Church by the Chesapeake in Calvert County, Maryland

Our Pursuit

Why does our church exist?

Our mission is to encourage people
*   to magnify God in heartfelt worship,
*   to fellowship as members of God's family in reconciled relationships,
*   to grow toward maturity by applying Scripture to life,
*   to be equipped to serve Jesus Christ in a ministry and
*   to take His mission to the world.

I. Magnify: WE EXIST TO CELEBRATE GOD'S PRESENCE
Exalting Christ through worship.

Worship is to the church what oxygen is to fire. Corporate worship is for participation, not observation; it is for worshippers, not for spectators. Worship is pulling our affections off our "idols" and putting them on God. It is treasuring God, realizing what God is worth and then giving Him what He is rightly deserves - praise and worship above all else.

"Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only." Matthew 4:10

"...true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and truth." John 4:23-24

II. Membership: WE EXIST TO CARE FOR GOD'S PEOPLE
Establishing a congregation through fellowship.

There is more to being a Christian than just believing the right things. There is also a belonging. The Bible speaks clearly that there is a connectedness and an interdependence among God's people. We are a people committed and connected to one another as we grow in Christ. We belong to each other and depend upon each other. This requires dedication, sacrifice, vulnerability, and a commitment to oneness as we practice the one-another's of Scripture.

The "One Anothers" of Fellowship -- (A Partial List):
Serve one another -- Galatians 5:13
Accept one another -- Romans 15:7
Forgive one another -- Colossians 3:13
Greet one another -- Romans 16:16
Bear one another's burdens -- Galatians 6:2
Be devoted to one another -- Romans 12:10
Honor one another -- Romans 12:10
Teach one another -- Romans 15:14
Submit to one another -- Ephesians 5:21
Encourage one another -- 1 Thessalonians 5:11

"In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others"

Romans 12:5

"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

John 13:35

"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."

1 Corinthians 12: 4-5, 27

III. Maturity: WE EXIST TO CONFORM TO GOD'S

PURPOSES
Empowering the committed through discipleship.

As a church we are called, not only to reach people, but also to teach them. The church exists to edify, and educate God's people. Discipleship is the process of helping people become more like Christ in their thoughts, feelings, and actions. To be a disciple is more than just being a follower. A disciple is one who becomes more and more like the teacher, and begins to apply the teachings of Jesus to his/her life.

“So everywhere we go, we tell everyone about Christ. We warn them and teach them with all the wisdom God has given us, for we want to present them to God perfect [mature] in their relationship to Christ." (Col. 1:28)

"Let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity..." Hebrews 6:1

"Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 3:18

"(God has given)...some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all...become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." Ephesians 4:11-13

IV. Ministry: WE EXIST TO CARRY OUT GOD'S PLAN
Equipping the core through partnership.

The church exists to minister to people. We define ministry as demonstrating God's love to others by meeting their needs and healing their hurts in Jesus' name. The church is called to minister to all kinds of needs: spiritual, emotional, relational, & physical. The church is commissioned to equip the saints to work together and effectively perform these works of ministry.

" I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. ..." Romans 15:17

"...To prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." Ephesians 4:12-13

" ...they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints." 1 Corinthians 16:15

"Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men." Ephesians 6:7

V. Mission: WE EXIST TO COMMUNICATE GOD'S

PROMISES
Evangelizing the community through friendship.

The church exists to communicate a message to our community and to the world in which we live: When we cared little about God or anything really significant, God demonstrated His love for us by sending His only begotten Son and paid a debt we could never repay. The relationship we now have with God is not because of what we did do, could do, pretend to do, or promise to do. It's because of what God has done in Christ for us. By His amazing grace, we are no longer enemies of God. Now by His grace we are called friends. Our mission is to take this message to our community by personal witness and testimony and to our world through a world missions ministry, seeking opportunities to build friendships and share this message with sensitivity and boldness to all who will listen.

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." 1 Peter 3:15

"His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known..." Ephesians 3:10

"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?" Romans 10:13-14