Mission, Vision & Values
OUR MISSION
Joining God in the renewal of all things.
[16] For by him [Jesus] all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. [17] And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. [18] And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. [19] For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, [20] and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. - Colossians 1:16-20
God is a missionary God, the creator of all things, and in our broken world, the one who is making all things new. In John 20:21 we read 'As the Father has sent me [Jesus], even so I am sending you.” At New City Church our mission is to join God in the renewal of all things.
OUR VISION
Glorifying God by making disciples that love God, love one another and renew our cities through gospel-formed communities on mission with the posture of grace, truth & renewal.
God is on a mission to make much of Himself & to renew all things, and He has invited us to join Him.
In Matthew 28 Jesus calls us to...
'make disciples of all nations, to baptize them... and to teach them to obey all that He had said.'
In Matthew 22 He tells us the greatest commandment is to...
'love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. [38] This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'
In John 13 Jesus says...
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
God's Plan A for renewing all things through the gospel was in making disciples. There is no Plan B. The disciples are further told the greatest commandment is to Love God, Love One Another and to Love Our Neighbors (our city & the world).
At New City Church we do this primarily through gospel-formed communities on mission. It's primarily where discipleship occurs. In making disciples we also gather weekly for worship through song & preaching, in forming D-Groups, Learning Labs & service opportunities. In addition to the right teaching of doctrine, we think it matters 'how' we share the gospel. We have chosen to commit ourselves to the posture of grace, truth & renewal to help guide us.
GUIDING CONFESSIONS
All of Life is Beholding Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is the fullness of God and that we are being conformed into his image. Not in being divine, but in becoming more fully human, without the shackles of rebellion. We believe that for every look at ourselves, we should take at least ten looks to Christ, the author and perfector of our faith. As we look to Christ, we are transformed.
Jesus Changes Everything
We believe that Jesus and the truth of the gospel changes everything for us. It changes how we understand God, ourselves, one another and the world around us. It does so by changing the circumstances and/or by changing the way we understand our circumstances. We believe keeping this truth in front of us helps us to navigate our lives.
The Helper Helps
We believe that when Jesus ascended to join the Father that He sent the Holy Spirit (called the Helper in John 14) to indwell and empower believers to love God, love one another, grow in holiness and seek the renewal of others.
VALUES
Gospel Joy (Loving God)
- Love the Lord your God, with all your heart, mind, soul and strength.
- By knowing, embracing & articulating the gospel more deeply in our lives, homes, communities & cities.
- By knowing & walking in what stirs our affections for God and knowing & avoiding what robs us of joy in God.
Intentional Community (Loving One Another)
- By intentionally pursuing gospel-formed community together.
- By being a foretaste of heaven for a watching world.
- As a people of God together in life, rather than simply a place and time that people gather once a week.
Spirit-Led Mission (Loving Your Neighbor/Renewing Our Cities)
- Renewing people and communities by declaring and demonstrating the good news of Jesus Christ.
- As Spirit-led people prayerfully pursuing God, God’s people and the mission we’ve been given.
- By prayer, supplication and dependency of Jesus for all the above.
- By beholding Christ, we would live a life that demands a gospel explanation.
POSTURE
Grace
- By a posture of grace towards ourselves and others.
- Jesus came ‘full of grace and truth’ to reveal the Father & rescue sinners.
- As people transformed by the grace of God, we are called to extend understanding & grace to others.
- Grace and truth are not opposites, but complementary to one another
- Truth without grace is not really truth, and grace without truth is not really grace.
Truth
- By a posture of pursuing & speaking truth.
- Jesus came ‘full of grace and truth’ to reveal the Father & rescue sinners.
- Truth is a person revealed in Jesus Christ, and the good news for us to share.
- Truth and grace are not opposites, but complementary.
- Grace without truth is not really grace, and truth without grace is not really truth.
Renewal
- By a posture of seeking renewal for ourselves and for others rather than condemnation.
- Jesus didn’t come to make us better people, but new people.