Our DNA defines who we are as a church. FBCE exists…
to glorify God by being totally devoted to Jesus Christ and encouraging others to practice a similar devotion.
In Acts 2:42 the scripture states, “And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” The word translated devoted has standing behind it the word picture of an animal that consumes. Therefore, we should understand by this statement that the first disciples consumed themselves with the Apostles’ teaching. What did the Apostles teach? The Old Testament was their Bible, and many of the Apostles became the authors of the New Testament. Thus, devotion to Scripture, that is to the teaching of the Old Testament and the New Testament, is distinctive of authentic Christian community.
The word “devoted” is extremely important for fully unpacking the practical meaning of our purpose.
We are endeavoring to grow a people who are obsessed with following Jesus Christ in the whole of their lives and encouraging those whom they meet along the path of their lives to practice a similar lifestyle as well.
We say this is our DNA because this idea defines who we are at the most basic level of our beings.
We want to be committed to the same things that the first church was. Therefore, we intentionally organize ourselves around 6 areas of ministry.
We believe that everything in the Christian life begins with worship. It is in worship that we love and glorify God. Each human being is created with a spiritual vacuum in their heart that can only be filled through loving God and giving Him first place in your life by accepting the truth about His Son Jesus and your own sinfulness. As you love God and worship Him with this understanding the Holy Spirit fills you.
After you have loved God in worship you have an innate desire to commune and communicate with Him through prayer. As you pray more and more, God’s Spirit leads you to tell those around you about your love for Him and His Son. When you obey this prompting of the Holy Spirit you become an evangelist.
Telling others what God has done for you and in you is the most natural thing a Christian can do. Telling your story to those with whom you come into contact will eventually bear fruit. When you lead another person to accept the truth about Jesus Christ and their own sinfulness you have borne fruit as a Christian. You cannot desert them but instead will assist them to grow in their newfound faith.
As you help this person you have led to Christ grow and develop in their new faith you are discipling them. As you and those you have discipled learn more about your faith together you will no doubt quickly begin to have a desire to become a blessing to others in your community as God has blessed you. This desire to begin to bless those beyond your immediate circle is service.
As you serve your community and beyond with those whom you worship, pray, evangelize, disciple, and serve you will experience wonderful and sweet fellowship. In this fellowship you will experience the authentic community you crave.
