#1 - ALL THE JESUS STUFF
We want to follow the whole way of Jesus. We want the teachings of Jesus and the miracles of Jesus. The communal life of Jesus and the inner life of Jesus. The Fruit of the Spirit and the Gifts of the Spirit. We want to do all the Jesus stuff.
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‘For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.’ - 1 Corinthians 4:20 NLT
‘I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father’ - John 14:12 NLT
#2 - DOWN TO EARTH SPIRITUALITY
We believe our spirituality should not be a performance. We don’t want to wear masks* and we don’t want to take ourselves too seriously. We’re interested in an honest faith that works in real life.
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‘On earth as it is in heaven’ - Matthew 6:10 NIV
‘Do not be like the hypocrites’ - Matthew 6:5 NIV
‘Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.’ - Romans 12:3 NLT
*Not actual masks, just figurative ones.
#3 - ARROWS NOT LINES
All our actions and beliefs are arrows that direct us towards or away from Jesus, rather than boundary lines that tell us who is in and who is out. No one is too far away to turn to him. Jesus alone is the centre of our faith. All our traditions, doctrines, and practices must bend the knee to King Jesus.
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‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ - Matthew 4:17 NIV
‘He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.’ - Colossians 1:17 NIV
‘So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” - Luke 15:20 NIV
#4 - OPEN HANDS
We stand with hands open ready to receive from God, but never clinging to what is given. We welcome new people in, and we freely send people out. We cook meals for one another, we care for those doing it tough, and we freely resource kingdom work. We are blessed to be a blessing.
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‘Freely you have received; freely give.’ - Matthew 10:8 NIV
‘If you cling to your life, you will lose it, and if you let your life go, you will save it.’ - Luke 17:33 NLT
‘A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.’ - Proverbs 11:25 NIV
#5 - TRADITION AND PROGRESS
We want to translate our ancient faith into a modern world. We want to draw on the best of all streams of Christianity. We are not afraid to create and innovate, but we are also not afraid to stay within the simple bounds of tradition. We find vibrant life in the tension.
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‘Like a homeowner who brings from his storeroom new gems of truth as well as old’ - Matt 13:52 NLT
‘New wine must be stored in new wineskins.’ - Luke 5:38 NLT
‘I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you.’ - 1 Corinthians 11:2 NIV
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