OUR VISION

Build a New Testament community of fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ

OUR STRATEGY

Grow spiritually
Reach people
Act out our faith
Connect in community
Exalt God

A pentathlete must excel in five events to win a pentathlon. We also must seek to be great in all five purposes of our vision.

The Great Commandment

Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” —Mark 12:29-31

The Great Commission

Then Jesus came close to them and said, “All the authority of the universe has been given to Me. Now wherever you go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And teach them to faithfully follow all that I have commanded you. And never forget that I am with you every day, even to the completion of this age.” —Matthew 28:18-20

“A great commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission will make you a great Christian.” —Rick Warren

GROW spiritually: Hear the Word, pray the Word, talk about the Word and commit to obey the Word.

“Didn’t our hearts burn with the flames of holy passion while we walked beside Him? He unveiled for us such profound revelation from the Scriptures!” —Luke 24:32

REACH people: Invite people who could be One Ask Away from a life-changing experience with Jesus. Learn the six sentences of the gospel.

Find: The Gospel in Six Sentences at gracestl.org/gospel

“…tell the Good News to everyone.” —Mark 16:15

ACT out our faith: Get on the A-Team! Be a channel to bless others.

“For we must always cherish the words of our Lord Jesus, who taught, ‘Giving brings a far greater blessing than receiving.’” —Acts 20:35

CONNECT in community: The measure we’re willing to be real and honest with each other about our struggles will be the measure of freedom we experience from those struggles.

But encourage one another daily…that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. —Hebrews 3:13

EXALT God: Our primary identity as a church is to be a people who worship and pray…together.

“For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” —Isaiah 56:7

“Again, I give you an eternal truth: If two of you agree to ask God for something in a symphony of prayer, My heavenly Father will do it for you. For wherever two or three come together in honor of My name, I am right there with them!” —Matthew 18:19-20

On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. —Acts 2:1-3

Advice to Keep it Alive

Talk about these five purposes constantly.
Give close friends permission to challenge us in areas where we’re weak.
Examine our walk with Jesus.