A Church for the Real World
Telling the story…
There was a time when people gathered in absolute unity bound by a code of values that seemed bigger than themselves. Each had a story to tell, one that was so important that they were willing to risk it all—reputation, social status, family, even friends. Their message was simple, yet its affect upon mankind has been unparalleled. The scene was first century AD—the early days of Christianity.
At South Point Community Church, our goal is to raise up a congregation committed to living and proclaiming those values and a community dedicated to telling others the Message- “they matter to God more than anything” whether they are single, married, single again, rich, poor, no church background, whatever. He accepts them just as they are.
Making that Message known is our Mission.
Getting it right
God’s desire for the church has never been clearer: to tell those outside the family it’s time to come home, 1 and then to accept them, care for them, 2 and raise them up to be everything He called them to be.3
Sounds simple, yet it’s not. To accomplish this task takes real dedication. It also takes an unselfish church committed to allowing Christ to truly and honestly be glorified through their lives. Then, it takes a willing church—willing to set aside conventional ways of doing ministry in order to meet people where they live, just like Jesus and His disciples did. 5
This dual responsibility of providing an environment for those to investigate the claims of Christ while adequately nurturing and growing believers into strong, stable followers of Christ is what South Point Community Church is all about.
“…“ Pointing people to Christ and leading them into a growing, personal, and passionate relationship with Him”
A New Type of church
At South Point we’re striving to become the kind of church described in the Bible, where there’s relevant teaching, heart-felt worship, honest friendships, constant prayer, and compassionate care for those in need. In short, we’d like to have the kind of contagious Christianity that can influence and encourage the entire community, one life at a time.
How do we accomplish this?
Meet people where they live 6 by providing an environment where they can investigate the claims of Christ.
Often churches unknowingly say to the world, “meet us on our terms;” that is, when they attend our services we expect them to talk like us, sing like us, act like us, and live like us. We even use our own set of Christian terms and jargon that often seems foreign to those with no church background. Jesus, however, didn’t do that. He met people where they were7 by bringing the message of the Kingdom into their world. At South Point we seek to do this in our Sunday morning service by designing a service with them in mind.
Make the Message meaningful by teaching profound truths in simple ways.8When Jesus came on the scene, He astounded the people of the day with His ability to take biblical truths and make them understandable. He used living illustrations and parables to bring clarification to kingdom principles9. It is our goal at South Point to do the same. We will use the tools contemporary to our culture: arts, drama, visuals, multi-media clips, and music, all in an attempt to “tell the story” of the gospel and make its truths known. No jargon or technical theological terms, just simple language.10 The messages will have uncompromising relevancy to our everyday lives. They will focus on relating truth to life; applications that transform people, not merely inform them.
“The deepest kind of teaching is that which makes a difference in peoples’ day-to-day lives.”
Present music real people can connect to. Why is it that churches sing eighteenth-century songs, which we call hymns, and listen to nineteenth-century instruments (a pipe organ)? We wonder why people think the church is out-of-date! At South Point we want music that people of our day can relate to and enjoy, music they can be inspired by. This is why we will use a wide-range of musical expression to touch the heart, not the art.
Create a friendly caring atmosphere of genuine acceptance. A national survey revealed that the common complaint of unchurched people was “ I found church people to be cold and unfriendly. I never felt accepted. I didn’t fit in.” We never want that to be said of us! That is why we will go out of our way to embrace people of all backgrounds:11 single, married, divorced, no church background, whatever. This is what Jesus did12.
Develop exciting children’s programs, which are interesting and creatively presented. It is a belief at South Point that learning biblical truths ought to be fun. That is why in our Adventureland Children’s ministry we use drama, puppets, live music, videos, discussions—whatever teaches best and most appropriately. All lessons are derived from the Bible and apply biblical truths in an age appropriate way. We are committed to supplement the parent’s efforts to build a spiritual foundation that hopefully will lead, in God’s timing, to a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ.
Embrace authentic biblical community through small groups. The Christian way of life was never to be done alone. From the earliest inception of the church13, believers gathered in small groups where people shared their lives, their prayers, and their encouragement. At South Point we believe that it is here that the truths of the Bible get put into action as people help each other apply scriptural teaching to daily experiences.14
Provide multiple entrance points into the life of the church where people can develop meaningful and lasting relationships. Essential to all of us is the need to develop meaningful relationships with other individuals. At South Point we envision the development of a wide variety of activities in which everyone, regardless of marital status, can build helpful, lasting relationships.
Foster spiritual growth through life development programs designed to produce full devotion followers of Christ. Fundamental to the Christian life is the need for on-going growth and spiritual development. Jesus’ command was to make disciples who would be more than superficially committed to the principles of Scripture. At South Point we see this as one of our primary responsibilities. To accomplish this task we have a series of developmental programs (101, 201,301classes) aimed to bring people on to maturity in Christ.15 Also included is a wide range of topical classes to assist in practical areas of living and provide biblical insight for living.
1. Luke 14:16-26: parable of the great banquet
2. Luke 15:20-24: parable of the prodigal son and the Father’s acceptance of him
3. 1 Peter 2:2: “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation” (NIV)
4. Mark 8:34: “Then he called his disciples and the crowds to come over and listen. ‘If any of you wants to be my follower,’ he told them, ‘you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me.” NLB
5. Luke 5:31: “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. 32 I have come to call sinners to turn from their sins, not to spend my time with those who think they are already good enough.” (NLB); Luke 7:34: “And I, the Son of Man, feast and drink, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of the worst sort of sinners!’ (NLB); Matthew 22:9,10; Mark 16:15, 16; Luke 5:31; 7:34. abid The Apostle Paul, 1 Corinthians 9:20-22: “I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life.” (MB)
6. 1 Corinthians 9:20-22: “I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, non-religious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life.” (MB);
7. Luke 7:34: “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.”’ (NIV)
8. Matt. 7:28: “…the crowds were amazed at his teaching…(NIV); Matt 22:33: “…profoundly impressed.”(NLB); Mark 11:18 “…enthusiastic ..”(NLB); Mk. 11:18: “…spell bound ..”(NRSV).
9. Matthew 13:34: “ Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable” (NIV); Matthew 13:35: “I will open my mouth and tell stories will bring out into the open things hidden since the world’s first day “ (MB)
10. Ephesians 3:10: Our goal is to “…bring out into the open [the Message] and make plain…this extraordinary plan of God…”(MB); Col. 4:5-6:”Live wisely among those who are not Christians, and make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be gracious and effective so that you will have the right answer for everyone.” (NLB) ; The Apostle Paul worried that “…your minds would be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.: (2 Corinthians 11:3 NASB).
11. 1 John 4:8: “whoever does not love does not know God because God is love.”
12. Luke 7:34: “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.”’(NIV)
13. Acts 5:42: “Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.” (NIV)
14. 2 Timothy 2:2: “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” (KJV)
15. Hebrews 6:1: “Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation …” (NIV)