What We Value
Devoted Worshippers
We are dedicated to worshiping Jesus, setting aside daily moments for prayer and reading the Bible. Joining in prayer and studying His Word with others is important to us. Regularly, we come together to celebrate the Lord's Supper and express gratitude for His mercy. These aren't tasks we fit in, but rather passions we can't go without. We don't need eloquent speakers or skilled musicians; our love for worshiping Jesus shines even in simple settings. The focus on worshiping Him makes it truly thrilling for us.
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Loving Families
We are a family where we believe every member is made in the image of God. Everyone has value, is worthy and is loved. Jesus emphasized that love among us indicates discipleship (John 13:35). His prayer for unity among disciples reflects the belief that the world will know who He is through our love for one another. (John 17:20-23).
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Equipped Disciple-Makers
At The Open Church, our aim is to equip members for impactful service and disciple-making. We view all believers as potential disciple-makers, prioritizing a servant mindset over consumerism. Guided by the Holy Spirit's gifts, we foster community growth. We aspire to emulate Christ, leading others to Him, nurturing disciples, and establishing new congregations. A journey of discovery all of us are on.
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Spirit-Filled Missionaries
Our goal is to reach for Christ-like in all that we do (Phil 2:5-11), dedicated to spreading the gospel to those around us. We prioritize the mission over personal comfort or materialism. Some will venture abroad to introduce Christ in new places, while others will provide support in ways personal to them.
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Embracing the Struggle
We eagerly anticipate Christ's return, ready to endure suffering for the promise of heavenly rewards. The Scriptures emphasize embracing suffering with joy as an integral aspect of our faith. This call to endure hardships for the gospel extends to all believers, not solely leaders or missionaries in persecuted regions.
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How We Do It
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Growing Churches - The Open Church
Many churches start small and familiar but can struggle to maintain this intimacy as they grow. The shift toward becoming "programmed" instead of a loving family can be common. Yet, growth doesn't mean compromising values. The solution lies in multiplication. Just as an apple tree's true fruit is more trees, a strong leader's impact is seen in cultivating others, and a healthy church's outcome is the creation of more such communities. This aligns with God's design for the world's natural multiplication.
Simple Gatherings, Strong Word
Amid Corinth's challenges, Paul recalled his approach to founding the church. In 1 Corinthians 2, he deliberately avoided flashy speech and human wisdom. His aim was to anchor their faith solely in the gospel's power. Similarly, Jesus refused any enticement of any kind.... except by being "The Only Way". Should we follow this same approach in our churches? Are we ready to remove distractions and ensure people are drawn solely by Jesus?
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Devotion to Scripture - The Open Bible
We've designed The Open Church to foster a culture of daily personal connection with God. We know that relying solely on Sunday sermons for nourishment isn't enough, we encourage everyone to follow a shared Scripture reading plan throughout the week. Our focus is on individual time with God through His Word and prayer. This creates a foundation for group discussions on the readings, led by the pastor during our gatherings. Rather than being passive consumers, attendees actively bring insights from their personal study, nurturing a devoted commitment to Scripture.
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We Meet in Homes - The Open House
To foster genuine love among us, we've embraced smaller home and hub gatherings. We understand that maintaining a familiar bond, sharing burdens, and uplifting one another becomes challenging as congregations grow. We prioritize life-sharing at the core of who we are, ensuring a strong sense of connection.
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Everyone Exercises Gifts
Paul emphasizes that the Spirit grants diverse gifts for the collective benefit (1 Cor 12:7). He highlights various gifts and underscores the necessity of every part in the body. However, in practice, do all church members grasp their equal significance, or do some view leaders as more vital? Paul's teaching challenges us to recognize the vital role each member plays, ensuring a balanced and inclusive church dynamic.
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We Meet in Homes - The Open Table
All of us are tasked with reaching the lost and disciple-making: spreading the gospel to non-believers and nurturing fellow believers spiritually. This responsibility involves forging intentional relationships, addressing sin, resolving conflicts, and offering support during challenging times. While discipleship is complex, it's an essential commitment requiring effort and vulnerability. The Open Table is about inviting your community, people in our world, and those that are searching around a table. Host a dinner party, open your house, book boardroom..... eat with them just as Jesus did, reconciling the lost back to Him
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Our Governance
THE FIVEFOLD
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The "fivefold ministry is for today" particularly from Ephesians 4:11-12. It refers to five distinct roles or offices that are essential for the proper functioning and growth of the Church. These roles are gifts given by Christ to equip and empower believers for the work of ministry and the building up of the body of Christ. The fivefold ministry consists of the following roles:
Apostles: These are seen as the foundational leaders who establish and establish churches. They are often considered to have a pioneering and visionary role, leading the way in spreading the message of the gospel to new areas.
Prophets: Prophets are to have the gift of revelation and are able to receive and communicate direct messages from God. They provide guidance, direction, and correction to the Church.
Evangelists: Evangelists are focused on spreading the gospel and winning souls for Christ. They have a passion for outreach and often engage in activities such as preaching, teaching, and conducting evangelistic gatherings.
Pastors: Also known as shepherds or overseers, pastors are responsible for the spiritual care and guidance of the congregation. They provide leadership, teaching, and support to help believers grow in their faith.
Teachers: Teachers are responsible for imparting knowledge and understanding of the Scriptures to the believers. They help in the discipleship process, ensuring that believers have a strong foundation in biblical teachings.
The concept of the fivefold ministry is embraced by the Early Church and is for today. It emphasizes the importance of diversity and collaboration among these five roles for the overall health and growth of the Church.
At The Open Church, we believe that you can grow in your fivefold ministry and in turn be a blessing to the church. Through strong biblical teaching, you can be released into your Goldy office. ALL ARE CALLED
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CHURCH ELDERS
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Church elders are the spiritual leaders and overseers of the congregation. They are responsible for providing spiritual guidance, pastoral care, and leadership within the church community.
Spiritual Leadership: Elders are expected to be mature and spiritually grounded individuals who can guide and mentor the congregation in matters of faith and doctrine.
Pastoral Care: Elders often offer counseling, prayer and support to members of the congregation in times of need or crisis.
Doctrine and Teaching: Elders may be involved in teaching and ensuring the doctrinal integrity of the church's teachings.
Church Governance: Elders participate in decision-making processes within the church, including matters related to church policies, finances, and other important decisions.
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Setting an Example: Elders are expected to lead by example in their personal lives, demonstrating strong moral character and a commitment to the teachings of the faith.
CHURCH DEACONS
Deacons are responsible for serving the practical needs of the church and its members. While the specific duties of deacons can vary, there are some common responsibilities associated with their role:
Service and Support: Deacons are tasked with providing practical assistance to those in need, such as the elderly, sick, or marginalized members of the congregation and the community.
Benevolence: Deacons may manage funds and resources designated for charitable activities and help distribute assistance to those in need.
Community Outreach: Deacons can be involved in community outreach programs and initiatives aimed at addressing social issues and providing help to those beyond the church community.
Supporting Church Functions: Deacons may assist with organizing church gatherings, managing facilities, and other logistical tasks.
Unity and Fellowship: Deacons play a role in promoting a sense of unity and fellowship within the congregation by helping meet practical needs and fostering a sense of community.
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Our Beliefs
THE SCRIPTURES
We believe the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments to be the full record of God’s self-disclosure to mankind. Different men, while writing according to their own styles and personalities, were supernaturally moved by the Holy Spirit to record God’s very words, inerrant in the original writings. Therefore, those applying themselves to study its literal, historical-grammatical context can accurately understand God’s Word. Scripture is fully trustworthy as our final and sufficient authority for all of life and practice. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
THE TRIUNE GOD
We believe in the one living and true God, eternally (John 17:3) existing in perfect unity as three equally and fully divine Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19-20). Each member of the Godhead, while executing distinct but complementary roles in redemptive history, has precisely the same nature, attributes, and being, and is equally worthy of the same glory and honor and obedience (John 1:1-4; Acts 5:3-4).
GOD THE FATHER
We believe God the Father created all things in six days for His glory according to His own will (Revelation 4:11). He upholds all things by the Word of His power and grace, exercising sovereign headship over all creation, providence, and redemption (Colossians 1:17, Hebrews 1:3).
GOD THE SON
We believe that Jesus Christ, the eternal Son, moved by love in accordance with the will of the Father, took on human flesh (John 1:1, 14, 18). Conceived through the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the virgin Mary. He, being fully God and fully man (John 14:8-9), lived a sinless life and sacrificially shed His blood and died on the cross in our place accomplishing redemption for all mankind, received by faith by those who place their faith in Him. He arose visibly and bodily from the dead three days later and ascended into heaven, where, at the Father’s right hand, He is now Head of His Body the Church, the only Savior and Mediator between God and man, and will return to earth in power and glory to consummate His redemptive mission (1 Timothy 3:16).
GOD THE SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit, in all that He does, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ during this age. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He draws the unredeemed to repentance and faith, and at salvation imparts new spiritual life to the believer, bringing that person into union with Christ and the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit sanctifies, seals, fills, guides, instructs, comforts, equips, empowers, permanently indwells at salvation, and bestows spiritual gifts to the believer for Christ-like living and service (John 16:8; 13:15; Titus 3:5; Ephesians 1:22; 4:11-12; Romans 8:9-17; 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 12:4-5, 11-13, 19; Galatians 5:25; Hebrews 2:1-4; 2 Corinthians 12:12).
MANKIND
We believe that God created mankind—male and female—in His own image and likeness, free of sin, to glorify Himself and enjoy His fellowship. Tempted by Satan, man freely chose to disobey God, bringing sin, death and condemnation to all mankind. All human beings, therefore, are totally depraved by nature and by choice. Alienated from God without defense or excuse, and subject to God’s righteous wrath, all of mankind is in desperate need of the Savior (Genesis 3:1-6; Romans 3:10-19; Romans 1:18, 32).
SALVATION
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, as the substitutionary atonement in our place, and that salvation is found in none other than Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ’s death on the cross was the sole and complete payment for sins, fully satisfying God’s righteous wrath, for each person that turns from sin in repentance and places their faith in Christ alone by grace alone. At salvation, each person is made a new creation by the Holy Spirit, declared righteous before God, and adopted as a child of God. Genuine faith continues in obedience and love for Jesus Christ with a life eager to glorify God and persevere to the end (Romans 8:37-39; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 12:13).
THE CHURCH
We believe that upon placing one’s faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, the believer is made part of the Body of Christ, the one universal Church, of which Jesus Christ is the Head. The Scriptures command believers to gather locally in order to devote themselves to worship, prayer, teaching of the Word, fellowship, the ordinances of baptism and communion, service to the local body through the development and use of talents and spiritual gifts, and outreach to the world to make disciples (Ephesians 1:22-23; Acts 2:42-46)
1 Corinthians 14:26; Matthew 28:18-20). Wherever God’s people meet regularly in obedience to this command, there is the local expression of the Church under the watchful care of a plurality of elders. A church’s members are to work together in love and unity, intent on the ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ (Ephesians 4:16).
BAPTISM AND COMMUNION
We believe that Christian baptism is a public declaration of the believer’s salvation in Christ, identifying with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection symbolized by immersion in water. The Lord’s Supper is the united commemoration by believers of Christ’s death until He comes and should be preceded by a careful self-examination (Acts 2:41; Romans 6:3-6; 1 Corinthians 11:20-29).
MISSIONS
We believe it is the aim, duty, and privilege of every believer and local church fellowship to glorify God by responding as active participants in the Great Commission call of Jesus Christ to go and make disciples of all nations. We believe the primary focus and priority of this call is centered on efforts that establish, strengthen, and reproduce biblically-based churches, which will then plant churches that grow churches for future generations and God’s glory.
THINGS TO COME
We believe in and expectantly await the glorious, visible, personal, return of the Lord Jesus Christ. The blessed hope of His return has vital bearing on the personal life, service, and mission of the believer (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the saved and the lost. The lost will be raised to judgment and experience eternal wrath in hell. The saved will be raised to eternal joy in the new heaven and new earth in the manifested presence of God (Acts 1:3, 9; Hebrews 7:25-26)
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