Fireside Chat

Oct 20, 2024    Ritchie Johnson

Fireside Chat (October 20, 2024)


The Chapel mission/vision

• Mission = Rescipleship

• Vision = 4 W’s (Word, Worship, Withness, Witness)

 

Primary responsibilities of the church:

• Equipping of the saints for the work of service - Ephesians 4:11-13

• Ministry of the Word & prayer - Acts 6:1-3

 

1 Peter 4:17 

For [it is] time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if [it] [begins] with us first, what [will be] the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

 

2 Chronicles 7:13-14 

"If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, 14 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

 

What we try to be: A simple, relational church that has authentic worship, verse by verse teaching and believes deeply in the sufficiency of Scripture, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the priesthood of the believer.

 

How to get involved: no membership, but commitment and relationship.

• Attend worship: Hebrews 10:24-25

• Find a place to serve.

• Get into a small group.

 

We feel called to be a sending church.

 

Matthew 28:19-20 

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

 

1 Peter 2:9 

But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR [God's] OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…

 

Ephesians 4:11-12

And He gave some [as] apostles, and some [as] prophets, and some [as] evangelists, and some [as] pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.

 

Some “outside” discipleship goals (2022-2027)

• School of ministry

• PreK

• Church plants

 

Some “inside” discipleship goals (2022-2027)

• Small groups growth and maturation

• Leadership and process for biblical guidance

• Building renovations/updates/maintenance

 

God has switched the order of priority of our inside vs. outside goals.

 

Some issues we are accountable for, to grow in our discipleship:

• Teaching a biblical sexual ethic to all ages of the church

• Clarifying our stance on and the expression of spiritual gifts

• Equipping marriages, growing in responding to struggling marriages

• Equipping believers to know God’s Word for themselves

• Church governance

 

We are a pastor-led church with a board as well as both lay and staff elders. Our staff executes the ministry vision determined by the pastor and elders.

 

“It is my belief that everyone should be a deacon.” Chuck Smith

 

Needs:

• Growth in our service teams

• Maturity in our finances

• Staff clarity and creativity in utilizing the gifts in our Body