Brief Explanation
Catchy slogans and acronyms are the "in thing" - especially when you are so close to Washington. Many of us know people who work for the FDA, the NSA, the USDA , NASA, etc. We also text people with IM, LOL or GTR. These are great when we know what they mean, but when we don't know, they just leave us confused. Our purpose statement follows the acronym of “GRACE” and communicates how we who have received the free gift of salvation by Grace, through Faith are to function as a body. Everything we do as a church should fulfill the purposes God has for the church. Purpose is related to vision in that purpose tells the reason why you do what you are to do and vision is the means by which the purpose is carried out. (BTW, our research team has discovered that IM=Instant Message, LOL=Laugh Out Loud, GTR=Got To Run and BTW=By the Way!)
To Serve Christ – NLCC is not here to serve ourselves, or even the church itself, but rather Christ. (Eph 4:11-13; Col 3:24)
A Body of Believers – We are serving Christ together – working as one body, as a family. When one part of the body is in need, the rest are to come along side and help. When one part of the body succeeds, the rest rejoice together. (Rom 12:5, 1 Cor 12:12-31)
Glorify God speaks to the motivation and focus of all we do. It is to bring Glory to our God. (1 Cor 10:31)
Reach out to the lost speaks of evangelism, both locally and globally (Matt 28:19-20). Jesus came to save sinners, and that description fits all of us. May we never lose our passion to reach others as Christ was passionate enough to die for us. At NLCC we want to reach out not only to our neighbors across the street, but also those across town and around the world.
are Authentic in Worship reflects the fact that we are called to come together to praise and worship God for who He is and all He has done. We are to do this in Spirit and in truth. It is not simply a time of getting pumped up, but rather it is a real and genuine communion with God. Where we humble ourselves before the Lord our God. The intimacy we sense together in corporate worship will help us also to worship God in the quietness of our own hearts throughout the week. (John 4:23-24)
Care for the needs of others talks about the fact that as a body of believers we are going to take care of each others needs, bear one another’s burdens and simply encourage one another. It includes all aspects of “fellowship” and more. The statement is not limited to what we can do for “in-reach,” but also includes outreach. We are to work together in order to show the love of Christ by caring for the needs of others outside our local Church and outside the Body of Christ to bring others to the saving knowledge of Christ (Phil 2:4, James 1:27).
Encourage Spiritual Growth talks of discipleship. Jesus commanded us to go and make disciples. In coming together as a body of believers, we are to be growing in Christ. We are to know Him and His word better through our fellowship, study of the word, and demonstrations of faith in action. (Matt 28:19-20; Eph 4:11-14). In addition to our Sunday service, we have Life Groups that meet at homes or at the church for growth, suport, prayer, and encouragement.
