Questions People Often Ask…
Here is a list of questions we get from people who visit our community. These questions are ones that we usually get from people who have grown up in the church. We know that we look different to the trained Christian eye so we want to try and help you get acclimated to why we do things the way we do.
If you have questions that are not listed below let us know.
Questions
- What is your basic mission? What are you trying to do?
- Why do you have artists painting during your worship services?
- Are you guys part of the emerging church movement?
- Who are you affiliated with?
- Why do you meet in a warehouse?
- What’s with the life size aluminum knight?
- What’s your model for leadership?
- What role do children play on Sunday mornings?
- Who are all the people up front on Sunday mornings?
- What are your beliefs about the Bible and Jesus?
- Why do you take communion every Sunday?
What is your basic mission? What are you trying to do?
Our mission, goals, whatever you want to call it, can be summed up in two simple words: Shaping & Sending. Shaping: We desire to, through the work of the Holy Spirit, be shaping each other into more complete bearers of the image of God. This happens through our Sunday gatherings, our small groups and through individual friendships and “daily life” stuff. Sending: We’re not satisfied with just being more holy. That misses the point. We are constantly sending each other out into the world to be witnesses to the risen Messiah. Sometimes this works out as a church ministry but more often than not this looks like each of us seeking to live out the values of Jesus in our families, neighborhoods, work places, towns, cities and world.
Why do you have artists painting during your worship services?
We believe that art can be another form of worshiping the Creator. Practically speaking, some people are more able to listen and concentrate on worship when they are using their hands and not sitting still. Painting gives them a way to listen better and express what they are hearing on a canvas. Some people even knit during our services for the same reason. We also believe that God is a creative God and that he is honored as we are creative. Ephesians 5:19 tells us to “sing and make music to the Lord in your heart.”
Are you guys part of the emerging church movement?
The short answer is no. Since the Emerging Church movement is such a diverse group of people from many different theological persuasions, it is not something by which we want to define ourselves. At the same time, this question demands some further definition and our answer usually depends on what someone is implying when they ask it. If you define the emerging churches like Eddie Gibbs and Ryan Bloger do in their book, Emerging Churches with an emphasis on identifying with Jesus, welcoming the stranger, transforming secular space, emphasis on community, serving generously outside their community, moving from consumers to participants and leading as a body – then the answer would be “Yes.”
But, we know that emerging churches are not always defined that way. They are often defined as denying truth, embracing pluralism, watering down the gospel, denying the authority of the scripture, avoiding accountability, or having no leadership. If that is how you are defining the term, then we are definitely not an emerging church. We believe Jesus is truth. We realize pluralism is a reality and seek to speak the truth in the midst of this cultural climate. We fully trust and count on the authority of scripture. We are passionate about holding each other accountable to Christ-likeness and holiness. We believe that God has called leaders to lead His followers. Our simple goal is to know God’s love for us, and to act on this love through loving our neighbors.
Who are you affiliated with?
We are affiliated officially with a network of Churches called the Ecclesia Network. This network serves us in many different ways. We are provided with accountability; coaching; networking and, most importantly, partnership in mission.
Why do you meet in a warehouse?
This may seem like a simple answer, but it is. When we began looking for a permanent place (because we were no longer able to meet in a local community center we rented), we were only looking for a couple things: an affordable place and a versatile space. Practically speaking, the most affordable and flexible space for us was an industrial space. As a part of worship, we value fellowship, music, art, and family involvement; therefore, we were drawn to the lay-out of this specific space. We also love the idea of being able to host community events, and have found this space to be a great asset to our local area. Our church building is merely a reflection of the passions of our church body – the people of Christ within our community.
What’s with the life size aluminum knight?
Uh, we’re not really sure. He showed up in our space one night after an art show and never left.
What’s your model for leadership?
We believe that God has gifted and called all different kinds of leaders, while calling all of us to be deeply involved in the life of the community. We have a team of community leaders and Pastors/Elders who lead and guide our mission.
What role do children play on Sunday mornings?
Children are an important part our family and we are continually working hard to make sure this remains true. We encourage families to worship together during most of the service. During the sermon, we provide a traditional nursery and children’s church for children under the age of 10. In this way, children are part of the worshipping community. We have an excellent children’s ministry director and group of volunteers who love working with our children. You can read more about how we view kids’ involvement in the church here.
Who are all the people up front on Sunday mornings?
People who are new to our community often are struck by the number of people who are up front on a Sunday morning. This is primarily due to our Liturgy Team, a group of community members who each week lead our Call to Worship, Prayer Time, Scripture Reading, and Benediction. Our music is led by a rotating group of musicians. Our sermon is usually given by one of our pastors. We also value hearing from other experienced voices; consequently, we regularly invite both internal and external speakers to speak.
What are your beliefs about the Bible and Jesus?
Very simply, we believe that the Bible is the authoritative Word of God that testifies to the truth that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the Messiah for whom the people of Israel were awaiting. As Messiah, Jesus Christ has defeated death through his death, burial and resurrection. We eagerly await the future when God will dwell with His people and all things will be made new (Rev. 21).
Why do you take communion every Sunday?
We believe that our life together as a community, joined with the global and historical body of Christ, is shaped by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In partaking in this liturgical practice, we follow the words of Jesus and “proclaim his death until he comes.” Communion is Christ’s invitation to be partakers of His life, death, and resurrection ; made whole in Christ and called to be agents of His message of reconciliation to the world.
Our time of communion is led by someone from our Ministry Leadership Team. While there is no explicit command to participate in the Lord’s Supper every time we gather together, we do take the examples we see in the early church as good patterns to follow:
Acts 20:7 reads, “On the first day of the week we came together to break bread…”
Acts 2:42 reads, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
In 1 Corinthians 11:25 Paul writes, “In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
