New Life’s Vision: Multiplying Authentic Christianity
Our hope is to see a multiplying number of Christians, families, small groups, and churches pursuing and experiencing Authentic Christianity — sacrificially serving Christ with their best friends. Because our hope is to multiply Authentic Christianity, our purposes define it, our strategies enable it, our history is a legacy of experiencing it, and our membership covenant is a promise to pursue it.
New Life’s Purposes: Defining Authentic Christianity
In order to fulfill our hope of reproducing Authentic Christianity, New Life Community Church must be a place where people can be saved from divine judgment, belong to a church family, grow in Christ-likeness, and give back to God our time, talents, and treasure by giving to people.
A Place to be Saved
Christ “came to seek and to save what was lost,” which is our brothers and sisters who were “predestined to be adopted,” but have not yet been found. As ambassadors of Christ, we use the power of kindness to shine our light in a dark world, attracting our lost brothers and sisters to their Father, and we unleash the power of the Gospel for salvation by clearly and boldly communicating it, leading them to their Savior. Being “a place to be saved” is the first requirement of fulfilling our King’s Great Commission to make authentic Christians, and it is therefore New Life’s first purpose. (Luke 19:10; Eph 1:5; 2 Cor 5:20; Matt 5:16; Rom 1:16; Matt 28:18-20).
A Place to Belong
Christ modeled Authentic Christianity when He shared His life and engaged in ministry with a small group of best friends. We must imitate Him if we have any real chance of obeying His “new command” to “love one another as I have loved you.” The Father intended His Church to be a family of brothers and sisters, instead of merely individuals attending the same church meetings. Accordingly, New Life will be “a place to belong” to a small group where Christ’s Great Consignment to “take care of My sheep” can be practically fulfilled, and Authentic Christianity can be experienced. (John 15:12-15; 13:34-35; Rom 12:10; John 21:16)
A Place to Grow
Christ came not only to deliver us from the penalty of sin, but also its power. Who we are by Christ’s forgiving grace is His gift to us. Who we become is our gift back to Him. Christ gave us His truth in Scripture to “be transformed by the renewing of our mind” and He gave us His power through the Spirit so we could be like Him. Christ’s Great Commission was essentially a command to “go and change lives” because only as we become like Him, is it fulfilled. Therefore, New Life will be “a place to grow” in the knowledge, wisdom, and character of Christ. (1 Cor 15:56; Rom 12:2; Gal 5:16-23; Col 1:24-29; Matt 28:18-20)
A Place to Give
Christ, “bought us at a price and we are not our own.” Everything we have was given to us by Christ, and He never gives anything without expecting us to bless others with it. Therefore, our time, talents, and treasure ultimately belong to Him and are to be sacrificially given to others. This is how we practically fulfill Christ’s Greatest Commandment to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love others as yourself.” However, sacrificially serving and giving to Christ is not a duty, but a privilege. This is the best way to live now, and we are promised an immeasurable return later. Therefore, New Life will be “a place to give” so that Christ will be honored, God’s people will be happier, and blessed more for all eternity. (1 Cor 6:18; Matt 16:24-27; Matt 22:36-40; John 15:9-15; Matt 19:29; Matt 25:14-40)
