We exist to savor and shine the excellencies of Christ, striving together for the progress of the Gospel in the lives of all peoples.

• Why “savor and shine”?

  • Biblical Christianity is not a get-out-of-hell free card. It is also not just a slavish obedience to God, but rather a recognition from the heart that Jesus Christ is the greatest most soul satisfying treasure of all treasures. There is nothing and no one who is better, greater, and more worthy of love, devotion, praise, and adoration. Biblical Christianity therefore can NEVER be indifferent to Him. We must more and more enjoy, love, and savor the Lord Jesus not just obey Him, or be forgiven by Him and then ignore Him. (John 14:21-24; Deut 6:5; John 6:35)

  • Because the Lord Jesus is so great in what He does and excellent in who He is, He is the only One who is worthy of all our attention, affection, adoration, submission, service, and love. He is the One who must shine brightly and all others must fade in the light of His goodness and glory. (John 3:30; Rev 5:11-14; Phil 2:9-10)
    

• What is the “progress of the Gospel”?

  • The Gospel is the good news that God the Son has come from heaven to live a perfect life and die on behalf of sinful men and women on the cross so that we might be forgiven of all our sins and restored in our relationship to God the Father. We are rightly related to God only when we recognize, live, and proclaim that He is the most important, most worthy to be loved and magnified. Therefore, the Gospel must make progress because God shows Himself to be great and glorious in all of who He is and what He does when sinners likes us are changed and turn to love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength.
    

• Doesn’t the Gospel only apply to non-believers?  Why are you "striving together for the progress of the Gospel in the lives of all peoples?"

  • Because God is most glorious, and the only One worthy of praise, and honor, our desire is that all people come to know this God of all glory and to love Him with all their heart through His Son Jesus Christ. We, as one of God’s local churches, would want all non-believers to be introduced to Jesus Christ and to know Him truly. By God’s grace they would embrace Jesus for all of who He says He is in the Bible: Savior, Lord, Redeemer, Good Shepherd, God, Holy, Righteous, Merciful, etc. Having turned from sin to believe on the Lord Jesus, then we would want them and all believers to grow in their knowledge of Jesus and their sincere love for Him. Whether someone is living in the same house, across the street, in the next cubicle, the next county, the next state, country, or across oceans, we would want to labor and strive together so that every person that God gives us opportunity to have relationship with to treasure and savor Christ and all His excellencies.