A Gospel Community of Worshiping and Serving Theologians on Gospel Mission

Most every church, whether written or unwritten, has some sort of mission/vision statement. The problem is that most people either have no idea of what the mission/vision statement of their church is or they have no way of gauging whether or not they're living out the mission and thus bringing the vision to fulfillment. The vision statement of CrossPointe Winter Springs is as follows:

 

The fulfillment of the vision comes as the people live out the mission of the church. The mission statement of CrossPointe Winter Springs is as follows:

 

So, the idea is this. If we point our community to Jesus Christ (mission), we will see the beauty, harmony and wholeness of God's Kingdom reign in our lives and in our community, as the Gospel radically orients us to Jesus and His mission of renewing the world (vision). The problem is that most people have a difficult time gauging whether or not they're actually pointing their community to Jesus Christ. The question that begs to be answered is, "Who are we as we live out this mission in order to see the vision fulfilled?" We need an identity. Another way to say it is this: A clear identity leads to a successful mission, and a successful mission leads to a fulfilled vision.

 

So, what is our identity? The answer is this: CrossPointe Winter Springs exists to be "A Gospel Community of Worshiping and Serving Theologians on Gospel Mission".

As you can see, the above statement is bookended with the phrases "Gospel Community" and "Gospel Mission". This language communicates the importance of gospel centrality. In all that we do as a church, we want to communicate the centrality of the gospel, as opposed to religion/moralism and irreligion/relativism. This language also communicates the idea of inward edification, accountability, and growth, as well as the idea of outward engagement of the culture with the gospel. In the individualistic culture in which we live, the local church cannot afford to minimize the importance of authentic Christian community. Nor can the local church afford to minimize the importance of pointing an unbelieving world to the person and work of Jesus. Thus, in all that we do as a church, we want to emphasize the centrality of the gospel, the community of God, and the mission of God.

 

In the middle of the two bookends of "Gospel Community" and "Gospel Mission" is the phrase "Worshiping and Serving Theologians". This phrase communicates the all-encompassing nature of the work of the gospel in the life of the Christian. The gospel empowers right thinking (the head), right affections (the heart), and right actions (the hands). The overemphasis of right thinking leads to intellectualism, the overemphasis of right affections leads to emotionalism, and the overemphasis of right actions leads to legalism. Thus, in all that we do as a church, we want to emphasize what it means to have a mind, heart, and will that are used to enjoy making much of God.

 

While imperfect, such an identity statement provides a helpful gauge for us as we seek to live out the mission of the church and thus fulfill the vision of the church. Our goal will be to unpack this statement over the course of the summer, devoting a week to each of the following values: gospel, community, worship, service, theology, and mission. Will you join us, as we seek to grow in our understanding of what it means to be "A Gospel Community of Worshiping and Serving Theologians on Gospel Mission"?

 

Jamey Vizzini
Lead Pastor/Planter
CrossPointe Winter Springs