PREMISE #1
We believe THAT each of us as Christ followers is to be continuously LOVING GOD and LOVING OTHERS. Critical to this is that each of us is:
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GROWING as a disciple of Christ.
This involves continuously growing in such critical areas as:- Our love for and personal knowledge of the God who created us
- Our understanding of what God has done for us and what He desires from us
- The Christ-likeness of our being and our character
- Our love for, and service to, our neighbors
- MAKING other disciples of Christ.
This involves us relationally connecting with individuals:
- Who are not yet Christ followers, serving them, and personally sharing the love of Christ with them
- Who are Christ followers, loving them, serving them, and personally helping them to grow as a disciple and to make other disciples
One of the most important and powerful things that any of us can be involved in to help us grow as a disciple, and to help us make other disciples, is a personal relationship with someone else where we are:
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BEING discipled ourselves.
This involves us submitting ourselves to an on-going, one-on-one relationship with another Christ follower:- Who we trust, who we feel safe with, and who has biblical wisdom and practical experience to help us grow as a Christ disciple, and
- From whom we are personally receiving love, guidance, teaching, accountability and encouragement
A “being discipled” relationship helps facilitate our own personal growth as a Christ follower, and models for us how we can be involved in “making disciples” relationships with others.
GROWING as a disciple, MAKING other disciples, and BEING discipled, is the transformative, life-giving experience of the fully devoted and fully engaged follower of Jesus Christ who is loving God and loving others.
