by interacting with God's Word. We pray for ways and times to share His story often. (Genesis 1:1–2; Psalm 1:1–6; John 1:1; 2 Timothy 3:16–17) We are called to listen to God. We listen by regularly interacting with God through His Word and in community, and we listen to the Spirit to guide and direct us. We also take time to listen to one another, ensuring we know one another's stories so we might know how to care for and bless one another best. (Mark 1:35–37; John 14:25–26; 16:7–15; Hebrews 1:1–3; Romans 1:20)
EAT AND FAST
We eat meals as a daily reminder of our common need for God to provide for us—both physically and spiritually. Jesus called us to remember Him, and His sacrifice for us, through a meal. We also regularly share meals with those not in our immediate family, or circle of close friends, discipling them toward a life of dependence on God. (Leviticus 23:1–44; Matthew 6:11; 26:17–30; Acts 2:46–47; Romans 12:13) We want to hunger for God more than anything else and remind ourselves that Jesus is the true bread of life. Therefore, we obey and worship God by fasting. Fasting is the spiritual discipline of going without something that may be good to more permanently go after something greater—God. We long to know more of who God is and what He has done for us. (Ezra 8:21-23; Joel 2:12-13; Matthew 6:16-18)
BLESS AND RECEIVE
God desires that all nations—all people—would be blessed through Jesus. The church is the body of Jesus through which He blesses people through words, gifts, and actions. We believe everything we have been given is not just for us but so God might bless others through us. We have been blessed to be a blessing. We intentionally seek God's direction for whom He would have us tangibly bless each week. (Genesis 12:1–; Ephesians 1:22–23; 2:8–10; 1 Peter 2:12) We have received God’s favor and grace through Jesus Christ. As the body of Christ, we understand we cannot give what we do not have, and we cannot offer what we do not possess. Every blessing and favor we have is given to us by our heavenly Father. (Psalm 84:11-13; Ephesians 1:1-3; James 1:17-18)
WORK AND REST
We work hard to give glory to God as He continues His creative, sustaining, and redeeming work through human labor. Human labor has intrinsic value because through it we can “image,” or reflect the Creator. God is the “vocational model” describing the various sorts of work He does, and numerous human vocations give expression to these aspects of God’s work. (Genesis 1-3; Proverbs 13:4; Colossians 3:23; Titus 2:7-8) We take time to rest, play, and create with the intention of bringing about restoration to people and places. After powerfully and joyfully creating the universe, God rested. Rest and play shows that we trust God to do great works even when we aren't working. As we come to know, trust, and worship God, we are more rested and creative. (Genesis 1:1–2:3; Deut. 5:12; Mark 2:23–28)