Jesus did not die on a cross so that we could start a cool church. He died to glorify Himself as the mission is completed through His redeemed people. Without the cross, we have no mission. Without a mission, we only have religion. Without a mission, we have no passion because we have no cure for the hopeless condition of humankind. (Scott Thomas, Acts-29)The mission of NCCd is to see the Gospel transform everything within our reach - ourselves, our church, our city, and the world. More than simply being "our" mission, we believe this is His mission.
We understand that our church is more than a building, an organization, a man, or a service. We are a group of missionaries, a family of believers, a population of diverse individuals united by, striving for, and growing in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I posted a link this week to the Acts 29 Boot Camp sessions that Amy and I attended in September - they are great, Christ centered talks about churches and the gospel. One of our New City guys has begun listening to the sessions and e-mailed:
Here’s one thought it has brought to mind so far. Since we have started with services in a bigger location (than a home) & our size (can’t call it growth yet really) has come because of people that share your vision for the church and those who have happened to be caught in the net, the growth is not because of a core that sees baptisms growing the church. What I’m trying to say is that I think we have to be careful to not be comfortable with all the nice things we have at NCCd (like the band, the atmosphere, friends, etc). Rather, we’ve got to try all the harder to make sure people hold on to the vision (or catch it) that we won’t have a true church unless we are growing by new converts becoming disciples.
The main point is that our core people haven’t seen yet that the church will only thrive (might I add - only be a true church) if we are making disciples by sharing the gospel outside of Sunday. So far, we can have a pretty good time as a community without doing that.
BINGO! He's got it! New City Church downtown will only be a true church as our people take up the Gospel mission of Christ - Glorifying himself thru the redemption of His people. Without people on that Gospel mission, we are nothing more than a nice (perhaps even Christian) club. Church is not Church until we are a people gathered in Christ and on His mission.
